Johannus Console are INFERIOR

[organpower]

what say you?

[organpower]

Re: Johannus Console are INFERIOR

i broked one of the plastic keys whilst demoing one.....

[nullogik]

Re: Johannus Console are INFERIOR



Oh dear, I can imagine the salesman wincing when that happened!

</p>

It reminded me of test driving a car. When I turned up they told me it had a flat battery and wouldn't start - so I walked away from it. It made me wonder how long the car had been sitting there unused (which is bad for a car) or whether it had a battery drain which are notoriously difficult to track down.

</p>

[jbird604]

Re: Johannus Console are INFERIOR



OP,</P>


Perhaps you are judging too harshly.Johannus apparently can sell you an organ withmany morestops andaudiochannelsthan amajor brand modelin the same price range, even if the console is not as fancy or heavy. But I'd guess that the consoles are going to last 25 or 30 years with reasonable care, which is about the useful life cycle of an electronic anyway.</P>


Your brokenkey was probably a random defect that does not reflect on the general nature of their keys. I've not seen such a thing and have played on a dozen different Johannus organs installed around here. The smallest and cheapest instruments have quite ordinary plastic keys, but they don't feel brittle or flimsy. The big $250,000 four-manual Monarke hasbeautiful wooden keys with a very convincing tracker touch feel. Certainly nothing inferior about those keys. Probably the best keys I've seen on any electronic.</P>


So don't despair. The factory will certainly supply the dealer with a new key at no cost. Maybe even replace the entire set if they think it prudent. </P>


John</P>
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[radagast]

Re: Johannus Console are INFERIOR



[quote user="organpower"]what say you?[/quote]</P>


I have heard people say that when playing a Johannus, pressing down on a key would cause the whole keyboard to bend downward. It was also said that if you stood up on the pedalboard, it would buckle. I don't know if it is still true, but it makes the brand suspect.</P>

[arie v]

Re: Johannus Console are INFERIOR



Hi,</p>

I went to a Johannus dealer just over a year ago, to try some instruments. He had a variety of them. Two out of three that I tried had issues. A 3 manual Sweelink, it took 2 of us to get the roll top up. Almost flipped the thing onto it's back. Tried it, seemed to work but was uninspiring. Then I tried a new model Rembrandt. 1 speaker channel not working, some pistons seemed to take 2 or more presses to work, lighted drawstops felt really cheap. Sound was not great, the baroque suite sounded better than the romantic one. Audio system sounded like it was cheap.</p>

Also tried an Opus, with just internal speakers. It worked okay, but sound was not good at all. Again probably a lousy audio system coupled with few , short samples.</p>

Overall, I came away thinking that all lot of these Johannus organs are better looked at (from say 10' away), than either played or listened to. As for me, I came away thinking that I wouldn't want to own one.
</p>

Over the years, having serviced them and hearing anecdotal stories about them, it seems that the quality is rather variable on them. My mother's church has one, and it has been problematic since day one. Apparently the plating on the connectors was no good. One dealer I know of had so many problems with them, he quit handling Johannus. Even if the problems are not major, but you have to fix them under warranty 2 or more times, it doesn't take much before your profit on the sale is gone. </p>

I also want to say, that no manufacturer can say they have never had a problem or a problem organ. Just that some have a reputation for more lemons than others.</p>

Also, I am sure that Johannus has produced many problem-free instruments.</p>

AV</p>

[Guest]

Re: Johannus Console are INFERIOR



Greetings to other members, as I am a "Newbie" here today.</p>

 I have owned a Johannus Organ for my home for the last 3 years and have a 2005 Opus 30 3-manual instrument.  Is it a pipe instrument? -No.  Would a pipe instrument of more than 2-3 ranks fit in my home? -No.  All-in-all, I took several years making my decision, and I selected the Johannus instrument based on the quality of sound and features, not primarily the price. </p>

So far, I have had no problems - electronic, mechanical or otherwise.  The organ that I purchased had an additional speaker array that perhaps improves the sound.  I added a 4-Channel setup that sits on the top of the organ as well as an extra "pedal" tower for deeper sound from the pedal division.  I also have used the Intonat software to voice the instrument to optimal sound in my living room.  I was, honestly, not completely happy with it until I had taken this step, but was grateful that this was an option for my own use, as some of the other digital makers do not allow the end user to do voicing. The console has seemed sturdy enough to me, and has shown no signs of wear or other problems. My dealer also provided a generous parts/service warranty should I ever have any problems, but there have been none. </p>

Oddly, I have heard one or two of these "flimsy" arguments before about Johannus, and I just cannot see that this is the case.  I have found them no more flimsy than other digital organs, and the cabinetry seems superior to many.  Keyboards can be had at a variety of price levels depending on what you want, all the way up to a "tracker action" custom wood keyboard (in the wood of your choice), if you care to pay for it.  I wonder, indeed, how hard one is striking the keyboard to actually break a key.  I have played the organ for 37 years now and have never broken/damaged a key on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">any</span> instrument. Perhaps I am more "gentle," however as I never was a pianist first and the only other keyboard instrument I play regularly is a harpsichord where striking the keys hard does nothing to the sound (as it would, of course do nothing for organ sound unless one has a "double touch" action from symphonic / theater organ days gone by).  </p>

 As an aside, yes, I can even stand on the pedal board and it does not "give" appreciably, but I see little point to standing on pedals.</p>

 Just thought that I would "speak up" with an alternative viewpoint. </p>

 </p>

I look forward to future discussions.</p>

 </p>

Jeffrey Shy</p>

Mesa, AZ </p>

[jbird604]

Re: Johannus Console are INFERIOR



Jeffrey,</P>


Thanks for the testimonial. Sounds like you have a terrific setup in your home. You are probably getting more out of an Opusthan most people will due to the care you have taken in diligentvoicing and byadding the additional speakers. You are to be congratulated for your good work.</P>


I do some work for the local Johannus dealer, and, as I said in my postabove, have played many of them and find the instruments to be of good quality. Having sold Allen organs back in the 80's and knowing what goes into an Allen console (or did back then) I do see that some other brands don't put as much into the wooden box itself. But it still seems to me that the consoles of Johannus and other less costly brands are perfectly adequate and will last the lifetime of the organ. It's almost sad to see a 40-year-old Allen whose electronics arenear obsolete andsometimes in bad shape, while the console is still as sturdy and beautiful as when new.</P>


Our dealer sold an Opus 27 (the currentlargest 2 manual in the Opus line) to a small church recently and it seems to work well. The musicians are thrilled, as it replaced an old and trouble-prone Baldwin and the organ budget was quite small. Had they bought one of the major brands at the same price, it would have been very small indeed.</P>


Glad to have you aboard. Hope to hear from you again.</P>


John</P>
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[nullogik]

Re: Johannus Console are INFERIOR



[quote user="jbird604"] I do some work for the local Johannus dealer, and, as I said in my postabove, have played many of them and find the instruments to be of good quality. Having sold Allen organs back in the 80's and knowing what goes into an Allen console (or did back then) I do see that some other brands don't put as much into the wooden box itself. But it still seems to me that the consoles of Johannus and other less costly brands are perfectly adequate and will last the lifetime of the organ. It's almost sad to see a 40-year-old Allen whose electronics arenear obsolete andsometimes in bad shape, while the console is still as sturdy and beautiful as when new.[/quote]</P>


Totally agree, Allen make some wonderful and very sturdy consoles. My father suggested that an old Allen roll top console like mine would make a wonderful writing desk once the keyboards were removed - sacrilege! [:O]</P>


In fact I don't see why there isn't a larger market for shells of older analogue instruments to plug in some midi keyboards etc. and turn it into a Hauptwerk instrument. Its certainly a thousand times prettierthan any of the Ikea computer table solutions that people like Midiworks offer/suggest.</P>

[organpower]

Re: Johannus Console are INFERIOR



well I broke the key during the 3rd out of four major chord progressions at the end of an improv that I was doing...it was on a johannus american classic V...choir manual...the a above middle c...it sucked because I actually cut my finger on the sharp plastic....to see how hard i was playing check out the last 10 seconds of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mwn7mxuQbc   </p>

I would just like to say Jeff that you are so lucky to live right next to Organ Stop Pizza....i have to fly 6 hours to get there. </p>

 </p>

DJB </p>

[organpower]

Re: Johannus Console are INFERIOR



well I broke the key during the 3rd out of four major chord progressions at the end of an improv that I was doing...it was on a johannus american classic V...choir manual...the a above middle c...it sucked because I actually cut my finger on the sharp plastic....to see how hard i was playing check out the last 10 seconds of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mwn7mxuQbc   </p>

I would just like to say Jeff that you are so lucky to live right next to Organ Stop Pizza....i have to fly 6 hours to get there. </p>

 </p>

DJB </p>