Lowrey Prestige Organ...

[danorob1]

Hi All,

First to Gary…

Thank you so much for all your input and responses to all my questions…

I ended up not looking at the Rhapsody in Delaware… While It LOOKED pristine, I was concerned that since it had not been played in many, many, many years, that there would be dirty contacts from sitting… That combined with the fact I did not have much luck finding someone to ship it for me…. So That one was out…

Yesterday my partner and I went down to the Only NJ lowrey Dealer down at the shore… I had purchased parts from him in the past for my Hammond and he was a terrific guy…

We were there for almost four hours…. I played so many organs it was not even funny…

I tried a Lowrey Majesty, Rhapsody, Prestige, Holiday, The New Liberty, Celebration, Palladium, Imperial, Encore, Royal, and Stardust…

In the end, I understand that each year they add more sounds, presets, and effects, but the organs as a whole all had the same type of wonderful sound when played as you would play a standard organ, without all of the extra effects, intros, etc…

Even the special effects seemed to sound the same between them…

The final part of the picture for me was that I did not want a Debt… I wanted to purchase it in cash like I do everything else… That combined with the fact that I am not 100% sure I will continue to play every night like I used to when I was younger, lead me to pick the Rhapsody…

Now - Before everyone jumps at me, you have to remember that I am coming from a 1973 Hammond T-582C - Very Mechanical, very plain jane… Even a 80's Lowrey would make it sound like a toy…

So - I paid what I felt was a fair price - Got an extended 3-year warranty in the cost, and they will deliver it early this week….

The funniest part was that the particular organ was just traded in by a Senior who was in the shop waiting for their Saturday Morning coffee clutch/lessons… When I was trying them out I kept the volume low so as not to disturb anyone… When they were done they asked me to play for them, and the owner came over and said "it has been so long since I saw anyone play with more then one finger, and never mind actually using pedals" - He then said "from the way you play, I can assume you will not be coming in for the free lessons"? -

It did make me feel good - Even my partner was teasing me saying I always said you could play, but the told me the sound I got out of the Rhapsody was beyond anything he thought I could do…

I Am sure it will give me many years of joy, and then in another 10-years, I may trade it up for something else…

Finally - Here is a picture - For some stupid reason I only took one…
Thanks again Gary -
Dan

 

[tolivac]

Lowrey Rhapsody-VERY NICE!!!This is more organ than my freinds old Lowrey-It would be like comparing a 747 to a Cessna!Good that you were able to try several before making a decision as to the one you wanted.Can't do that my way-the closest Lowrey dealer is in Raleigh.The Piano-organ dealer here closed a few years ago.Now out of their former building there is a used car dealer.And afraid to try something I couldn't afford at this time.I would need the lessons-I can't carry a tune in a bucket!the only organs I could "play" was a Mortier or a Wurlitzer that played from punched music books or rolls.Are those small lights above each key on the keyboard-if so what do they indicate?Again my freinds Lowrey had no lights or anything above the keys and a simple stop control panel.Was sort of able to make crude tunes on it or making something that sounding like an elk bugle call!Only music places here now are RedPhish Music and Greenville Guitars.They don't carry console type electric-electronic organs or pianos.

 

[countryguy]

Dan,

Glad to hear you made a purchase that you are comfortable with. It is great that you were able to try out all the different organs to make the comparisons. You are right that there is not much difference between many of the newer models other than a few extra styles and voices. I'm sure you will be happy with the Rhapsody as well as feel confident since you have the 3 year warranty from the dealer.

Happy playing.

Gary

 

[danorob1]

Hi Gary -

Yes - I loved playing all the different models, but a lot of the tones, rhythms and effects did sound the same between all of them...

Mine new (to me) baby is being delivered tomorrow at sometime between 1:30 & 2:00, so I am going to take half a day off and meet them at the house for the delivery…

I will have to record a few songs to put on the lowrey forum… I must say, I enjoyed listening to the wonderful music you shared with the Lowrey group…

One last question for you - Do you have a Surge Protector on your Lowrey? If so, what brand and model did you go with ?

Thanks again,
Dan

 

[danorob1]

Hi Rex -

The small lights you see above each key are illuminated notes showing which note is for which key -
We only turned them on for the Shot - I would not ever see using them in real life, but they make for quite the addition to the other 300 lights on this thing…

I was glad to be able to get something I was happy with, with a warranty, and delivered, without going into any debt… I think I paid slightly more then someone else may have paid, but I was very happy with the deal, and in the end, that was all that mattered to me… Plus the dealer is only 45 miles away, and he is an authorized Lowrey dealer…

I will put up some pictures tomorrow after it is delivered…

Dan

 

[tolivac]

Thanks-mystery solved.These may be useful for a beginning organist-but for an experienced one then not needed.Glad you are happy.Make some beautiful music with it and play your favorite organ songs!And its always thrilling to have something delivored to you-wether your new organ or a new Kirby!Glad the dealer is close to you.Raleigh is about 2 hrs away for me.Will have to wait on organs.It would be so nice to have.Looking forward to seeing pictures of it installed at your place-and can you put up video clips of you playing it?Would like to see how it works!!It appears you can get good deals on instruments traded in.Will have to look into that in the future.I would need those lights-never really played before and haven't had lessons.Would like to learn.Can you be sort of "self taught" on this organ?Or for me-lessons.

 

[countryguy]

Hi Dan,

I'm sure you are getting very excited right about now to have your Lowrey delivered this afternoon! Have fun with it.

I have the Prestige plugged into a combination surge protector/UPS as I had a spare one in the house. It is made by APC and was about $60 I believe. I use the same type of UPS for my TV and computer equipment.

Rex,

You can be self taught on the organ as that is what I did. There are no organ music teachers or organ dealers anywhere close to where I live. I did know how to read music before I started as I took accordion lessons for 4 years when I was in grade school. I started playing about 8 years ago. I've watch a lot of instructional vids on youtube.

Gary

 

[filterqueenman]

We are dying here....

I have been checking several times today to see posts of the new baby you had delivered today!!  Sadly nothing...my hope is you are enjoying your new instrument and I can not wait to hear more and see more.  This has been a wonderfully thrilling thread!!  


 


Cheers!

 

[tolivac]

Dan&Gary--Glad you can teach yourself on these organs--do you have to know how to read music?Have some music class textbooks I bought at a yard sale that show something about reading music.I watched some demo videos on YouTube-esp the one that showed how the Liberty works.Was from a dealer in UK.NOW THAT would be a long way from me-hate to see what the delivory charge would be!And you can't tuck the organ under your arm as you fly on the airlines or whatever.As I mentioned there are no dealers or instructors that I know of near me at this point.Now if I wanted to play the guitar-"G"fiddle-LOTS of folks that could give lessons.Afraid I am into something with more "wood"--the organ.They have always fascinated me.Someday.Also played around on my Grandmothers pump organ when I was a kid.She seemed to like the weird noises I made with it.You had to pump it pretty hard to make it work.Good leg exercise!

 

[countryguy]

Rex,

Yes it does help if you know how to read music however with the Lowrey, they have something called EZ-play. There are a series of instructional music books, 12 in all I think starting with the very basics (sometimes they are available on Ebay). The notes are extra large on the music as well as having the name of the note printed on the page which then of course matches up with the lighted notes on the organ. They also have the chord printed above the music which colour matches the chord notes on the lower keyboard. These are for one fingered chords. All Lowrey organs allow the use of one and 2 fingered chords (for minor and 7th chords) as well as full chords. When I first started playing, I began using just one fingered chords. Then after a couple of years I taught myself full chords. Now I am slowing beginning to play the pedals. The Lowrey is definitely the most easy organ to play for the home hobbyist.

BTW, there are no organ dealers anywhere close to me either. I have had my organs shipped from Vancouver, Portland OR and Dallas and I've travelled to south of Chicago to pick up one. My current organ was delivered here by the dealer near Detroit - an 8 hour drive and in a snow storm to boot!

Gary

 

[danorob1]

Hello All,

Sorry I did not post anything yesterday -

One of my friends from work came over, and I had to play for her for an hour -
Then my partner came home at about 5:30, and we stayed at that damn organ until 9:00 -

I had not eaten anything since breakfast, and had a splitting headache -

So - Now for some pictures -
First of my old Baby - My parents purchased this for me New when I was 7-years old, back in 1973… God I'm Old… I actually played it for about an hour before the new one came… I was depressing myself while i was thinking about the day it was delivered…. All the holidays around it… And that fact that what was my huge family had all passed on except for my mom, and one aunt and uncle…

When they came to deliver the new one, he told me he would take the old one out first.. I told him to call me when it was on the truck, because I could not watch it go… I know - Corny and sentimental, but that is me…

The old… ( it looks like a toy now compared to the new one)

 

[danorob1]

And now some pictures of my new to me baby !!!

 

[danorob1]

And a few more...

 

[countryguy]

Congrats! I'll be waiting to hear some tunes!

Gary

 

[filterqueenman]

Gorgeous...

So happy for you!  Such a beautiful piece may you have many years of enjoyment!!!


 


 

 

[tolivac]

Dan:Where to begin?Such a wonderful instrument!Looking at the stop and control panels it is beckoning you to play!Now I understand the lights on the keys better-shows the notes of the keys.For someone as music dumb as me that would sure help.Sad you had to turn in your Hammond.Hope they gave you good trade in credit for it.Too bad you couldn't keep it for old times sake.In 1973 was when I started working in radio stations.Too bad they don't have organs anymore-this would be a good one for them!And you were trying your new organ for close to four hrs!
Gary-after seeing the picures of Dan's organ-the lights on the keys-that could help-along with E-Z Play.But again will be sometime before I could consider one of these neat instruments.But good to know about them.

 

[countryguy]

Rex,

Keep an eye on Ebay! You would be surprised at how cheap some of these expensive Lowrey's are selling for! It is a shame really. Usually it is the kids selling them after a parent or grand parent dies. A friend of mine from the Lowrey yahoo group is currently selling a Prestige for $4000! That is an absolute bargain.

Gary

 

[super-sweeper]

is that a TV screen on that organ? the thing looks more like a rocket command station than a musical instrument! 

 


If that Hammond was my organ, it would be sitting in the garage for years to come, I would be chasing the truck down and yelling "Get to the side of the road with MY organ!"! 

 

[tolivac]

Why not just put the Hammond beside the Lowrey-Certainly room could be made for it.Would think that Hammond would have some sort of sentimental value.I could not get rid of something like that for ANY price!!!And as a strange twist--the Hammond just may have MORE future value than the Lowrey.Hear of musicians that want older Hammonds for their music production.They want the real tonewheel models-not the electronic or digital "imatations".
I don't use EBay-too much "chicannery" going on there.Yes,as I pointed out in another entry-the kids disposing of Mom,Dads,Granddads,Grandmoms organ after they have died and they have no interest in it.Think there would be some sentimental value since the child grew up listening to the organ or trying to play it or making noise with it.The "TV" screen on the organ is an LCD display screen-touchscreen-these are now on many things today-why your cell phone probably has one!You use it to select what features or functions you want the organ to do while you play.Does the organ you have feature the audio out,in and video out so you can use a TV or video projector to display the words and such in the songs?Think it was the Prestige-linked to an owners manual on it-you can use the audio in so you can use the organs amps and speakers to play MP3 players and other devices thru the organ-kinda like what my buddy did so many years ago-no input jacks- had to run a lead into the back of the organ into the audio inputs of its amps.Either way-you are now using the organs sound system as a "Hi-Fi" system.And the organ had a line out so you could use an external amp and speaker system if you wanted.Guess if you were playing the instrument in Carnigie Hall or something so all of the fans can hear!The owners book shed some light and cleared up some things for me.At some point will look for one of these cool instruments.

 

[super-sweeper]

MY Cell-Phone? My latest phone is my Kitchen Extension from 1984! 

 


But...I'll admit...I love my Kindle!