What can you tell me about this Allen?

[jskumro]

As some of you know, I am a very new Organist. I have been granted access to play our Church Organ whenever I would like, thanks to the kindness of the Priest at my Church.</p>

I used to really dislike the instrument at Church, that was until I was able to play it myself. I realized that part of the problem is that the Organists don't register it very well. I've really grown fond of this instrument since I've started playing it. </p>

Thanks to some help from some other members, I was able to find the model number. On this inside of the Organ there is a plate with patent numbers. Under that is listed: "305-B   47892" I believe it is an MOS model.</p>

I really enjoy playing it, for being an older digital organ, the sound is pretty good. (I wish we had a pipe organ, but I don't think it's a possibility.) I have noticed a few faults however. First, there are two stops that don't work:</p>

<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>On the Swell: 8' Voix Celeste
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>On the Great: 8' Dulciana Celeste</p>

Also, somewhere in one of the speakers on the swell there is a buzzing rattly distorion. I'm going to try to talk my priest into getting a service call within the next couple of weeks.</p>

So, my question is, what can you tell me about this Organ? What are the pros and cons, anything interesting?</p>

Here is the stop list, found on another website: </p>

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Here is the console The wood is custom, to match the rest of the Church (Please excuse the poor picture quality):</p>

 A </p>

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Here is a picture facing the altar. The Organ speakers are mounted in the attic, behind the crucifix. Kind of a cool set up in my opinion. There are two speakers on the left side, and two on the right. There are HVAC vents right in the middle:</p>

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The console is located to the left. As you may be able to tell, the Church is built in a "gazebo" shape: </p>

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Thanks! I am just always curious to learn more about things.</p>

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[Menschenstimme]

Re: What can you tell me about this Allen?



Yes, this is an MOS model. Both Celestes may be analog tone generators and something may have gone awry in this regard.</P>


I wish they would show more respect and not put flowers on the console. I do see the protective cloth; but what if the flowers spilled over somehow? If I found those flowers on "my" console, they would be flying across the church, hopefully toward the individual who put them there.</P>


SIGH!</P>

[jskumro]

Re: What can you tell me about this Allen?

[quote user="MenchenStimme"]

Yes, this is an MOS model.  Both Celestes may be analog tone generators and something may have gone awry in this regard.</p>

I wish they would show more respect and not put flowers on the console.  I do see the protective cloth; but what if the flowers spilled over somehow?  If I found those flowers on "my" console, they would be flying across the church, hopefully toward the individual who put them there.</p>

SIGH!</p>

[/quote]</p>

 Thanks for the input! I COMPLETELY agree with the flowers. In fact, I remove them when I am playing, just because. All of the flowers have been donated by different members of the congregation, and they come in and volunteer to decorate the Church. They put them everywhere, yes it looks pretty. (You should have seen it before some have been removed, it was really cool.. There's also a fountain runnning through the flowers in front of the alar) I mentioned in passing that nothing should be placed on the Piano or Organ, but I don't have much say.. (At least not yet.) </p>

[myorgan]

Re: What can you tell me about this Allen?



Joel,</P>


You are so fortunate to have alterables on both manuals on your MOS-2 instrument. My English Horn (Cor Anglais) on my 505-B is practically useless, as there is nothing soft enough on the Swell to accompany it. Instead, I have to program the Aeoline on the Swell to use with the English Horn. If your organ has two computers (JBird can answer that one for you), let me recommend the Flute Celeste card. That is absolutely my favorite. Also using the Gedackt 8' in the Swell with a Dulciana Celeste accompaniment in the Great is a really nice sound.</P>


[quote user="jskumro"]I have noticed a few faults however. First, there are two stops that don't work:</P>


<SPAN class=Apple-tab-span style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></SPAN>On the Swell: 8' Voix Celeste
<SPAN class=Apple-tab-span style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></SPAN>On the Great: 8' Dulciana Celeste[/quote]</P>


In order for a stop to celeste it needs two things:</P>

1. <LI>A second stop tuned slightly sharp to create the celeste sound.</LI>
   <LI>Both stops(or speakers, in this instance) need to be in close proximity in order for the celeste to occur.</LI>

JBird can tell you more about how the Celestes work on this instrument, but in mine, a second computer is tuned slightly sharp when the tabs are pressed. It could be that the celestes are out of tune, or the celeste speakers are not near the companion stop speakers.</P>


[quote user="jskumro"]Also, somewhere in one of the speakers on the swell there is a buzzing rattly distorion. I'm going to try to talk my priest into getting a service call within the next couple of weeks.[/quote]</P>


Now that you've described it that way (rattly distortion), it sounds like the cone is rattling against the spider (frame of the woofer). Re-coning should take care of that. Just be careful to mark the polarity (positive and negative terminals) before you de-solder the speakers. If the polarity is reversed when you put them back in, you will have no bass to speak of. That's how I got my organ so cheap.</P>


Let me recommend you find someone to re-cone the speakers first. It took me several months to find the fellow I use--and he's less than 20 miles away! He does great work, though. Hopefully, your organ tech can recommend someone. Don't let him sell you Allen replacement speakers. They're between $150-$250 each!!! I had to purchase them because I had a concert coming up and needed the speakers right away. This photo will show you what the speaker probably looks like. </P>


If you continue to use the speaker, it can damage the coil inside, resulting in the expensive replacement I spoke of above.</P>


For me, it was worth it to do the work myself. I had 12 speakers come with my organ, and all but 2 of them needed to be re-coned. If you undo the screws around the speaker, when you lift them out, you can see the wires to de-solder. One caution, don't push down as you unscrew the speakers. The receivers on the back side of the panel can be pushed out, and will get lost in the insulation inside the speaker.</P>


Hope this helps you.</P>


Michael</P>

[jskumro]

Re: What can you tell me about this Allen?



Michael,</p>

Thank you for the very informative post! Interesting registration ideas! The Celeste stops were not working at all for me, until today when suddenly they came to life! I noticed that the Celeste will not "work" alone sound wise, it will only have the celeste effect with another stop. </p>

However, my original problem was that the Celeste stops did not work at all. Whenever activated, nothing but silence. Until today, all of a sudden, they work. The must be somthing with an intermittent problem in regards to the Celeste stops. I would assume that you are correct about the seperate computer. I noticed that when the Celeste is activated, there's a small "click" that can be heard inside the Organ. </p>

One of my favorite registrations so far is 16' Bourdon and 16' Violone in the pedal, with 8' Gedackt and 4' Koppelflöte in the swell with "Chiff." It gives a very subtle and quiet but intense feeling. The low pedal notes have an excellent sound that vibrates through the church.. It just sounds great with the acoustics. (I can only imagine how a real pipe organ would sound!) </p>

As for the speakers, I still haven't pulled them out. I have to go up into the attic, and get a ladder. They are located behind the crucifix to the left and right. (as pictured) It's a little bit of a hassle. I think I may start calling around to see who does the reconing and for how much. That way I have price quotes before I ask!  </p>

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