Suggestions on resurrecting an "Artisan"?

[Guest]

Years ago I built an Artisan organ with a full-AGO console (swell, great, 32-note pedal). Aritsan started with tubed "tone generators," but the organ I built has thetransistor tone generators. Those helped the Artisan company for a while, but they still ended up going out of business. The tone generators hold pitch so poorly that I invested in a very fancy Yamaha tunerjust to reduce the pain of having to re-tune it every few weeks. They also lacked adequate shielding, so there would always be traces of hum and EMI on many of the "stops."Many of the stops are awful, and there is no way to "voice" this thing. So after a few years, I pretty much gave up and it has been taking space in the living room for decades, servingno purpose. I've thought of just throwing it away, but then I think of all the hours I spent building the console, etc.</P>


Anyway, I wonder if I might be able to find new electronics for the thing. Surely, progress has been made in the digital domain (I'm an EE so digital doesn't scare me). In looking through some of the Organ Forum postings (I'm a "newbie" on this web site), there seem to be some options out there.</P>


The Artisan uses a 75-volt DCkeying system, which I assume was chosen so that Artisan electronics could easily augment an electro-pneumatic pipe organ. In any case, it would be very nice if I could find new electronics that could manage the 75-volt interface.</P>


I'd be delighted toreceive any suggestions.</P>

[andyg]

Re: Suggestions on resurrecting an &quot;Artisan&quot;?



You can gut it and use that fine console with all-new electronicsto drive a PC based organ like Hauptwerk, J-Organ or, if you fancy a touch of theatre playing, MidiTzer. There are plenty of Hammond sims out there as well like B4 and VB3. The 'virtual' organist is well catered for and can change instruments at will!</P>


Have a quick google and you'll find forums for all of these. Every question you might possibly have has probably already been asked and answered, and there are plenty of 'conversion' and 'build' logs.</P>


Have fun!</P>


Andy</P>

[OrgansR4Me]

Re: Suggestions on resurrecting an &quot;Artisan&quot;?

There is a revived Artisan organ with digital electronics. Check out their You Tube samples under Theater organ! Awesome tone! There is one demonstration of the parts as well.

[Guest]

Re: Suggestions on resurrecting an &quot;Artisan&quot;?



Thanks for the info! So it seems that there is an Artisan Classic Organ, Inc. According to their website, they have "no financial or other connection to any otehr company bearing the same or similar names."</P>


The Artisan "kits" that I have were designed by a US company that went out of business in the 1970s.</P>

[OrgansR4Me]

Re: Suggestions on resurrecting an &quot;Artisan&quot;?



I'm sure the disclaimer is some legal mechanism to insure that no liability related to others is transferred to this new company. I have the builders guide for the 1960's Artisan Organs so I know what you are speaking about. My impression is that new company was at least inspired to take the name because of the former kit company. And they offer the electronic parts for today's kit builders in digital technology.</P>


See the demonstration at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVX2x_E3ntU. At You tube you will also find some beautiful music recorded from newly built Artisan organs. Hope this is helpful.</P>

[Guest]

Re: Suggestions on resurrecting an &quot;Artisan&quot;?



Check out . artisanorgans.com Good people, good products to midify your console. You will need to convert to 12-15vdc keying but most are probably pipe organ components so should not be a problem. Key contacts and stoptab switches, that's all you need.</P>
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Al</P>

[abcavitt]

Re: Suggestions on resurrecting an &quot;Artisan&quot;?



I agree with the comments about Artisan Instruments. Our local organ group is rebuilding a</P>


Devtronix 3manual console [based on a Rodges 33E] and converting it to a 3/12 digital</P>


theatre organ using the Artisan Samples. No 2nd touch on this rebuild. My personal rebuild</P>


will be a basic Conn 653, replacing the manuals with original T.O. manuals having 2nd</P>


touch on Accomp and Great. They now have the capability of using only 1 PC with a</P>


new sound card allowing up to 10 channels[ 8-RCA, 2-XLR ] output.This way you can </P>


simulate 'chambers' with 1 PC instead of a PC with sound engine for each chamber.</P>


The cost of the conversion is a heck of a lot less than say a new Walker or Allen.</P>


Hope this helps![:D]</P>


Al</P>


Duncanville, TX</P>
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[m&m's]

Re: Suggestions on resurrecting an &quot;Artisan&quot;?

[quote user="al"]


Check out . artisanorgans.com Good people, good products to midify your console. You will need to convert to 12-15vdc keying but most are probably pipe organ components so should not be a problem. Key contacts and stoptab switches, that's all you need.</P>


Al</P>


[/quote]</P>


This is the same company that made your original Artisan organ, and they would be glad to help you convert it to digital sound production. Talk to either Red Carlson or Mark Anderson. Either one would be delighted to advise you.</P>

[Clarion]

Re: Suggestions on resurrecting an &quot;Artisan&quot;?



[quote user="Herb128"]Anyway, I wonder if I might be able to find new electronics for the thing. Surely, progress has been made in the digital domain (I'm an EE so digital doesn't scare me). In looking through some of the Organ Forum postings (I'm a "newbie" on this web site), there seem to be some options out there.[/quote]</P>



High end custom organ manufacturers like Phoenix, do a tremendous job of retrofittingold consoles, such as the case with thisforty year old Conn:</P>


http://phoenixorgans.com/installatio...nstallation=86</P>


or</P>


http://phoenixorgans.com/installatio...nstallation=71</P>


But before undertakingsomething like this, your current console has to be an exemplary piece of workmanship: something worthy of preserving, or you are wasting your money. The bonus is, that you will end up with a magnificent top-of-the-heapkind of instrument that can'tbe approached for quality by the mass produced cookie-cutteroff-the-shelfkind of stuff.</P>

[nullogik]

Re: Suggestions on resurrecting an &quot;Artisan&quot;?



Its nice to see Clarion, that old consoles are being reused. </P>


Some of the Allen consoles from the 70s and 80s are wonderfully built and are extremely solid and robust - I often say they're built like tanks! Its a shame to see some of these consoles being thrown in the tip when they perhaps have a few more electronic organ life-times left in them (ie. new innerds etc.). Having a look at the modern consoles from a number of digi-organ manufacuturers I've seen that none come close to the quality of Allen consoles from the previously mentioned periods...and that includes the modern day Allen consoles too (which are very good, but to me not as "solid" as their old ones).</P>

[Clarion]

Re: Suggestions on resurrecting an &quot;Artisan&quot;?

[quote user="nullogik"]


Its nice to see Clarion, that old consoles are being reused. </P>


. .. Having a look at the modern consoles from a number of digi-organ manufacuturers I've seen that none come close to the quality of Allen consoles from the previously mentioned periods...and that includes the modern day Allen consoles too (which are very good, but to me not as "solid" as their old ones). [/quote]</P>


Nullogik,</P>


For someone on less than an unlimited budget, rebuilding an "old"(don't really like thesound of that designation), considerable $$$can be saved byrefurbishing a good quality console with the latest and best of digital electronics. In my recent adventures in purchasing a new organ, I could have saved somewhere around$12,000 by choosing to merely have new electronics installed inmy 23 year old two-manual console. Althoughmy oldconsole is in great shape, and in fact is currently being rebuilt,at my age (66) it's getting down to the wire as my last chance tospend my remainingyears with my dream: not only a3 manual organ, but a Phoenix 3 manual organ!! </P>


It hasnow been four months since my new3/44 was installed, and the romance hasn't begunto fade. I continue to be just as overwhelmed by thesound of this organ, as the very first encounter. Regarding your well-deserved negative appraisalon the quality ofcurrentmass-produced cookie-cutter stuff; there are other options available. While cookie cutter mfgsarepretty much stuck with complying with quality-cutting editcts originating from on-high; competent custom organ manufacturers will build to your specifications; anything your budget canpossiblyafford!! For my own organ,I chose aCherry console!A few $$ more, but no big deal! The end result is well worth it!!</P>