I know this forum is primarily for Keyboard and synth users but does anyone know of a similar sort of thing for organ users ?. I know a lot of the more experienced keyboard users have came into them from an organ background so perhaps there may be someone who can help me to help out a relative. I have just been visiting my aunt who is the proud owner of a Technics SX-EX70 2 manual organ. The official Technics manual is even less useful than the one for my KN6500 and that is bad enough !. She loves playing the organ, but is finding the technicalities of the instrument a bit beyond her and is having a hard time finding anyone who can help here to understand the beast. What would be ideal would be someone knowledgeable, a local club that she could make contact with, or even a book written in plain English about the instrument. Aunty lives in North Belfast ( Northern Ireland ) and there doesnt appear to be very much of a tradition in the province of organ playing beyond the religious side in churches. I can forward any advice or thoughts that you good people may have on the subject.

Thanks in anticipation

Keith

Keith, I did a 'search' on Yahoo's Group Forums and did not find a hit on the Technics SX-EX70 2. I also did a 'Google' serarch and likewise came up empty.

Just a thought. If your Auntie doesn't mind unloading that beast, ie., "sell it" - she could along with the proceeds then get a much lighter and more maneuverable Organ in lets say, a Technics KN7000. The KN7000 is an Arranger Keyboard and the Organs on it are absolutely fantastic. And she would have a bundle of 'different' type Organ voices too; such as a Drawbar, Rotor, Pipe, Elec., Theatre, Jazz, Hammond B3, Chapel, etc. All this in "one" Keyboard! And she would have tons of other type voices too, like Piano, Elec. Pianos, Harpsichord, Strings, Scat Voices, Brass, etc. More fun than a barrel of monkeys if you ask me.

PS: If she sings along with her playing, even though the KN7000 has a Mic Input and a Vocal Harmonizer, the Harmonizer is sub standard and basically unusable. But if she didn't necessarily need the 'harmonizer function', she could just switch the harmonizer part off and sing with just 'her' voice in the Mix with NO harmony.

This is just a suggestion. If your Auntie is set on keeping the Technics SX-EX70 2 so be it but like I said I found no User Groups on that specific Organ. I'm pretty sure if you do a Google search yourself you may be able to find a Forum on maybe "Manual Organs" or 'Organs' in general. But I found nothing in regards to the Technics SX-EX70 2 itself.

Best regards,
Mike

[This message has been edited by Idatrod (edited 09-15-2003).]

Hi Keith,

There already exists an excellent resource for organ enthusiasts (the site is based in the U.K). You'll find it at http://wwww.organfax.co.uk

It's a very well organized site (excuse the pun!) and they do have a pretty extensive discussion group, listings of organ clubs and many other resources. I'm sure you should be able to find something there.

I used to work for a retailer in the London area when the Technics EX70 was a current model (mid-80s). It was our best seller and I'd have bought one myself if I could have afforded it back then!

Good luck with organfax.
Chris

[This message has been edited by Chris A (edited 09-15-2003).]

Thanks to Chris and Mike for the advice. Aunty had a little "dabble" with keyboards a while back, but her first love is still organs. She's in her 70's now and while she is a good musician the complexities of modern instruments are proving difficult for her. The organfax site looks very interesting and there does appear to be an organ group in Northern Ireland so perhaps she can make a contact there. Thanks for the advice guys - much appreciated.

Keith