I just bought an Viscount Opera

[Guest]

I was going to buy a second hand Domus 60 for a cheap practice instument at home then I fell in love with this two manual digital Viscount Opera and thought I must have this. It is second hand and will cost me £1995 for a drawstop instrument which I think is a real bargain. Does anyone else have a similar instrument? What do people think of them? (plz be nice!)

[dhm]

Re: I just bought an Viscount Opera

I have a 3-manual Viscount Grand Opera - ideal home practice instrument.
Might be for sale if you're interested, as I'm thinking of either upgrading or going over to Hauptwerk.

Regards,
DHM.

[Guest]

Re: I just bought an Viscount Opera

Last November I bought a Viscount Concerto III — very pleased with it. Three manuals with rocking stop tabs. The great thing about this instrument is that it has an enormous capacity for changing the complete stop list. I wonder if anyone else has bought one and devised their own set up. I have the standard baroque one which is incorporated at sale, and an English "specification". I am planning a French one.

[arie v]

Re: I just bought an Viscount Opera

Hi,

This Viscount Opera, is it from the late 80s? I think I know which model it is. In North America Baldwin had a similar model.

As to the sound, they were pretty good, especially for their day. Sort of North German in sound, and also could not be voiced. They had a very primitive MIDI setup. These were better sounding than some of the lines that Viscount produced subsequently.

As to problems with them, at least the ones in North America had these,

1) power supply problems - the 5Vdc regulator would fry and go down the river over time
2) pedalboards - just about all of them had contact problems, warped pedals, wearing of pedal felts, and the rubber up and down stops that would become hard as stone. Made for very noisy pedalboards after awhile.
3) poteniometers, on swell shoes and other controls would go intermittant.

You can probably guess what I do for a living.

Overall, not bad all things considering.

Regards,

Arie V

[Guest]

Re: I just bought an Viscount Opera

Good to see you on board, Arie.

We look forward to your ever helpful messages.

Trio ("Down Under") (but things are lookind up!) :)

[Guest]

Re: I just bought an Viscount Opera

I think this instrument is from the mid 90's. I am very happy with it, although there is a little hum that come out of the speakers. Can that be easily cured?

Details here: http://www.france-orgue.fr/orgue/ind...oc.fch&ido=267

It plays Bach and early music very well. The manual reeds are weak in my opinion. You get three on the pedal which is very useful.

I am interested in hooking up the organ to my computer. Does anyone know how to do this so I can record directly on the soundcard?