Re: Organ Studio in Chiavari-I (was European source...)

["Marco M." <genpla@flashnet.it>]

(This is a lengthy text: sorry!)
I know well Organ Studio and his owner Tony, and was surprised by some
comments recently expressed here by Keith <burberry@wfp.org> after my review
of OS activity. Last Sunday I met Tony at his booth at Music Interexpo - an
Italian exhibition - in Pesaro and showed him Keith's post.
Tony is not on the net yet (but will have a web site soon), so asked me to
post his comments through my keys.

First of all, Keith has never been at Organ Studio in Chiavari. He had a
couple of phone talks and a mail exchange with Tony, who is asking himself
how could Keith give such deep and final sentences from a few photos and
info about a preliminary project. He'd like to meet him in his medium-sized
shop (not at all an artisan laboratory) so he can see with his eyes - and
not "de relato" - the whole OS production and their organs.

Quoting Keith:
>Because of their prices and some of the 'innovative' electronic solutions
>used, especially in their chopped C/B-3's and A-100 series, I didn't bring
>OS to your/the list's attention, but at least 2 US list members, other than
>Marco and myself, have had dealings with them. After waiting 4 weeks for a
>reply, one respected list member laughed himself silly after trying to
>decipher the OS "English".

Let's drop it: there are a hundred better reasons for laughin'. After all,
he's got some joy for free...
Regarding prices, they have to be related to the European market, where OS
operates. The big Hammonds here cost more than twice than in US, worse for
spare parts. Organs imported from the States pay a lot for packing,
transport, custom duties and conversion to 220V./50Hz., while organs bought
in Europe are expensive being very hard to find today. All the Hammond
lovers on the other side of the ocean should consider themselves lucky! 

> OS provides 'squeaky-clean" sounding Hammonds
>and unless you catch them in time, the one you're interested in will be
>cleaned of key-click, bite, screaming, balls of any kind, before you hear
>it/buy it.
>They are not at all opposed to trying to give you the sound you want, but
>don't really understand why you want Hammond 'defects' like key-click ...

Odd statement. Key-click, screaming and the rest are VERY much appreciated
by most OS's customers, so there's no reason to clean them out if the
customer doesn't request it specifically (which rarely happens). More,
Laurens Hammond himself tried to remove key-click with little results, how
OS could be clever to do that!? :-)
BTW, J.Smith, J.McDuff and other top level organists who played OS organs
gave very favorable comments (heard with my ears - MM).
OS by default delivers organs with a stock-like sound. It's up to the
customer to ask for a custom setup.

>>> - Spring reverb kit, very easy to install through the 12BH7 socket,
>>> features 3 springs, a tube preamplifier and an adjustable potentiometer;
>
>Very similar to Trek II's product, but uses higher-grade electronic
>components. Effect is good if properly installed (read instructions in
>Italian only), but has had some feed-back and hum problems in console
>Hammonds.

Hum is not possible - if correctly installed - not having it any power
supply transformer. Instructions are available in English.

>>> - Portable organ, derived from B3, C3 or A100, available in one or two
>>> parts.
>
>This $ 8,000 (Lit. 12m) 'Hammond' is *not* a road organ. The squared-off
>C-3 like case(s) come finished in walnut or mahogony, or virtually any
>other wood finish you like (about $5/600 extra), or black laquer at about
>$1,500 extra. End blocks and top rail are left in the same wood as the
>console they were derived from, and rarely match the case finish. Prices
>above are if OS supply the original console. If you give them your own
>console to modify the basic price is around $3,000 plus add any mod or
>finish extras as above.

Price is $7.000 (not 8.000). No extra $$ for custom finish, $500 (not 1.500)
for black lacquer. End blocks can match the case on request, but some people
prefer keeping the original. Price to convert customer's console is $2.200
(not 3.000). Very close to US prices!  And it looks very solid. The project
has been inspired by the Porta-B system.

>They don't advertise a one piece model yet, but it is the 2-piece model
>with the wooden fold-up slab sides permanently bolted into the ends of the
>upper case.  Moving this around (with 112 lb at the bottom of the unit)
>should be avoided - it compromises the case joints.

No one-piece model available (what for?). The two-piece is not conceived to
be moved while mounted, of course (for lack of good reasons).

>Moving the tg to the pedal unit should tell you a lot. It involves
>extensive re-wiring and lengthening the tg connections. The sound tells you
>this has been done too. OS will re-cap both generator and AO-28 unless you
>remember to tell them not to.  The resulting sound is that of a typical
>70's European bright B/C-3. Not much like the consoles you US guys are used
>to hearing.

The last statement sounds strange. I (MM) see from reading this list for
months that MOST people like post '59 pre '70 consoles, and re-cap and
upgrade to get the '60 sound. Am I wrong? I was concerned by reading the
same statement in other posts from Keith in the recent past.
More, I (MM) don't see any considerable sound difference in post '59
American and European organs (I own both), while can tell you blind what is
the decade of construction. The following quote comes from a recent post of
Bevis Peters (BP):

BP> AFAIK, a 60's EU hammond is exactly the same as a 60s US hammond, except for
BP> the tg gearing for the 50Hz mains.

Right! And I consider the sound of consoles made in Antwerp Belgium among
the best (IMHO, of course). I see Keith doesn't agree, but I think he are
probably alone in this list. But we risk to move to a philosophical
discussion, this way.
Besides, the wooden cases of the seventies were much better manufactured (or
at least glued!) in Europe than in the States (IMHO, again).

>OS will either provide the original organ or modify your own Hammond.
>If you want a B-3 from them you'll have to wait until they find and import
>one.  Average 5/6 months. They also have mostly European A-100's, C-3's and
>L-100's, but regularly import M-3's and M-100's from US. Generally they
>don't keep a large stock of Hammonds; you're quite likely to have to wait a
>little for any particular model.

OS stock an average of 10-20 organs ready to sell. Not so bad.
4 weeks is the average time to chop your console. Not so bad.
Tony says Keith was looking for a pre '58 B3 to be chopped (why not a C3?
After all, it had to be chopped). A so specific request may require a longer
time, of course.

>>> jack and 6 or 9-pin Leslie output.  Optionals: Reverb, active equalizer.
>
>Not cheap, and the equalizer is probably a must if you haven't been
>following the sound of the organ while they've been modifying it.

See above. Equalizer is usually requested by rock band organists.

>>        Tel.: (0)185-321560 (English spoken)
>>        Fax:  (0)185-308577 (English written...)
>
>Sort of. The guy who moves things there is Tony, who doesn't speak English.
>If he has the guy at hand who does, you speak to Tony via the translator.
>Be patient and keep a straight face (see above).

Tony doesn't speak fluent English but there's always somebody properly
qualified who does (and speaks four other languages), and that counts. You
can mail or fax in English.

> He will let you have
>'photos of their work and some literature (I've only seen it in Italian so
>far).

They have a very nice color booklet describing their business and several
data sheets in English and Italian, who are glad to mail on request. Soon on
the web as well.

>Judge yourself. IMHO I find OS high priced (but like most Italian artisans
>you can argue them down a bit), good natured and helpful. I like their
>Leslie's sound and performance volume (Db pressure = to about 3 147's at
>full cry) but don't much like the sound of their standard rebuilt Hammonds.

Yeah, judge yourself!  They are happy to send with the literature video or
audio cassettes from which you'll be able to evaluate the sounds.
(Question: do the American or other non-Italian artisans defend their prices
till death?)

>OS don't mind you going to Chiavari and watching the progress of your
>Hammond while they work on it - a rarity these days, but you should do this
>to get the sound you want. They also deal in most vintage stage keyboards,
>from Rhodes' to Moog/ARP synths and Yamaha CP-80 piano's, Korg/Roland
>vocoders, etc., and will (for a price) repair/upgrade your own vintage
>stuff.
>
>Needless to say, I have no commercial interest whatever in OS. I think they
>should be encouraged to mature their business. It is unique in southern
>Europe.

Needless to say! Nobody suspected Keith had any commercial interests after
reading his post!

>Ciao for now,
>
>Keith
>
>The OrganGrinder
><burberry@wfp.org>

"The OrganStudioGrinder" ?!?

One final comment from me (MM). 
I know Organ Studio and Tony since years, love their organs, appreciate
their sincere love for Hammonds (except when they chop: I'd kill 'em for all
those murders!) which they know VERY WELL. I've carefully observed their
chops at their booth and must say they are GREAT! Very professional, light,
modern looking and well finished. I invite everyone interested to ask them
for their nice brochure and demo tape.

I should add that they are not alone in the Italian scene and face a hard
competition from at least another similar company (soon on the web as well)
and other minor artisans, which reinforces their skill and competitivity in
satisfying our Hammond-maniacal market.

Of course, I have no commercial interest in OS. Indeed, I've been in
competition with them a couple of times being a collector who has to sell a
piece sometimes!

Finally, I am sure that my very light sensation of being in presence of a
little bit of chauvinism in describing a non-US company which handles US
children (organs) is wrong... We all love Hammonds (Laurens and his
creatures) and the Country which gave him birth, so much that Tony every
year organizes a Hammond contest-concert called "Thank you Mr. Hammond!" (in
which I had the honor of playing a couple of tunes right before - and in
front of - the great Jack McDuff! :-O).

Ciao!

Marco 
(Hope my English is intelligible...)

  ____________________________________________________________
  Marco Montaruli, General Plastics, Rome <genpla@flashnet.it>