Got My Gulbransen 4116W here's the scoop

[gulbransenfan]

Hey Folks -- Went last Tuesday and picked up the Gulbransen 4116W. I was pleasantly surprised. Cabinet in great shape, got help loading it from the seller (thank god it weighs a ton). Now, the stop tabs -- I was pleased to see I had in addition to tibias, a trumpet, clarinet, diapaison, nazard, fife and quint -- so there's some color. Yes harpsicord and piano as well as pistons for piano solo, chimes, sofran... (big loud), harp. Lots of ways to switch the 2 speed leslie, accomp only, solo only, both, celest. Pedal is somewhat soft and lacking but i understand that can be adjusted. Don't think much of the walking base but haven't experimented much with it yet. The drawbars are proving to be interesting and can add quite a bit of color with pistons for accomp draws and solo draws and all works with piano/organ combo stop. Volume adjustments for both pedals (even at full its still too soft), solo and accomp, piano. The piano is excellent. Lots of rhythm but poor adjustment of speed and tempo which after much poking, prodding, pulling and searching found the rhythm speed and volume on the 1st 2 drawbars of solo draws instead of a knob. Miss the kick switch the old Premier had for rhythm on and off and miss the stops being in a horseshoe (they're rather awkward to reach while still playing).

And as a bonus they seller said ("Oh, there's a folder of papers too if ya want it) -- turned out to be the owner's manual and schematics for entire organ) a real bonus. I hopedI could adjust the pedal volume myself but after looking at the schematics I'm scared so I'll try and track down the tech that used to work on my K and put a little money in this one getting the contacts cleaned and adjustments made I want.

All in all I'm pleased with my $67 investment (have to add to that Steak lunches for two friends to help me go get it and the use of their panel van), $50 for gas, $20 for tips to the warehouse guys that helped load, $20 for the strong dumb guy across the street to help unload and drag it in the house after taking the door off -- but all in all a minor investment for this instrument I think.

I'd be happy to post either photos or a full stop tab list or if anyone needs schematics don't hesitate and I'd xerox and send u copies. LEt me know what you think ... and thanks for all of your advice along the way.

Thanks,

Tom

[james]

[quote user="gulbransenfan"]


Hey Folks -- Went last Tuesday and picked up the Gulbransen 4116W. I was pleasantly surprised. Cabinet in great shape, got help loading it from the seller (thank god it weighs a ton). Now, the stop tabs -- I was pleased to see I had in addition to tibias, a trumpet, clarinet, diapaison, nazard, fife and quint -- so there's some color. Yes harpsicord and piano as well as pistons for piano solo, chimes, sofran... (big loud), harp. Lots of ways to switch the 2 speed leslie, accomp only, solo only, both, celest. Pedal is somewhat soft and lacking but i understand that can be adjusted. Don't think much of the walking base but haven't experimented much with it yet. The drawbars are proving to be interesting and can add quite a bit of color with pistons for accomp draws and solo draws and all works with piano/organ combo stop. Volume adjustments for both pedals (even at full its still too soft), solo and accomp, piano. The piano is excellent. Lots of rhythm but poor adjustment of speed and tempo which after much poking, prodding, pulling and searching found the rhythm speed and volume on the 1st 2 drawbars of solo draws instead of a knob. Miss the kick switch the old Premier had for rhythm on and off and miss the stops being in a horseshoe (they're rather awkward to reach while still playing).

I'd be happy to post either photos or a full stop tab list or if anyone needs schematics don't hesitate and I'd xerox and send u copies. LEt me know what you think ... and thanks for all of your advice along the way.

Thanks,

Tom

[/quote]

You are a lucky man. Yes, Gulbransen did a lot with those all flute organs. I am surprised that two drawbars controlled rhythm speed and volume. Please post some photos or a stop list. You can trace down how the Diapason, Trumpet, and Clarinet stops are formed from the various pitches of flute tones. You do have some variety there, and the overall sound is clear, smooth, and more organ like using the Leslie in either speed.

I remember reading somewhere this model is a Paragon in console form.

Enjoy!!!

[andyg]

Congratulations, that's a steal!

I'm sure you'll enjoy playing around with all the tone colours available to you. They may all be tibia derived, but they work pretty well.

Yes, it was unusual for the rhythm tempo and volume to be on drawbars, but aesthetically it balanced things - 9 per side.

Actually this later President is technically a full console Theatrum, but that organ was only an updated Paragon in horseshoe form anyway

Have fun.[]

Andy

[james]

[quote user="andyg"]


Congratulations, that's a steal!

I'm sure you'll enjoy playing around with all the tone colours available to you. They may all be tibia derived, but they work pretty well.

Yes, it was unusual for the rhythm tempo and volume to be on drawbars, but aesthetically it balanced things - 9 per side.

Actually this later President is technically a full console Theatrum, but that organ was only an updated Paragon in horseshoe form anyway

Have fun.[]

Andy

[/quote]

Andy,

Your info is always great!! Do you know the flute stop combinations to make the other stops such as Clarinet, Trumpet, Diapason, and etc.? I think the Theatrum and Paragon models had a Diapason 4' on the upper manual. I wonder how this is derived? I am hoping that when Tom reads this again, he will post some info.

Also, at one time there was a Gulbransen web site in the UK, but I can't find it anymore. Did you ever see it? The Brits seemed to really like the Gulbransen Organs. I wish I had known more about organs when younger, but it does take time to acquire some knowledge.

James

[jimmywilliams]

Tom,

Congratulations on your Gulbransen President. I'm happy to hear everythingappears to beworking well and that you are pleased with it.

I may be interested in copies of the schematics, etc. I did get a President service manual recently but it appears to be for the model 2134. But, it also has an appendix that talks about the walking bass and the updated piano/harpsichord circuitry. Was this the only difference between the two models (Andy?)? I wouldn't want to impose on you if I already have the schematics in my current service manual. It would be nice to see the owner's manual. I was thinking of makinga PDF of my original Model D owner's manual, but the pages are a larger size than usual so they didn't scan right.

Again, enjoy your new organ. You got a very nice instrument at a very good price.

[andyg]

Clarinet is something like 00 8070 640, Trumpet is 00 7888 666 or thereabouts. Diapason is usually around 00 8765 432.

The later models had the drawbar pistons in different places, and had the Piano plus the Harpsichord, but that's about all that's different. I can't speak for the inner workings, but I'd be surprised if they were much different from model to model.

Andy

[james]

[quote user="andyg"]


Clarinet is something like 00 8070 640, Trumpet is 00 7888 666 or thereabouts. Diapason is usually around 00 8765 432.

The later models had the drawbar pistons in different places, and had the Piano plus the Harpsichord, but that's about all that's different. I can't speak for the inner workings, but I'd be surprised if they were much different from model to model.

Andy

[/quote]

Andy,

I was wondering if the derived stops on these organs came from drawbar setting such as the presets on the Hammond consoles? The Gulbransen Organs I am familiar with as well as some I sold in a music store had the derived stops from combinations of the Tiba/flute stops such as Violin Diapason was 8' 4' 2' 1', and Clarinet was 8' 2 2/3', 1 3/5', and Oboe was 4' 2 2/3' 2'. After studying these organs under the hood, I learned the combinations for the most part were at full volume on the derived stops.

I don't remember how the Diapason 8' was formed on the smaller models on the lower manual unless it was Flute 8' 4' 2 2/3'.

I remember Clarinet on the Hammond Spinets as being 00 8080 800, and Trumpet 00 6688 888. Some even used the five pitches which make up a Cornet which is often used as a Mixture stop in large organs which would be 00 8888 800.

Somewhere on this forum someone posted several settings for the Gulbransen Organs as well as added a few more. You are correct there is some variety here although this is an all Tibia/Flute organ. Well, the old line Hammond was the same thing. I think Gulbransen offered more in having a smooth touch, no key clicks, even could have nice sustain for the ringing chimes and others features such as harps, celesta, etc.

James