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**andyg** · 08-02-2008, 11:59 PM

Re: Lowrey Festival B3 Style Console

Somewhere between 1959 and 1963, then. I can recall being offered of for free a few years ago, non-working of course! The guy said it probably needed a few new tubes (valves)! I declined the kind offer.

I personally wouldn't pay anything for it, as the transport costs of this brute are going to be high and the maintenance/repair costs probably higher. OK, 100 aussie dollars isn't a fortune, but it's still money. You might just be lucky, but I think you might have your work cut out getting this one back on song, Skip.

Andy

**crossyinoz** · 08-05-2008, 07:10 AM

Re: Lowrey Festival B3 Style Console

[quote user="skippy"]

Lowrey Festival Console for AU$100.[/quote]

I'd agree with Andy, Skip. If it's the FLO version I guess you could bung one of your Leslies on it maybe.There would be very few of these ol' boys left in OZ, & if it's the one in Sydney I'm thinking of, it's been around on and off for sale for quite a long while.[*-)]

Kam-pai,

Ian

**james** · 08-05-2008, 01:34 PM

Re: Lowrey Festival B3 Style Console

Skippy,

Forget this Lowrey.[N] You have a great Lowrey. I envy you there big time, and wish I had a nice Lowrey console in lieu of the SCT model I have. Look for a good Wurlizer you mentioned recently about being interested in locating. You will be much happier.


James

**skippy** · 08-06-2008, 01:01 AM

Re: Lowrey Festival B3 Style Console

Thanks Guys,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

You talked me out of it. My interest waslukewarm to start with. I just thought it would be interesting to have a valve organ in my collection. I am sure there are more desirable valve organs (such as <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hammond</st1:place></st1:City>) to be had.

Guten Tag

Skippy

**skippy** · 08-06-2008, 02:14 AM

Re: Lowrey Festival B3 Style Console

[quote user="Tenor Trumpet 8'"]

Skippy,

Forget this Lowrey.[N] You have a great Lowrey. I envy you there big time, and wish I had a nice Lowrey console in lieu of the SCT model I have. Look for a good Wurlizer you mentioned recently about being interesting in locating. You will be much happier.
James

[/quote]

Hi James,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Yes, I was very fortunate to score my Lowrey H25R-2 for free. The old girl appeared to be pretty sick when I got her. It cost me about AU$35 to get it tofaultless operation.As a matter of fact, this is now the only organ I own with no apparent faults. One amp diode and about a dozen sustain caps did the job - thanks to a lot ofassistance from the very helpful and indulgent resident electronics experts on the Lowrey Forum. Cosmetically the organ is inaverage condition with all the jewellery intact and present and just a few wear marks one should expect after decades of use. The previous owner acquired the organ from a Baptist church. It came with a Leslie 705 and a set of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Conn</st1:place></st1:State> symmetrical pipe speakers for which I had to pay AU$285. The Leslie 705 is stillhooked up tothe Lowrey and the pair sounds a treat. Sadly, my Thomas Celebrity and the Hammond Elegante are at our weekender and I don’t get to play them as often as I would like. I especially miss the Thomas. Never mind, in a couple of years weintend to make our weekender our permanent home and there is plenty of room for my organ collection and more.<o:p></o:p>

One would think that the old analog Lowreysare stillplentiful and inexpensive in your neck of the woods. Just keep looking and hope vermin is the cause of their demise. I say this because I scoredmy Hammond Elegantefor free. Igave the owner AU$100 just because I felt embarrassed and sorry for him.This still was an insult. But then again - the organ was not working. Vermin had separated a couple of wires leading to the expression pedal. This was fixed in a few minutes and the organis now workingfine except for some minor issues. I was just lucky. It could have had fried electronics caused by a lightning strike [li]or some other major fault not worth fixing. If I tried to sell it now what would I get for it? Most likely little ornothing [N].<o:p></o:p>

Thank you so much for your extensive post in reference to my Wurlitzer ambitions. I will put this on the backburner until I can eyeball and earlobe one of the models you recommended.<o:p></o:p>

Have a musical day,<o:p></o:p>

Skippy<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>

**kkeys** · 08-08-2008, 01:40 PM

Re: Lowrey Festival B3 Style Console

Hi Skippy,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Oh yes now I remember, I saw one of these on a circus which played here a number of years ago. I can’t remember anything about the overall sound of it, butwas surprised to seeit's B-3 style cabinet.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Sounds like you will have quite a keyboard gallery at your future all-weekender.<o:p></o:p>

**skippy** · 08-08-2008, 04:54 PM

Re: Lowrey Festival B3 Style Console

[quote user="kkeys"]
Sounds like you will have quite a keyboard gallery at your future all-weekender.
[/quote]

Hi Keith,

The "weekender" is reallyquite a sizeable house and located in our <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on">Blue Mountains</st1:place>. It used to belong to a self employed electrician and has a huge workshop underneath, fully fitted with dozens of power points. Like a typical mountain dwelling this workshop is partially dug into the mountain andbecause of this I can reallyturn it up without annoying the neighbours. Once Iget rid of some "indispensable" junkI should be able to fit about a dozen consoles in there. I am really looking forward to just tinker with the old girls and hop from one to the next enjoying their unique sounds. But this is still 2-3 years away. A lot of things can happen until then. I already feel sorry for my beloved familywhen I say good bye to this world. They will face the unenviable task of disposing of "all this junk".

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p>We are just about to leave to go up there for a couple of days. The weather forecast for tomorrow is snow [st]. Should be an interesting weekend. I guess I will be playingChristmas songs on the Elegante [*-)].</o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p>Have you been able to source the Elegante rhythm tempo chip? </o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Merry Christmas,<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Skippy<o:p></o:p>

**crossyinoz** · 08-09-2008, 06:58 AM

Re: Lowrey Festival B3 Style Console

[quote user="skippy"][

I especially miss the Thomas.

[/quote]

WHY? I WOULDN'T! [+o(]

**kkeys** · 08-09-2008, 08:55 PM

Re: Lowrey Festival B3 Style Console


Tech told me one is not available. Very thankfully the rhythm tempo chip not a critical issue as the touch tempo activation is okay. The next sentence is prefaced with a very loud[/B] shout of ”touch wood”[/B] with an accompanying sharp rap on the head. I hope no other chip goes.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
Otherwise I will most likely be looking for a external drum machine. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Yes most certainly a Merry Christmas with your Elegante. Preset button 1 (vibes) works very well for “The Christmas Song” with rhythm set on Bossa Nova.<o:p></o:p>

**skippy** · 08-10-2008, 12:35 AM

Re: Lowrey Festival B3 Style Console

[quote user="crossyinoz"]

WHY? I WOULDN'T! [+o(][/quote]

Now, now Ian. Don’t be consumed by envy [:'(]. As exquisite and rare asThomas organsare, they do come up for sale occasionally. Mostly from deceased estates. Once you own a Thomas then they are with you for the rest of your life. I will keep my eyes open for a Celebrity for you. But if you are in a hurry, there is a Playmate on Ebay. If everything else fails I will bequeath my Celebrity to you [;)].<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Gruess Gott,<o:p></o:p>

Skippy<o:p></o:p>

**skippy** · 08-10-2008, 05:29 AM

Re: Lowrey Festival B3 Style Console

[quote user="kkeys"]
The next sentence is prefaced with a very loud[/B] shout of ”touch wood”[/B] with an accompanying sharp rap on the head. I hope no other chip goes.[/quote]

Well, may I shout and rapwith you. I have been playingmy Elegante for afew of hours on the weekend and I am starting to bond with it. It certainly needs a lot of exploring to appreciate it's potential. And this takes time andthis time will behopefully available to me whenI truly retire in about 2-3 years time. I am just worried ifthe organwill last the distance.The popping noises when I turn it On and Off are getting louder. Is this an indication of an impending disaster? The organ works fine except for theminor faults mentioned before.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Ialso spend a couple of hours on my Thomas Celebrity. With its Moog Synth and my TOPS modificationsit truly is an analog sounding unit with endless possibilities. These possibilities will not fall into your lap unless you know and explore them. There is never any need to turn the volume up to get a satisfying sound from it.The old baffleLeslie is just enough to satisfy the earlobes. The Elegante's Rotosonic appearsto wobble just a littletooooo much.
<o:p></o:p>
Having said that, I love all my girls (that's what I call them). I have my preferences - but they dochange with mood and whatI play.
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p>And as James says, we all got our likes and dislikesand what did the Monkey say?</o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Gruess Gott<o:p></o:p>
Skippy<o:p></o:p>

**kkeys** · 08-10-2008, 08:31 PM

Re: Lowrey Festival B3 Style Console

Don’t know what the cause of the popping noises on yours. Another LOUD rap that it does not get any worse!!!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Oh yes! referring to your photo gallery, this pic shows the line-up of vertical boards that I’d talked about before. 
http://organforum.com/photos/skippys.../original.aspx
<o:p></o:p>
I think they are for keying as I’ve had capacitors replaced for manual sustain issues. They are immune from LSI disease.. no connectors.. soldered to the main board. Certainly not service friendly. I’m not sure if the pedal section is tied into them.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">With the sheer amount of cabling it’s quite amazing mine still works.
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">
The Rotosonic Leslie is a most noticeable improvement over the baffle type Leslie in the Colonade with a horizontal axis of rotation. Much more throb to it as well.The Rotosonic does “shake” on fast.<o:p></o:p>

<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">

**dwagar** · 10-29-2008, 06:34 AM

Re: Lowrey Festival B3 Style Console

I just scored a Festival FL myself.


Needs cleaning, probably a few tubes, etc.

From my bit of googling, these were made from '59 to '63. This was the organ Garth Hudson used through the Hawks and Dylan into his years with the Band. It's a beast, should be a lot of fun.

I think it's a '62 (the Leslie is). Anyone know how to date these by serial number?

**Guest** · 12-14-2008, 12:54 PM

Re: Lowrey Festival B3 Style Console

How are you getting on with it? I looked for one of those but had no luck in the UK, had to get a Lincolnwood TSO-25 instead (the model Garth H used from 1969-74 after retiring his festival!)

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