Anyone know what this is?

[geoelectro]

It’s being donated to a church who wants me to service it.

[toodles]

I think it is a Kawai.

[andyg]

Kawai XR9000.

Not sure what a church will do with it. The only organ sounds are the drawbars, and they're voiced like Gulbransen, not tonewheel Hammond!

[geoelectro]

Kawai XR9000.

Not sure what a church will do with it. The only organ sounds are the drawbars, and they're voiced like Gulbransen, not tonewheel Hammond!

Thanks Andy!

Geo

[Larrytow]

I have seen a LOT of churches land up owning bigger entertainers style organs over the years ! I think mostly the way it happens is that when the owner of the organ, who is usually a member of the congregation, passes away, it is left to the church in their will. Or when the church member who owns it needs to downsize their life ( going to assisted living or the like ), they give it to the church. Normally it is not to replace the main church organ, but to use in the fellowship hall or areas like that.

Then, a lot of times no one at the church knows ( or bothers to figure out ) how to make use of all the features, so it just sits unused.

Kind of a sad end to the organs life, but then they do come up for sale or free once the church figures out that no one is going to use it.

[Piperdane]

. . . I think mostly the way it happens is that when the owner of the organ, who is usually a member of the congregation, passes away, it is left to the church in their will. Or when the church member who owns it needs to downsize their life ( going to assisted living or the like ), they give it to the church. Normally it is not to replace the main church organ, but to use in the fellowship hall or areas like that.

Yes, that is what happens at times. In my former parish I politely declined any offers like these when the situation arose. Once donated they can become "sacred cows" that are hard, if not impossible, to get rid of later on.

[geoelectro]

My understanding is this church doesn't currently have an organ and will be looking to use it. They are also being offered a Hammond 810 which is a spinet.

Some years ago a local college was being offered a Hammond B-3. I serviced it and it was mint. A fellow called me from the college and described being offered this organ and asked, does it have 32 pedals? I said no and he said well, they would turn it down! I said, hey, this is a mint Hammond B-3 that's worth a good amount of money. Why not accept it and resell it to get what you want? He said once a donation is accepted, they cannot sell it or otherwise discard it.

Geo