First There Were None, Now There Are Two!

My friend Anita stopped by today with a letter from her cousin who is an Allan Organ salesman. He has in on trade an organ that would fill our needs at the church for a little over $6000.00. He would personally deliver, install and voice it for us! I took the information to show my mentor - he sees no reason why this couldn't be our new church organ.

Then I get home to find this email from Hubby to the organ committee:

I got a call from Eric at DMP Gallery Organs in California.

I contacted them regarding a Rodgers 760 with six speaker cabinets that I saw on Ebay. The cost for this instrument would be a bit less than $4,800, shipping included. This is a 1989 vintage analog organ, computer boards, no tubes. A possible candidate to convert the console to Hauptwerk at a later time.

We would still need to get someone in to voice it for our sanctuary. (I have not idea of total price I would assume somewhere between $500 - $1,250.)

He said he has others showing interest in purchasing this organ but because we contacted him first we get first shot.

He needs to know our time frame to see if he can hold it that long. So I need some counsel regarding whether this is something on which the congregation needs to vote? Are we willing to take a risk on a used organ sight unseen?

So the question is: do we go with the Allan that I don't care as much for the sound, but has a personal connection and satisfaction guarantee of sorts, or for the Rodgers which has the sound I love and it has draw knobs instead of tabs, but it will be delivered in a crate to the porch of the church for us to move in and set up. Plus we'll have to call in a Rodgers tech to come in and voice it - the email has been sent to inquire about the cost of that. 

I'll be emailing the Allan salesman regarding speakers and to get a sound sample CD. My mind is just spinning! I want a good instrument; one that will serve our congregation and lift voices in praise for many years to come, one with excellent sound, reliability and something that I won't be apologizing for a few years down the road. I feel this is all on me. If something goes wrong, it's going to all come back on me for wanting it in the first place. 

Please pray with me for God's best for everyone involved.