"Our new Ahlborn-Galanti 3100 organ is now in full use and I thought it might be interesting for you to know, at least from my personal perspective, how our committee's selection process brought us to the AG3100. As you may recall, we focused on three manufacturers and spent about equal time with each. Representatives came to the church to see the sanctuary and returned with recommendations. There were additional contacts and the demonstration of various models in studios or as installed in a church. At one point someone in the group was heard to say 'We can probably get a good organ from any of the companies' and that may still be true but if you substitute outstanding for good in that statement I think that there would be agreement that the AG3100 was the only one to choose." J. Craig Williams Chair, Organ Committee The Congregational Church of Marlborough, CT

We invite you to put us to the test and look forward to assisting you, without pressure, as you continue to explore our work. We sincerely hope that we may be entrusted to provide you with an outstanding new Ahlborn-Galanti organ and, if so, pledge to spare no effort or detail to assure that it will be an installation of the highest possible artistic distinction.

Important Points to Consider
When seeking a digital classic organ You have been entrusted to investigate options for a new organ for your church. Yours will be an investigation requiring evaluations of:

• Artistic quality (sound and tonal characteristics).
• Materials and construction quality (durability).
• Engineering and technology (the technology which most accurately captures pipe organ sound).
• Experience and reputation of companies under consideration.
• Serviceability of the organ, availability of parts and reputation of the dealer/representative for servicing.

What does your responsibility entail? According to Webster's New World Dictionary, INVESTIGATION "refers to a detailed examination or search, often formal or official, to uncover the facts and determine the truth."

A church does not buy an organ very often. Therefore, it is important for all committees to be thoroughly acquainted with all of the options available today. Committees should be searching for the finest digital electronic organ in the world. With technology it is often more dangerous to buy "old" rather than new!

Make the commitment that all committee members take the necessary time to try to attend all meetings of the organ committee. After all, how can you vote if you haven't heard all the candidates?!

Ask respected organists in your area or denomination who play regularly on a pipe organ why good pipe organ sound encourages singing.

Perhaps the best way to begin your search for an electronic organ is to go (preferably as a committee) to hear at least one first class pipe organ. Then you will be equipped by personal experience to judge how well each of the electronic organ options you audition compare to "the real thing." Calibrate your ears to the sounds of fine pipe organs.

A good working knowledge of the pipe organ and its beneficial attributes should be the primary basis or criterion by which you judge all digital organs.

Set and determine your goals. If you believe that the sound of a fine pipe organ is the ideal for worship and supporting congregational singing, put each electronic organ to a rigorous test.

Take your time and conduct a thorough search. Don't be pressured by a pushy salesperson. Your recommendation for a particular organ will incur expenditure of your church's funds and affect its music ministry for decades.

Disregard or investigate any allegations, negative sales techniques or competition bashing. Usually, when a salesperson bad-mouths a competitor it signals their insecurity about their own product's ability to stand up to their competitors'.

Make sure that you don't fall into the trap of buying a smaller model organ after seeing a much larger model. There may be many differences that weren't made clear by the salesperson but which are glaring when the deal is done and it's too late. Compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. See the model your considering.

It is vitally important to remember that "being digital is just the beginning." Otherwise there would probably be only one digital organ company! Artistic input, goals and various technologies account for the dramatic differences and accomplishments from one company to the next.

The SOUND of the organ is after all, the most important reason for buying an organ. It will likely be the sole criteria by which your congregation judges your committee's recommendation in the years to come.

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