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Rating: 
Summary: The title and subtitle should have been reversed...
Review: As a Hammond Organ (and vintage keyboard) fan I of course had to swipe this book up. BitB has loads of excellent technical and historical info and scads of nice pictures, but I do think that its scope is too narrow. Like the many Hammond purists who it is presumably targeted at, BitB is very B3-centric. Not nearly enough info is given on certain other popular Hammond models, notably the spinet models like the M-100, T-100, M3, and the like. What there is, is in the form of short recollections of a former Hammond engineer, under the rather general umbrella of "other Hammonds." His firsthand info is nice, but I think that the same kind of research and anecdotal info lavished on the Hammond consoles would have made this a *great* general-purpose Hammond tome. Also, no info on Hammond tone cabinets. I rather liked "Vintage Synthesizers," also by Vail, which in contrast was very balanced among the various instruments covered, and actually seemed to relish its delicious assortment of oddball, obscure synths. I would have liked a similar format in BitB, perhaps separate in-depth chapters devoted to specific instruments or instrument families. Other than that basic gripe I did enjoy BitB immensely and recommend it to anyone who loves these fabulous old keyboards.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm still hungry...!
Review: I dont contest the fact that this book is a must for every Hammond lovers, but it's not a bible. There's a few things that i've expected to be in this book that are missing. There's absolutely no info about the Hammond tone cabinets. A complete specification listing of all the organs and Leslies would have been helpful as reference purpose. The chapter 2 on the Hammond organ itself is short; it doesn't goes into details on subjects like how the tone generator and scanner vibrato works. No schematics and leslie connection pinouts. "What tubes does the B3 pre-amp or a leslie 122 uses?" You wont find that sort of information in there. One of my biggest deception is that there's no original pictures taken by the author. Some new detailed modern picts showing details of the organ and components of the instrument would have been really appreciated.This book is definitly not the same quality as "Vintage Synthesizer" by the same author, which can serve as a reference guide for synth. I hope that in the future, there will be an enhanced second edition of this book that would better serve the legendary B3 and 122.
Rating: 
Summary: The Bible for Hammond Organs
Review: I hate to be the one that said I told you so, but this book is the real thing. It is the Hammond/Leslie bible. Anyone who even thinks about playing an organ, or using organ sounds should get this book. It has something for everyone, and the pictures alone (over 250 photos) are worth the price of the book. I just enjoy flipping through the book looking at the pictures, and reading the captions, over and over again. This is a magical book, that draws you in, and lets your imagination run wild. The book is presented in 10 chapters with a Foreward, Introduction and an Appendix. Dominic Milano, who wrote so many great B-3 related articles for Keyboard magazine, starts you off with a short dynamic foreward, encouraging you to read on. ThereÕs just something so fascinating, mystical, and hypnotic when reading about the Hammond Organs, while the pictures fill the pages like the beautiful women of Playboy magazine. You just want to keep reading this book while admiring the ÒHammond beautiesÓ. Its truly hard to believe that the author, Mark Vail, never owned a Hammond, but he really did his homework for this book and I have know doubt he will own a classic very soon - its just to hard to look at any of the modelÕs beautiful wood cabinets and massive size and to say I can get all the sounds I need from my B-3 wannabe. This book makes it all to clear thats thereÕs nothing like the real thing. And after reading how to transport (see moving article by Rick Harris), and then transporting a full console organ for the first time - donÕt worry about it ! What I like most about this book, is its not just about the B-3, its about Hammond Organs and Leslie Speaker Cabinets - all models. And theres a picture for everything - your never left guessing when it comes to the numerous models and styles throughout the companies histories. And Mark doesnÕt hog the spotlight, he goes out and talks to the experts, and gives you their thought opinions, and commentary. Every page brings something special, a resource, an idea, o!r just a new way of looking at something. The ten chapters are: 1. All Hail the King!, 2. Down & Dirty, 3. Laurens Hammonds, 4. Hammonds You May Have Known, 5. Buying & Maintaining a B-3, 6. Don Leslie, 7. Tips from the Stars, 8. Ahead of their Time, 9. Contacts, 10. Hammondography and an Appendix of Resources. Now for faithfull Keyboard magazine readers (from the 80Õs and up) you might recognize some of the writing as articles that appeared previously in the magazine. However there is so much new material and pictures added, its really not the same, and it was just nice to have all the Hammond information in one place and to not have to dig through old beat up magazines to find something out. In addition, many of the previous articles had to be updated, take for example the price of a B-3. Prices have changed considerably since 1991, and after reading MarkÕs ÒWhatÕs a B-3 Really WorthÓ I feel better prepared to explore the market or put the idea aside until IÕm ready financially. I have to say that when I hit chapter 7, ÒTips From the Stars: Legends Share Their Playing Techniques (Interviews by Robert L. Doershuk), I reached Nirvana. Theres just so much here - for everyone, it helps all players to find some direction in all levels of playing-something which is sorely missing for todays player ( see B.T. productions for only true Hammond guidance). Some previous Keyboard magazine articles appear in this chapter; ÒPopular B-3 Drawbar Configurations of Key PlayersÓ and Ò25 Hammond Licks You Must KnowÓ - but this is the real stuff for Hammond players, and its all thats been available to us lately. Alot of the references to Hammond materials have long since been out of print. Therefore, these articles had to be in the book, otherwise there would be a mass ordering of Keyboard back issues! The ÒContactsÓ chapter is pure gold, actually plattinum. If your interested in a Hammond - youÕve got to talk to these people! There the last of their kind and there serious about Hammonds and Leslies. !These are the people you MUST talk to, especially if your new to the ÒclubÓ. And the last chapter, Hammondography will give new people a good idea of who to listen to for the Hammond/Leslie sound. While the Appendix reviews Hammond ÒResourcesÓ such as the Hammondology Series by B. T. Productions, Barabara Dennerlein B-3 Sampling CD, and a Keyboard resource for B-3 and Leslie Alternatives. In my opinion - A+++, this is definately it!
Rating:
Summary: Great Book though I agree about the editing
Review: I was delighted to find this book, especially as it honors my favorite Hammond recording of all, Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (Matthew Fisher, Hammond organ). There were some misspellings here too -- i.e. singer Gary Brooker's name spelled "Garry" -- Brooker has nothing to do with the song's Hammond melody or playing, a fact I'm not sure Vail realized -- and spelling Fisher's name as "Fischer." But the biggest error in this context is his saying that the song is a "B3" tune. Though Fisher often plays it on B3 in concert (his Hammond was stolen in the 70's when he lent it to Brooker and Reid of Procol Harum after he left that band), the original recording was done on an M-102. I've heard many renditions of this song, by Procol and others, and I think the enchanting, magical sound Fisher achieved on that M-102 has never been surpassed, nor will it ever be.
Rating:
Summary: It couldda been a contendah...
Review: This book could have been great. I've owned, played, gigged with, and fixed Hammonds for over 25 years, and I was very excited about a book like this being published. It does capture the excitement and wonder of these great instruments, but it's also obvious that the author never owned one (which he freely admits). There are many glaring errors in the labelling of Leslie and Hammond models in the photos, in technical details of differences between models, and in details about the company history. These may not reduce your enjoyment of the book, which has many historically valuable photos. Just take the information given with a grain of salt. There are many long time Hammond techs, dealers, and employees still living who have the real scoop. I'd love to see the errors in this book corrected in a new edition, while these people are still around to be consulted.
Rating: 
Summary: Save your dollars
Review: This book has been around awhile now, and the cognoscenti are in agreement...this is no book for those already familiar with the instrument. There's probably better information to be had on the Internet than could be gotten out of this paperback. Validity of the book's contents are inversely proportional to the reader's knowledge of the instrument. Good things are some quotes here and there from credible sources, such as Alan Young. Overall, however, it's just a picture book with some accompanying text and many errors spread through the entire content. Also present editorially is the omnipresent Hammond hyperbole, such as declaring the G-100 a "technical success", which, of course, it wasn't...it was an adject failure which booted Hammond out of the "big organ" market for good. You pay your ISP monthly anyway...get on your browser and use it, and save the cost of this much overhyped tome.
Rating:
Summary: Save your dollars
Review: This book has been around awhile now, and the cognoscenti are in agreement...this is no book for those already familiar with the instrument. There's probably better information to be had on the Internet than could be gotten out of this paperback. Validity of the book's contents are inversely proportional to the reader's knowledge of the instrument. Good things are some quotes here and there from credible sources, such as Alan Young. Overall, however, it's just a picture book with some accompanying text and many errors spread through the entire content. Also present editorially is the omnipresent Hammond hyperbole, such as declaring the G-100 a "technical success", which, of course, it wasn't...it was an adject failure which booted Hammond out of the "big organ" market for good. You pay your ISP monthly anyway...get on your browser and use it, and save the cost of this much overhyped tome.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect Coffee Table Reference!
Review: This book is a great overall historical reference for anyone who owns, plays or restores a hammond tone wheel organ.
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