Classical Organists Dislike Most Hammonds

Yes, it's true. Classical organists who are used to playing on pipe organs generally hate the Hammonds. Why? Well here are ten reasons (in no particular order)~:

1. Most Hammonds have the unique preset keys or theatre organ-like tab stops. To a classical organist, the preset keys are an unatural abomination.

   The tab stops are not far behind.  Pipe organs stops have big round knobs to push and pull.

1. Hammonds have drawbars to mix the organs harmonics together.

   Pipe organs have ranks of pipes of different sizes, shapes, materials, etc. each with it's own tone.
   A Hammond has nine sets of sounds that, to a pipe organist, sound like flute pipes.

1. Most Hammonds have WaterfallKeys stepped above each other like stairs.

   Pipe organs have DivingBoardKeys that overhang each other.
   A classical organist sometimes needs to play with a thumb playing one manual and the other fingers on the same hand playing another.

1. The expression pedal on a Hammond changes the volume of both manuals and the pedals.

   On a pipe organ, the pedal pipes are almost never inside a swell chamber, they're too big!
   To control the volume of the pedal pipes, the organist can only close off pedal stops until it's quiet enough.
   The Swell manual is the only manual whose volume should change with the Swell pedal.

1. The attack on a Hammond is much too fast. Laurens Hammond tried his darndest to hid the KeyClick.

   Organ pipes lag a hair behind the keypress as the valve under the opens and air flows into the mouth.  The bigger the pipe, the slower the attack.