Allen Organ Studios has been the leader in organ sales and service in Georgia and Tennessee for almost 60 years. Since George MacKenzie opened the original showroom on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta in 1958, we have installed some of the most prestigious organs in the South. Jim Ingram was the second owner of the company from 1983 to 2009. This time period was a turning point in the organ world, as churches that would once only consider a pipe organ slowly began to not only consider, but purchase large digital Allen Organs. With over 1500 Allen Organs leading in worship each Sunday. Our team of organ experts has installed more three, four and even five manual organs than anyone
Today, Jeff Ayers is the guiding force for Allen Organ Studios. As the owner and President, he has over 30 years of experience working with churches and installing some of the best organs in the state. From the age of 5, he knew he wanted to be a church organist and, at age 15, he decided that his goal was to own an organ company. During high school and college he worked with the Allen Organ Company with the installation of many organs while learning the ins and outs of the trade. After majoring in Church Music at East Carolina University, he moved to Atlanta in 1986 to sell Allen Organs and begin that dream. During his time at Allen Organ Studios, the company grew to be one of the top dealers of Allen Organs worldwide. Installations include many fine pipe organs, as well as, large custom digital organs. We have received many awards from churches, denominations, the American Theatre Organ Society, and for sales and serving customers from the Allen Organ Company.
The current territory for Allen Organ Studios encompasses much of the state of Georgia including Atlanta, Macon, Columbus and Augusta. We also cover much of central Tennessee including Chattanooga.
Our technical staff consists of engineers and organists; a rare blending of the most experienced organ service team in the business. With 4 certified technicians, our motto is “every organ plays on Sunday.” We have invested in a significant inventory of tools and repair parts for Allen Organs built over the past 80 years. This helps keep service costs lower for our customers and assures any rare need for service can be provided quickly.
Allen Organ Studios is honored to be the organ of choice of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for 30 years. A large three manual organ is provided by Allen Organ Studios for all major symphonic performances where the score requires an organ. We also house a smaller three manual organ owned by the Atlanta Symphony that is made available to civic and concert performances across the state. These organs can be heard in many Telarc recordings of the ASO.
Though Allen Organ Studios has a wide reputation for our large custom and pipe combination organs, the heart of our business is small to midsize churches with thriving music ministries. We have successfully installed hundreds of these organs to great customer satisfaction. We are proud to have installed more church organs in Georgia than anyone and we are even happier to have made so many friends along the way.
Read more about our team by clicking on the Our Staff drawknob above.
Buy an Allen
Allen Organ Studios (AOS) is an authorized representative for all products of the Allen Organ Company. It is our goal to make your buying experience educational and personal. Most organ buyers find purchasing an organ for their church a new experience since most have never served on an organ committee. Our customers are located in central and northern Georgia, eastern Tennessee and include churches, colleges, universities and many residence organs. Purchasing an organ is considered by most a major expenditure. We are certain that our professional approach and knowledge base (since 1958) will make your purchase extremely enjoyable.
IT IS AN HONOR to tell you about the staff of AOS. While the music business in general has an enormous flux of personnel, it is rare, but comforting to know that those you have done business with at AOS expect to be there to serve you ‘next time’! Experience is a great teacher as we all know. Within our organization, we share with our customers well over 100 cumulative years of vast organ experiences.
Designing your Organ Specification
Most organists with classical training have been taught to play the notes and most often play the music with registration set up by a the organ instructor (a long time ago). Piano players play musically by adjusting the touch of the key and operating a series of pedals with the feet – producing only piano sounds. Organs on the other hand, are complex instruments and depending on their size can have hundreds of tones (organ voices) to choose from. With couplers and a colorful specification , a single organists can play more notes than a multitude of pianists and produce sounds on the magnitude of a symphony orchestra. So what sounds do you choose for your organ? Simple! Just ask us! For those with organ design experience, the new Allen Genisys and Elite instruments provide an unparalleled design possibility and an organ with a unique personal taste that other builders don’t and/or can’t provide.
Basic organs usually have stop names that are similar. The smaller organs by feature comparison often appear to be similar, however, there is always a reason for the ‘miracle’ pricing from manufacturers and their representatives! The larger the organ, the additional stop selection is what actually gives the organ its character or flavor. Organs (in some form or fashion) have been around for well over a thousand years. However, today, most classical and theatre organs base their sound on pipe organs (which came long before electronic technology and Allen’s introduction of the first electronic organ patented in 1939). A quick thought about history would ask an interesting question: what if electronic organs were introduced before pipe organs? Well they weren’t, so Allen’s introduction of the world’s first digital musical product patented in 1970 certainly made history and continues to write volumes today. All digital musical manufacturers today flatly are following the leader in the field. Allen has some 20 years of leadership experience more than any other. It will be more decades before we resolve the question of which is better, pipe organ or digital organ. Both sides line up to continually discuss the pros and cons of each product. A profound statement by the legendary Larry Phelps is a constant reminder of progress: “Before the first electronic organ was introduced, all the world’s bad organs were pipe organs!” Organ builders and salesmen constantly try to convince your ears of their pipe like quality. So go listen to a quality pipe organ. The real sound, unique design quality of Allen Quantum technology, along with installations and support by the AOS team will quickly make the sound argument becomes less and less significant. To have the correct harmonics of six complete periods of organ building in one console for the organist’s quick retrieval and use is simply proof of Allen’s constant research, development and leadership in the organ world.
Every member of our sales and service staff plays the organ. Designing a specification to work in a given space and provide for your musical needs requires this experience. Fine tonal finishing, adjusting an amplifier,or a tone control board to correct volume levels after service repair or replacement all require this experience. We happen to think you prefer a professional experienced team on your side! Contact us!
Designing your Organ Installation
Whether an organ has pipes, speakers or both, the correct placement of all tone producing equipment plays a major role in determining the success of any organ installation. The type of structure to house the organs definitely impacts the final results. Knowing ‘what to do’ and ‘what not to do’ takes equal amounts of knowledge and experience. The type of speakers used in a digital organ and where to put them constitutes approximately 50% of the musical success of the installation. Our staff has placed thousands of audio systems in rooms creating highly successful organs. We design and build our organ cases, speaker support systems, decorative acoustic screens and handle all of our installations in-house. Our beautiful pipe facades are authentic and provide a traditional look that many congregations prefer.
Our staff also includes a certified Low Voltage contractor as required by the State of Georgia to insure compliance with the National and State safety laws.
Please visit our showroom for a demonstration and find out why Allen is the world’s largest builder of organs and why Allen Organ Studios is the number one choice of organists and churches alike in Georgia and Tennessee. We are available anytime by appointment. Call (404) 456-5434
AOS of Atlanta
3321 Chamblee Dunwoody Road
Atlanta, GA 30341