Burl, I saw your John Smith organ at the Mayville rally and the MBSI
chapter meeting and enjoyed listening to it.  I'm sure your new organ
came out as well. [Ref 011205 MMDigest]

I can think of a couple more factors related to whether you should
replace the tubing.

First, the neoprene tubing will probably be more flexible.  This will
make it easier to route the tubing around the inside of the organ.

Second, the John Smith organ is blown directly through the tracker bar
holes to the pipes.  This is a somewhat different situation from a
piano where the smaller tubing connects the tracker bar to the valves.
In this case, any gasses that escape the tube are pretty much trapped
in the system between the tracker bar and the valves so the valve area
would be 'saturated' with this vapor.

In the John Smith organ, this part of the system is basically open and
there are no valves to worry about.   If you leave the pressure box
cover ajar, any vapors would have a place to escape.

Lastly, the tubing in that piano is probably that cheap stuff for a
fish tank aerator.  The tubing from the home hardware center is
certainly better quality and the air volume to surface area ratio is
much higher with this larger tubing.  I'd be interested in what others
have to say on this choice.

Craig Smith

 [ But the big problem is not the gas, it's the liquid, a kerosene-like
 [ plasticizer, which oozes out of poor quality vinyl to the outside
 [ and inside of the hoses.  Then dust quickly collects.   -- Robbie