Johannus Sweetlinck 37 Purchases - Did I Do OK?

[thewingwillis]

I have agreed to buy the Johannus Sweelink 37 advertised in the classified section for the full price of $4500. The price included delivery and installation by a dealer. Did I do OK?

[arie v]

Hi,

You did astonishingly well here. What sort of installation is the dealer doing? Did it come with external speakers? Is the dealer going to voice it for you? Did this come from a dealer? or a distress sale?

For me that instrument really needs external speakers, and the time taken to fully voice it - which means spending a lot of time at it.

Hope you enjoy it much.

Arie V.

[thewingwillis]

No speakers, just the sub. I will need get speakers additional. The Johannas UL2700 are $500 each so I'm looking for an alternative - any odears?. No voicing just delivery and set up and testing. How big a job is the voicing?Guess that can not be done till I get speakers anyway.

Mike

[don60]

Voicing will require the Johannus Intonat software--a few hundred dollars at most if I recall correctly. It would be quite worthwhile for you to own so you can tweak things to suit yourself whenever you want. I have heard over and over from dealers that one should not stray too far from the factory settings initially as the software gives you an overwhelming ability to screw the sound up!

I concur that $4500 is a great deal, even if you are forced to carry the organ home on your back. If you are getting any kind of delivery and installation, you made out remarkably well. You can certainly afford the software and some upgraded speakers.

Opinions about speakers here on the Forum fall into two broad categories: 1. Speakers are speakers--go with aftermarket PA or hi-fi speakers and save a bundle. 2. Speakers from the organ builders really are better--stick with those or risk catastophe.

I tend a little more toward number 2 because most speakers are not made to reproduce sustained, nearly pure tones (especially at the lower frequencies). If you buy a Johannus or Allen or Rodgers speaker, you can be assured that it will hold up long-term if driven by the recommended amplifier. Cheapo boxes from Parts Express or MCM Electronics are rated for "music power" and are not really robust enough for use on live organ music. Simply sounding good while playing a CD of organ music is not a sufficient test of a speaker because such music is highly compressed and frequency-limited in many cases.

Still, top-notch aftermarket speakers will save you some money and should work fine if you are sensible about the power levels. Peavy, Pyle, Gemini, and a host of others are good. Everyone has an opinion and a favorite brand. Ask around, listen, and try to get return privileges before you buy anything.