Info for Conn 640

[Brandon Tuomikoski]

I am looking into getting a Conn 640 theatre organ for $150. Is it worth it? The console is in perfect shape, and everything functions except 2 pedal stops. They are the accomp to pedal and 8' tibia. When the tab is pressed, there is always one note being played with out touching anything.

Is the organs stop list good for a small organ? It seems to make a nice sound with all those couplers and strings and reeds! Does this organ sound the same compared to a 643? Because that is the only smaller conn organ sound I have found. If not could any one give me a sound file or video of a Conn 640? Thanks all!

BTW: this is the 640 that has the drums and cymbal sounds above the manuals.

[Jay999]

Re: Info for Conn 640



Hi Brandon....a Conn 640 is the first of an entire family of Conn theatre organs. It was based on the Serenade model 632, with special horseshoe stop configuration. The 640 was a tube organ. Many people like a tube model Conn better than transistor models that came later. The 640 evolved into the 642, the 643, and the 644 Martinique.

If you have found a 640 without scratchy strings and reeds, then you've found a gem! Most of these organs have key contact problems in the strings and reeds, which a good contact cleaning will take care of. Not being aware of your technical ability, I don't know if you can fix the two pedal stops, or the cipher. But if you cannot, you live in a town that certainly has electronic organ technicians available. Most techs work on Hammonds. Few work on other organs, but they ARE out there. If you call from the Yellow Pages listings, you will probably find an electronic organ specialist. You can even ask when you call..."do you work on Conn organs"? If you run up against a brick wall on this issue; get on the internet and type in MITA.com. This will bring up a professional association of organ technicians. Hunt around for the list of techs by your state. I'm quite positive you'll find a good technician there.

Regards the price of $150.00 For a clean instrument inside, and a nice cabinet, that's certainly a fair price. When you check this organ out, take out the pedalboard and look up under the area where the pedals come into contact with the keying box. Examine very closely to ensure no mice have eaten any of the white wire cables there. I'm told by my technician that these wires are hard to trace, and that rodents like the taste of the wire insulation there.

I'm a Conn organ fan, myself. I bought a 644 last year, and am having it overhauled by my technician. I have spent a ton of money on it to bring it back to life. If you've found one that almost works perfectly for $150.00....I'd say you've got a real gem. Enjoy playing it. Best wishes.

[ptbuzzcut]

Re: Info for Conn 640



Hi- I bought a white 650 last November. It too had a pedal that was always 'on' when the 8' coupler was on along with any accomp tabs in the non tibia group. Also, if any of those stops were in one of the lower manual pistons ( that included the 8'coupler), that pedal would sound. I resolved it by first making sure the pedal board was pefectly level along with the organ ( it was a bit 'off''). I also isolated which pedal it was and then raised the 'pedal pusher' that is screwed to the back of each pedal.(The metal piece being the 'key' and the black plastic holder is the 'key bracket holder').

A lot of the key bracket holders were broken allowing the key to drop down. I subsequently bought a whole new set from OrganService.com. After I replaced them, I had to adjust each one.No problems anymore!