Electro-Harmonix B9 Organ Machine! So cool...

I've had a buddy's B9 here for a bit and it's a hoot. Once you get the proper technique down there's a lot it can add to an all guitar band in the way of covering certain tunes in a certain way.

It may not sound exactly like a Hammond B3 through a Leslie but it's near enough for club work and it helps solve the problem of what does guitarist #2 do to stay out of guitarist #1's way.

I'd also agree with those who say that running it through a rotary pedal improves the authenticity of it a bit more. Even a relatively inexpensive one helps.

 

I didn't even know there was a C9 version out now. Just checked the demo, wow. EHX is doing some crazy stuff these days.

 

What happens if you do bends? I've been wondering about something like that for slide.

 

Thanks. it's a fun band.

 

IME they're best avoided if what you're attempting to do is become a fairly accurate representation of what an organ would sound like in a band setting. It requires a bit of an adjustment in technique and some deft finger picking at times to really nail it but once you "get it" overall it's not hard to play.

I'd say that more than anything else you need to think like a keyboard player far more than you do a guitarist and focus on what chords and riffs his right hand would be playing. The pedal does have some limitations but if used sparingly it could add some nice variety in an all guitar band.

 

I just got a EHX B9 and was disappointed with the rotary Leslie sound. Weak and didn't do the swells the way I'd like.

Using a Boss ME-70, I tweaked the 'MOD' setting to rotary and used the expression pedal to control the speed of the Leslie sound. Works great and I'm very happy with this. I'm running through a Fender Mustang III amp.

 

I had the C9 for nearly a month and just couldn't make friends with it, prolly because I was using it wrong. I don't know. Every time I looked at it on my board, I saw a $200 bill, so I just returned it.

 

I have the B9 and like it alot. When The C9 came out, I had to go try it out in a store and I didnt like it so much. I didnt really get to play around with it too much but I remember trying the B9 in the store and loved it right away. It does take some adjustment in playing technique to get the best out of it. Putting a compressor in front of it does help make it less sensitive to pick attack

 

My b9 is having issues..output is weak and inconsistent and very hissy.. any ideas?

 

Did you get it recently? New or used? Is this the first time you've used it, or did it previously work fine?

 

Got it new. .I'm in Australia so it came from a shop in the states. .gonna be a pain to find receipt and send it back so hopefully i can find a quick solution. .it worked fine for the first few months but is now sounding like it's got a dying battery (but of course this pedal only runs on power from an adaptor)

 

I've had my B9 for about 6 months
I use it in my covers band, on maybe 15 to 20 songs out of 100
many times people are looking for the keys player
as many have said, a whole different technique for playing has to be used
no bends, slides and slurs
I use it just to add colour to the bands sound, background chords , percussive staccato stabs, that sort of thing

 

I use it for a few covers too. Sounds great when I use it in the background to fill in

 

Haha. I recently 'aquired' mine for less than£100. Got it to subltle 'pump' a rotary hammond while im skanking roits reggae. Am trying an assortment of gujtarz and amps. Andthinkimabout to nail it with either classic with pickup, 12s pickup, maybe a Swingster. Going through Peavey Redsripe + Oceans 11reverb and chorus. Takes a lot of aying time, but truly is starti g to sound gorgeous!

 

Hiya dont know if its the guitars im pushing it through but so far ive no problem with skanking 7ths on barre chords?

 

Woah. Friggin AWESOME!
Ive nearly got the desired settings from mine. Just now NEED a rotary pedal but hopefully someone can recommend a 'cheapish' one Also am trying to create a 'breathy' hammond sound. If anyone can share?