Phoenix Organs

I would urge extreme caution if placing an order with Phoenix Organs of Fulwood, near Preston, Lancashire.
On behalf of a church in West Yorkshire, I recommended the purchase of a 3 manual organ from Phoenix to replace a much older instrument.
We were attracted because the price was competitive, the pre-​contract discussions useful and the very fine demonstration instrument, in a church near Preston, Lancashire, UK had sounded well when we visited.
We had several problems. When the instrument eventually arrived (it took far longer to arrive than originally indicated) there were several major technical problems. Sounds would effectively come on or go off of their own volition and the speakers would often emit a loud bang when turned off. Both problems were eventually rectified — months later — but by the far the most frustrating and unacceptable element was the shocking level of post-​installation service. David Bostock would simply not respond to our requests for help, by phone, e-​mail, until finally a very formal letter, and we endured weeks of services where the instrument would effectively change its registrations at will. I suspect our experience was unusual — although I know of another high profile church nearby which also had outstanding issues and were witholding payment. The eventual sound was reasonable (less good than the demonstration instrument but because we were more limited in terms of where we could position the speakers). I subsequently gave a performance on a Makin, which had failed to impress in the acoustically weak showroom but which sounded more authentically like a pipe instrument in situ.
I would recommend that any propspective purchaser agree with the company that the full sum will become payable only after a period of several weeks has elapsed post-​installation, in order to allow the company to deal with any problems.
Craig Edwards, Assistant Director of Music, Methodist Central Hall, London.