Fatar Key Feel

Building organ consoles for use with Hauptwerk, adding MIDI to existing consoles, obtaining parts, ...
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Glenn English
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Fatar Key Feel

Post by Glenn English »

I'm afraid this reprises a subject which has been discussed at some length but perhaps you'll humour me....

I'm planning a new console build for our church and of course the default option for sensibly priced keyboards would be the Fatar TP/60 series. Unfortunately however, I've never played one of these (to the best of my knowledge) so I'm nervous about just ordering them up.

My home organ, a converted Conn 652, has a very light touch (which I like) and a church that I played in for many years had an Allen MDS 26 ( which had an action somewhat heavier than my Conn, but still very pleasant ). The church I play in now though has a Johannus Opus 5, whose feel and action I can only describe as truly awful - a clicky - clattery cacophony with a most un-muscial faux tracker feel. Of course my fear is that these are Fatar keyboards in the Johannus and that a stack of three or four new examples would be the realisation of my worst organ nightmare.
Can anybody speculate as to the provenance of the Johannus keys ? I presume that Johannus model further up the range would have better quality keys, but this little Opus 5 really is right at the poverty end of the range. Your comments please, also on Allen vs Fatar feel ?
larason2
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Re: Fatar Key Feel

Post by larason2 »

Yep, they are 100% Fatar. In Fatar's defence though, they have several models, and the higher end ones feel slightly better (not as flimsy, but just as clicky). Personally I've never liked any of them, but there's plenty of people that like that "tracker simulation" they have. It's fine until the bubbles wear out. However, replacing them is simple but time consuming.

Your preference is a bit rare. Usually people like the clicky Fatar tracker touch feel, or the feeling of the full weight of a wooden core key like the Allen (Or the light as a feather feeling of hammond waterfall keys, but that's another thing all together).

You might like the base model Schwindlers sold by Pedamidikit. They're wood core, but short throw, so more responsive than the long wooden fulcrum of traditional organ manuals, but not flimsy and thin feeling like the cheapest fatar. You can get them with magnets to simulate "tracker touch," but I also personally don't like that. I have some on order, I can post here a review when they arrive.
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magnaton
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Re: Fatar Key Feel

Post by magnaton »

I did a quick internet scan and see that the Johannus Opus 5 is a very 'low-tier' organ. I have worked on this instrument that was re-badged with a "Bristol" name plate. The console was identical but had more rocker tabs. Indeed the keyboards were Fatar but not the TP/60 model and they felt more flimsy. The TP/60s have a nice, light tracker touch to them. Fatar used to make a slightly different version that had tapered sharps with no tracker feel (think newer Allen theatre organ models). This model may be the one your would prefer but unfortunately they quit making them a few years ago. The TP/60s have a tight, quality feel to them at nice price point which is why they are so popular with the HW community and MIDI console builders.

Danny B.
Glenn English
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Re: Fatar Key Feel

Post by Glenn English »

As I feared then. Although I'm quite sure the little Johannus has the cheapest possible keys (I've just discovered that Fatar do offer a downmarket model with tracker touch ) particularly as the rest of the console seems to be constructed largely from hardboard / cardboard :shock:

So yes, the TP/60 will probably feel slightly better, but I really dislike the clicky feel in principle. There seems to be something of a fetish for tracker touch, with the implication being that any real organ would feel that way, but I had the privilege of being able to play the nice 3m Harrison & Harrison in Down cathedral quite regularly for a couple of years and I can assure you it didn't feel clicky ( electro - pneumatic I believe).

I'm not familiar with 'Pedamidikit', but after a quick look at their website I'm quite intrigued - their keys sound as if they might be just what I'm looking for, and not a huge amount more expensive than the equivalent Fatars either.

What is the quoted lead-time for your keyboards ?

And please review as soon as you get them !
Glenn English
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Re: Fatar Key Feel

Post by Glenn English »

@ Danny -

You're not wrong about the 'Low-Tier' nature of the Johannus :lol:

One of my main gripes is the absolute clatter the keys make as they return to 'note off' position. Do the TP/60s do that ?
larason2
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Re: Fatar Key Feel

Post by larason2 »

PMK keyboards are made to order in Italy, then shipped to the customer. I understand he gets the key cores/keyboard frame, but then he needs to put the key covers on them, cheeks, etc. They come with basic contacts, but he attaches an arduino style midi controller to them before shipping them off. I only recently ordered them, but I'm not in a hurry, so I didn't ask lead time. I understand though that it's usually a few weeks at least, depends on how busy he is. Alessandro apprenticed with an organ builder, and he has made whole custom consoles, and portative organs, but now he mostly just does these midi kits. I think someone bought keyboards and a pedalboard from him in the past and posted it here. There's the odd raw edge or key/pedal alignment issue that's usually easy to resolve, but otherwise very good value for the money. That's why I ordered from him. He's very responsive to talk to via email. You can always send him an email to ask lead time, that's what it says on his website.
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gecko
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Re: Fatar Key Feel

Post by gecko »

I still have a very small website
http://dustyfeet.com
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magnaton
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Re: Fatar Key Feel

Post by magnaton »

Glenn English wrote: Thu Oct 17, 2024 10:12 am @ Danny -

You're not wrong about the 'Low-Tier' nature of the Johannus :lol:

One of my main gripes is the absolute clatter the keys make as they return to 'note off' position. Do the TP/60s do that ?
The key return bumpers are rubber so you hear a very slight thump. It would be as if you barely type the eraser end of a pencil on a table. When you are playing with ranks engage you basically hear nothing.
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