Lowrey Prestige Organ...

[danorob1]

Hi Rex -
I agree with Gary - You can find some very good deals on E-Bay, Craigslist, or even the dealer -

We know that when they are new, they are trying to sell them for what probably equates to 5-7 times of the bill of material costs to built it - I would not even pay $30,000.00 for a brand new one - Not worth the money - In something this costly, a second hand is the only way to go...

To me it is no different then buying a car - I ended up purchasing a new 2014 Honda, and paid $1,370.00 LESS then the sticker price - Was it a perfect deal - I doubt it, but it made me happy -

The sounds on the Rhapsody that I purchased, are the same voices and sounds that are on the Newest Liberty - We compared them back to back - and Mine was Manufactured on 08/25/2005…

Does the Liberty have MORE voices and sounds then mine - Yes -
Does the Liberty have a better actual sound then mine - NO -
Are the few extra features worth the money - NO -

My organ is mint condition - Not a mark on the cabinet any where - Everything works as if it was built only yesterday - (now that the pedal board was rebuilt) -

I have a extended warranty from an authorized Lowrey Daler - It was delivered and tested by the Lowrey Dealer - If anything happens for the next few years, I will be covered, and have no doubt he will make it right…

Did I pay more then I would have on E-bay or Craigslist? I am sure I did - But those few extra dollars got me the one thing I could not get off of crags list or E-Bay… Piece of mind for the next few years to come…

Dan

 

[kenkart]

About the only used organ...

You CAN'T get a deal on is a Hammond...at least not a B or Church model, even a 50 or 60 year old one of those sells for much more than it cost new!..of course they are darn near indestructable.

 

[tolivac]

Agree on the REAL TONEWHEEL Hammonds-NOT the "imitation" electronic ones sold now.Both musicians and recording studios are paying BIG money towards those vintage Hammonds.The electromechanical tonewheel system call always be repaired or rebuilt.The electronics in the Hammonds are nothing more than amplifiers and tone shapers.To get an idea how a tonewheel organ works-simply wave a screwdriver near a tape deck playback head-you will hear the sound thru the machines speaker.Do this to test tape machines.Now if you could move that screwdriver rapidly-you would get a tone!
EBay and Craigslist-AVOID those--too much horsedealing going on on those!Too easy for a sellor to make a quick buck at your expense.And you don't know what you are getting.At least with a dealer you have an idea what you are getting,a warrantee,delivory,and possibly lessons.But,alas, no more paino and organ dealers here anymore.Offtimes like with cars--too much horsetrading going on there,too.HATE THAT-just want buy and move on.

 

[danorob1]

Hey Guys -
I started this whole YouTube thing over again now that I finally have a real digital video camera -
Hope you like this one… One of my favorite songs...
Dan

 

[danorob1]

And One More…

 

[tolivac]

Very Good! Your new camera records your organ well!

 

[countryguy]

Well done Dan! Looks like you've really got the hang of the Rhapsody.

Gary

 

[danorob1]

Thank You Rex & Gary…

It's funny Gary - Once you start getting the hang of modifying the setting, it starts to get a little easier - The hard part is trying to remember a setup that you like, and created from scratch -

The other issue is that it is so easy to hit one wrong button, and undo everything you did up to that point -

The greatest part though is that you can sit at almost any Lowrey, and they all work pretty much the same - maybe a few differences, but the basics all carried forward -

Still loving it every day….

My only challenge now it to try and hunt down the Matching Lowrey Music Cabinet in Oak - Seems that the corporate office sold off the last one about a year ago, and they did not make a whole lot to start… I may post on the Lowrey forum to see if any dealers still have one...

Dan

 

[countryguy]

When you create a registration that you like you should save it to one of the banks and then save it to disk....the Rhapsody does have a diskette doesn't it?

You are right that all the Lowreys basically work the same way so it is easy to move from one model to another.

Gary

 

[kenkart]

Re More

One of my favorite Earl Grant songs.

 

[danorob1]

Hi Gary -
Yes - it has the Drive that all the SU series have, and those before and after as well - I have just not had the time to take out the book to read how to save them - I actually have not even taken out of the book to figure out how to memorize them to the bank presets on the organ itself…

Hans - RE: More - I love that song as well - Obviously I like playing it in a little more in a jazzy style vs the more original spanish style - I have had to play that song since I was 8 or 9 years old… Every time my parents had company over !!!

In the last twenty years i only played it once a year if I was lucky, but amazingly that is played from memory - I have no sheet music for that song - That it why there are a few subtle differences from the original… I am 48 years old, so my memory is not the same as when I was a little…

Dan

 

[countryguy]

Hi Dan,

Saving a registration to a bank preset is very easy on the Prestige. I'm thinking it is probably similiar on the Rhapsody. Just press Memory, then select the Bank (A, B, C, D, E), then the number (1 - 10), then press memory again.

Gary

 

[countryguy]

PS. I have a version of More that I did when I had my Lowrey Majesty. I don't think that files can be attached here but if you go to the website in the link, click on 'Music' at the top, then on the left hand side click on model LX510 Majesty you will see my name on the right side with some of my songs including More. I also have some under A5000 Prestige.



http://www.lowreyforum.com

 

[danorob1]

Hi Gary -
Very nicely done… Like I said, "MORE" has always been one of my favorite songs…
I actually spent quite a while listening to most of them…
I really enjoyed it…
You should post some of them here, or on youtube…
Dan

 

[countryguy]

Thanks Dan. It has been awhile since I've recorded anything. I do have one video on youtube that I did back in 2011 - Stones by Neil Diamond. I seem to get a case of stage fright as soon as I turn on the recorder LOL

Gary

 

[poconovacman]

Nice job with the Lowrey. Absolutely the farthest thing possible from my own cup of tea, but you really seem to love it and you play very well!

This is what graces a (very large!) corner of my living room.

A 1981 Allen Digital Computer Organ, System 705-DK

 

[tolivac]

Very nice rendidtion of the song "Stones'!!
Matt?Can you play your Digital Allen organ for us-would love to listen to it!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

The Lowrey organ was made famous in 1971 when Pete Townshend recorded the iconic intro of The Who's "Baba O'Riley" with one. Four years earlier, a Lowrey organ made its presence known immediately on The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

~Ben

 

[countryguy]

Thanks Rex. I just realized when I looked at that video again, that it was done on my previous Lowrey model - the Stardust and not my current organ which is the Prestige. I should get out the camcorder again and try to do another video.

Gary

 

[kenkart]

Re Organ Music...

I have always been a organ music nut,I have almost all of Earl Grants albums, tons of Jesse Crawford,Eddie Layton,Ethel Smith,Bob Ralston,Bill Doggett,Eddie Weaver,Buddy Cole,Dick Hyman, and on and on..probably about 250 or so albums,mostly Hammond organ stuff, but also Wurlitzer theatre organ..but I also have tons of albums of gospel groups and choirs with organ on them,some of the best of them are the African American choirs and groups from the 50s and 60s such as Clara Ward , Mahailia Jackson,etc.