Lyn Larsen Comments

In early 2004, the Allen Organ Company told me they were interested in bringing out a new model theatre organ that would be midway in size between the existing GW319, and the large GW4. They went on to tell me that they would like to add this new model to the "signature series" theatre organ line, and that they would like to put my name on it in honor of the 40th anniversary of my concert debut. I was honored and thrilled at the prospect of being able to pick and choose ranks of pipes from some of my favorite organs around the USA, and I started helping Dwight Beacham acquire some of the new samples. In traveling to several organ installations I realized I was putting together some pieces of theatre organ history.

A great many of the sound samples in the LL-324Q are new, and have not appeared in any other organs. These include a number of new things from the magnificent "Hi-Fi recording organ" made famous by George Wright in the 1950s, and currently owned by Mr. Bill Brown in Phoenix, Arizona, including new pipe ranks, new percussions, and new traps. There is one new percussion sample from the famous Loren Whitney Studio organ in Glendale, California, and several samples from the beautiful Wurlitzer organ in the San Sylmar museum in southern California, I also chose pipework from the unique organ in the Sanfilippo music salon in Barrington, Illinois, George Wright's last recording organ in Hollywood, California, and the large Aeolian organ owned by Pierre DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware.

Many of these pipe sounds, percussions, and traps were played and recorded by some of my mentors, friends, and idols from the time I started playing. To combine these into an instrument of my own design is a unique opportunity. My new LL-324Q organ will be the third Allen theatre organ that I have purchased for my home, and it has exceeded all of my hopes and expectations. I look forward to the joy of seeing this new instrument in many other homes as well!







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