Project Overview; A Plan of Attack

As I begin this project I have a few goals and priorities in mind to help keep me focused.  In order of importance:

1)   Purpose: This is to be a practice instrument.  I don't want to get too carried away with too many features that I don't really need.  However, if I'm going to the trouble to build a pipe organ in my house, I want to be as awesome as possible.

2)   Musical: I want the sound to be cohesive, balanced, and appropriate for the space.  I want enough diversity of tone to keep practice interesting and fun.

3)   Efficiency, Quality, & Economy: I want to start practicing as soon as possible.  I want to take the time to make any necessary or pre-emptive repairs now (do it right the first time).  I am on a relatively tight budget so I don't want to waste money on unnecessary features or repairs.  The key is finding a balance between these three.

4)   Aesthetics:  This instrument is a part of my home.  I want it to look attractive; like a piece of furniture. It should look as if it were entirely an original instrument- not cobbled together by an amateur.

From Organ Layout

I made the above layout by creating a scale drawing of the living room and a scale cut out of each part of the organ. I tried different arrangements of all the parts until I settled on this setup. Yes, it goes wall to wall and barely fits. Yes, it will be cramped and not terribly convenient to tune.  It will take a considerable amount of space, but I don't use my living room that much as it is. Acoustically, the room is of course not vibrantly resonant, but it isn't dead either. The walls and ceiling are plaster (durock, actually) and the floor is solid oak. The room is about 13' wide by 22' long and the ceilings are 8' 3" high. I plan to keep the sofa and coffee table, but replace the current area rug with a smaller one. I will also have two leather chairs in the room. Hopefully that won't absorb too much sound. I can always get rid of furniture for the sake of acoustics...

From Organ Layout

To explain the above sketch:

"Up" is west, "down" is east, "right" is north, and "left" is south.

The 8' bass offset of the principal & dulciana will be on the west wall and to the right and will be as close to the floor as possible. The pipes will speak under the rohrflote and main chests (4' rohr, gedeckt, dulciana & principal from back to front). The bottom of these chests will be about 24-30" above the floor. The 8' gedeckt offset will be to the right of all this, facing south, on the floor and speaking under the main chest. The main chest will be skirted with a simple screen to hide the view under there without blocking the bass sound.

The 16' octave of the gedeckt is located on the west wall to the left speaking under the oboe chest. I plan to rebuild the oboe chest so it will have four shorter rows of pipes rather than two long rows. This will allow me to put the oboe in an enclosure with swell shutters. This will be a lot of work, but the oboe will be more versatile, better able to support the principal or solo against the gedeckt. The swell shades will overhang the console just a bit. Deagan chimes will eventually be mounted on the south wall or on the frame work of the oboe enclosure. The "kickboard" on the console will be replaced with a screen so the 16' pipes aren't so blocked.

The blower, reservoir, and tremulant will be located in the basement store room below. My plan is to remove one of the 12" floor tiles in front of the (fake) fireplace to bring the wind through the floor.

Basic Plan of Attack:
1) Prepare the basement and get the wind system functional. I will make serious patches and repairs to the wind system now, and smaller repairs when it is closer to installation time. I also need to set up the basement work area and rearrange things in the wood shop.

2) Windchests. Rewire, inspect and repair the leather as needed. The cotton-covered wire has to go. I am considering using spreaders that can be "unplugged" rather than cut from the console if I ever need to move it. Haven't decided for sure though. Also rebuild the oboe chest and its swell box.

3) Pipe restoration. Cleaning pipes, releathering gedeckt stoppers, removing dents, have damaged pipes repaired, check the voicing. Seriously consider the principal. If it sounds good, no problem. However, the metal seems relatively thin and several pipes need serious repair. I may be farther ahead to start over...

4) Console. Cleaning as needed, refinishing the shell, adjust key travel, adjust contact points, replace cracked pedals, engrave new stop tabs, name plates. I have an idea for a mechanical Great-to-Pedal coupler since the pedal division is sadly lacking. Why wouldn't a unified instrument have all stops available in the pedal as well? Who knows. We'll see if I have time for the coupler. That may need to wait a year or two.

5) Wind system. Fix all leaks and prepare for installation.

6) Living room remodeling. I need to add some recessed lighting anyway and need to have that plaster work done before I move pipes in. Now that I think about it, I may do this before I start cleaning the pipes. Hmmm... I may repaint the room- haven't decided though. Also, I will have the screens, etc. custom built.

7) Installation! Hopefully it all comes together easily without too many glitches.

Of course all this is subject to change as I dive in. There is a lot I don't know, but am excited and anxious to get going on it!