Conn 720 - Any thoughts?

[CarillonBells]

I watch the local ads from time to time, and recently I found a Conn 720 in very close proximity to me. I was curious if anyone can comment on the tone / quality of the sound. It is a tube based organ, so I'm not expecting digitally sampled sound, but the price isn't much either. The added benefit is that its smaller size may make it easier to move here. I presume that the pedal board is removable?
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So, if there are any comments on the sound, common problems to look for, actual worth, etc. is all appreciated.</p>

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Thanks!
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[Royal]

Re: Conn 720 - Any thoughts?



If you search "Conn 720" in this Forum, you will likely findthe answers to your questions. Or see thread http://organforum.com/forums/thread/35753.aspx</P>


A thorough evaluation of the 720 byjbird604.</P>


Roy</P>

[OrgansR4Me]

Re: Conn 720 - Any thoughts?



Late last year I gave away my 720 which I had owned for close to 12 years. I didn't get enough time to play it and was going to have to give it a complete workup -- I had squirreled away plenty of tubes just for that planned fix up. But I got the Wurlitzer bug and had a chance to get a great one last December and I just couldn't keep both.</P>


I found the tone to be one of the best of the early tube organs. All early tube organs were limited in terms of reeds and strings (which is an assessment voiced often about analog organs here on the forum) and that didn't really bother me as much as some of the other posters here who have alot of true pipe organ experience. It has alot of features that most early organs didn't have including the ability to switch the Leslie animation from the flutes to the main and two speeds -- which many organ companies didn't add until the late 1960's.</P>


It is a great instrument for someone who wants to do the cleaning and maintenance themselves and the tubes are still very available so the main concern will be the condition of the amplifier. Most of these units do need capacitors replaced. Considering many like mine are free and most are under $100 you couldn't find a better starter organ!</P>

[CarillonBells]

Re: Conn 720 - Any thoughts?



Thanks for the comments - I've checked out that thread and it does indeed answer a lot of questions. If anyone could comment on how it would compare to an Allen TC-3S (Analog w/ Celeste/Strings) it would be appreciated. That was the organ I had previously, but sadly I was still in school at the time and my mom had to sell her house - so it got sold. It sounded good, but you could tell it had limitations when you tried to key too many notes and you didn't get enough sound to correspond!
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Can one give the Conn a Theatre sound via the Leslie speaker? I noticed that it has a few different speed settings. A friend has told me it does have good sounding strings, as he used to have one some time ago. It does have "static" in the speakers, though, so I'm wondering if that might be the contact problem discussed in the other post. Are parts / salvage parts still around for these things or is does anyone know another good fix for the keying troubles?
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[OrgansR4Me]

Re: Conn 720 - Any thoughts?



The Leslie is set up with two speeds for a very good theater sound -- and is very much related to the Conn Theater Organ family! You'll find some threads here about a coated bus bar situation and some people move either the entire bar or bend the contact wires ever so slightly to hit a better spot. As related to an Allen, I've owned older models and 1980's models and it is a completely different sound.A dedicated church model in the Allen line is going to lean toward the german family of voicing in many instances. The 720 is whole heartedly an american romantic sound.</P>


As to parts watch Ebay auction for a host of old parts. And in the main prices are about as low as for whole organs. I won a Baldwin lot of parts today for just $6.99 with no other bidders in the auction.</P>