TONEDB

organ from “when a man loves a woman” by percy sledge | ToneDB

when a man loves a woman

percy sledge

organ

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

Warm and soulful organ tone with a touch of vintage grit, providing a supportive harmonic foundation for the vocals. The sound is characterized by a lush, full body with a slightly overdriven edge, reminiscent of classic soul recordings.

Shop This Rig

ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

The Story

The organ on Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman" was recorded at Norala Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama, and was produced by Quin Ivy and Marlin Greene. The classic soul sound was achieved using a Hammond B3 organ through a Leslie 122 rotating speaker cabinet, captured with vintage microphones and recorded to analog tape. The warm, supportive organ tone provides the harmonic foundation that became synonymous with the Muscle Shoals sound of the 1960s.

Production Credits

Producer: Quin Ivy, Marlin Greene

Engineer: Unknown

Recorded at: Norala Sound Studio, Sheffield, Alabama

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Hammond B3 emulation and a Leslie speaker simulator.
  • Experiment with different microphone placements on the Leslie cabinet to find the sweet spot.
  • Add a touch of tube saturation or overdrive to the organ signal to emulate the vintage grit.
  • Use a subtle tape emulation plugin to add warmth and compression.

Original Gear

ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Substitutions & Recommendations

IK Multimedia Hammond B-3XPlugin Boutique$150-200

Alternative to: Hammond B3 organ

Authentic Hammond emulation with built-in Leslie simulation, perfect for capturing that classic soul organ foundation

Hammond XK-5 HeritageShop on Reverb$2000-2500

Alternative to: Hammond B3 organ

Modern Hammond with authentic B3 drawbar voicing and built-in Leslie effects for live performance

Native Instruments Vintage OrgansPlugin Boutique$50-100

Alternative to: Leslie 122 rotating speaker

Includes detailed Leslie cabinet modeling with adjustable mic positioning for that vintage rotary speaker warmth

UAD Ampex ATR-102Plugin Boutique$150-300

Alternative to: Analog tape warmth

Recreates the subtle tape compression and harmonic saturation that gave 1960s recordings their characteristic warmth

Korg CX-3Shop on Reverb$400-600

Alternative to: Hammond B3 organ

Budget-friendly Hammond-style organ with authentic drawbar control and built-in Leslie simulation

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Community Insights

No community insights yet. Be the first to contribute!