My dad has had several organs over the years, Farfisa, Yamaha, etc, and now feels it's time to change it yet again (even though he still can't play it any better than when he got it..)
 
He's in his mid '70s and just enjoys bashing the keys*, he's not going to be going out giging in clubs or anything, so it doesn't have to be portable. He will want a top of the range jobbie with all the (cow)bells and whistles.
 
But....
 
 
He came to me today in a mild state of distress as he'd been "surfing the internetz" and couldn't find anyone selling new organs.  Lots of second hand ones, but he's convinced that all the manufacturers have stopped making them.  Is this right?
 
To all you organ grinders out there,  what would you recomend?  Where should he be looking?  His current one has midi, are there any good, easy to use, worthwhile buying, expansion modules intended for use with organs?  (Yes I know there are millions of synths, etc and I could plug his iPad into the midi and run softsynth modules...  but this is my dad we're talking about here...)
 
Anyone?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*When I say bashing the keys...  he can play. He doesn't actually bash the keys with his fists (much)

Something like this? 

If so, he should be able to find a dealer in the UK. 

On that site there are other links (I haven't further looked into) but he should find something decent, just not exactly what he had. Not sure but I think Farfisa and other brands are no longer in business. 

I know nothing about 'em, but found this on GAK; http://www.gak.co.uk/en/n...wbar-combo-organ/57645

SongCraft


Something like this?  

 

Nah - if new this one but if I had the cash and space I would go for this one
 
 
But I suspect he is after something more "home organ" with rhythms and the like -  maybe a Roland AT-100. Roland seem to be the big boys in this market now.
 
Try this site - they have quite a range.  http://www.peterboroughorgancentre.com/

James:
That Nord C2 looks nice, I like the design and way much cheaper compared to the Hammonds. I think the Nord also comes with a pedal board (optional)! But if I was buying I would definitely want to try before I buy. 


Glyn: if I had the cash
Oh for sure, but I guess most people won't/can't spare that much gas  

ok,  thanks everyone for the replies so far.  Peterborough Organ Centre...  why didn't I think of that?

If it's GAS we're talking about then I KNOW he'd want one of these...   Problem is I just told my Mom how much they cost!!!  Check out the demo...

so Karyn, he wants a straight organ, not interested in the band in a box thing with auto Accompaniment?

Karyn


ok,  thanks everyone for the replies so far.  Peterborough Organ Centre...  why didn't I think of that?

If it's GAS we're talking about then I KNOW he'd want one of these...   Problem is I just told my Mom how much they cost!!!  Check out the demo...

darn the demo was way too short!!! I was getting in to it !!

I hear Rogers is having a big sale.


Also, and don't laugh... but I think you can actually find organ preservationist groups who are rescuing pipe organs from the thousands of small churches in the industrial belt of USA that have been abandoned for the the newer suburban TV studio-audience churches and they are sending them in crates to interested parties for the cost of shipping. That's right; pipe organs... free +shipping.


If it were me, I'd try to talk him to a fully restored B3. :-)


best regards,
mike

+1 re an "older" pre HS B3, the new ones are too sterile for me ...
 
I have an AV from the 30s (a B basically in a smaller cabinet) that kicks arse and takes names, no clone comes close, the digital B3s pale in comparison.