I moved into organs over 50 yrs ago so saw the decline of the home organ in the 8os, mainly because a lot of the organ manufactures did not (Or could not) transition to the digital age and those that bought the analogue organs were starting to disappear.

Those that transitioned into the digital age (Including those that entered anew (Mainly Technics and Roland) carried on well into the 90s, however they started to fall off in the 00s as the single keyboard (They were not called arrangers till the later 90s) was advancing well beyond the easy play features on organs, and became an instrument in there own right (Arrangers), combine this with the increasing cost of living (Yes its not new) and the much cheaper and smaller arranger took off and organs became niche, (With very few left) the same has now happened with arrangers now, with them moving to a niche market. (Interestingly many who moved over to arrangers from organs are now moving back in there later years)

Over the years I got friendly with many dealers and manufactures personal and so got many off the record inside information, which confirmed what I was seeing, so yes the arranger market is on borrowed time. (New types of instruments have taken over for the youngsters, just like arrangers did for organs)

The Asia market cannot be compared to the Western market as in Asia the Organ is still strong and almost the same as the arranger market, however they have a completely different outlook to the west.

Bill

I'm curious, but in Asia, with the continued love for performing on 'home organs' (I only call them that to distinguish them from barebones Hammond B3 organs, which have a robust US/UK clone market, but no X77 type clones), how do young professionals deal with the still considerable weight and bulk of a full 61 double manual/2 octave pedal organ?

Or are they still confined mostly to living rooms and the live music scene is similar to ours?

The organs are easily dismantled (A few hand bolts) so they just carry them in parts, in addition the organs are of compact dimensions so not that much bigger than an arranger. (Just think of them as arranger size with an additional keyboard added)

I always find it interesting that in the US everything is focussed on lightness, whereas in the rest of the world weight doesn't really enter in to it. (Moving organs around to different gigs is very common in the rest of the world)

Bill

I used to lug a B3 and 147 around back in the day, but holy hell, not at 70! 😱

If weight didn't enter into it for the rest of the world, they wouldn't make lightweight arrangers! The US market for them is pretty slim these days (I honestly don't know of another pro in my area using one, it's all workstations and stage pianos etc.). I am damn certain Ketron, Korg and Yamaha aren't letting US needs dictate their designs!

The States never really had the organ schmaltz scene Europe has. The few organ venues there were mostly jazz organ, Jimmy Smith kind of things. I guess post war Europe there was a shortage of pay for full bands, and the organ player was a legit pub and holiday camp type act, whereas during the same period, America had a lot of full bands.

Don't forget, I'm originally from the UK (through the mid-70's) and I remember well the organ scene back then. I used to gig in bands with three organs for a time, a B3, a Vox AND a Yamaha 'home organ' type! My back definitely remembers those days! With a Rhodes and a big Yamaha CS60 too (baby brother to the behemoth CS80). A young man's game.

I don't mind the weight when it's necessary... I remember about15 years ago the shock on many arranger players faces when the G70 clocked in at 45lbs (20kg!) and the E80 was even more (had speakers!), but at the time nothing better was lighter. I'm loving that the BK9 is just 20lbs (9kg!) and is sonically MUCH better (though I do miss that action a bit, even though the BK's feels as good as a TOTL Korg or Yamaha imo).

But I'd still happily lug the G70 around if nothing were better..!