A New Way to Buy a Digital Organ

Andy Pierce

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

Chenango Bridge, NY

Central New York Chapter of the American Guild of Organists

A New Instrument

Aging 1980’s Johannus Electronic

Acoustic Problems in Church

Choir Loft Problems

St. Mark’s Church

50 Year Old Building

170 (?) People Maximum

10:00 Principal Service, 1982 Hymnal

Musical Gifts

February 2004Committee Formed

http://www.buchorgan.com/selecting.htmHave enough members, but not too manyMembers should know something about musicChurch organist should be on the committeeCommittee members must have time to look and listenA member who understands financesListen to the instrumentsBudgeting for a new church organ

5 members; 2 Vestry, 2 Organists, 2 choir members, the church treasurer, 1 organist as consultant, with 2 other choir members along often.And why are you the head?

Round Up the Usual Suspects +

Allen, representative from Williamsport

Wicks

Rodgers-plus-

Organ Clearing House

The Rev. Cullie Mowers

Education Phase

Our MissionNew Organ by Christmas 2004

Improve Acoustics

Pipe OrganConstruction Needs for Physical Changes

Our Budget for the Whole ProjectRoughly $50K

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Our Committee$500 Budget for travel, think sessions, etc.

Frustrations

Difficult to Determine Real CostsOCH price versus Installed price

Construction for Choir Loft > $15K

Time to Build and Install

Salesmen2 manual vs 3 manual

Prices

CD’s

FUD

Questions

Should you tell your sales rep what your budget is?Can you bargain on price?Volunteers for the committee?Ethics?Consultant?Fundraising?Service Contracts?Committee logistics

Travel together?Unanimous Decision?Decision Authority?

Listen for what?Authentic “pipe-like” sound, able to support our church music!Singing our hymns with aninstrument was critical for us!

Online Resources

Organ Manufacturers WebsitesAllowed calling customers for opinions

http://organforum.comOpinionated People Around the World

Forum based

Interest Groups

Smaller, Independent Manufacturers

Church Organ Systems

Used Cassavant

Phoenix

http://www.phoenixorgans.com

Road Trip to Vernon, NJ3 hour trip

Community concert featuring the Fauré Requiem

Phoenix Representative met us

More Problems

Summer Schedules – travel difficult

What does a Phoenix sound like?Custom Designs (amps and speakers) and Installs in N.J.

Conflict in a committee – how to handle?

Money Issues

Visit to TorontoPhoenix

3 Churches, 1 with pipe/digital hybridTravel up Friday night, tour Saturday, home Sat. night

Aha! MomentThis is not a mass produced instrumentThis is not a Catalog Buying ExperienceThese guys love organs and organ music!These guys have a lot of experience!These instruments all sound different and wonderful!The console touch was judged excellent by our organistsEvery Phoenix is a unique instrumentDon Anderson samples most of the stops himselfWilling and eager to discuss any aspect of organ buildingBoth conservative technology and advanced technology

Keep Going?

Great Sound, 3 manual, affordable

Have we searched enough?

Last minute additionSmall builder with Walker Electronics

Johannus

Should we continue the search?

4 vote to buy a Phoenix, 1 abstentionAre we done or not?

Church description to Phoenix via church web site

Installation was first time in the church!

Waiting…

Organ Design, waiting for build completion, delivery schedule, what’s going on?

Email as a way of life!200+ emails between representative and Phoenix company

First pictures of the console!!!

Installation - Preparation

Installation - Preparation

Installation

Installation Continued - Voicing

Installation Complete

Draining the Ocean

Installation Complete

Dedication ConcertPlayed by Don Anderson, president of Phoenix Organs, Peterborough, Ontario

Lessons Learned

A New Way to Buy an Organ?Small manufacturer, leveraging technology and the webSeeking to stay small, build custom instrumentsDoing the stuff they do well, buying what they can

Amps, keyboards, etc.ConsoleSpeakersOrgan Samples – the heart and soul of digital instruments!

ServiceOld Johannus sold on eBay!!!

Is it for everyone?You need it when?Comfort zone of working with a small builder

Lessons Learned (continued)

Work to improve your acoustics!Make it a part of the project

Get rid of carpet, sound absorbing materials

Ask about all the details“Tell us about your wiring”

Get a real surge suppressor

Call other customersRemember what you are buying an organ for!

Lessons LearnedBuilt by Organists, for OrganistsPersonal relationship with builders

20 minute to ½ day email response to a question

Unqualified Recommendation of Phoenix to Others!Phoenix, Walker, M&O – others?OrganAssist2 Software for recording

A New Way to Buy an Organ?Built by Organists, for OrganistsPersonal relationship with buildersReally an OLD Way to Buy an Organ

Trust with builderCraftsmenArtistsIndividual solutionsWork with the builder