Organ Enthusiasts

[cadman]

Not wanting to hijack Gary's thread, it seems there are some organ experts (ahem) among us. Say a fellow had some room and some technical prowess in vintage electronics... what would be a decent vintage home organ to keep an eye out for?

I'm a complete novice in playing so a "Stradivarius" as it were would be lost on me. BUT, I really love that deep-down realism that really instills the fear of a higher power! Perhaps a good vacuum tube model? I've got a lead on a solid-state Thomas color-glo cheaply enough, but like I say, complete newbie. Your thoughts? -Cory

 

[petek]

There are literally hundreds and hundreds of home organs for sale for little cost or free for the taking these days. Unfortunately many of them have problems or have been trashed over the ensuing years from kids (and adults too) pounding on them, spilling drinks into the keyboards and controls, scratching and scraping the cabinets etc. BUT there's still more than enough beauties out there. People are just trying to get rid of them and many if not most thrift stores etc won't have them because they just can't get rid of them plain and simple as that.
They run the gamut from cheap and tinny sounding fully automated crap from all the makers to some really nice stuff which are usually the higher end spinets on up. Plus the higher end ones also have the automated features as well as more true and adjustable voices which can be missing from the cheapies. Bigger models also will have built in leslie speakers (a must really to get the bigger sound) plus reverbs and better sustains.
For me it's the sound more than the automated "fun" features
Take a look at this one on Ebay...if you got that for $100 and no shipping it would be a steal especially if it doesn't have any problems.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hammond-H-112-O...ryZ64429QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[petek]

OTOH this one isn't worth anything imho unless you just want something simple and have no space and a tin ear.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hammond-Model-1...ryZ64429QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[petek]

I'd grab this one if I lived close for $50 and could test it out. Plain and simple, no whiz bang stuff the go faulty.

That's the other thing when buying these things.. Most of the sellers have absolute zero idea about them and whether they are actually fully functional or not because they either inherited them from someone, they were given them by a friend to play with or whatever. They say they work, you go over to look at it and find a host of problems.. let's say that has happened to my numerous times over the last few months.

http://cgi.ebay.com/conn-organ_W0QQ...ryZ16219QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[petek]

Right in your neighborhood

Close by you but I see he has a reserve starting at $99. This probably isn't a bad organ, it's in the range of a little too much automation and sparse on the manual voicing but if you could get it for less than $200 and pick it up yourself it mightn't be too bad and you may be hooked LOL
I wouldn't buy it personally for myself solely because it doesn't have enough voicing and I'm not sure if it has a Leslie speaker in it or not.. maybe a synthetic type leslie speaker sound. Still in all it may be all you need.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lowrey-Debut-De...ryZ16219QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[tolivac]

Hammond "tonewheel" organs are a good bet.If you can get one in good shape and keep it that way-the instrument may even increase in value.Hammond B and so on.Sometimes music recording studios like to keep a few Hammonds on hand at their studios for musicans to play for recording.The studios have been known to pay good dollars towards Hammonds in decent playable condition.Manytimes the studios or even musicians may not care about the home type cabinet.some take the works out of the home style cabinet and put them into a ruggedized "Roadie" type cabinet to withstand transport and shipping.Hammonds can have tube or solid state amplification and tone shaping.The tube ones would be best to keep going-since you can change them yourself.And many folks like their sound better.I could have bought a Hammond B3 for 100 bucks-lately I have heard of them selling for 4 and 5 grand on up-esp by studios and determined musicians.There are books on Hammonds-telling you how to maintain and fix them-and keep them going.Since the tones come from the tonewheels-they can last a very long time.The motor and belts turning the wheels can be easily replaced and repaired.And many of those Hammonds allowed you to play them into diffrent amps and speakers.those weren't built in.

 

[whirlcool]

The Hammond B6 sound is legendary! You find it built into most synthesizers these days.
A lot of rock/pop groups have turned to synthesizers instead of organs. I love home organ sounds, but you don't seem to see them anymore. One thing I don't miss is those very early drum machines that were built into organs. The later ones that were more "intelligent" were much better. Or even better still is a stand alone drum machine like Roland makes.

 

[abcomatic]

HI Cory

If you are looking for a pipe organ sound then I think I would try and find a used Allen or Rodgers, perhaps a Shober which could have been purchased in kit form and assembled at home.
Hammond, Conn, Wurlitzer etc. are possiblities too, if that is the sound that you like. Getting parts for all of these is a major issue too. Good luck and have fun. Gary

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Cory

In my part of California the organs seem to turn up frequently
at the "chain" thrift stores ; ie Salvation Army and Good Will, and the higher quality local thrift stores. I have seen
more than a few "higher end" models in these venues . Usually
the older tube fired jobs and very often they are priced under
$100. Mostly Wurlitzer, Hammond, and Conn.

 

[cadman]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their input! I'll keep my eyes peeled as the spring sales approach : )