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Hi all! I've been offered a Yamaha HX1. It's been converted to Hauptwerk. I know nothing about Hauptwerk. Will the organ still have its original voicing? Plus the addition of the new sounds? It doesn't currently turn on. Either it's a fuse or worse. Haven't seen it yet. The gentleman who has it got it in a storage unit purchase. Pass or Go for it?
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Q: Do you want an HX1, or do you want an organ?
If you just want an organ, then walk away. NEVER buy a non working organ unless you are sure that you can fix it yourself, and that all the required parts are available (and you don't mind spending possibly lots of time, effort and money).
If you really want an HX1, then this one should be very low cost. No way to tell what's wrong with it. If it's been 'converted', chances are that it's dead and that the insides may have been removed and replaced with just the new electronics to drive Hauptwerk (which is a 'virtual' organ system, running on a separate computer, with the organ's keys and pedals being the only parts of the original organ being used.)
It's not what you play. It's not how you play. It's the fact that you're playing that counts.
New website now live - www.andrew-gilbert.com
Current instruments: Roland Atelier AT900 Platinum Edition, Yamaha Genos, Yamaha PSR-S970, Kawai K1m
Retired Organs: Lots! Kawai SR6 x 2, Hammond L122, T402, T500 x 2, X5. Conn Martinique and 652. Gulbransen 2102 Pacemaker. Kimball Temptation.
Retired Leslies, 147, 145 x 2, 760 x 2, 710, 415 x 2.
Retired synths: Korg 700, Roland SH1000, Jen Superstringer, Kawai S100F, Kawai S100P, Kawai K1 -
The "converted to Hauptwerk" description sounds a bit odd considering the HX1 is easily used to output MIDI to Hauptwerk anyway...
Like Andy said though, probably stay clear unless you can examine it more closely...
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Thanks Andy! I always respect your opinion. Fortunately or unfortunately, I have decided to go ahead and pick it up and bring it in to my workshop.... The organ was purchased in a storage unit sale and the gentleman who has it knows nothing about organs. I know that cold storage is usually the kiss of death for them but something tells me that there might be more here than I can just acquire through a couple of messenger conversations. The organ is MIDI capable so, we should be okay in that respect. It comes with the player disc/player, bench, pedals and the two tower speakers. I like the older DX7 sounds of this unit. It's FREE and if it's deemed unfixable I can always part it out. My tech is really a little more excited by the venture than even me. He has always enjoyed sharing his knowledge when I bring home a challenge. Thank goodness he doesn't always charge me and likes to partner for fun on projects like this! In the process I've become quite the apprentice. So, we'll see how it goes... Maybe, I can bring it back from the dead if not no big deal!Originally posted by andyg View PostComment
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Yeah, I would grab it up too, but grabbing up unwanted organs is a bad habit of mine. That one looks like a whole HX-1, System One setup, so if it is not fixable, there are lots of components to part out.
If it comes with a pair of Yamaha KA - (20, 30, or 40 ) speakers, those are worth the trip alone. They are self amplified cabinets that can be used for all sorts of things. And they are good.
The HX is not real easy to play on the fly, as Andy alluded to, but you can program lots of great setups into it.
All the self storage units I am familiar with do not have electrical outlets in them. How has it even been tested if that is the situation ? Let us know what you discover.Regards, Larry
At Home : Yamaha Electones : EX-42 ( X 3 !!! ), E-5AR, FX-1 ( X 2 !! ), US-1, EL-25 ( Chopped ). Allen 601D, ADC 6000D. Lowrey CH32-1. At Churches I play for : Allen Q325 ( with Vista ), Allen L123 ( with Navigator ). Rodgers 755. 1919 Wangerin 2/7 pipe organ.Comment
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John, I would add my two-cents for what it's worth. Over the years, I've had three XH1s and one CHX1. While it's "old" technology, you cannot beat the sound. Nick is right. The HX has MIDI in/out and as I understand it, that's all you need to connect a computer for Hauptwerk. I doubt seriously that any of the original Yamaha components were removed to make it Hauptwerk compatible. Those pros who play(ed) the HX1 (Hector Olivera, Bob Ralston, et al) all agreed that the organ was designed by an engineer who wouldn't know a "C" from an "E-flat." Therefore, it's almost impossible to register by hand. Everything has to be pre-programmed. But if it has the MDR disc player or any RAM paks, it can be easily programmed. The KA speakers alone are worth it as Larry suggested. I would go for it. You can always tinker with it and see if you can bring it back to life.Comment
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I'd be suspicious of this one if it's cheap or free. HX-1s still command strong money after all these years, especially in System 1 configuration.Comment
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I did it! Picked it up this weekend and just as I suspected... The guy who purchased it didn't know how to hook it up correctly. She's perfect and plays like a dream. So happy!You may only view thumbnails in this gallery. This gallery has 1 photos.Comment
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Congratulations John R !!! Finds like that are what keep me haunting the ads - ya just never know when a real gem will turn up. Now you need to really play with it and figure out all that you can do with one. I have a friend here who played one in supper club lounges, and he could really get some wonderful sounds and music out of it. But it took a ton of time getting to know it before using it in public.
Are those KA - 20s or 30s ?Regards, Larry
At Home : Yamaha Electones : EX-42 ( X 3 !!! ), E-5AR, FX-1 ( X 2 !! ), US-1, EL-25 ( Chopped ). Allen 601D, ADC 6000D. Lowrey CH32-1. At Churches I play for : Allen Q325 ( with Vista ), Allen L123 ( with Navigator ). Rodgers 755. 1919 Wangerin 2/7 pipe organ.Comment
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That's a good find! :)
Have fun learning how to set it up and get good sounds from it. It was never one that you could play on the fly and so you'll be storing and using registration banks all the time. Did it come with a disk drive, as you're going to need one to do this.It's not what you play. It's not how you play. It's the fact that you're playing that counts.
New website now live - www.andrew-gilbert.com
Current instruments: Roland Atelier AT900 Platinum Edition, Yamaha Genos, Yamaha PSR-S970, Kawai K1m
Retired Organs: Lots! Kawai SR6 x 2, Hammond L122, T402, T500 x 2, X5. Conn Martinique and 652. Gulbransen 2102 Pacemaker. Kimball Temptation.
Retired Leslies, 147, 145 x 2, 760 x 2, 710, 415 x 2.
Retired synths: Korg 700, Roland SH1000, Jen Superstringer, Kawai S100F, Kawai S100P, Kawai K1Comment
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Hey Andy! It did and tons of disc. I just need the power cord for that unit. The gentleman who bought it out of storage didn't even have speaker cables for it. So, one quick trip to the Guitar Center and problem solved. I'll have to be more clever about finding a power cord for the disk drive... Any thoughts?Originally posted by andyg View PostComment
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Depends on whether it's AC mains powered or works via a DC adaptor. What kind of power socket does it have? If it's AC mains, that's easy enough. If it's an adaptor, you'd have to find one that matches in in voltage (AC or DC, and you'd need to know which) and matches or surpasses it in current capability. Should be possible, and remember that many drives have died but their adaptors might still be around. A request on here or one of the Facebook groups might find one.It's not what you play. It's not how you play. It's the fact that you're playing that counts.
New website now live - www.andrew-gilbert.com
Current instruments: Roland Atelier AT900 Platinum Edition, Yamaha Genos, Yamaha PSR-S970, Kawai K1m
Retired Organs: Lots! Kawai SR6 x 2, Hammond L122, T402, T500 x 2, X5. Conn Martinique and 652. Gulbransen 2102 Pacemaker. Kimball Temptation.
Retired Leslies, 147, 145 x 2, 760 x 2, 710, 415 x 2.
Retired synths: Korg 700, Roland SH1000, Jen Superstringer, Kawai S100F, Kawai S100P, Kawai K1Comment
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Hi JohnR, can I strongly suggest that you visit www.yamahahx.com site, there you will find all sorts of HX specific information. There is also a Windows based program, produced by Robert MacDonnell, that you can download which connects your HX to a laptop via midi which does away with the mdr, I can recommend it although it is some years since I had my HX.
(you must use a quality midi/usb cable such as the Roland UM1, the cheap e.bay cables cause all sorts of problems!)
The Roland BK-7m also integrates well with the HX as a means of updating the sounds and rhythms available.Wersi OAX600 Adam T8V Speakers T10s subwooferComment
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I'll second that idea. My buddy used that setup with his when entertaining, and he really liked how it all worked together. That way you have a custom setup for every song / piece, and you don't need to fool with " this song is on that cartridge, and another song is on a different one " . You can load any song setup in any order. Great for doing requests.
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The disc unit in the first picture looks like an MDR 2 and it should have a cable which enabled it to be powered directly from the HX series organs. Yamaha also made a version called MDR2P that had a custom designed power pack bolted on to the side, for use with the other organs. If you have no luck finding the cable, look out for an MDR3 on ebay. The MDR3 was the later and cheaper version but it will work just as well (minus the remote control feature)
and it uses a standard Yamaha power adaptor.Last edited by gregp; 08-15-2019, 04:30 PM.Comment
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I was offered one last year for a hundred quid including speakers, fully working, but no more room. I wish there had been some way of storing the organ, it is a lovely bit of kitch that is a part of my childhood in the 80s. I have my 80SL where this could have gone. I must buy a bigger place and fill it with more organs including the XH1, glad you took a chance and got the organComment
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