Allen 7000 and 301B

[James P]

Michael(s), John, David & all,
What are your thoughts on this Allen ADC-7000, 3 manual/draw knob organ currently on Ebay for $5k? Located in Johnson City, TN (near you?) Claims 70 stops, 90 rank equivalent, built 1985'ish. 1) condition "used"-- supposedly fully functional/operational, 2) sounds fair price-- is "digital" (since my 301B built 1977 is digital), 3) will it even fit through a standard width home's front door (like mine!): Length 6'4", Width: 4' 11", Height: 4' 4". Assuming width of 4' 11" must be with pedal board/bench in place. Correct? If so what's width of "console" only? My Allen 301B just barely fit through my front door-- after taking door off hinges.
What would be a fair asking price for my Allen 301B (pic below) --now that I've invested $1k+ & tons of my/y'all's time to make it "good as new" -- fully functional/operational, e.g. $3,000, $2,500, $2,000?
Thoughts anyone?

James :-)

Ebay web link:
https://www.--------/itm/Allen-Digit...itleDesc=0%7C0

[toodles]

This ADC 7000 is in the "C" series console, and without pedals, the depth is 42 inches without pedals. Unless you have a very wide entry door (or double doors) it will be difficult to get it into a house.

In general, the last of the ADC series is better than the earlier ones. The last series had a "3" as the 2nd digit, i.e., ADC-7300. The first ones were "0" in that digit, and the middle were "1". I suspect it wants a very large space for the sound to bloom.

[James P]

All,
Bummer-- just informed by Ebay seller that the Allen ADC-7000 will NOT fit through standard width residence door. Ugh!! Will be a great deal for someone, e.g. church, individual (with $ & bigger width residence doors). LOL
Thanks all!!

James

- - - Updated - - -

"Toodles",

You're correct (unfortunately)-- as confirmed by Ebay seller.
Thanks!!

James

- - - Updated - - -

I'm sure you're right-- like in a nice big church. Ugh!! Was nice thinking/dreaming about it for awhile at least. LOL

James

[steverose]

It would seem that the EBay add is from R A Colby which is indeed in Johnson City, TN. However, when one reads the description it has all the finger prints of a certain Ebay seller in Florida. Some statements are identical. "Not a handy man special" "recently inspected by an MITA affiliated technician" Not saying it is one in the same, I was thinking Colby bought it from Florida then no longer had use for whatever they had planned. Would make a real nice MIDI console. My question is this, the drawknobs appear to be gray and I have noticed this on a couple three manual Allens, and I wonder if they were supposed to be that way or are they bleached out? The color doesn't appear perfectly even, and nothing like the knobs on my 5000.

[AllenAnalog]

This listing has been discussed in a longer thread about used organs. As I noted there, the same photos were used when this was originally listed in February by another ebay seller and the lighting is rather poor so I'm not sure I'd give a lot of weight to the colors.

The previous discussion begins on page 9 and continues on subsequent pages.

https://www.organforum.com/forums/sh...r-takers/page9

[Pipeorganbuilder]

It is owned by Roger Colby. He bought it to use while building a very large pipe organ. Now that the pipe instrument is ready to install, he is trying to sell the Allen. Roger sent me a photo of the name plate and it is ADC 7000 DK serial #48794. His son is the one that listed it for him and more than likely Brad just copied what Warren Apple uses for his write up. This is a really nice organ if someone needs one this large.

Michael

[jbird604]

IF only I had the room....

[myorgan]

IF only I had the room....

John,

I'm building the room (it's BIG!!! 32'x24'), but still waiting delivery of my ADC-8000DKC from Phoenix!X-( At least garage walls are up--just waiting on trusses now.

I wish this 7000 had come along sooner, but I've already taken the plunge on the 8000. Hope to use it this fall for a concert that requires 2 organs--we'll see.

Michael

[Larrytow]

ADC organs are indeed better sounding than the MOS organs, but just how much better is a matter of opinion I suppose. I currently have an ADC 6000D, in my music ( living ? ) room, and I love it. Once you have a nice three manual at home, you will get spoiled, and playing smaller ones in churches will be not as fun, but so it goes.

This one is a beautiful console, and if RA Colby is the seller, I can see where the condition disclaimer in the description comes from; they build some of the finest consoles in the biz.

But then again, if it is an organ person selling it, the description and the stoplist do not match up - kinda silly to let someone copy the text from a different ad if you know organs. Description says it has four 32' stops; stoplist has 3.

I think the price is a bit high in today's used organ market, but a seller will always shoot high. You can always come down for a serious buyer.

I sold a reconditioned 301B like yours in 2012, and got 2200.00 for it. That was with the buyer picking it up at my shop, so I did no delivery or installation work. It was a first class restoration, and I added reverb and a third amp and speaker for the bass channel. The market has changed considerably since then, but Allen digitals always sell, in this part of the country anyhow.

The whole " this organ will not fit though my door " thing kinda baffles me to tell the truth. If you want a particular organ in your home, you do what you need to do to make it happen. You can call me crazy I guess, but in several instances I have cut doorway openings to make one fit. And one time I even made an entire section of the exterior wall to be a giant hinged organ door. The Sawzall is your friend !

[James P]

You’re correct about doing what it takes to get a big organ like the Allen ADC-7000 (42”W, 800 lbs) through one’s door. With Mike M./TN suggestions, I purchased the organ—& will be widening front door from its std 36” W to 48” W by temporarily removing the side panel w/stained glass window. Getting excited... due to get in couple weeks!
Currently waiting on check/clear my bank for selling my Allen 301-B. Praying all goes through as now in process.
Not that I’ll need or want to use the ADC-7000’s Card Reader (w/70 stops), but can my MOS Tone Cards work in this ADC? Will keep some of them if do, if not, will give all to buyer of my 301-B.
Thanks all!! ����

[myorgan]

You’re correct about doing what it takes to get a big organ like the Allen ADC-7000 (42”W, 800 lbs) through one’s door. With Mike M./TN suggestions, I purchased the organ—& will be widening front door from its std 36” W to 48” W by temporarily removing the side panel w/stained glass window. Getting excited... due to get in couple weeks!

If you're lucky, James, the door will have been put in as a unit, and can be removed as a unit.

Not that I’ll need or want to use the ADC-7000’s Card Reader (w/70 stops), but can my MOS Tone Cards work in this ADC? Will keep some of them if do, if not, will give all to buyer of my 301-B.

Yes, they will work. Sound great too! Congratulations on your purchase.

Michael

[Larrytow]

James,

Congratulations on the new ( to you ) organ ! I'm sure you will love having and playing it. It should have at least 8 or 9 speakers / channels; do you have a plan for where they are all going to go ?

When it comes to taking the whole door / window assembly out, Michael may well be correct that it is a whole unit. Sorta depends on the age of the house though - if it is an older one, they may be built in separately. If it is a complete unit, it may be fastened to the walls with nails through the frame ( screws would be nicer to deal with ). If it is attached with nails they can be a problem to get out without messing up the frame. If there is room to do so, you could likely saw though the nails between the frame of the door assembly and the wall studs. When reinstalling it you could use screws, so that it can be taken out more easily the next time you need to do it.

Michael, I have to say that I did not realize that MOS cards can be used in an ADC organ. Will need to try that, but I'm not sure if I have any in my stash.

And just a friendly reminder to both of you : Photos of your organ related projects are always appreciated, by at least some of us here.

[James P]

Thanks all! Appreciate the suggestions & info on all. Organ has 9 speakers, plus amp racks. Was hoping not all speakers were needed to play/hear all stops/voices. Thought some were needed for large church installations & duplicates, e.g. antiphonal/echo spkrs. Am I understanding the ADC-7000 is an 8 or 9 channel organ—each requiring its own spkr? Hope not—if so spkrs will be double stacked, & amp racks in attic—if not affected by heat.
My family room is avg size-17’ x 25’. Was planning to place a spkr on each side of console, and 2 spkrs opposite end of room, 1 on each side of credenza below the big screen TV. Could become really interesting “installation”!!!

[myorgan]

Michael, I have to say that I did not realize that MOS cards can be used in an ADC organ. Will need to try that, but I'm not sure if I have any in my stash.

I follow the Allen Tone Cards thread (https://www.organforum.com/forums/showthread.php?4206). Some time ago, member Samibe shared his discovery with all of us. Keep in mind it will only work with ADC organs that DON'T use the silver cards.

Am I understanding the ADC-7000 is an 8 or 9 channel organ—each requiring its own spkr?

James, yes that is correct. Of course the channels can be mixed down to a few, but for clarity's sake and sound quality, I wouldn't recommend it.

Michael

[AllenAnalog]

First, congratulations on picking up that nice instrument. I concur with Michael in recommending that you find a creative way to keep all of the audio channels on separate amplifiers and speakers. Mixing the sound of an ADC organ in the air is much preferred to electronic mixing. When you have an instrument with this many stops you would severely compromise the sound.

In my temporary setup I have my ADC organ speakers set on their side so I can stack them three high (mine is a 6-channel instrument). If you have room to do that you could put the swell, great and choir channels flanking the organ with the three pedal stop speakers elsewhere. Since they are lower frequency, the sound is much less directional.

The standard audio system for that organ had one two-channel D-40 amplifier for the swell, one for the great and one for the choir. Then it had two mono S-100 amplifiers for the pedal stops and two of the swell voices (the 8' Trompete and Mixtur IV) and one more S-100 amp just for the 32' Contrebombarde pedal reed stop. This was all mounted on a 4-shelf amp rack. A factory option was to have 9 mono S-100 amplifiers on a six shelf amp rack for greater volume in a large installation. Do you know which amp configuration you are getting?

I would not recommend putting electronics of this age in an attic unless it is insulated and heated/air conditioned. The heat/cold cycling over the course of the year will stress the components and lead to earlier failure than they would otherwise if kept in a more controlled environment.