Troublesome Reed Pipe - Need advice

[dw154515]

I am a full-time college student about to finish up my degree in music composition with a minor in organ. Unfortunately, our school/department has no money to invest in our 1966 Schantz pipe organ which, being 43 years old, is at that tender loving age where it needs many minor repairs and fixes. I am also the ONLY person that EVER plays or even touches (and/or cares about) the instrument. The department is willing to let me do the minor maintenance work on the organ such as tuning the random pipes that are WAY off etc., the simple stuff. There is however one issue that I do not know how to fix.

On the Posaune 16' there is one pipe 'GGG' that is actually speaking roughly a 'BB'. I have read a few books which I checked out from our campus library (Organ Tonal Finishing and Fine Tuning by Louis G. Monette and Modern Organ Building by Walter Lewis) I thought it would be best to check with you guys before I attempted to make any adjustments on my own.

What would you suggest to be the problem? I know reed pipes can be quite temperamental, especially when dust, dirt, or plaster and sheetrock dust are involved. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I hate that *I* have to be the one to work on the organ because I am DEFINITELY not qualified, but it's the ONLY option.

[pipecutter]

Re: Troublesome Reed Pipe - Need advice



The most likely cause is a foreign object in the resonator or shallot. That's assuming no one has had access to the pipe and knocked the tuning wire down. I understand your position and the lack of an experienced organ man (person?) to check into this, but aside from it being a simple tuning problem you (and someone to help) will have to remove the boot from the resonator in order to find out what is going on. A 1966 Schantz reed is going to have a fairly small scaled zinc resonator but it will still be a bit unwieldy if you are not used to dealing with such things. I don't think that vintage of Schantz reed would have a weighted tongue, but if it did and that weight has fallen off, that would also be a possibility.

Bottom line...I would highly recommend leaving this to a professional. The possibility of causing damage to the instrument or yourself is a greater issue than solving the initial problem. If you feel this pipe is causing the entire rank to be unusable, it would be better to slip a piece of paper between the boot and the chest and that will keep it from speaking at all.

[dw154515]

Re: Troublesome Reed Pipe - Need advice

Thanks for the advice. There being debris or something between the reed and shallot is what I keep being told, and is what I've read in a few different places. I do appreciate the advice. I am REALLY hesitant to even touch the thing but its the most aggravating thing in the world to me. It slays me how a university can, and does, ignore such things. This is NOT the only pipe on the organ to have had issues... not even the tip of the iceberg. A great friend of mine is an organ builder and was a student at this same school. He actually contacted me just before you left this reply with specific instructions as to what to do. Thanks again. I WOULD leave it to a professional, but the university either simply does not care or cant find the money to pay for a professional to come in and do all the work that needs to be done (releathering, voicing, tuning etc.) (Probably the latter.)

[Philip the organist]

Re: Troublesome Reed Pipe - Need advice



Perhaps you could see over on this new thread, begun today, in which another member needs help with some Schantz reeds at his church....

http://organforum.com/forums/96428/S...ead.aspx#96428

[soubasse32]

Re: Troublesome Reed Pipe - Need advice



[quote user="pipecutter"]Bottom line...I would highly recommend leaving this to a professional. The possibility of causing damage to the instrument or yourself is a greater issue than solving the initial problem. If you feel this pipe is causing the entire rank to be unusable, it would be better to slip a piece of paper between the boot and the chest and that will keep it from speaking at all.[/quote]I concur. Reading about organ maintenance is quite different from practicing it; the latter really must be done under the tutelage of an experienced technician... though I sincerely commend your interest in the upkeep of this instrument.

I'm sorry you find yourself in this position.Someone should be helping to secure necessaryfunding for the basic maintenance this organ. Other than the buildings and property, surelythe organis one of the most valuable assets the school owns. A relatively modest sum (such asthe proceeds from one benefit concert) could secure the momentary service of a reputable maintenance firm;thismight at least address the most serious issues.

In the meantime, you might try tapping the wire up and down while the note is playing. Sometimes this will work free the debris that is likely causing the problem. Just be careful not to tap the wire too far down, as it is possible for it to become disengaged from the tongue.

I agree with Pipecutter's assessment that a tongue weightmight havefallen off; but as he said, thefix is invasive enough that it should be left alone.

Good luck.

[dw154515]

Re: Troublesome Reed Pipe - Need advice

Thanks again.

Surprisingly, this is not the only pipe organ on campus. This instrument is in the music building. On the other side of campus in the performing arts building, housing the largest concert hall on campus, there is actually a 1940's MP Moller that is in utter ruin! I'm not completely illiterate in pipe organs, I have for several months been restoring my own 1946 Kilgen, but there are no reed pipes so I had nothing to test out on my own first. I have been receiving a great amount of help from a friend of mine who is an organ builder with a very reputable company. He has a great deal of love and concern for both instruments on campus, as he also attended this university where he met and studied with the man that inspired him to go and build fine organs. I actually have an extensive photo album of both of these instruments on my website. (www.drewworthen.com) Thanks for the advice.

[soubasse32]

Re: Troublesome Reed Pipe - Need advice



Thanks for pointing us to your website - I spent quite a bit of time there last night. [:)]

Is your organbuilder friend anywhere nearby? Could he be coerced into making a little visit? [;)]

I'm thinking of other options that might be productive - have you thought about investigating who used to maintain those organs? There must be a record of it somewhere... maybe it would be worthwhile searching out that company (if it still exists). Maybe you could work out some sort of arrangement, even if it is solely for the purpose of putting your one reed pipe back onto proper speech.

I like the idea of taking up a collection; it may not come to much but at least it would help defray the cost of the repair.

[dw154515]

Re: Troublesome Reed Pipe - Need advice

Yes, he lives nearby (about an hour away) and actually came down a month or so ago and tuned the Mixture IV rank and straightened a few other stray hairs. This new development just happened the other day. The person who used to maintain the organ was the former organ teacher who, unfortunately, passed away several years ago. The organ just simply hasn't been used enough since then for the department to care enough about it to invest their money into it.

[dw154515]

Re: Troublesome Reed Pipe - Need advice

Thanks everyone for your help! After listening to what each of you and my friend had to say, the pipe is now fixed and retains its same speech/voicing and character. The trick with the dollar bill worked great! No damage done! Thanks again!

[soubasse32]

Re: Troublesome Reed Pipe - Need advice



Ah yes... the old 'dollar bill trick'. [8-|]

I would have recommended it, except for the fact that the pipe was so large.

I'm so glad to hear it is back in working order.

I hope youstay with us here onthe Forum.

[pipecutter]

Re: Troublesome Reed Pipe - Need advice

Once again the simple fix was all that was needed. I suppose we could discuss the merits of various currencies and their impact on reed cleanliness! I vote for the twenty dollar bill that has been lightly circulated. The reed guys say paper currency is too thick. I can only assume they feel that way because most of us in the pipe organ business never have that much money in our wallets!!

[dw154515]

Re: Troublesome Reed Pipe - Need advice

Haha, I used a five! I distinctly remember pulling it out of my wallet and actually thinking "well, its not A DOLLAR bill, but it will work." Thanks again!