Shopping for home organ

[Aufoxy]

Hi everyone! My name is Jordan, I’m new to this forum and also very new to organs. Played the piano most of my life but have always wanted to play the organ.

Here’s the question - I’m getting a Nord C2D because I live on the 3rd floor in an apartment and there’s no elevator so I have to have something that can be carried up the stairs. Nord offers their own pedalboard, but my organ teacher recommended a 32 note AGO pedalboard. Can I get one that will connect to the Nord C2D? Thanks for any and all of your help!

[abacus]

Welcome to the forum

So long as the Pedalboard has Midi then it can be connected to the Nord, (1 example here https://www.viscountinstruments.us/m...oards-173.html there are a number of others) however I have to ask what type of music you are wishing to learn, as pedalboards of that size are only really relevant for classical/theatre/church music, (Although they can be used for others) and if it is for general entertainment music then the cheaper 17 to 25 note pedalboards will be fine.

Bill

[andyg]

Welcome to the forum. Yes, it depends entirely on what music you want to learn and play. If the answer is just classical, then the Nord is probably the wrong choice of instrument. Something like the Johannus One or the Dexibell Classico L3 (same instrument but with different organ voicing) might be more appropriate. If it's rock, jazz, etc then the Nord is fine (and a smaller pedalboard would be OK), then maybe you have an organ teacher who only teaches classical, or doesn't know much about the other types of organ?

[Larrytow]

Aufoxy, You've got good advice already on this, and I agree with them.

I can add this though : in my experience it is actually nicer to play pop music bass lines on a flat 25 note full length pedalboard, than on a 32 note AGO concave radiating one. That may be due to me learning supper club pop style organ playing a long time before I learned church / classical though.

And the difference in size and weight of a full size 25 compared to a 32 note board is pretty substantial, even though it is only a 7 note difference. The AGO ones by any Mfg are normally made in big heavy wood frames. So that 3rd floor move will be easier.

I think that once you are familiar with playing a 25 note board, getting used to an AGO one, or even smaller ones ( 13 or 20 notes ) is easier to do than if you start out with a spinet size.

Church / classical music is best on a full size AGO board, of course.

[Aufoxy]

Thanks so much for all of your advice!! I’m mainly interested in liturgical/ church music and some classical. My goal is to become a church organist. In that case, is Nord plus the pedalboard I described ideal or is there something better? Thanks again!

[myorgan]

Thanks so much for all of your advice!! I’m mainly interested in liturgical/ church music and some classical. My goal is to become a church organist.

In that case, I'd recommend Haputwerk, as it is capable of producing the music you describe under the conditions you describe.

Since you are probably looking for a classical as opposed to a home organ. May I suggest checking out Hauptwerk? It is computer and component-based, so it would be easier to move should it become necessary. You can search the Forum for the word, and probably find several threads on the subject.

Michael

[Doddy.van.Straaten]

Thanks so much for all of your advice!! I’m mainly interested in liturgical/ church music and some classical. My goal is to become a church organist. In that case, is Nord plus the pedalboard I described ideal or is there something better? Thanks again!

From the way you have written your original post, it would seem that you have already made your choice and getting a Nord C2D. possibly because of the inbuilt Baroque organ?

But the Nord C2D is primarily centred around Hammond, Vox Continental and Farfisa organs with Leslie 122 rotary effects - and as Andy G (and others) have clearly stated, hardly the right instrument for Classical work.

Having a Hauptwerk system would introduce you playing Liturgical (church music) and Classical compositions on a wide selection of Baroque, Romantic and Modern organs and thus, following the relative composers of the day, provide a wide selection of organs to play on for your intended interests.

• Baroque (1600 - 1750) Schnitger, Hildebrandt and Silberman
• Romantic (1780 - 1910) Walcker, Cavaille-Coll, Henry Willis
  
• Modern (1890 - 1930) Skinner, Æolian, Austin
  
  
  

[andyg]

Yes, the Nord is completely wrong for what you want to do, you would be wasting your money. I already told you what new classical instruments you should look at - the Johannus and Dexibell. You may also find used Roland single manual instruments if you look around.

Hauptwerk is another option, but would take a bit of setting up - plenty of info in the relevant section of the Forum.

[musicmaker84]

Instead of Hauptwerk, I would check out Grand Orgue. Easier to set up as one might think and free. The problem with the pedals remains, though. Check out http://www.jg3tech.com/about

[ToH]

Hi!
Check out the Viscount Cantorum Duo.
https://www.viscountinstruments.com/cantorum-duo.html

[ToH]

There are now a couple of organs available as IPAD apps like Pitea and Burea a few more by Markus Sigg. There also some others.

Wonder if IPad will be able to compete with the computer based softwares in coming future. It actually seems much easier and faster than windows but the choicies are much less at least now. Although these Markus Sigg organs seems pretty good other intruments seems to lag quite a bit compared to windows versions. I don't know if it the samples sizes that are much smaller or if it's something else.

[Doddy.van.Straaten]

I already told you what new classical instruments you should look at - the Johannus and Dexibell. You may also find used Roland single manual instruments if you look around.

Nice links Andy, these are new instruments to me but I find them rather interesting.

THX

[andyg]

I've been playing the Dexibell one in the store over the past few weeks, and I've been impressed. I've not seen the Johannus version advertised in the UK, I guess they either don't want to import it or they have an agreement with Dexibell not to, I don't know either way! It would be nice to compare them side by side.

[Aufoxy]

Once again, thank you all for your help. I've considered your suggestions to date, and have researched the organs suggested. So, here's the current list of options; I'm hoping y'all may be able to help me with some of my questions (I've called the respective dealers and I'm mostly just waiting to be called back at this point).
- I'm meeting an Allen dealer tonight about a used Allen MDS-1. My main concern about this is repairs - what are the common things that can go wrong, and when do they start happening? Is it a problem to get new parts (circuitboard being my main concern? Are there other concerns with this organ?) The price is within my budget ($6700) but I don't know if I should factor in potential costly repairs in the next 10 years.
- I've contacted a Viscount USA representative to discuss the Cantorum Duo - I LOVE the look of the organ but I don't know anything about the price. Does anyone know how much I could expect to pay for a Cantorum Duo with AGO pedalboard? If not, hopefully he returns my call soon!
- I'm also looking into going VPO with Hauptwerk or Grand Orgue and piecing together my own organ.
Thoughts?
Thanks again for all the help you've offered thus far!

[myorgan]

- I'm meeting an Allen dealer tonight about a used Allen MDS-1. My main concern about this is repairs - what are the common things that can go wrong, and when do they start happening? Is it a problem to get new parts (circuitboard being my main concern? Are there other concerns with this organ?) The price is within my budget ($6700) but I don't know if I should factor in potential costly repairs in the next 10 years.

Aufoxy,

Allen is rock solid, and the MDS-1, though the lowest of the MDS line, should perform as expected. Allen appears to be the only manufacturer who will support their instruments over 40 years old. Granted, it is for a price, but they do support them. I've just found several logic boards and purchased them for the eventuality one of the boards on one of my ADC organs has issues. It is rare, though. Price? Currently, most Allen repairs are somewhere between $500-$1000 for the parts, depending on the repair. Something catastrophic (i.e. lightening strike) should be covered by homeowner's insurance.

Regarding the other instruments, I cannot advise, as I have very little experience there. Hope this helps.

Michael