dodonnell

I had the cataract surgery in April 2023 at age 74. Great results. Right eye is 20/20, left is better than it was. Clear sight after 2 or 3 days. It's great being able to read again, especially without glasses. And driving at night is a breeze. Went back in July for laser touch up to remove scar tissue. Duane

Price seems fair enough. Back when I first played a Rhodes in 1965, it was almost $900, equivalent to about $8.500 today https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1965?amount=900 https://www.vintageguitarandbass.com/fender/catalogues/1965_1966_11.php I had to settle for a used Wurlitzer 140 for $150 in 1965 and had to flip a lot of burgers at McDonald's, earning 55 cents an hour, to pay for it. Today, I'm happy with my mid 70s Yamaha CP-70. Duane

I've had a pair of Turbosound ip500s for about 4 years. Very nice sound. Light and easy to carry Duane

Start small. Take baby steps. You can always sell and move up to more pedals. Watch videos of organists like Joey DeFrancesco and Barbara Dennelin to see how they use pedals. Over the years I've owned several console organs with 32 pedals. Don't have any now, but have been thinking about putting a midi module on an old set of Hammond M3 pedals. Duane

Purchased my first Wurly 140 in 1965 for $150. Never knew if it would make it through a gig. Very noisy through the amplifier, especially if some dust got in the gap between the reed and the pickup. Had to get my father to drive me 20 miles to the only place that serviced it. An expensive proposition for a 15 year old making 50 cents an hour flipping burgers after school. Kept it for a year, then went through a series of organs: Elka, Esty, Gibson 101, Rheem. Got out of the USAF in 1972 and looked at the new, improved Wurly 200. The salesman at Glen Park Music in Gary Indiana said that the reeds never broke any more. He lied. Kept it for a year and got a Rhodes. The Rhodes had the same problem with the tines, but at least you could fix it during a gig, and didn't have to worry about the 300 volts of electricity around the Wurlitzer reeds. I would never own another Wurly. Just too many memories of being let down during a gig. And while I appreciate the reliability and versatility of my Korg PA4x, I understand the tactile feedback and tone provided by an electromechanical piano. My Yamaha CP70b fills that need, it's easy to get the occasional string for it, and the local piano tuner stops by once a year to tune it. Everyone should own a Wurly at least once, to understand its strength and its undeniable flaws. Duane

Guitar player tells you not to play more than three notes at a time, cause' it conflicts with his chords. Lead singer tells you to stop playing jazzy chords like 9ths, cause' it distracts him from his vocals. Drummer in a three piece says that since the guitar player/lead singer (my wife) are married, we should split pay with him 50/50. When we disagreed, he packs up drums and leaves gig. Shows up next night 30 minutes into the set and is suprised to hear that he has been replaced with a drum machine. Duane OD

I had a Rhodes 54. Never enough keys. Went back to the 73. Duane

Back in the 70's I arrived at the gig with my 3 piece to play a wedding at St. Michaels Hall in Schererville, Indiana. (There are several St. Michaels Halls in that area). Walked in and was surprised to see a 12 pieces group setting up on stage. Baby grand piano, Hammond B-3, lights, huge PA. Checked my contract and it had the correct address. Went up to the bride and groom and asked if they had hired another band. They said, no, but that they were surprised to see such a large band, and assumed that it was me. Approached the band, and asked if they were sure that they had the right venue. They said yes, but the leader went to his guitar case to look at the contract. He wasn't happy...... Duane OD

Great keyboard. I bought one new in 1967 for $995 (a new 67 Ford Mustang was $2,500 back then). Sold it when I joined USAF. Bought another one in the 70s and am not sure where it went to. Have fun with it. Duane

I think that today's keyboards are a bargain. I paid $150 in 1965 for a used, beat to heck Wurlitzer 140 EP. I worked 272 hours @ 55 cents an hour flipping hamburgers to pay for it. Got a new Gibson G101 organ in 1967 for $995. I worked 603 hours @ $1.65 an hour laboring in the steel mills to pay for it. When you compare the technology advances over the past 50 years, the value you receive for you dollars is unbelievable. Duane

2017 was a good year. A new Korg PA4x76 and a pair of Turbosound ip500 tower speakers. Duane