After playing a modern, computer-based Hammond XK-5 for a couple of years—with no solder joints to fix—I determined that it was finally time to get a “real one.”
My B-3 arrived on February 10, 2025, from Stockton, California, where it had been in the care of the original owner’s neighbor for about a decade. I didn’t know much about it other than that it didn’t start, but it was in nice cosmetic condition and the price was fair.
A sticky film of cigarette tar helped with the authenticity, but would require a lot of cleaning. The Leslie cabinet was filled with cobwebs and dust (no rodents 😅). And, just as advertised, it did not start.
