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Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran

05 Sep 12 - 08:35 PM (#3400599)
Subject: Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran
From: MickyMan

Fellow Catters, HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO HELP SOME FELLOW FOLKIES FROM THE EAST COAST!! My nephew's folk based band is doing a set of concerts in the Santa Rosa/San Francisco area in about a week and is wondering if anyone has a pump organ they can borrow. (It is darn expensive to get it there from CT) This group "Poor Old Shine" is getting transported out to play in the "National Heirloom Exposition" in Santa Rosa and they will be performing daily from Sept 11-14. Chris' organ dates back to the civil war, and it is a big part of their sound, so the need is great. (They found out that it costs mucho $$$$$ to get it out there to the west coast)   There are a bunch of Youtube videos of this group from Storrs CT, but here's one that features the organ. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iqHDIKlwmA   
Anything that would suffice in its stead would be highly appreciated! As you can see from the video, a digital keyboard just wouldn't be the same, would it?   My phone number in CT is 860.710-2868. (Mike) Many thanks


05 Sep 12 - 08:54 PM (#3400613)
Subject: RE: Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran
From: MickyMan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iqHDIKlwmA above link to the Youtube video didn't work. I'm trying again. The video is titled "Ghosts - Poor Old Shine". If this doesn't work I would really appreciate somebody helping to create a usable link.      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iqHDIKlwmA


05 Sep 12 - 10:27 PM (#3400655)
Subject: RE: Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran
From: GUEST,Stim

There is a guy named Jim Tyler, "The Reed Organ Man", who rents and sells these things in the Bay Area--I do not know him, I only know of him, so I can't tell you what he will or won't do, but I think you should talk to him. Here are his details. Good luck. They sound great.

Jim Tyler, The Reed Organ Man
1094 Revere Ave, Space A-14
San Francisco CA 94124
E-mail: organs@bdcsi.net                 
(415) 822-1124 shop
(415) 824-2851 home


06 Sep 12 - 06:31 AM (#3400760)
Subject: RE: Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran
From: MickyMan

Thank you so much, GUEST,Stim!   Any other info like this would be appreciated. Check out the group. These young guys are certainly worth helping!


06 Sep 12 - 04:56 PM (#3400996)
Subject: RE: Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran
From: GUEST,Stim

A bit of advice: a group should never sign a contract without knowing how they are going to get their equipment to the venue, and whether they can afford to get it there. Also, they are cutting things a wee bit close. Given that this is an unfamiliar instrument which is likely at least 100 years, old, there may be any number of issues to sort out.

Not meaning to be critical here. I've been in several groups that featured rare and unusual instruments, and have had things break, get lost, malfunction, or fail to appear. I understand why some performers who only travel with instruments and equipment that can be easily replaced;-)


06 Sep 12 - 05:15 PM (#3401003)
Subject: RE: Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran
From: MickyMan

Oh yes! That's the truth, all right! I get the feeling that they can reproduce the sound digitally if they have to, but I'm sure that it will look and sound better if they can make everything acoustical like they usually do. As you can see by their videos, they are young, and perhaps a little challenged when it comes to knowing every obstacle that will come up. Great guys with a wonderful sound, however. Any help will be appreciated, folks!


08 Sep 12 - 07:56 AM (#3401616)
Subject: RE: Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran
From: MickyMan

HERE'S ANOTHER OF THEIR VIDEOS ..... SWEET VIRGINIA LEE - POOR OLD SHINE


08 Sep 12 - 04:37 PM (#3401761)
Subject: RE: Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran
From: GUEST,Stim

That is a really delightful video, MickyMan! It makes me so happy to see that talented young pople are making this kind of music their own. Give my (and Mudcat's) best wishes to the boys for the Santa Rosa gigs. As they say, break a leg!


09 Sep 12 - 04:02 PM (#3402131)
Subject: RE: Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran
From: open mike

http://chico.craigslist.org/msg/3246077752.html
Old Kawai pump organ, works great - $50 (Oroville, Ca)

I have an old ( not sure how old) Kawai pump organ for sale. Plays fine, has some scratches, but nothing major. Email me if interested.

(this is not me--i just saw it on craig's list...

oroville is within a couple of hours of the bay area...

might be worth a try...


09 Sep 12 - 06:08 PM (#3402179)
Subject: RE: Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran
From: MickyMan

Posting again ..... hoping that the word gets around to you California Catters! Here's another video of a song which uses the all important pump organ. Footsteps In My Ear - Poor Old Shine
    If there are any other ideas for some more sources of a pump organ in the area, please get in touch. They're a good bunch of guys who will take proper care of the instrument, for sure. Our folk community here in CT has really enjoyed watching the success of this band., and I'm sure that you would have a good experience if you helped them out by lending them an instrument.


09 Sep 12 - 06:11 PM (#3402182)
Subject: RE: Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran
From: MickyMan

Just saw your post there, "Open Mike". Thank you for the info. I'll pass it on.


09 Sep 12 - 06:24 PM (#3402189)
Subject: RE: Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran
From: MickyMan

Another update with good news! Looks like they located an organ out there using your source, Stim!   They're on their way over there today - right now, as we post .... all pumped up, for sure!   Thank you for the help!


09 Sep 12 - 09:29 PM (#3402245)
Subject: RE: Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran
From: GUEST,Stim

"All pumped up!" Me too. I am glad that they found an organ. I was google-mapping the trip to Oroville, looking for pics of Kawaii organs, figuring out how to transport the thing to Santa Rosa, and wondering what "works great" even means. Having "The Reed Organ Man" bring one out seems infinitely better.

Again, keep us posted--open mike and I have posted, but I am sure that others are following this as well. If this gig goes well, they should be prepared to do this again--conventions and conferences are great gigs, and the organ makes them stand out...


28 Oct 12 - 06:10 AM (#3427203)
Subject: RE: Pump organ needed in Santa Rosa/San Fran
From: GUEST,Uncle George

I am afraid I'm to late but for the next time. I restore old reed organs over at Jim Tyler's shop. Let me tell you he has over 50 in various states of repair from complete to shambles. He has everything from folders to giant vocalions. They play with the voice of a nightingale up to a real holler. Next time you are out stop by if for nothing else but to see the instruments. And best of all to meet Jim. And he rents them too.
George