What organ did The Black Keys use on Fever?

The Black Keys used a Hammond organ run through a Leslie 122 rotating speaker cabinet for the organ sound on "Fever." This setup was recorded at Sumo Sounds studio in Los Angeles during the Attack & Release sessions.

How to get The Black Keys organ tone from Fever?

Start with a Hammond organ or quality VST plugin, run it through a Leslie speaker simulator with rotary effects, and add some overdrive or saturation for grit. Close microphone placement on the Leslie cabinet helps capture the intimate, atmospheric sound.

What microphone was used to record the organ on Fever by The Black Keys?

A Sennheiser MD 421 dynamic microphone was used to capture the Leslie cabinet. This mic choice allowed for close placement while handling the overdriven signal from the rotating speakers.

Who produced The Black Keys Fever song?

"Fever" was produced by Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) and recorded by engineer Kennie Takahashi at Sumo Sounds studio in Los Angeles. This was part of the Attack & Release album sessions.

What Leslie speaker cabinet did The Black Keys use?

The Black Keys used a Leslie 122 rotating speaker cabinet for the organ sound on "Fever." The Leslie's dual rotors create the characteristic swirling effect that gives the organ its haunting, atmospheric quality.

organ from "fever" by the black keys

fever

the black keys

organ

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A gritty, vintage organ sound with a slightly overdriven character, providing a haunting and atmospheric vibe.

Shop This Rig

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

Hammond Organ(instrument)
Leslie 122(amp)
Sennheiser MD 421(microphone)

The Story

The organ sound on "Fever" was recorded at Sumo Sounds in Los Angeles with producer Danger Mouse and engineer Kennie Takahashi using a Hammond organ through a Leslie 122 speaker cabinet, captured with a Sennheiser MD 421 microphone. The distinctive gritty, overdriven character comes from the Leslie's rotating speaker system combined with additional gain staging during recording.

Production Credits

Producer: Danger Mouse

Engineer: Kennie Takahashi

Recorded at: Sumo Sounds (Los Angeles, CA)

Signal Chain

Instrument: Hammond OrganShop on Reverb

Amp: Leslie 122Shop on Reverb

Microphone: Sennheiser MD 421Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Hammond organ VST or a real Hammond if available.
Use a Leslie speaker simulator or a rotary effect plugin to replicate the swirling sound of the Leslie cabinet.
Apply a touch of overdrive or saturation to add grit and character to the organ tone.
Experiment with microphone placement techniques on the Leslie simulator to fine-tune the sound.

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 Organ

Accurately models Hammond tonewheel organs with authentic drawbar response and vintage character needed for this gritty tone

Strymon LexShop on Reverb$270-300

Alternative to: Leslie 122

Provides authentic Leslie cabinet simulation with proper rotor speed control and overdrive characteristics essential for this atmospheric sound

Native Instruments Vintage OrgansPlugin Boutique$99-150

Alternative to: Hammond Organ + Leslie 122

Includes both Hammond modeling and Leslie cabinet simulation in one package, perfect for recreating the complete vintage organ chain

Boss RT-20 Rotary Sound ProcessorShop on Reverb$180-220

Alternative to: Leslie 122

Dual rotor simulation provides the swirling Leslie effect that creates the haunting atmosphere in this recording

Shure SM57Shop on Reverb$90-110

Alternative to: Sennheiser MD 421

Dynamic microphone that can capture the Leslie cabinet's full range while handling the overdriven signal without distortion

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Community Insights

No community insights yet. Be the first to contribute!

TONEDB...

organ from “fever” by the black keys | ToneDB