A few days ago I responded to someones comments about the sound of this organ being crude at the beginning. Now that I think about after seeing it again it makes me realize how many people enjoy the sound of one string on a guitar playing through a fuzz pedal. This sweet tone at the beginning sounds thin and yes even crude, but we as humans are able to interpret these simple tones into something different when we hear them. It is obvious that Bob Ralston could have chosen more than tabs than 1.
Thomas was a great organ back then! I still own one of the last ones made in 1981, the Eldorado 792, totally loaded with so much features. Many organ companies went out of business due to the invations at Lowey Organ Company with the world famous MX-1. Still the best selling home organ in America, Lowrey Organ Company!
@JoePeterzak My 64' Wurlitzer 4500 is pretty, my Gulbransen Rialto II is definitely pretty, but listen to this video below, to me the single note melody is a simple 8' reed tone that becomes less transparent as it blends with the other voices. I can't describe in words how enchantingly pretty this organ sounds to me. These days we have screen after screen of layer upon layer of tones available to us, but it sounds so generic to me.
@JoePeterzak Now that Miditzer & Hauptwerk have introduced the world to 'real sounding virtual technology' there's a very ironic phenomena-the same people who misinterpret a single transistor voice & call it crude often relish single pass of digital sampling. Although I admit Bob was maybe expecting too much from his listeners with that opening melody, the rest of this tune was very cool sounding & rich!
Thomas never intended to make a pipe organ sound. Play a Rialto II, but love my Palace 3!
@paulj0557 Well, I thought that his first registration sounded very crude and unmusical. Even the attack of the notes was harsh. Sounded like a sawtooth or square wave. (not pretty) Yea, the rest of the registrations where ok. Not as good and musical sounding as the new electronic organs though in my opinion.
There is no latency here. Bob is playing melody with his left hand on the Accompaniment manual whilst his right hand is playing runs on the Solo manual. I still don't like this organ and I hate his suit even more but everything is normal. You're not going to notice the stop changes in this case because they are out of view of the camera in this shot. This is not a memorex shot, it's real. If you don't believe me, watch when he does a glissando rise with this left hand. It matches.
As with several of the LW show clips featuring Bob Ralston on Youtube, this one's mimed. Notice the sounds changing while the organ's tabs stay still. (No blind pistons on the Electra) And look carefully at what he's playing - it doesn't quite match the sound.
Anyway, the arrangement's pleasant enough, the Electra sounds fine, especially the 'champagne' tibias, and we know Bob Ralston really could play live - he does so in many of the clips.
@Audioquest56 Uh' what was so crappy sounding about what he just played on A THOMAS? I just picked up a Thomas Palace III and a Wurlitzer 4500 in the same week. They couldn't be more different in design, or in sound, but when it comes to organs you often have to dig deep. The sounds are in there, sometimes minimalistic voicing can bring a richer overall tone. If you listen to Mr. Fantastic and the Wonderful World of Wurlitzer, or my videos- Harry Wach Californian Here I Come. Music not crap,okay
I love Thomas organs! Unless you've really sat and played one you have no idea of the tone that comes out of one. Sure Allen and some of the higher priced organs are said to have a more rich tonal pallet, but I really beg to differ. Thomas made a wonderfully rich stereo tremulent that didn't just process the audio signal like an effects pedal on a guitar. It actually involved a sophisticated photocell network that shaped the entire preamp signals on both the left and right channels.
@paulj0557 you're absolutely right. I have "saved" my fair share of organs, mostly terrible throw-outs, but today I picked up a Thomas Trianon and it really does sound beautiful. I make my own speaker cabinets (for all kinds of applications) and I can say from an experienced standpoint that the Thomas organs sound really nice. There is currently one behind me right now, it's nearly 50 years old and it sounds great! It needs a little TLC which I will give it but I am keeping the old spirit alive.
A few days ago I responded to someones comments about the sound of this organ being crude at the beginning. Now that I think about after seeing it again it makes me realize how many people enjoy the sound of one string on a guitar playing through a fuzz pedal. This sweet tone at the beginning sounds thin and yes even crude, but we as humans are able to interpret these simple tones into something different when we hear them. It is obvious that Bob Ralston could have chosen more than tabs than 1.
paulj0557 8 months ago
Thomas was a great organ back then! I still own one of the last ones made in 1981, the Eldorado 792, totally loaded with so much features. Many organ companies went out of business due to the invations at Lowey Organ Company with the world famous MX-1. Still the best selling home organ in America, Lowrey Organ Company!
patsaxon 8 months ago
@JoePeterzak My 64' Wurlitzer 4500 is pretty, my Gulbransen Rialto II is definitely pretty, but listen to this video below, to me the single note melody is a simple 8' reed tone that becomes less transparent as it blends with the other voices. I can't describe in words how enchantingly pretty this organ sounds to me. These days we have screen after screen of layer upon layer of tones available to us, but it sounds so generic to me.
The Lawrence Welk Show: A Man & A Woman
What's your opinion?
paulj0557 8 months ago
boy, those old electric organs sure sounded crude. ewww. Thank god for new technology which brought better pipe-organ like tone to electronic organs.
JoePeterzak 9 months ago
@JoePeterzak Now that Miditzer & Hauptwerk have introduced the world to 'real sounding virtual technology' there's a very ironic phenomena-the same people who misinterpret a single transistor voice & call it crude often relish single pass of digital sampling. Although I admit Bob was maybe expecting too much from his listeners with that opening melody, the rest of this tune was very cool sounding & rich!
Thomas never intended to make a pipe organ sound. Play a Rialto II, but love my Palace 3!
paulj0557 8 months ago
@paulj0557 Well, I thought that his first registration sounded very crude and unmusical. Even the attack of the notes was harsh. Sounded like a sawtooth or square wave. (not pretty) Yea, the rest of the registrations where ok. Not as good and musical sounding as the new electronic organs though in my opinion.
JoePeterzak 8 months ago
There is no latency here. Bob is playing melody with his left hand on the Accompaniment manual whilst his right hand is playing runs on the Solo manual. I still don't like this organ and I hate his suit even more but everything is normal. You're not going to notice the stop changes in this case because they are out of view of the camera in this shot. This is not a memorex shot, it's real. If you don't believe me, watch when he does a glissando rise with this left hand. It matches.
kingjames8283 9 months ago
Ah, the Thomas Electra - a Celebrity on stilts!
As with several of the LW show clips featuring Bob Ralston on Youtube, this one's mimed. Notice the sounds changing while the organ's tabs stay still. (No blind pistons on the Electra) And look carefully at what he's playing - it doesn't quite match the sound.
Anyway, the arrangement's pleasant enough, the Electra sounds fine, especially the 'champagne' tibias, and we know Bob Ralston really could play live - he does so in many of the clips.
AndrewGilbert56 10 months ago
Poor Bob. Such a talented guy playing such a crappy instrument all because Lawrence shilled Thomas products on his show.
Audioquest56 1 year ago
@Audioquest56 Uh' what was so crappy sounding about what he just played on A THOMAS? I just picked up a Thomas Palace III and a Wurlitzer 4500 in the same week. They couldn't be more different in design, or in sound, but when it comes to organs you often have to dig deep. The sounds are in there, sometimes minimalistic voicing can bring a richer overall tone. If you listen to Mr. Fantastic and the Wonderful World of Wurlitzer, or my videos- Harry Wach Californian Here I Come. Music not crap,okay
paulj0557 1 year ago
What mod#?
I love Thomas organs! Unless you've really sat and played one you have no idea of the tone that comes out of one. Sure Allen and some of the higher priced organs are said to have a more rich tonal pallet, but I really beg to differ. Thomas made a wonderfully rich stereo tremulent that didn't just process the audio signal like an effects pedal on a guitar. It actually involved a sophisticated photocell network that shaped the entire preamp signals on both the left and right channels.
paulj0557 1 year ago
@paulj0557 you're absolutely right. I have "saved" my fair share of organs, mostly terrible throw-outs, but today I picked up a Thomas Trianon and it really does sound beautiful. I make my own speaker cabinets (for all kinds of applications) and I can say from an experienced standpoint that the Thomas organs sound really nice. There is currently one behind me right now, it's nearly 50 years old and it sounds great! It needs a little TLC which I will give it but I am keeping the old spirit alive.
bveracka 11 months ago
Um. Makes me think of a blue colored casket with a Geritol ad painted on it.
Freezframe 1 year ago