Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs

[Guest]

Hi,</P>


I am searching for a timeline ofKawai, Farfisa, GEM and Hohner organs (introduction year and organ model).

I am searching also for brochures (pdf or jpg) or technical data oftheorgans to.

Can you help?

Thanks in advance.

</P>

[andyg]

Re: Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs



Hi Peter</P>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Kawai company startedon 9th August1927, making pianos and, like many companies, got round to manufacturing organs in the early 1960s. I'm not sure when the Teisco takeover occured, but it was no doubt to acquire the technology and manufacturing capabilities of the smaller company. The electronic organ plant in Saitama province was still being referred to as the 'Teisco factory' when I went there in 1979.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The first organs I can recall seeing from them arrived in the UK in 1971, and were very basic with a typically thin Japanese tone quality. Not much to write home about in specifications or looks either. I next 'caught up' with the company in 1975 and by then, the organs had improved somewhat, at least at the higher end of the range. By 1976 I'd started doing a bit of freelance work with them and this expanded through 1977 and I joined them full time in 1978. It's from here that I can give you some detailed information.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">1976 had seen the introduction of the model E235, the first Kawai organ with orchestral strings. This was followed in 1977 by the E350, which was to become a very strong seller in the UK. The prototype E550 debuted at Frankfurt's music fair in February 1978 - the first organ I was to help design and voice. This came on to market in the autumn of 1978 and transformed Kawai's UK sales overnight. Nice when your top model is your top seller! The E series was transformed internally around 1979/80, with updated technology and half the number of circuit boards, but you'd never notice from the outside, as the sounds were the same!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">1977 wasthe company's 50th anniversary, and they celebrated with the development of the T50 organ, a monster with 10 manuals and 32 huge speaker cabinets, no less! Ideas and technology would filter down the range for a while. The smaller, more managable 4-manual T30 debuted in Tokyo in September 1979 with me at the console playing 'Copacobana' as the curtain rose. Ideas from here went straight into the DX900 organ of 1981,an instrument thatI had first sketched on a paper napkin over dinner with the engineers some time earlier. I was told that it was originally planned to be named E580, but was renamed in view of upcoming developments. It, with its full console DX1900 counterpart,was the last fully analogue organ Kawai made<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">In 1982 Kawai launched the world's first ever series of fully digital home electronic organs, the DX500 through DX1800, using a system of fully additivesynthesis called ADEPT -All Digital Electronic Polyphonic Tone. The smaller DX models like the DX100 were actually hybrids, analogue upper manual and digital lower! These ran for around2-3 years, being replaced with the X series in 1984/5, starting with the X430 - another one that I revoiced, having seenthe less than brilliant, but 'full of potential' prototype. I was there 'unofficially' at the Frankfurt trade fair that year and the Japanese demonstrator was so annoyed withmy [quite correctly private] comments about the organ and herdemonstration skills [I was only being honest, and she didn't have a clue!]that she simply walked out and never came back. I didall of the fair's demosfor the rest of the week. These organs used somedigital technology from the K series synthsbut analogue sounds as well inthe smaller models.The larger X1000, 2000 and 5000 were fully 2nd generation ADEPT. It was the US designers who came up withthe larger organs, I'm told, (it certainly wasn't me!) and the automatics on them were designed by Hector Olivera. However, betweensome excellent design and programming work and final production, many corners were cut and we ended up with organs that sounded somehow 'thin', with way over-complex rhythm patterns that offered no simple alternatives at all. Hec later told me he was livid!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">It was around this time that were told about exciting new techological developments to come in the next few years and I was involved with this quite closely. These organs were to be primarily sketched out and voiced by the European team this time, and I had many meetings in Germany and the UK discussing ideas, what we wanted to see on the new organs and how we wanted them to sound. The new technology was known as ADD - Additive Digital Dynamics - and the results were the SR series organs, starting with the SR5/6/7 and expanding downwards to the SR2/3/4. I'm biased, I know because there's so much that's 'mine' in them, but these were the best organs Kawai ever made, and ran from 1987 to around 1992, with minor revisions and the addition of General MIDI voices on the XR series models.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">One further range was launched after that, the KL series, based on a chassis shared with Lowrey's NL models, but with different features and sounds. These disn't fare so well, certainly in the UK, and it was announced that there would be no more Kawai organs and that the company would produce only pianos and digital pianos. However, a couple of years ago, the company launched a new series for the home market called the DT, or Dreamatone, range. The Dreamatone name wasoriginally used on the 1979 T30. I've never heard one, but the specifications look good. As far as I know, these have never been exported, but there is a rumour on a German organ site that there will be some over in Europe later this year. I personally doubt that, unless they are private imports.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Of course, Kawai also made plenty of synths, keyboards and digital pianos, under their own name or that of Teisco. I actually designed a keyboard-like instrument in 1979, before keyboards as we know it came on to the market, but they only built one prototype. It would be 1987 before Kawai entered the keyboard market, and they suffered because of that, always seeming to be one step behind everyone else. There was a very good keyboard called the Z1000 at one point, but it didn't sell well against the established brands and no others were made. However the ideas in the Z1000 sowed the seeds for the very successful range of self-accompanying digital pianos still in production today.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hope this helps a little.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Andy G<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>


<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Kawai product specialist/designer 1976-1989<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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[james]

Re: Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs



Andy,</P>


Youhave some great info regarding the Kawai Organs as well as being a big part with them. I wish I could have had that opportunity with Wurlitzer since I was so fascinated with them.</P>


I have heard, but not certain that Lowrey is owned by Kawai. Also, as far as I know Lowrey Organs are built in the USA, but I have forgotton the location of the factory.</P>


Can you help with the info I am seeking?</P>
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James</P>

[andyg]

Re: Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs



hi James</P>


Yes, Kawai do own Lowrey, and have done so for many years. I think it was in the early 1980's that Lowrey was bought from Norlin by Midi Music Center, and Kawai bought them out.</P>


Lowrey are 100% USA produced, stillin Chicago I think, and have never been 'Japanese', as such. Therewas a good deal of Kawai electronics in the early 1990's NT series and the NL series of the same timewas built on a common chassis with Kawai's KL series. The two ranges were, however, very different.</P>


Lowrey do pride themselves on their independence and, after those two series, went their own way. There were no Kawai organs being produced at that time anyway. Most, if not all, of thework in the later serieshave been'home grown' in the USA. However, I',m told that Kawai do provide them with sample data which Lowrey then edit and use in the organs.</P>


Andy</P>
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[Guest]

Re: Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs



Hi Andy,</P>


great job.</P>


Thank you for the informations.</P>


Greetings </P>


Peter</P>

[Guest]

Re: Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs



hi andy.</P>
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i am doing some research for my church. we just acquired a building and there was a kawai dx-1900 electronic organ.i cannot find any information about the organ on kawaiusa.com is there anything you can tell me about this unit? specifically retail or asking price?</P>

[andyg]

Re: Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs



The DX1900 is from 1981, which explains why Kawai USA wouldn't have any info. Although it bore the DX prefix, it was actually an analogue organ, belonging to the E series. It was developed from the E550 and the S100P synth, plus a few ideas from the T30 concert organ. It has a big sound.
</p>

Retail price? I can only tell you that it was around £6500 in the UK back then. Value now? a few hundred $ or £, like all organs of that era.</p>

Andy
</p>

</p>

[Guest]

Re: Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs

Sent From: DerekR
Subject: KAWAI sr2 / Yamaha electone c605
__________________________________


Hi
Andy..searched the net and you seem to be the guru :) Google came up
with your articles so often Ive joined the organ forum to learn more.

We
live in New Zealand and are looking at an organ for our family at
home.. have read up on the sr2 and your comments here and it sure does
seem to be a wonderful and complete organ.

Also read up your comments re yamaha electones . Was also looking at a electone 605. Even though it is a very different machine.

If
you had minute to write us.. could you just give us your quick general
impression of both organs? As an all rounder.. organ sound/piano sound, not too limiting, with
many different play options, which is the better? I'm 100% pretty sure I
know which one you will say....

Can you quickly explain the sound differences between the 2?


Thanks so much..we're only asking because you seem to have so much
knowledge and know that we won't go wrong with your info.

Thanks in advance.

Derek

[andyg]

Re: Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs



</p>

Hi Derek,
</p>

Yeah, I'm slowly heading for the first page on a Google search. In fact, if you google "andrew gilbert organ", I have most of the first page[:)]</p>

The SR2 is a very sweet sounding organ. Best flutes of any Japanese organ. Orchestrals are quite good too and most of the percussions and solo voices are fine. Piano is a bit weak, it was the one thing that the ADD technology in that range couldn't do well. Rhythms and automatics are basic but what's there is very good. It was the smallest model in the range so the specification isn't huge.</p>

Now to the Yamaha. Which 605 do you mean. B605 or C605? Both are larger instruments than the Kawai, especially the C605. They use Yamaha's PASS tone generator system, which predates the Kawai by some time. Consequently, the sounds aren't as accurate and the rhythm section is not brilliant. However, the extra specification makes either organ rather more versatile than the Kawai.</p>

The final arbiter, as always, has to be the #1 earhole test! Buy the one you like the sound of best. All the extra sounds and bells and whistles in the world won't count for anything if you are unhappy with the basic sounds that you'll use time and time again. For me, it would be the Kawai, just for its basic organ tone colours. For you, I can't say.</p>

Hope this helps a bit</p>

Andy
</p>

</p>

</p>

</p>

[Guest]

Re: Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs



Wow.. that was quick :)</p>

</p>

thanks for that.. it was the C605 I was asking about. Both can have that church organ sound cant they?</p>

</p>

our trouble here is, we're buying either at a distance. The kawai goes at auction in 2 hrs. the yamaha has been offered to us after failing to go at auction.</p>

</p>

the kawai was only months ago checked by a tech as good as gold, no guarrantees as to soundness generally with that yamaha, as they don't even know how to play it/ or work it.</p>

</p>

just quick advice?
</p>

[Guest]

Re: Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs



actually on second read, i think youve given us the advice we need. thanks so much. really appreciated Andy.. </p>

cheers</p>

Derek
</p>

[Guest]

Re: Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs



Hi again.. well we picked up the KAWAI for $75nz. looks to be in mint condition. Thanks Andy for your advice.</p>

If its ok.. we may come back to you re learn to play material etc.where to find it etc etc.</p>

thanks so much again :)</p>

Derek
</p>

[Guest]

Re: Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs



Dear Andy, i've been looking all over the internet to find some info on the "GEM G60 organ" but information is nowhere to be found.. then i found this topic and thought maybe you could tell me more..</p>

The G60 organ is at a house of a friend of mine.. and i've been wanting to pick it up but I didn't get a chance to test it.. i've been told that it works, but i thought maybe you could give me some information, like what year is it from? how does it sound and what was the retal price at the time? I know it might be asking much but if you just remember all the info it would be great if you could share it with me. I'm thinking about picking it up but since it's a long drive i thought i'd look up some information first..</p>

thanks in advance, </p>

Vent from Holland
</p>

[andyg]

Re: Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs



I wasn't aware that Gem had used the G prefix. Maybe that's why there's no information on the net. I can recall the X series, the F series and the H series and there were some 'Wizard' models with no letter prefix. However, my timeline may not be complete and they may have used the prefix in the mid 80's. And before there were Gem organs, the company (General Electro Music) marketed the organs as Galanti, IIRC.</p>

Is this a home organ or some form of classical model?
</p>

If you can post a photo on line and put a link to it here, that will help.</p>

Andy
</p>

[crossyinoz]

Re: Timeline for Kawai, Elka, Gem, Hohner and Farfisa organs



G'day Vent,</P>


Gem G60 was released in 1984, a 44/44/13 spinet home organ, part of the 1st series of Gem digital instruments, made in Italy. Was 2nd from the bottom in the "G" series double manual range &amp; retailed here in Australia for AUD$2395 - I'll leave you to work that out in Guilders as it would have been back then.</P>


Cheers,</P>


Ian</P>