www.sl-prokeys.com

sl-prokeys was born April 5, 1995

Wes Garland: Webmaster

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On Thursday, August 21, 2003, at 2:45pm, my wife of 34 years, Rebecca, died in my arms in an emergency room.

The last words we spoke were in perfect synchronization: "I love you with all my heart."

 
 

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The ProKeys "Business" Website
Maybe you noticed that this is a very unusual "business" website.  There are no parts lists and no price lists, because we aren't selling things.  Most business websites have menus so you can choose things to buy, and even add them to a "shopping cart".  We never had a shopping cart.  You may have noticed that the business sites have an address and phone numbers, plus their hours of operation.  This site never had those things either.  But our phones never stopped ringing with Hammond problems - we liked helping Hammond people.  Mostly, we worked and learned together, to keep my Hammonds and Leslies sounding right.  Sometimes, we worked on other people's Hammonds - for money.  That barely qualified as "income", unless you think about $5.00 per hour is "income".  Our work with Hammonds wasn't based on PROFIT.  It was based on love for Hammonds, and quality "family time" for Rebecca and me.

The ProKeys "business" isn't a business and never was
ProKeys is a hobby website, which contains descriptions, technical articles, facts, and hundreds of pictures to educate other Hammond enthusiasts.  At one time, we sold LSCA-3s - each system was custom built to the owner's specifications, therefore - no price list.  We haven't built or sold an LSCA-3 since 2003.  Actually, we haven't worked on any Hammonds/Leslies since early 2003, with only one exception - a generator recap.
Almost everything stopped on June 28, 2002.  That was the day Rebecca was diagnosed with lung cancer, and the radiation and daily chemotherapy started - 14 months of it, non-stop.  One day, we added up her medical costs: over $2 million dollars - for nothing.  But let's move on.
Rebecca and I started ProKeys many years ago - 1969.  I don't remember exactly how or why, but the name ProKeys sounded pretty good to us.  We liked it.  The very first Hammond we rebuilt together was in 1969.  It belonged to a keyboard player in Memphis.  Occasionally, we got a call to help out another Hammond player.  From 1969 until 1973, I didn't even own a Hammond organ.  I didn't really need one of my own, so I never bought one.  I always had one or two available, though.  During that time, I was mostly doing recording sessions.  The studios had Hammonds, and - if the studios weren't in use - I was usually welcome to come in and practice, so I put in plenty of Hammond playing time.  We bought a Wurlitzer spinet piano in 1969.  I almost wore that one out, and I also learned how to tune pianos.  In 1973, Rebecca bought me a brand-new B3 and three (3) Leslies.
Through the years, we made many mistakes and discoveries, and came up with plenty of ideas.  Some were pretty good, some were too embarrassing to even write about.  We really loved getting Hammonds and Leslies to sound and work great.
Rebecca died on August 21, 2003, and ProKeys died then, too.  She helped create this website, she worked tirelessly on more Hammonds than anyone could ever imagine.  Of course, the word "ProKeys" was Rebecca's idea, and is lovingly, respectfully dedicated to her memory.

At ProKeys, we were full time perfectionists

PLEASE READ ALL THREE LSCA PAGES

I wrote them for you.  Thank you.

LSCA Leslie motor switching - innovative, expensive, 100% rock solid, and controversial ●
LSCA Installation and Construction - educational, technical reading to really open your eyes ●
LSCA Owner - very interesting review ●

Prokeys Site Map

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