Rodgers 215CE analogue organ. Can I add an audio port?

[sleventio]

So I have a Rodgers Organ that doesn't have an audio port. It's analogue and I was wondering what would be required to hook headphones up for silent private playing. I realize I'm asking anyone who may or may not know much about my organ, but if you do have some knowledge, fill in here. I can add pictures of the organ, if needed.

[jbird604]

Hmmmm..... Your tag shows 715CE as the model, but that is one I have never heard of, and I've been around a long time! There is no model 215 either that I'm aware of.

I'm guessing this might be some custom version of the model 700 series from the early to mid 80's. What I can see in the photo looks very similar to the 725B, as it appears to have a full capture action, expression plus crescendo pedals, and no speakers in the console. The "CE" at the end of the model number would seem to indicate the "C" version, which would be the last revision of that series, and the E indicates external speakers. It may have been originally equipped with two, three, or even four external speaker cabinets and amps. There should be some configuration slide switches on the output panel to set it up for the desired number of speaker cabinets.

What you want to do is a good thing, but it may not be easy or cheap. Rodgers had a little attachment that was sold for the purpose of adding a headphone jack to these organs back in the day, but of course that item is long discontinued. Adding a headphone jack to an organ isn't exactly rocket science, but it will require someone with some knowledge of the instrument and how the audio is channeled in that particular model.

You may need to find a technician willing to do some hacking. It shouldn't be all that hard to attach a four-input line-level stereo mixer to the four audio output jacks (assuming it is currently set up for four channels). One could solder to these jacks on the back side so as not to disturb the plugs going to the speaker cabinets, then go into the new mixer with 1/4" plugs. Each channel could then be adjusted for level and tone to suit your preferences when listening by headphone (the mixer would have a headphone jack, so no amp needed). You could also pan each channel between the left and right ear to set up the apparent spread of the stops across your stereo field.

It will be even better if you buy some kind of mixer that has digital reverb built in, and that is fairly common these days. Otherwise, the totally naked in-your-ear sounds of this analog organ may not be very pleasant through headphones. That is why the headphone attachment that Rodgers used to sell had a spring reverb as part of the equipment.

I frequently buy little mixers like this with Behringer and other bargain-brand names, and they work just fine. They cost around $100, maybe a bit more with digital reverb. But your major expense will probably be for the technician's labor as he figures out how to make this work, and it is "custom" work, not ordinary repair work, so be prepared to pay accordingly.

You'll also need to add a power strip or other means of AC switching so you can turn off the amplifiers that power the external speaker cabinets while you practice with headphones.

[sleventio]

Well thanks for the post. You taught me knew things.

All I know is the organ is the younger brother to the Rodgers 750B. I purchased it around 2008 from Rodgers Instruments in Panama City, Florida. It has external speakers and it also has a knob beneath the keyboard deck that allows +/- echo for the stops, along with a hole that would have included a headphone jack but doesn't. My dad has knowledge with soldering and electrical stuff- he used to build computer motherboards, so he might be able to do a project like this, but I don't have the full manual with specifications of the circuitry involved. I'll give Roders a call at least and see if they have any techs in the area. I live outside Newport News in Virginia.
http://www.organforum.com/forums/new...3092&noquote=1
Thanks for posting.

[toodles]

I've never heard of the 715 model, nor seen any Rodgers literature on it. I wonder if it is not a Deseret 815 with a typo on the model number? It generally fits that model, although the name tag is from a later series, and it has the transposer of the LED stop tab vintage. Or perhaps it's a model that had a very short sales life, or a prototype that got sold.

[JRaymondT]

I bought a Rodgers Trio 321B that comes with headphone jacks that are supposed to allow you to plug in and cut off the internal speakers. This seems to be the only thing not working, as my head[hone only deliver one on one side and crackly at that (headphones work fine on my stereo receiver). I need to practice on headphones.

I would rather hear that this is an easy repair, not an expensive modification. Any thoughts?

Thanking you in advance.

[jbird604]

Headphone jacks are notorious for having poor contact surfaces. I'd open it up and clean the heck out of the jack. Use a Q-tip to clean and polish the spots where the plug is supposed to make contact with the three different circuits in there. Some kind of spray cleaner suitable for electronics can be used to dislodge corrosion and gunk that may have accumulated in there.

[tucsondave]

If there is static in the phones on both jacks then try exercising the headphone output level controls on the output board which is located in the center of the 2nd swing out rack.

td