any tips please
As you might have already read I will soon take delivery of an Alan Pell 30 The case it is in now may well be too big for where I want to put it but the question I would like to ask is. Is there an optimum size of case for any organ? By that I mean is there such a thing as the case being to big or to small? I assume that it will make a difference to the sound either in volume and or quality. cheers STEVE

Personally, I don't think it matters very much as to the size of case. And I don't think it makes a great deal of difference to the overall sound either. Only a qualified acoustician (If that's the right term) could tell you that. But if you observe the organs old and new on rally fields and elswhere, I think you'll see that organs sound pretty good no matter what the size of case. Most organs are built into as small a case as possible for practical reasons. As long as all the pipes face forward, and are placed in the best positions, from an acoustical point of view, that's the main thing. By that, I mean you wouldn't have the bass pipes at the front. Or the drums in front of the pipes. Listen to an organ from the rear and you'll see what I mean. The sound is completely unbalanced. This is very noticable on a lot of "You tube" videos which have been recorded from the rear. (I wish people wouldn't do that) However, it's usually best if the case is boxed in at the rear, to throw the sound forward. And a little experimentation in this respect doesn't cost a lot, and will teach much about musical balance. The trick is to really listen, from the front, the listeners position. to the sound being made. Not just listen on a surface level, but really listen. And have the organ tuned regularly. There's nothing worse than listening to an potentially nice organ that needs tuning. When a organ, or indeed any instrument, is out of tune, it brings about an apparent deterioration of tone quality, which is magically restored when it is properly tuned. And out of tune instruments do nothing to endear the public to the mechanical organ. Many instruments often play out tune, the owners claiming that is how they should sound. Wrong! I'm sure Mr Gavioli would turn in his grave if he heard that sort of comment. Fair organs, like any instrument, were intended to play in tune. I appreciate the fact that travelling organs have a lot to cope with, and it's amazing they stay in tune for any length of time at all. Bright sunshine one minute, rain the next, and so on. But if presenting an in tune organ means having it tuned more often, then so be it I say. Steve.

Thanks Steve, I am limited to the size case because I really want the organ to be in the centre of the ride. I have seen so many different size cases or even trailers and just wondered wether it made much difference accoustically. Might as well know if I am limiting its abilities. Collected the organ last Saturday, Spent half of Sunday morning pacing up and down until it was late enough to treat the neighbours to a good old blast of some of the 70 tunes I got with it :shock: :D cheers STEVE

Hello everyone, Well done Steve. Bill made a nice job of the case & front. The case is as small as it can be, footprint wise, as the chest dimensions dictate this. However the height can be lowered a bit, as there is plenty of room under the chest. It might look a bit odd if the chest is too low, mind! If the front is too wide then I would cut a line down the two sides (about where the case ends) to make two hinged side wings, so you can angle them back slightly, like some of the old Gaviolis in the big rides. You could also remove the drums. You may be right in wanting to start again with a new front. I hope this is of more help than it is of confusion!. Rob.

Hi Rob, I agree the case that Bill built is fine and I know what you mean about the width re the windchest. The case is actually only three inches wider than the box that is currently fitted in the middle of the ride, so that should not be a problem. The front is too wide, I think I will have a problem with the ride safety -*test*-('") with that front on it is probably too close to the little darlings who could reach out and get their arm caught. I could hinge the front and make wings out of them but I think that the art itself is too big, it may well make the rest of the ride look out of proportion. i will build the ride up in the next couple of weeks and have a look. The height may be ok, just have to go a bit carefull with the front and not make it too much higher, again HSE I have got to be able to see right around the ride. I will try and post a picture of the ride in the gallery so that you can see what I mean. Who ever said it was going to be easy :roll: :D cheers STEVE

I agree with Rob Barker. Loose the drums. Personally, I don't think they're necessary on a small organ anyway.. Maybe a couple of wood blocks instead of the side drum would be more in keeping with the scale of the ride and organ. Or is there room to mount any of the percussion under the windchest at the front?

Personally Steve I would have gone for a Pell mini 20, smaller and more in keeping with the ride. But thats me. I do like the one you have though. Pete

Hello Pete, A mini 20 was my first choice to be honest, but when I heard one playing at Laughton Country Fayre I was not that impressed to be honest. It could well have been the choice of music that was playing that gave me that impression though. As with everything I had a budget and This one came in within budget (almost :wink: ) I am very pleased with it and it plays superbly, Its a shame one of the neighbours doesn't think so, I ahd a good mate round this afternoon and we had been playing the organ for about 20 minutes when there was a loud banging on the front door :roll: :roll: My wife answered the door and took the complaint, I couldn't hear I was stood by the organ :D cheers STEVE

I wish you lived next door to me. All I get is thump thump thump from my neighbours, it`s like being in one of those big disco`s in Spain. But all is not lost, my Smiffy 26 note is nearly finished heh, heh, heh. Pete

:D :D :D Revenge is sweet my friend :wink: My immediate neighnours are no problem, this one lives in a street that runs along the side of a house four doors up from me !! I could have been the first person in the country who got an ASBO for playing, a beatles medley, about three minutes from Handels messiah, a show tune and a hymn :shock: Now you all know what an ASBO is don't you? Anti Social Buggers are Organists :wink: :wink: cheers STEVE

Hi John, As you say a front similar to those two links would be better, I have started jotting down a few ideas and will probably make a start after Christmas. cheers STEVE