Aidan Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 I came across this browsing eBay today: Lowrey Premier organ The seller bought it two years ago, new, for £11,000. He's offering a "buy now" of three and a half grand and has no takers on his starting bid of two and a half. It got me wondering whether there are any other keyboards on the market that represent a worse investment than this... any offers? Yamaha: P515, CP88, Genos 1, HX1
J. Dan Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 [video:youtube]http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?xl=xl_blazer&v=04-EatBQAu0 Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth.
Steve Force Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 That video is Cool! Steve Force, Durham, North Carolina -------- My Professional Websites
Outkaster Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 Roland workstations don't seem to hold value. Korg is the king on residuals across the board for as many of them I have sold. "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com
davyyd Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 That guy is playing with cowboy boots on! He was a true gentleman cowboy organist; and he loved the land.
Bill H. Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 That video just made my morning! I'm not gassing for a Lowrey at present though. It didn't make the sale I dunno - Yamaha PSR's are practically unsellable used, and they can get rather pricey if you buy a deluxe model. Same with Casio all-in-ones.
Synthoid Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 Yamaha PSR's are practically unsellable used, and they can get rather pricey if you buy a deluxe model. Never could figure out why those can be so expensive. When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
richwhite9 Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 Nothing touches the Lowreys for depreciation. Locally they sell them with lifetime lessons (from 12.5K to 50K) and once you are hooked you are hooked. There is a year's worth of activities designed to hook Seniors into trading up every 3 years. It's morbid. It's the contemporary version of the mausoleum salesmen. They should pitch them as coffins as most die leaving their estates both a bill and a near worthless organ. I inherited one like this. Comfortable. Feels great. I have an XM-1/C combo on top. I've been told to donate it--it's worth more as a tax write off even if it's only 7 years old. http://i.ebayimg.com/20/!CDe0stwEGk~$(KGrHqZ,!h!E0fCu!(DeBNOwpcLt8w~~_12.JPG
Synthoid Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 Locally they sell them with lifetime lessons (from 12.5K to 50K) I haven't seen an organ for sale (other than Hammond portables) in a music store since the early 90's. Honestly didn't know any company was still in business (except pipe organ manufacturers). When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
iLaw Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 I haven't seen an organ for sale (other than Hammond portables) in a music store since the early 90's. Honestly didn't know any company was still in business (except pipe organ manufacturers). Maybe you've just been hanging out at the wrong music stores. American Music World in suburban Chicago will be happy to sell a Lowrey to you and your entire pinochle group. Larry.
Mizu Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 I don't think I'm in the target demographic... http://dl.dropbox.com/u/13003692/Lowrey_RMM.jpg "You'll never be as good as you could have been, but you can always be better than you are." - MoKen
drawback Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 Someday, an identical photo will be taken at the Kronos owners' reunion. ____________________________________ Rod Here for the gear.
Steve Nathan Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 This thread has had me trying all day to remember a keyboard I bought back in the early 80s. I can't for the life of me remember what it was called. Big, black heavy thing, very little programming capability (if any), had some sort of cartridge port I believe, and it was "touted" as digital. I distinctly remember driving to Rhythm City in Atlanta, quite excited to see it demonstrated. In particular, I remember the guy doing the demo saying "listen to that...doesn't it sound just like a saxophone", and my wife standing next to me saying "no". And I distinctly remember using it on a session for the great Jerry Wexler, because he first complimented me on the sound I was giving him and then abruptly snarled at me "it isn't a preset is it?" Technically speaking, I had blended a preset from whatever this thing was, with some other stuff I had, so I answered "no". Anyway, it was post Prophet 5, pre DX, Mirage, GS1. I don't remember when or how I got rid of it, but I remember taking a serious bath on the deal. Oh well, they told me all those years ago, I was burning out brain cells Guess they were right. Don't rush me. I'm playing as slowly as I can! http://www.stevenathanmusic.com/stevenathanmusic.com/HOME.html https://apple.co/2EGpYXK
Synthoid Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 I haven't seen an organ for sale (other than Hammond portables) in a music store since the early 90's. Honestly didn't know any company was still in business (except pipe organ manufacturers). Maybe you've just been hanging out at the wrong music stores. Thankfully, yes. Most of the places I frequent only sell pro music gear. I do recall back in the 90's when music stores began disappearing from malls... you would occasionally see a large console organ on display, but portable keyboards and digital pianos were becoming more common. I even saw a Mirage on sale in one of those stores. When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
DanL Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 When I was a kid I took lessons in the piano/organ store in the mall. They had a minimoog in there, I tried getting my dad to trade in our Hammond for it and he wouldn't. I'm glad he didn't... Live: Nord Stage 3 Compact, Nord Wave 2, Viscount Legend Toys: Korg Kronos 2 88, Roland Fantom 08, Nord Lead A1,Roland FA08, Novation Ultranova, Moog LP www.echoesrocks.com
Mike Warren Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 I paid $4500 for a JV90 with a couple of expansion boards and memory card in 1994. Sold it for $100 in immaculate condition in something like 2007. This town is impossible to sell used keyboards in. I basically gave it away to help a kid. (In fact, I offered it for free, but he wanted to pay something). Same deal with my RD1000, but I had that a lot longer. Bought for around $4K and sold to a (different) kid for a token $100. Roland Australia wanted to buy the RD1000 from me for their museum, but I had modified it so they lost interest. DigitalFakeBook Free chord/lyric display software for windows.
Synthoid Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 I paid $4500 for a JV90 with a couple of expansion boards and memory card in 1994. Sold it for $100 in immaculate condition in something like 2007. This town is impossible to sell used keyboards in. Ouch! A D-50 will sell for more than that here in "middle of nowhere" Pennsylvania. When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
Sundown Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 Mizu, that photo is hilarious... Digital keyboards don't generally hold value. But I think a weighted board will generally hold value more than a 61-key synth (or maybe I'm biased because I'm trying to find a good 88-key board with limited luck). I think some instruments dip and then come back. A D-50 was probably at a low in the mid-90's, and would sell for more now. It's become a cult classic (I would say the same about a DX7 and a few others). If it's an instrument that was never really noteworthy (e.g. my D-20), they're often worth more in sentimental value. Sundown Finished: Gateway, The Jupiter Bluff, Condensation, Apogee Working on: Driven Away, Backscatter, Eighties Crime Thriller Main axes: Kawai MP11 and Kurz PC361 DAW Platform: Cubase
scottasin Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 http://www.keyboardworld.net/organs.shtml This place is a few miles from my house and has a lot of Lowery's, offered with free lessons.
NewImprov Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 This thread has had me trying all day to remember a keyboard I bought back in the early 80s. I can't for the life of me remember what it was called. Big, black heavy thing, very little programming capability (if any), had some sort of cartridge port I believe, and it was "touted" as digital. I distinctly remember driving to Rhythm City in Atlanta, quite excited to see it demonstrated. In particular, I remember the guy doing the demo saying "listen to that...doesn't it sound just like a saxophone", and my wife standing next to me saying "no". And I distinctly remember using it on a session for the great Jerry Wexler, because he first complimented me on the sound I was giving him and then abruptly snarled at me "it isn't a preset is it?" Technically speaking, I had blended a preset from whatever this thing was, with some other stuff I had, so I answered "no". Anyway, it was post Prophet 5, pre DX, Mirage, GS1. I don't remember when or how I got rid of it, but I remember taking a serious bath on the deal. Oh well, they told me all those years ago, I was burning out brain cells Guess they were right. Wouldn't happen to have been a DK Synergy? I remember having GAS for one in the 80's, then had a chance to buy one for about $500 in the mid-90's and passing on it: [video:youtube] Turn up the speaker Hop, flop, squawk It's a keeper -Captain Beefheart, Ice Cream for Crow
SK Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 I tried one of those DK Synergy keyboards in the 80's, but a big no sale sign went off in my head. It's the contemporary version of the mausoleum salesmen. They should pitch them as coffins as most die leaving their estates both a bill and a near worthless organ. http://i.ebayimg.com/20/!CDe0stwEGk~$(KGrHqZ,!h!E0fCu!(DeBNOwpcLt8w~~_12.JPG Exactly, the $50k one could double as a coffin. That green LCD screen up there, in the Yamaha style Lowrey's panicked nod to newer digital keyboards? "Hey, those little portable keyboards can't come close to this baby. See, it's digital too." And lifetime lessons? That would get interesting if the buyer was a teenager. CD: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevekessler
zxcvbnm098 Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 I had this discussion about home organs at NAMM with someone "in the know" in the MI business who started in home organs back in the 70's. Apparently there usually is a store or so in many major cities (i.e. the one mentioned in Chicago), but the bulk of sales and stores are (not surprisingly) in Florida, Arizona and Southern California. But the market is shrinking and a shell of what it once was. But like Dan L, I learned in a mall store after my parents bought one of the lame transistor Hammonds in 1975. Free lessons! I lucked out though....the teacher happened to be a late-20's music teacher who couldn't find a gig in the school district. He was a pro organist, and had an X77 and some Leslie's. Taught me the blues scales and a few licks after regular class. That X77 sure looked cool back then.....
iLaw Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 Thankfully, yes. Most of the places I frequent only sell pro music gear. I wonder whether Garth Hudson and Pete Townshend would agree with the suggestion that a Lowrey is not pro music gear? Larry.
Synthoid Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 I wonder whether Garth Hudson and Pete Townshend would agree with the suggestion that a Lowrey is not pro music gear? Well, musicians often use whatever is handy to make music, whether it's pro gear or not. Just watch a few of those awful YouTube videos with cheap, circuit bent Casio's. When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
Steve Nathan Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 Wouldn't happen to have been a DK Synergy? Ding ding ding....we have a winner Thanks for filling in the blank spot in my memory. It was the first version (not the II shown in the video), and it's been bugging me for some time that I couldn't remember much about it, or what I did with it. I am certain though that it definitely qualifies as a contender for this thread. Don't rush me. I'm playing as slowly as I can! http://www.stevenathanmusic.com/stevenathanmusic.com/HOME.html https://apple.co/2EGpYXK
iLaw Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 Well, musicians often use whatever is handy to make music, whether it's pro gear or not... Or invent it if they have to. I know it's unforgivably OT, but your comment immediately put Harry Partch into my head. Must have some Harry Partch ... [video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cKnTj2cyNQ&feature=related Larry.
Bill H. Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 A Synergy sat unsold at American Music (largest music retailer in the Seattle area at the time) for years. I don't know what they ultimately did with it. All keyboard players in the area tried it out, but none of us wanted it for it's $4000+ price. That and the ARP 16 Voice Piano were the two very expensive keyboards in that store that just never budged. No one liked them well enough to take them home. ...and for good reason looking back on it. Maybe we were smarter than I thought we were back then. The big expensive movers were things that are prized today - Prophets, Oberheims, Jupiters.
Sundown Posted February 26, 2011 Posted February 26, 2011 Wouldn't happen to have been a DK Synergy? Ding ding ding....we have a winner Thanks for filling in the blank spot in my memory. It was the first version (not the II shown in the video), and it's been bugging me for some time that I couldn't remember much about it, or what I did with it. I am certain though that it definitely qualifies as a contender for this thread. The Synergy appeared in Scandal's "Goodbye to You" video in the eighties. [video:youtube] But according to Wikipedia , the synth solo was not played by Benjy King from the band, but Paul Shaffer (as in The David Letterman Show). I'm not too surprised, as Paul Shaffer was a big fan of the Del Shannon "Runaway" organ solo, and the synth solo definitely follows that theme. How did I remember such an obscure reference? That synth solo was one of the first I saw (heard) growing up. Sundown Finished: Gateway, The Jupiter Bluff, Condensation, Apogee Working on: Driven Away, Backscatter, Eighties Crime Thriller Main axes: Kawai MP11 and Kurz PC361 DAW Platform: Cubase
Marzzz Posted February 26, 2011 Posted February 26, 2011 I don't think I'm in the target demographic... http://dl.dropbox.com/u/13003692/Lowrey_RMM.jpg You will be, in the blink of an eye.....
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