What organ did Jon Lord use on Highway Star?

Jon Lord used a Hammond C3 organ on "Highway Star." This was his main instrument throughout most of Deep Purple's classic era and the source of his signature rock organ sound.

How did Jon Lord get his distorted organ tone?

Jon Lord achieved his distorted organ tone by running his Hammond C3 through Marshall Major amplifiers and 4x12 speaker cabinets, driving them hard to create natural overdrive. He also used a Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face pedal to add additional saturation and aggression to the signal.

What amp did Jon Lord use with Deep Purple?

Jon Lord primarily used Marshall Major amplifier heads with his Hammond organs during Deep Purple's classic period. The Marshall Major was a high-wattage bass/PA head that could handle the low frequencies of the organ while adding the signature Marshall midrange character.

Did Jon Lord use a Leslie speaker on Highway Star?

Yes, Jon Lord used a Leslie 147 rotating speaker cabinet as part of his setup. While the main distorted tone came from the Marshall amps, the Leslie provided the characteristic swirling modulation effect that's part of his signature sound.

What effects did Jon Lord use on his Hammond organ?

Jon Lord's main effect was a Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face pedal, which he used to add fuzz distortion to his Hammond organ signal. Combined with the natural overdrive from his cranked Marshall amps and the modulation from his Leslie speaker, this created his iconic aggressive rock organ tone.

organ (specifically jon lord's organ solo section from "highway star" by deep purple

highway star

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organ (specifically jon lord's organ solo section

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Tone Profile

The Hammond organ roars with a distorted, overdriven tone, cutting through the mix with a searing intensity. It's a raw, aggressive sound that defines the iconic Deep Purple organ tone.

Shop This Rig

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Hammond C3(instrument)
Marshall Major(amp)
Neumann U67(microphone)
Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face(processing)
Leslie 147(amp)

The Story

Jon Lord's legendary organ sound on "Highway Star" came from running a Hammond C3 organ through a Marshall Major amplifier head and 4x12 cabinets, creating the signature distorted rock organ tone that defined Deep Purple's sound. He used a Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face pedal to add additional saturation and aggression to the signal. The track was recorded at Star Musik Studio in Germany with producer/engineer Martin Birch. A Leslie 147 rotating speaker cabinet was also part of his setup, contributing to the swirling modulation effect.

Production Credits

Producer: Deep Purple

Engineer: Martin Birch

Recorded at: Star Musik Studio, Germany

Signal Chain

Instrument: Hammond C3Shop on Reverb

Amp: Marshall MajorShop on Reverb

Microphone: Neumann U67Shop on Reverb

Processing: Dallas Arbiter Fuzz FaceShop on Reverb

Other: Leslie 147

Recreation Tips

Start with a Hammond organ VST or a real Hammond C3 if available.
Route the organ signal through a virtual or real Marshall amp.
Use a fuzz pedal plugin or a physical Fuzz Face to add distortion.
Apply a Leslie speaker simulator or, ideally, record through a real Leslie cabinet.
Adjust the drive and tone settings on the amp and fuzz to achieve the desired level of distortion.
Experiment with the Leslie's speed settings for different modulation effects.
EQ to taste, focusing on midrange frequencies to help the organ cut through the mix.

Original Gear

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Hammond C3Shop on Reverb(keyboard)
Marshall MajorShop on Reverb(amp)
Dallas Arbiter Fuzz FaceShop on Reverb(pedal)
Leslie 147Shop on Reverb(amp)
Neumann U67Shop on Reverb(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Hammond SK1-88Shop on Reverb$1800-$2200

Alternative to: Hammond C3 organ

Modern Hammond with authentic C3 drawbar voicing and built-in vintage amp modeling that captures the original tonewheel character

Marshall DSL100HRShop on Reverb$800-$1000

Alternative to: Marshall Major amplifier

High-wattage Marshall head with the aggressive midrange character needed to drive organ signals into natural overdrive like the vintage Major

Dunlop Fuzz Face Mini GermaniumShop on Reverb$150-$180

Alternative to: Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face

Authentic Fuzz Face circuit in compact form that delivers the same fuzzy saturation Jon Lord used to push his organ tone

Neo Instruments Ventilator IIShop on Reverb$280-$320

Alternative to: Leslie 147 rotating speaker

Industry-standard Leslie simulator that accurately recreates the Doppler effect and cabinet resonance of vintage Leslie speakers

Native Instruments Vintage OrgansPlugin Boutique$100-$150

Alternative to: Hammond C3 + Leslie combination

Sampled vintage Hammond with modeled Leslie effects and amp simulation, offering the complete Jon Lord signal chain in software

Sources

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organ (specifically jon lord's organ solo section from “highway star” by deep purple | ToneDB