A European Design - Hammond TTR-100

Below is a picture of the T-series model I have owned myself, the TTR-100 :


The TTR-100 has the same specs. as the TR-100-1 variation of the T-series, i.e. it has the 6-voice rhythm board in the lower right hand cheek block. The rhythm board contains additional percussion voices that could either be played manually with push-buttons or be linked to lower manual or the pedals. A separate rhythm volume knob makes it possible to blend these sounds into the organ sound (there is a close-up of this feature on the next page).

The two 12" speakers in the TTR-100 were mounted so they radiated the sound away from the player - something that suggested the model to be used professionally. The speakers themselves were slightly different from the ones used in the other T-series organs produced at the time as the baskets had to be less deep to fit inside the top compartment. Most of the TTR's had a 9-pin Leslie socket (for Leslie model 760 and 825) in place of the Hammond Series 10 tone cabinet socket.

Even if the original design of the T-100 series did not include split vibrato, the TTR-100 (and other European-built T-series organs) were fitted with a separate vibrato on/off button in the lower right-hand end  block. Split/selective vibrato using the tabs became available in the last T-series organ - the T-500.

Here is the one I used to own, it looks a bit used and torn but it plays fine (please excuse the mess...)

Below two pictures of a TTR-100 in its original finish, courtesy of E. A. Andersen. The TTR-100 could be ordered in teak, oak and palisander (a form of rosewood with a medium brown tone).

The plywood sheet mounted under the organ is an addition (a common one).
A German brochure on the TTR-100 showing the bench. The Leslie speaker on the left has two single top louvres on the front as opposed to four. This was a common feature of Leslie cabinets made by Deutsche Hammond. Brochure kindly scanned by Søren Poulsen in Denmark.

Vibrato sounds

I have recorded four small sound files (MP3 format) of my TTR-100 which demonstrates the many vibrato settings it features.

• Vibdemo1
  C major chord, 888000000 registration, settings: Vib off, normal vib, vib small, vib chorus small, vib chorus.
• Vibdemo2
  Same chord and DB settings as above, settings: Vib off, Celeste I, Celeste II, Celeste I+II.
• Vibdemo3
  Same chord and 16' Theater Brass preset, settings: Vib off, Celeste I, Celeste II, Celeste I + II.
• Vibdemo4
  As vibdemo2 but with 'vibrato small' tab depressed.