The Latent Potential in the Leslie3500 by Made in Hamamatsu

Hello!
I’m Mieno, the bassist from the Hammond organ instrumental band Banana Needle.

Today’s topic isn’t about the bass, but rather, I wanted to share some impressions our band had regarding a new product purchased by one of our members—from none other than Hammond Suzuki.

For those who might not be familiar with this brand, Hammond Organs and Leslie Speakers are currently designed and developed by Suzuki Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Note: Some models are manufactured in China.)

Hammond is a very busy brand that releases new products every year!

A recent big hit has been this compact and lightweight unit that still delivers that authentic Hammond organ sound:

HAMMOND / M-solo Drawbar Keyboard

Oh, and yes— It also comes in blue!

HAMMOND / M-solo Blue Drawbar Keyboard

A cute Hammond that you can carry with one hand!
Hammond Suzuki has recently been putting serious effort into their output, which is namely the Leslie Speakers.

The one I picked up this time is this model

SUZUKI / Leslie Speaker 3500

It also comes in brown

SUZUKI / Leslie Speaker 3500W

This is an upgrade from the Leslie 3300, which we often used for live shows:

HAMMOND / 3300

While the appearance hasn’t changed much, the insides are a whole different story.
For detailed specs, features, and quirks, please check the manufacturer’s page (haha).

Suzuki Musical Instruments

By the way, our organist Yuko Ichizuka from Banana Needle not only has a vintage B3 at home, but also several vintage Leslie speakers. In fact, this new 3500 is her fifth Leslie!
Can you believe that she has 5 Leslies at home? Crazy!

As someone who regularly plays with her and listens to these old and new Leslies side-by-side, I can honestly say:
Playing the new 3500 was an absolute joy.

Even though it's vintage-like, the sound is so delicate!!
Sorry if this comment is too subjective, but I think with vintage gear, what makes it sound good is how it has aged. That filter of time—it’s something all musicians can relate to as a kind of natural EQ, right?

But as things deteriorate, I feel like certain frequency ranges start to disappear.

Since the Hammond organ is an instrument where you control overtones with drawbars, there are times when the frequencies or playing techniques you think you’re expressing just aren’t coming out through the amp the way you would imagine.
Previous models like the 142H and even pre-3500 Leslies had that vintage character, but it kind of felt like they were just turning up the volume on a worn-out sound. It starts to sound squashed and muffled. Like, you would think “Is this Hi-fi??” “Real vintage Leslies don’t sound like that!” sort of thing.

But the newest Leslies—it really feels like they’ve been developed with input from actual players. You can hear those subtle details that were probably just imagined in your head before: the overtones, the percussion clicks… it all comes through now.

Especially for a band like Banana Needle, where we play loud and rehearse and perform live many times a year, this speaker is a perfect fit!

Even after playing together for years, I still find myself thinking:
“Wait, what was that sound just now?”

Sure, part of it might be that Ichizuka’s just getting better (lol), but seriously, having gear that lets you hear all the fine details really makes a difference.
For a performer, being able to actually hear the sound you’re trying to make—that must be such a stress-free experience. I really feel that when I listen to her play.

Also, ever since we switched to the 3500, we haven’t needed to mic the amp during rehearsals. You can actually hear it properly coming out of the amp.

I used to think, “Well, it’s a 360-degree amp—of course it’s going to sound kind of muddy,” but… turns out I was wrong. Oops.

I used to have this fixed idea that Leslies just don’t cut through the mix, but thanks to this, that mindset is gone. Yet, the sound still retains that classic, vintage vibe.
Being able to hear those sweet mid frequencies without having to crank the highs and make the sound harsh is honestly amazing. It’s those frequencies that often get masked, and now they’re coming through clearly.

And on top of that, it’s sturdy and reliable!

We also have the 142H, which was released a little while ago. It has amazing box resonance, but since the cabinet is on the thinner side, we had to be a bit careful when transporting it.

HAMMOND / 142H Leslie Speaker

The sound is fantastic, so we often use it for recording sessions.

By the way, there’s a video interview featuring Daisuke Kawai, a performer and one of the developers, and our very own Ichizuka. If you’ve got time, definitely check it out!

Now with the 3500, Ichizuka’s playing sounds even glossier and more polished.

Oh, and on August 2nd, we’re doing a lunchtime one-man live at Shibuya 7th FLOOR! Come by if you want to hear the new setup in action! ^ ^ haha

Alright then, see you next time!

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