Setting Pistons... I really need some help here!

[soundboarddude]

Ahh finally! If any of y'all have read my previous posts... you'll know I've been trying to find a free electronic organ... one preferably in the same state... well, my wish finally came true as a retreat center about 5 minutes away from my house gave me their organ (yes with a full 32 note pedal board!! yay!!)

Well it has 4 general pistons, and 3 for each manual plus 5 toe pistons (4 of which are generals). However, I'm not sure how to set these!

There's not my usual "set" button on the left, and there's not a cancel button on the right... (this is an older instrument). I've been 'fidling' with it, but can't seem to figure out how to set them. I can't press and hold... it won't let me change any stops when I hold them down...

Any ideas?

-sbd

[back52887]

Re: Setting Pistons... I really need some help here!

With the plethora of information you have provided us,I must just be dense not to see the immediate solution. (but my sarcasm is still functional, sorry!) You really should mention make, model, age, speakers & tone generator set ups, etc.

For years pipe organs, and the more persumptious electronic organs, had both "fixed" and "Adjustable"combination pistons. It appears that you have "fixed" pistons. That means you go into the back and between the keyboards and unsolder some wires and resolder others. Some others can be changed by screws. Get very familiar with your instrument and make sure you know what you like and want, so you don't have to dig to make changes very often. Have fun

Lee

[soundboarddude]

Re: Setting Pistons... I really need some help here!

It's a Baldwin 10a tube organ... it's got a big tone cabinet and a smaller tone cabinet (big for bass... little for both). I really don't think the tone cabinet things will have anything to do with the pistons... ;) either way

I looked in the back and didn't see anything that showed any signs of setting the pistons... only a bunch of tubes.

Do you think that they could *gasp* really be "fixed" and can't be changed?

[back52887]

Re: Setting Pistons... I really need some help here!

I'd almost bet money on it. I've played several 5s, 5As, and 6s which did not have pistons, but I only remember seeing one 10 and no 10a. This particular 10 had pistons, and I think that after lifting the top, you could also losen and raise the swell manuel and get to the piston wiring. If so, then get out the solder, or learn to love what the factory set up for you. Does it have a creshendo pedal, or just separate expression pedals?

One thing, I think the speakers are "choratone Projectors" and can be adjusted to produce a general celeste effect. Since the strings are better than the flute and principal voices, you might set a good broad celeste and just use this for Romantic era music. LOL

Lee

[toodles]

-

Post deleted by author

[soundboarddude]

Re: Setting Pistons... I really need some help here!

Does it have a creshendo pedal, or just separate expression pedals?

It's got expression pedals for both manuals plus a cresendo pedal


Well if it is going to be in the back and I can just change a few settings... it seems like it would be labeled (like everything else back there). This thing is old and I don't have anything else to practice on until the new organ comes so I suppose I'll just learn to live with it... I'm not that great at stuff like that and I don't want to have any chances of ruining it!

Thanks anyway though

[Guest]

Re: Setting Pistons... I really need some help here!

Old Baldwins usually had Baldwin speakers, or Altec Lansing speakers. Combination action was by holding a piston and manually pressing down the desired stop. Usually, after many years of usage, the action failed due to usage. Period. If I can't be set, live with it. Choratone Projectors were additional units other than amplifiers that added a mild celeste effect. If you have a 5, 5A, 10, 10A, get serious and get rid of it. It is old and tired and will, or may have, additional internal problems. Older Baldwin models 12, 6, and 4 were better. Models after that were even better. Then COS imported European stuff. Some OK and some OUCH. I know, I sold and played them all.

[soundboarddude]

Re: Setting Pistons... I really need some help here!

> Combination action was by holding a piston and manually pressing down the desired stop

Nah it won't let me do that.

> Usually, after many years of usage, the action failed due to usage

Probably...

Either way, I mean it's really not that big of a deal. I do indeed have a much nicer organ to practice on outside the house... this is just for pedal technique until the new organ comes (hopefully in march or april) and an organ comes to my church (sometime early February).

As soon as those get here I'm scrapping it for parts and then probably selling the rest on ebay for some rediculous price like where the shipping costs more than the actual item ;-)

It's just temp until the new organs come...