Update August 27, 2007: Picked up the power supply today, and re-assembled the organ upstairs (rather than down in the studio). The new capactitors have eliminated the hum. Not getting full tones on Bb keys. In fact, the top two octaves have the same tone for Bb -- one doesn't even sound an octive lower than the other. Looking into this with the Bb tone generator. I'm also thinking of having the old capacitors replaced in the amplifier as well. I want to get as close to 0db as possible for recording. Although the power supply work took care of 99% of hum, there's still a bit of a noise floor there yet running at idle, and unlike the power supply noise, this noise responds to the swell pedal, so my best guess it is amplifier related. While fine for home playing, I wouldn't want it for recording. It is a sweet sounding organ, very rich and full. The Leslie really helps with the overall sound . . . and I'm sure the older 1967 wood has a lot to do with it as well.

Update August 1, 2007: Waiting to hear on the completion of the power supply work at the shop. The organ is currently disassembled, and will be moved into the recording studio piece-by-piece and reassembled there.

Welcome to my 1967 Lowrey Organ restoration project. I was fortunate to not only have acquired this organ at a very reasonable price in July 2007 -- but it was located for sale only 10 minutes from my house. It was kept very clean, and was well-maintained (externally) over the years. Of course, many original capacitors are well beyond their expected lifetime, along with the accumulation of dust and grime on internal circuits, switches and parts. It is my goal to bring it back to spec.

Here are a few internal and external photos (see below). It is the classic home organ: Lowrey Theater Spinet Model HR from 1967. This is one of Lowrey's early transistorized units (Space Age! as the owner manual exclaims). It contains an internal leslie speaker . . . the "rotosonic". I still prefer the sound of the rotosonic leslies (internal or external) in combination with stationary speakers (this was actually the preference of Don Leslie, as well). To me, it is the "true" sound of an organ to have sound waves from the leslie interact with soundwaves from stationary speakers. It is truly THE best way to achieve constructive and destructive interference within the audio wavefront . . . with the stationary speakers acting as the reference wavefront, and the leslie (rotosonic or otherwise) acting as the object wavefront.

This model is a 2-speed internal-organ Leslie rotosonic (choral and tremelo) -- which is very nice. The main speakers are handled by two 12-inch woofers, and a 6 x 9 mid- to high speaker. The rotosonic has a 6 x 9 as well, and has the lower frequencies filtered out. The amplification is rated at 40 watts.

Here is the restoration list of items:

1. Bring all electronics back up to original Lowrey factory specifications, according to the service manual. Replace all old capacitors with new high end Orange Drop Capacitors. Recalibrate tone generators / oscillators.

2. Rotary buff and polish the external wood.

3. Rotary buff and polish the main keyboards and bass pedalboard, replace felt pads.

4. Adjust spring tension on all bass foot pedals.

5. Remove Leslie Rotosonic unit and completely refurbish. Replace back into the cabinet using vibration-isolation materials.

6. Clean out all internal boards, switches and hardware using high-pressure air.

7. Remove and clean / service original Gibbs reverb unit. Replace back into the cabinet using vibration-isolation materials.

8. Test speakers and replace if necessary.

Hence, the ultimate goal of this project is to faithfully, and accurately, reproduce the solo organist and organ sound of the 1960's: beautiful rich tone, clean with no distortion, and breathtakingly dimensional Leslie chorus and tremelo.

The organ is being completely disassembled, individual circuits bench tested, and refurbished as needed from the ground up. Some items will be done at a professional shop, others I will do on my own. See photo descriptions for a rundown of "to do" items (so far), and items completed.

Many people would say that it is silly to bring an organ of this age and caliber back to life. I feel just the opposite. I believe there is plenty of beautiful "true" organ sound here to be ressurected. Plus, it is also providing me with a wealth of experience in restoration knowledge and skills. I hope you enjoy the progress, and the recordings made once the project is finished.

Plus, while not a top of the line model, this is the exact organ that my family couldn't afford back in the 60's (I had a Lowrey Holiday (1966) model instead, and it certainly served its purpose). My Mother (a single parent and deceased since the early 70's) was a factory worker during the day, and then traveled outside of the city to clean houses on the weekends to make payments on the Holiday, and lessons with Ace Pancoast (with Dick Clark's American Bandstand show in Philadelphia). It would only be fitting to dedicate this restoration to her.

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OR click on the FIRST thumbnail and you can slide-show your way through all images.

All the Best,
-- Ace Holiday