Need Advice on Purchase of Used Theatre Organ

[Doctor Robert pp Pianissimo Find all posts View Profile Close Doctor Robert]

That AD 4600 is a beauty!

[Doctor Robert pp Pianissimo Find all posts View Profile Close Doctor Robert]

Ah, well it looks like I was a day late on getting the Allen organ that was so generously offered, so if anyone hears of any other nice theatre organs that are available, please let me know. Thanks all!

[John Vanderlee ff Fortissimo Find all posts View Profile Close John Vanderlee]

We are the New York Theatre Organ Society www.nytos.org, and this summer we received an Allen 4500, not as nice as the 4600, but still impressive and self contained! We were thinking of putting it in the classifieds later, but if there is interest now, PM me for details.

John

[sweet melody 79 p Piano Find all posts View Profile Close sweet melody 79]

So, what does a Allen 3 manual digital organ cost? Could i get anything decent for $6000 - $8000?

[Admin Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Admin]

So, what does a Allen 3 manual digital organ cost? Could i get anything decent for $6000 - $8000?

You should be able to get an Allen Theatre III (MDS vintage) in that price range. Older Allen models such as ADC and MOS even less.

[sweet melody 79 p Piano Find all posts View Profile Close sweet melody 79]

You should be able to get an Allen Theatre III (MDS vintage) in that price range. Older Allen models such as ADC and MOS even less.

Thank you!, just so i understand. Are they self contained units of are the speakers separate

[Admin Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Admin]

The Theatre III is self contained but external speakers can be added. Here's a picture of one that our chapter, Valley of the Sun Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society, donated to Phoenix College

[htejchma ppp Pianississmo Find all posts View Profile Close htejchma]

Rodgers Olympic 333 with Klipish speakers. 2K sound reasonable? Has been regularly maintain Ed.

[myorgan]

Htejchma,

For me, it sounds a bit steep for price, but Toodles is our resident member who is most familiar with Rodgers organs.

Michael

[toodles Guest Find all posts View Profile Close toodles]

MDS Theatre III was available in 2 versions: standard with self contained speakers, prepared for externals (4 channel); and Deluxe with only external speakers, but with added toe studs and crescendo and a little more trim at the base of the console.

With Allen MDS Theatre III organs so reasonably priced, I hesitate to recommend the Rodgers Olympic 333. ADC 4600 are a little less than the MDS, but I prefer the MDS models. It's hard to beat the Theatre III for stoplist and value these days.

[Horseshoe_or mp Mezzo-Piano Find all posts View Profile Close Horseshoe_or]

Actually 3 versions. Theater III Deluxe Plus. Wasn't there a 319 also?

[myorgan]

Yes, there was a 319, however, I've never seen one listed for sale. There was also a 312, and I've only seen one of those for sale.

Michael

[toodles Guest Find all posts View Profile Close toodles]

Only tho models of MDS theatre organs had the "III" in the model number: the MDS Theatre III (standard model) and the MDS Theatre III Deluxe--this was the basis for my reply.

Neither of the "Plus" models had the "III", in the model number, but organists commonly mistakenly include the "III" in the model number which adds to the confusion . The actual model numbers are:

MDS Theatre III
MDS Theater III Deluxe
MDS Theatre Plus (aka Lynn Larsen)
MDS Theatre Plus Deluxe (aka Tom Hazleton) (double horseshoe stop bolster)
MDS 312
MDS 317
MDS 317 EX (double horseshoe stop bolster).

The 319 was part of the signature series, and not a regular MDA model, GW 319 (for George Wright) to be specific.

I can't recommend the MDS 312, as tuned percussions are not included in the stoplist. They become pretty important for theatre organ registration. The Theatre III models give the most bang for the buck in terms of their stop list. The 317's would be my second choice, but tend to sell for higher prices.

The EX models are a tight fit for a 36 inch doorway; the non-EX models are much less challenging.

[myorgan]

Excellent information, Toodles! I, too would hold out for a 317EX because I believe only the EX model had second touch.

Michael

P.S. I fixed a spelling error for you–hope you don't mind.

[myorgan Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close myorgan]

Here is an analog Rodgers Theater Organ for free but the shipping to Ohio won't be cheep: https://goldcountry.craigslist.org/m...089948540.html

Shipping to Ohio? I'm confused! Your location shows Phoenix, AZ, and the organ is near Sacramento, CA. I think that's cheaper than going to Ohio.

If you get it for free, that's probably a good price (as long as it is working), and that Leslie speaker isn't one of the most-desired models. Analog will probably need tuning on arrival, but will provide a decent sound–I'm just not sure about a decent theatre sound.

I hope that helps some.

Michael

[John Vanderlee]

I just worked on a Trio, looks like the same one. The ad said one of the pistons wasn't working. I had that problem on 2 pistons; turned out that a solid bus wire that ran from piston to piston tacked on with solder, had separated from the pin on these pistons, If you consider the wood mounting which may have some flex, it was probably metal fatigue of the solder joints. Easy fix.

[toodles Guest Find all posts View Profile Close toodles]

The MDS Theatre Plus was the 1st Allen to offer 2nd touch and was in the smaller console, not EX. It was on the accompaniment, and only as a coupler from the Solo, though it also was available as a MIDI channel. The MDS 317 (EX or not) also had 2nd touch.

The R311 and Q311 models had 2nd touch, too.

That freebie Rodgers is a Trio. Trio's used a non-AGO pedalboard.