Meerkat

[Psalm Project]

For the record...
My installation went to plan and arrived exactly when they said. Renatus had two of their staff together with David Bostock on site for two days.
The experience cited strikes me as highly unusual, I could list far more fault issues and follow up problems in relation to three other leading makes - which I cannot cite here.
Phoenix are not as expensive as some other mainland UK brands - I did my research well. One large maker did concede that Phoenix could provide a cheaper alternative - however, no bad blood arose and, surprisingly (in a business where much back-stabbing happens), the product was not criticised.
I used a test case over here on a faulty Johannus Opus 5 as the final arbiter between Makin and Phoenix (with regard to backup service). It took four months to get a repair from their main service engineer... It was a comedy of errors.
It is always easy to find the negatives... However, this new Unico / Physis has yet to prove itself!
And, of course, the best instrument with the best speakers will be rolled out for all the demos. The knack is to ensure that that is what you actually get at the end of the day!
Great fun altogether! Looks like the Meerkat won't be running for cover like the turkeys this week for a while yet!

[musicus]

Hmm. Some things about the 'review' that JW posted don't ring true: the very careful setting out of the maker's address (just so that you know exactly who to ignore); the use of the word "review" (it is nothing of the kind); and, above all, the fact that this was the poster's sole post (i.e. he wasn't a regular poster, known to the board, but had signed up just to slag off Phoenix).

OK, it might all be kosher (and I a grumpy old cynic), but maybe not.

[Southern Comfort]

The experience cited strikes me as highly unusual

The banging noise with the loudspeakers mentioned in the review has certainly happened in the case of two (Anglican) churches in this part of the world, one of which is not too far from Phoenix's factory in Fordingbridge and whose organ they tend to use for demos to those who are interested. I was intrigued to read about Phoenix Organs of Fulwood. Is this a different firm, or a branch office of the same one?

Hmm. Some things about the 'review' that JW posted don't ring true: the very careful setting out of the maker's address (just so that you know exactly who to ignore); the use of the word "review" (it is nothing of the kind); and, above all, the fact that this was the poster's sole post (i.e. he wasn't a regular poster, known to the board, but had signed up just to slag off Phoenix).

To my eyes, it didn't seem any different from the one-star critiques of car Sat Navs or digital cameras that you find on amazon.co.uk. They always seem to be by people who've actually had a really bad experience, who probably bought as a result of the five-star compliments that others posted, and just want to show that's there more than one side to any story.

[Psalm Project]

And babies cry to get noticed! That does not mean they are bad!
Some are born to make things out to be far worse than they actually are.
David Bostock is based in Fulwood.

If your hallway is 2' 10"... you won't be needing an organ But there are ways and means of making things fit!!

[JW]

I took delivery today of an Allen Chapel CF2 organ. It is a home organ for practice. The decision was based on getting an acceptable 2 manual & pedal organ without it costing an arm and a leg - I got change from £6,000. It arrived through the 2' 10" hall having first passed throught the garage, back garden and kitchen. I know there are much better organs out there but I'm very satisfied with what I have; I can still pay my bills.

How did you get on KeithA?

[keitha]

I spent several months listening to, and playing all of the leading makes of digital organs. We tried a Viscount Unico 500 (which uses Viscount's new, and patented, 'Physis' real time synthesis technology) in our church twice, the second time with changed speakers and amplifiers (when it coped extremely well with a congregation of around 1,300). The sound received many very unsolicited compliments, so I worked up a detailed specification with Viscount, which included a Renatus-built traditional English-style console with motorised drawstops, and sought a quotation. That has now arrived. Unfortunately (at least for the organ project!) our Holy Father has decided to pop over to our parish in September, check out the local airport, and beatify Cardinal Newman while he is at it. This has meant that our Parish Priest, the organ consultant and I have all been up to our eyes in it with the liturgical preparations for the Beatification Mass, to the extent that the three of us have not yet been able to sit down together to review the quotation! More anon..... In the meantime, a slightly different Unico was played alongside the Cathedral organ in Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral last Monday. I had planned to go, but had to change my plans the night before, so I would be very interested in the views of anyone who went to the recital.