Can anyone identify this Conn model?

[dunolde]

Originally identified as a Lowry, it has no designation other than CONN above the keyboard, under some of the tabs in the middle. Recently retired, I have always wanted and organ and to learn to play (had some piano eons ago...)
Auditioned this organ and everything seem to be in good working order, including pedalboard. Can someone please help identify the model? (Sorry about the URL but I could not get a picture to "insert.")

[jbird604]

Appears to be in the 600 series. 2m, 25 pedals, theater-ish voices, built-in percussion instruments but I don't think I see any automatic rhythm. Were there some 640 series models like this? I had a 628 once, but I believe it had rocker tabs instead of tongues.

If it seems in good working order and pleases you, and if the price is right (free or nearly so), go for it. It probably sounds quite interesting with the Leslie speaker built in for the flute channel.

Like most Conn organs, it will have the vinyl-conductive rods for keying the string and reed sounds, and these rods may well be somewhat deteriorated so that playing a reed or string voice by itself might reveal considerable unevenness from note to note. But if you are playing fuller combinations with flutes mixed in, you probably won't have any completely dead keys, so it is usable.

And you may find yourself loving your new hobby and may want to search for something a little newer or more elaborate in time.

Happy playing!

[andyg]

Looking at the photos in Blue Book, the almost exact match is the 628 Rhapsody Deluxe, from 1969. This one appears to have a slightly later Voice Fun Master (VFM) unit, so maybe it's the 628-4 Rhapsody deluxe from 1972, as mentioned in the 'Organ Mother List'. It will have the classic late 60's/early 70's Conn theatre organ sound. Free or very little is the correct price.

As jbird says, Conns this old can have some issues and it's worth considering checking and perhaps replacing the power supply capacitors as they were not meant to last this amount of time.

[mak1457]

Isn't this a Serenade? More specifically a 633? It appears to be much like the 632 only the body is obviously made for a home organ and it looks as though it has some features you would fine on a home organ. I never did find much use for the "classical" voices but the tibias sounded good.

[james]

This organ makes me think of the Conn 500 series I had at one time. It had a good solid analog organ sound, but all the extras in the way of preset perc, rhythms, etc. were a poor excuse compared to some of the others. If it is working OK it should provide you with a good organ to own and learn more on for sure.

I really favored the organ with tubes since Conn did a very nice job when those were on the market. I noticed the early Baldwins sounded better than many of the later ones. Baldwin did their best with church organs which they started out with in the beginning.



The stops seem to be arranged very much like the 500 series I had. I don't think I had a 2' pitch on the lower manual.

James

[davidecasteel]

Not to be picky, but isn't this thread in the wrong forum?

David

[Admin]

Right, David. Moved.

[dunolde]

OK everyone, thanks for the responses. Unfortunately I am already committed to take it, but, as I said, an "audition", and not a lengthy one, showed everything to be in working order. Some replacing, if not prohibitively expensive or overly complex would not be too bad. I suppose when we can figure exactly which model it actually is I can obtain a service manual.
You have all been very helpful; stay tuned...

[andyg]

Isn't this a Serenade? More specifically a 633? It appears to be much like the 632 only the body is obviously made for a home organ and it looks as though it has some features you would fine on a home organ. I never did find much use for the "classical" voices but the tibias sounded good.

No, the Serenades have more voices and more tabs. This is a Rhapsody Deluxe. Look in Blue Book and compare the photos.

It is theatrically voiced, though it is in a straight case. Conn did the same trick with the Serenade vs 2 manual Theatre and the Minuet vs the Theatrette. It's not meant to be a classical organ (which is why I left the thread where it was and didn't move it here!) though it will make decent straight sounds.

[davidecasteel]

Then perhaps it should be in Electronic Theater Organs?

David

[geoelectro]

Conn organs usually have the ID plate in the back near the top. Usually inset so a little hard to see at first.

Geo

[Hamman]

Also under the lower manual/ knee bolster area

[dunolde]

Organ has been delivered and the plate on the back identifies it as in deed a Conn Rhapsody 628.
Everything seems to be working very well. However, the exact function of some of the features is not clear to me, even after extensive experimentation.
Is there somewhere I can obtain an owner's

Thanks!

[Hamman]

If you have difficulties finding a "owners" manual....here is the "service" manual on ebay;

http://www.--------/itm/CONN-Rhapsod...item4613f56c2e


You may also want to PM forum member "Jan Girardot" and ask him....though it seems most of his manuals are service....but you never know

[Jan Girardot]

My 628 manuals are all sold, sorry.

. . . Jan