A WORD OF CAUTION WHEN USING OTHER INTERNET SITES
There are now have hundreds of videos on the internet showing Busker organs being demonstrated - and also being built. These can be very interesting, but John was surprised at how complicated they often make it all look, and also how often the so-called improvements actually detracted from the proper working of the organ.
He used to see and hear about a lot of his organs, including the ones with problems - which more often than not were the result of following one of the many tips or modifications. There are of course many excellent ideas, but it is nearly always the few really bad ones that get taken up the most.
It was also obvious to John that some of the videos are many years old, or that the builders were using old out-of-date plans. It is now 20 years since he produced the first Busker organ building plans, but they have been regularly updated so the builders are now able to just get on with the job and succeed. The concept of the Busker was for a light weight full-sounding organ, which could be constructed from everyday materials - without the need for special wood working or engineering skills. Many Buskers have now been made, some by complete novices, exactly as the plans and video show, with superb results.
John's considered advice for any first time builder was: by all means look at the web - you will get a good overall view of what it is you are about to build - but avoid all tips and modifications to the working parts: namely bellows; reservoir; spill valve; spring; idler wheel; clutch; tracker bar; and pipe construction. Most problems seem to be a result of rushing into construction before studying the drawings, watching the video, and reading the words - you will not need any other literature to 'get started on the Busker'. He made it this way deliberately to deter would be freeloaders.
