Buying Wersi Verona vs. Technics (or Yamaha)

[sugarman64]

Hi all!

My first post here at the forum.
I haven't been playing organ for many years but would like to start again.

So now I'm looking around for a new (used) organ.
My last one was a Technics U90. So my first intention was to byu a "better" and later Technics or Yamaha, like G100, GA3, AR100 or something like that.

But I am also looking at a Wersi Verona (2002) with unknown OAS version.

So here comes my questions.
1. Is it free to upgrade any early OAS version to version 6? (Probably not able to get v7 as I think it need new hardware (SG-12 card))
If there is a need of new PC hardware I don't see that as a big problem. I am working as an it technician.

2. How much organ do it get in the Verona without paying a lot of extra for options?

3. And how does the Verona without a lot of expensive options compare to the Technics or Yamaha I mentioned above?

//Benny from Sweden

[seamaster]

Of those options, the G100/GA3 are your best bet. The AR100 is a very nice organ too. All are cheap now.

It would be a braver man than me that took a punt on a used Wersi. Any used Wersi.

[Markr]

I purchased a used Verona in 2006, and it gave me 10 years of very happy playing, before it failed. It could have been fixed, but it was a good justification to get a new Sonic, and I sold the Verona on Ebay, so cost me about £300 per year. Whilst I had OAS 7, so cannot comment on earlier versions of OAS, I found it to be trouble free, very feature rich and more flexible than anything I had played previously - biggest issue was the quality of the inbuilt speakers, so had to go with externals - newer Sonic’s are no different though.

You really need to go and have a play of all the instruments you are looking at, as it is all down to personal taste (sound, functionality, ease of use, aesthetics etc). I quite like fiddling, so flexibility is very important to me, but others prefer to switch on, pull a few tabs and play.

Good hunting!

[abacus]

Each Wersi OAS version from OAS 4 on required a new activation code to work, unfortunately as far as I am aware these codes are no longer available, so you will be stuck with whatever version it comes with, (If it’s the original hardware than it will be a P3 or P4 CPU) however most will have been upgraded so you will have to see what it’s got. (If its OAS 5 or 6 you will have a cracking system)
Upgrades to OAS7 are still available but are expensive. (You can also have it converted to an OAX instrument for a fair amount of money as well)
The Verona will be way more advanced and flexible that the others you mention, options were limited to the B4 Hammond emulator and a Drum Pack for these early instruments. (So nothing expensive)
As has been mentioned, try them and see which you prefer, but if there is anything that does not work on any of them, avoid.

Bill

[andyg]

If you like fiddling and tweaking to get the best out of a very flexible instrument, then the Wersi is a fun instrument. If you just want to sit down and play and have some cracking sounds right 'up front', then the GA3 or the full console FA1 (or the 'posh versions' - G100 and F100) take a heck of a lot of beating.

Spares and reliability? Technics were up with the very best and there have been very few reports on here of problems with the GA and FA, other than the rotary encoders for the tempo/value dial. These have been remanufactured by a third party, and are easily obtained for very little money. Most owners have done the replacement job themselves. As for the Wersi, you will have to determine what motherboard/CPU/RAM hardware you have. Most Pentium 3 and Pentium 4 computers probably went to landfill a long time ago! Something later would definitely be preferable.

So either way you take a bit of gamble on parts and reliability. That brings it back to personal tastes on ease of use versus flexibility and, most importantly, on which sound you like best.

FWIW, I'd go for the GA/FA Technics in a heartbeat, wonderful organs. But that's only my personal tastes.

[alandlees]

Also to add my personal experience, although the Verona has some great sounds and features (as long as the inbuilt PC still works OK!) it has a far worse speaker system than the other organs you mention, and will need some sort of add on sound system.

[sugarman64]

Thank you for all replies :-)