Earlier today, I learnt that the supply and manufacture of Lowrey organs will cease production in January 2019.
A Letter sent out to main dealers confirms this to be true and can be viewed below
KAWAI stated this in a recent letter to all their Lowrey Dealers in the United States of America, dated the 5th October 2018 – (click on image to enlarge)
Obviously this is a letter sent out to the dealers in USA, how it will effect those of us living in the UK is still yet to be discovered.
But with the production ceasing, I would think a similar situation will be applied to the UK and European Markets.
I guess I / We will find out very soon, if not, then at the next Allens Music Extravaganza that I am attending here in the UK next weekend, I’m sure there will be many discussions and speculation.
(please see edit at end of post )
KAWAI have stated that they expect the planned and continued production from October 2018 though January 2019 will provide enough inventory to supply selected Lowrey models through April of 2019 – but this is based entirely on past sales history, which i don’t think will be accurate or more than enough to supply the demand.
I would personally think that the current stock and manufacture would need to be increased due to panic buying demand – In other words, you’ll need to get in quick while you can if your thinking of getting one of the newest models !
One of the key words from the letter was “SELECTED”, which infers that production will not continue across the entire current range of models. And eventually both stock and spare parts will be depleted and no longer available for anything, let alone any servicing that may be required.
So where does that leave us ? – well for me I will be sticking with my Stardust for now, but that may change if the current high market value of used Lowrey’s crashes here in the UK.
I don’t think it will be overnight , but I would think that the dealers, especially Allens as the only appointed dealer here in the UK, will want, or have to drop their current prices of used models as there will not be an upgrade or part exchange path to a new model any more.
If you were thinking of upgrading your particular model, then now might just be a good time to do so.
I don’t think Lowrey’s will disappear overnight, never the less, it’s a concern to most of us and not something we should take lightly.
EDIT: Having now returned from the Lowrey/Allens Extravaganza 2018, I cannot confirm anything !!!
I spoke very briefly with someone from Allens ( I will not disclose with whom I spoke) but he stated that as far as he was concerned they have supplies and can supply selected models well into next year.
Having pressed him further, it was apparent that Allen’s staff for reasons known to them are not exactly coming forward with a statement at this time, and would neither deny or confirm that what is stated within this letter to be true. The feeling i got was that it is true and that Allen’s are trying to keep it under their hat for as long as possible to reduce any possible damage to any upcoming sales, which to be fair is acceptable under the circumstances.
UPDATE . . . . . 27th – December – 2018
Within the pages of the latest edition of Organ and Keyboard Cavalcade magazine, was an advert/announcement from Allens Music Centre. As far as this reads, Lowrey will continue well into 2019, and they also talk about the New Generation.
This is still a little vague, and i am sure those who are optimistic will be pleased with this announcement. For the rest of us, I don’t think this is a major turnaround to increase or continue the manufacture of Lowrey Organs as we know it, and is clearly Allens way of responding and softening the initial blow, and probable bombardment of questions from their existing customer list.
This is truly the bottom line, Lowrey Organs will not be saved, no one is going to buy or take over production, you will not be able to buy a NEW Lowrey once the initial stocks are depleted, but some spares will be available for a few years to come, they are legally only required to maintain parts to cover the warranty period which is 2 years after the end of production.
Having said that, who is going to enforce it ? . . . Now that Lowrey has finally closed it’s doors and has no income and no spare parts, what are you as an individual going to do about it ?
It’s a hard read, and not something you may want to hear
but these are the facts !!!!
I would like to explain why Kawai decided to fold Lowrey Organs. It wasn’t a spur of the moment decision, but rather predictable going back to the 80’s. It’s a combination of two things that were happening in America, but I don’t think in the U.K.
Back in the mid 80’s parents stopped giving their young children piano and organ lessons as the children were more interested in Guitars and drums as R&R came to be…not 100%, but enough that the home organ industry could see the handwriting on the wall. At that time some of the biggest names in music that sold home organs closed down production…names like Hammond, Thomas, Baldwin, Conn, Gulbranson, Wurlitzer, etc. leaving only Lowrey and Roland that got into the home organ business late in the game, but folded their production a couple of years ago.
Add to that was the fact that in the U.S. some of the worst people in the retail music business decided to set their own prices on Lowrey organs with Lowrey’s blessing as much as in excess of 400%. One chain in particular preyed on the elderly who in some cases couldn’t play one song from beginning to end, did not know how to chord or play pedals, couldn’t stay on tempo…and yet they kept upselling them until they either went broke, or died. For years I have helped the families of the deceased loved ones that were victims of these unscrupulous Dealers if the victim was suffering from Dementia or early Alzheimers. I directed them to the Legal System and how to deal with both the Dealer as well as Lowrey and recover most if not all of the money the victim paid.
Lastly was the fact that people in their 40’s weren’t exposed to organs 30 years ago, and as they entered their 70’s today, they had no interest in organs. Today it’s rare to even find a organist playing in a Bar (Pub) or restaurant. As some of you know I live in Las Vegas, Nevada which now has a population of over 2.2 Million people, and not one organist…or at least that I can find.
In summing up, it’s the combination of all of the above that brings this sad, but not unexpected news of Lowrey going out of business. Again I can’t speak for the U.K. but this will further damage the sale of used Lowreys on Sites like EBay where the best one can hope for is about 15 cents on the dollar, and that’s on a recent model. Anything over that will just sit on EBay forever with no offers.
I personally feel bad when I think of all the joy and satisfaction organ music has brought me over the last 50 years, but life goes on.
Jerry Hill
Las Vegas, Nv U.S.A.
My second home organ was a 1962 Lowery Heritage organ. It gave years of good service before I had to move and sell it.
I had a Prestige this week,and its fabulous,ive been into Lowrey for around six month,but in that short time,in my opinion,Lowrey are the Rolls Royce of the home organ world,and shall keep my organ no matter what,not only do they sound good,but like the expression,their eye candy as well .My regret is I didn’t buy one years ago.Ive had several brands,but no of them ship up to a Lowrey,im proud to own one.
Many thanks Jerry for your personal views, always good to hear from someone who has been involved in playing, as well as selling Lowrey organs for so many years
You’re welcome my friend. As I said, a lot of things I talked about don’t happen in the U.K. as well as other countries. I know the N.A.M.M. Show (National Association of Music Merchants) when held in the past had a huge display of Lowrey Organs with Artists demo playing, as well as dinners and shows planned. Last year Kawai had two mid level spinets on display with no demos or Artists. That about said it all for the future of Home Organs. It wasn’t “if”…but rather “when.” Now we know.
Jerry
A question that springs to my mind is do I upgrade my Sensation Special Edition whilst there is still a part ex path and dealers wish to move their more expensive stock or do I just sit tight and enjoy my current instrument. This is best solved by waiting to see what the used Lowrey market does but without doubt the cash buyer will benefit
Ive just done exactly that,the Sensation is a great organ,felt a bit sad upgrading it ,but I was given a chance to own a Pretige,its a brilliant organ,so the sadness did LAST not long.I was lucky enough to be able to buy it outright,no H P.
I belonged to a Lowrey H. O. group which once numbered 130 participants. I began in 1998 . We are down to 8 active members who, weather, health and other extenuating circumstances considered, still meet at my home weekly to continue playing and friendship. Many have passed on, but the group should be larger considering that there must be a lot of organs out there with no one playing them. At my age, my next move will be in a facility probably. My PRESTIGE will likely become firewood.
I would love to play in a pub but pubs are dominated by sports enthusiasts. And the logistics of moving the organ around are prohibitive.
I am sadden of this terrible news as I am from the United States of America and I am a Lowrey fan. I love the Lowrey Virtural Orchestra, but not a fan of the high price of the high end models. They depreciate as they are sold off of the showroom floor. Maybe it Lowrey would reduce the prices, maybe more would afford to purches a new Lowrey Virtural Orchestra. I own some older models, but I love my Lowrey Virtural Orchestra EZ-P8.
We really like your website, it has good content, Have a nice day!
I am hooked on the Lowrey Virtual Orchestra, especially the Aria Pro , and am very saddened and disappointed by Lowrey’s demise. My dealer in Michigan USA is shutting down the whole Lowrey program. As a group we are keeping on with keeping on, continuing our group albeit with fewer members.
I am sadden to the fact that Lowery is going out of business. We have been taking classes for about ten to eleven years. We have up graded five times . We now own the Marque, and we love it. I hope this don’t put an end to are classes.
I never owned or sat at any of the Lowrey orchestral organs. But I’d be really concerned about no product support (maybe only due to no boards/components available…no longer made). These instruments are very complex…highly integrated computer driven databases and such. Can you imagine having paid a pretty penny for such (and this is true for ANY such complex system) only to realize NO ONE will or can repair it??? Believe me: THis is NOT hard to happen!! I suspect there might be such concerns even if the product was to remain in product for decades longer. Repair is always an issue for me. Admittedly: Such is the case with analog organs. I mean: Who repairs many of these today..be it Conn, Thomas, etc. BUT….the Lowrey’s are SO MUCH MORE costly. I would not care to be in the shoes of many Lowrey folks out there. Bless your hearts though!