FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

TRACKER FACT SHEET

WHAT DOES TRACKER ACTION MEAN?
Tracker action means that all the connections in the organ are mechanical rather than electrical. It is similar to the linkage in a manual typewriter.

WHAT ARE TRACKERS?
Trackers are slender rods which connect the keys to the valves under the pipes. Our trackers are made of the finest sugar pine, cedar and bronze wire. We also use such space-age materials as teflon to assure long-lasting performance for our action parts.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF TRACKER ACTION?
LONGEVITY - While electric and electropneumatic parts have a relatively short life span and often require major overhauling or replacement, tracker parts are designed and made to last for centuries.

TRACKER PARTS ARE NEVER OBSOLETE - Electric components are rapidly changing as technology expands. This makes replacement parts difficult or impossible to find. Tracker parts are always available because they are being made today the way they have been made for centuries.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE ORGANIST?
Sensitivity! As soon as you touch a key something happens. It's as if the organ were alive! For the organist this translates into greater variety in articulation and more control of pipe speech.

ARE TRACKER ORGANS JUST FOR BAROQUE MUSIC?
Not at all. Tracker action was the only type of action available until the late 19th century. Romantic composers such as Franck and Widor wrote for tracker organs, albeit large ones. Our instruments are designed, built and voiced to meet the needs of a modern congregation and a modern organist doing a variety of literature.

CAN WE SEPARATE THE CONSOLE FROM THE ORGAN?
Yes! it is possible to build detached and reversed detached consoles and still have tracker action, without losing desired sensitivity and reliability.

ARE TRACKER ORGANS MOVEABLE?
Generally, large tracker organs are fixed in one location, either as one unit or with a detached console. They can be moved if placed on an "air cushion." We do, however, build small positive and continuo organs of up to 8 stops, which rest on a frame with wheels. This allows the organ to be moved around on a stage or from chapel to church.

WHAT ABOUT DESIGN?
Be creative! Tracker organs can be traditional or modern. They can be built around a window or doorway. They can be symmetrical or asymmetrical and designed to fill any space, even a small one. Each of our instruments is custom-designed to satisfy you.

WHERE SHOULD THE ORGAN BE PLACED?
Tracker organs are housed in their own free-standing cases, in the room, rather than in a chamber. Generally an organ sounds best when placed in a high location along the central axis of the room, as in a rear gallery. Many other positions may be considered, but acoustics should always be kept in mind when choosing a location.

CAN WE HAVE AN "AGO" STYLE PEDALBOARD?
Certainly. We Build "AGO" style and flat pedalboards as well as several types of benches; whatever is comfortable for the organist.

CAN A TRACKER ORGAN HAVE A SWELL BOX?
Of course! It is possible to have one or more divisions under expression. Swell shades can be horizontal, vertical or sliding. Simple doors which open are another possibility.

WHAT ABOUT VALUE?
Tracker organs are the best value on the market. While the initial cost is high, tracker organs are less expensive in the long run because they last. Tracker organs also appreciate rather than depreciate in value. That means your instrument is a good investment for the future.

IS THERE A LOT OF COSTLY MAINTENANCE INVOLVED?
No, much less than for any other kind of organ, and that's where you save. All organs need periodic tuning and we utilize cone-tuning on our metal pipes for greater tuning stability. Minor adjustments to the action need to be made as the organ settles, but basically tracker organs perform maintenance free for many years.

Come Visit Us and Let Us Show You Why We Believe
Tracker Action is the Way of the Future!

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