Johannes is currently offering a manufacturer's discount of approximately 50%. As my church has limited funds for an organ, the Johannes instrument appears to offer the best value.</P>
I am not very familiar with the brand. As such, I am curious to learn about their reputation for quality. Can anyone provide information regarding the quality, reliability, longevity (et cetera) of Johannes organs?</P>
<P mce_keep="true"></P>
I think we have two or three members who have placed orders for various instruments in the promotion. Not trying to hustle you (I'm not an organ salesman!) but I think, off the top of my head, that the US promotion is going to end soon. Its been mentioned on here, but for the life of me I can't seem to find it using the search box. Certainly in the UK, the promotion ended on the 1st July, though the US might be different.</p>
Even still, if you've missed the promo by a couple of days it may still be worth talking to your dealer about it. What dealer wouldn't try to bend over backwards to shoehorn your order in if it meant making a last minute sale...particularly in this economic climate. I'd be surprised if they said "No" forcing you to pay the extra 50% for the equivalent non-reduced organ. Thats the motor-trade side of me coming out....apologies for that. [:P]</p>
That said, Phoenix Organs (well respected on here) have a second hand digital organ for sale that might also interest you. See this thread:</p>
As a service technician, I service quite a number of older Johannus organs, of the analog variety. These organs are now typically around 25 years old. I am not enamored really with what these instruments are about, but can tell you that they are lasting too long. In my area the Johannus dealer sold lots of organs in the 80s, and the vast majority are still in service.</p>
I recently installed one for the Johannus Company, and had a good look at it, and it seems to have pretty standard construction, very similar to many other organ companies' offerings. Most everyone now seems to use Fatar keyboards as standard issue keyboards, rubber dome switches in pistons and rocker tabs, magnetic reed switches in pedalboards. From many aspects reliability and longevity will not be that different than from anyone else. As with anything, support for instruments long term depends on the quality of the local representative and the availability of good local service technicians.</p>
Johannus is easily the world's largest producer of church/classical organs, in terms of unit production. The company produces more than Allen and Rodgers combined. In Europe they have a reputation for making some of the very best instruments made by anyone with their Monarke line. </p>
Right now with the sale on select models, they would have to be considered best value on at least those models.</p>
AV</p>
P.S. The spelling of the company name is "Johannus".
</p>
Thank you arie v. Now I understand why I could not find the Johannus website when I searched earlier. Also, I appreciate your input regarding the construction of the Johannus organs. I will now have to do a little research on my local representative.
Re: Johannes Digital Organs Watch Out For Drawknob Consoles
Hi Everyone,</p>
From what I've experienced and read ... it really seems that tab consoles do not have the rather severe reliability problems that the draw knob consoles suffer from. These knobs stick, clank, and fail to turn on and off .... and I've never heard of any dealer being able to fix the problems, short of getting replacements from Johannus. Also, during the last few years, the built in CSM in the Rembrandt lines of organs has had a high failure rate. Other problems have been the pedals binding and "clunking" and console hardware such as locks failing.
</p>
I tried a current (brand new) Rembrandt 377 AGO less than a year ago and experienced sticking draw knobs .... so this problem has been around for a good period of time ..... the first I knew of problems was over 5 years ago.</p>
I'd keep away from any Rembrandt AGO models, period ..... new or used.
</p>
OTOH, I've not heard anything negative about the Sweelinck series (these have tab stop controls) organs ... so if I had my heart set on a Johannus ... this would be the series I would consider. </p>
As of today, the Johannus site has a flag waving with a 5 on it .... so maybe the sale has only 5 days more to run ??</p>
Re: Johannes Digital Organs Watch Out For Drawknob Consoles
Orglemann,</p>
I'm not sure what your background is, our where your information comes from, but a well-respected member of this site, who services all brands of organs in his area, had this to say about Johannus drawknobs:
</p><blockquote>
"There are other ways that Johannus saves money, such as the
drawknobs, which feel less substantial to me than the high-end
builders. But I know plenty of Johannus organs that have been in use
for going on ten years and they haven't had any problems with the knobs
or any other hardware. As with the consoles, why put more money than
necessary into something that's probably going to last until the organ
is replaced anyway" </p></blockquote>
If this problem is as pervasive as you claim, it seems that he would have run into this issue at some point over the past ten years.Or perhaps this has something to do with the installation and service in your area, as arie v has suggested.
</p>
Re: Johannes Digital Organs Watch Out For Drawknob Consoles
Hi BillG,</p>
I speak from personal experience. The new R377 was brand new in a dealer showroom. I know of 3 other R370's etc. with the same problem. Unless the person you quote has extensive experience with the Rembrandt series of organs built approx. in the last 5 years, he may not be aware of it. Speak to any J. dealer and ask if the knobs were redesigned during this period ... and if so, why ? If they say no, I would discount anything else they say. Also ask if they are aware of irate customers contacting Johannus directly about this matter .... this has happened.
</p>
I have absolutely no monetary interest in J organs or any other so am just relating my own experience. I would recommend that extensive investigation be done from multiple sources, discounting all dealer comments, regardless of the brand ... in this case, as in any high cost product. </p>
I also ask that anyone who has one of the instruments in question, or who has played a Rembrandt of that vintage to please come forward and comment on this thread.</p>
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