Rodgers 32B - home practice

[RobW]

I've been looking for a practice instrument for my son. A Rodgers 32B is available (from our friend Gary Jordan) that is interesting to me. A couple questions:</p>

1. Would this be a good practice instrument "as-is" for my budding organist? I'm interested in your experiences with the console itself. Would it be a good long-term investment (see #2) that would hold up and be usable by my son for quite a few years of practice (quality of construction, manual "feel", etc.)? I can't visit the organ because of distance.
</p>

2. I'm considering converting the organ to MIDI. I'm trying to keep costs down (as most of us are). Do you think, since you have more experience, that $3000-3500 is a reasonable amount of money to develop a MIDI organ/Hauptwerk setup?</p>

There simply aren't any consoles nearby. I've had a dealer quote for an Allen R-100 for $3000. There is also an Allen TC-1 for $995 (plus setup) also. That would be about the same as I can get the 32B bought/shipped to my place. Any other organs I've found are East/West coast and the shipping costs simply make them unattractive.</p>

Anyway, thoughts on a 32B?</p>

Thanks,</p>

Rob
</p>

[arie v]

Re: Rodgers 32B - home practice



Rob,</p>

The Rodgers organs from the 60s were extremely well constructed, and tended to be reliable as well. The contact and keying action was much like one wold find in a pipe organ of that vintage. As to the tone and musical abilities, they were not the greatest, especially compared to today's offerings.</p>

As to getting a MIDI/Hauptwerk setup, $3,000 doesn't get you very far, unless you want to a bare-bones setup played through headphones.</p>

There are reasons why digital organs cost as much as they do. One part of the reason is a good audio system, which can by itself cost well over $3,000.
</p>

AV
</p>

[RobW]

Re: Rodgers 32B - home practice

[quote user="arie v"]

The Rodgers organs from the 60s were extremely well constructed, and tended to be reliable as well. The contact and keying action was much like one wold find in a pipe organ of that vintage. As to the tone and musical abilities, they were not the greatest, especially compared to today's offerings.</p>

As to getting a MIDI/Hauptwerk setup, $3,000 doesn't get you very far, unless you want to a bare-bones setup played through headphones.</p>

There are reasons why digital organs cost as much as they do. One part of the reason is a good audio system, which can by itself cost well over $3,000.
</p>

[/quote]</p>

Thanks, Arie. I appreciate knowing the info about the console.</p>

I know $3000 is not much. That figure (maybe a bit more) is where I am coming in for the console/conversion, sound card, and software. The sound system itself will have to come later. I'll put it all through the computer system for now. I'm still looking for a money tree :D</p>

Thanks,</p>


Rob
</p>