Keys, Preset Keys & Key Contacts for Hammond Organs
Replacement manual keys, reverse-colour preset keys and key contact springs for Hammond B-3, C-3 and A-100 console organs, with tips for scratchy notes. Read the keys & contacts guide
Keys & contacts
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Keys & contacts: buying guide
Each key on a console manual closes nine contacts, one for every drawbar footage. When a note sounds scratchy, cuts out or only plays some harmonics, the cause is almost always dirt or oxidation on those contacts or on the busbars they touch. This section covers replacement keys, preset keys and key contact springs for console organs.
These parts fit the B-3, C-3 and A-100, which share the same manual design. Spinets such as the M-3 and M-100 use different keys and contacts, so make sure you are ordering for a console manual. The B-3 and C-3 preset keys, the lowest octave of each manual, are reverse-coloured, and we list those separately from the regular playing keys.
Most contact problems are fixed by cleaning, not by replacing parts. Play the affected note quickly many times to clear dust, and consider a busbar shift or a full busbar cleaning if that doesn't help; busbar work is skilled and often done by a technician. Replace contact springs only when they are bent, broken or missing, and replace keys that are cracked, chipped or warped.
Common questions
Why does one note sound scratchy or drop out?
Each key closes nine contacts against the busbars. Dust or oxidation on any of them causes scratchy, missing or partial notes. Playing the note rapidly 15 to 20 times often clears it; if not, the busbars may need shifting or cleaning.
Should I replace or clean my key contacts?
Clean first. Replacement springs are for contacts that are bent, broken or missing. Busbar shifting and cleaning involves removing parts of the manual, so many owners have a technician do it.
Do these keys fit an M-3?
No. The keys and contact springs here are for console manuals on the B-3, C-3 and A-100. Spinets such as the M-3 and M-100 use different keys and contacts.
What are reverse-coloured preset keys?
On the B-3 and C-3, the lowest octave of each manual selects presets instead of playing notes. Those keys are coloured the opposite way round from playing keys, so they're easy to spot. We list them separately so you get the right colour.