The Beckerath Studio Organ – on which hundreds of Stetson University organ and piano students have learned to play since 1971 – recently received a “million-mile overhaul.”

“It was all taken apart: the console, keyboards and more than 1,000 pipes,” said Dr. Boyd Jones, Stetson’s John E. and Aliese Price Professor of Organ and university organist. “Everything was cleaned, and various components that had deteriorated were replaced. This was the first time this organ had received a thorough cleaning.”

The project took three weeks, from June to mid-July. Two organ experts, Hans-Ulrich Erbslӧh and Bernd Becker, traveled from Germany to do the refurbishment. Erbslӧh also performed the major cleaning and improvements to the Paul R. Jenkins Jr. Organ by Rudolf Von Beckerath located in Lee Chapel inside Elizabeth Hall in 2004.

“It was fascinating to watch,” Jones said. “Before they could even start, they had to go to Lowe’s to buy lumber to build the shelves to store the pipes on during the work.”

The Beckerath Studio Organ, imported from Germany, stands more than 13 feet tall and about 15 feet wide. Located in Jones’ office, the Pittman Organ Studio in Presser Hall, it is a distinguished and impressive instrument with a beautiful oak case. It shares the studio with a harpsichord, a smaller 1961 Beckerath Organ and other smaller instruments.

One of six organs owned by Stetson, the Studio Organ is used for lessons, practice and rehearsals. Jones handles routine tuning, and there were no problems with it. But every few decades, organs must undergo major cleaning and maintenance to ensure they remain at their best, he said. The overhaul was funded by the Paul and Elizabeth Jenkins Organ Fund.

The refurbishment was a great success, and the organ is ready for students to return for the 2012-13 academic year.

“It sounds more perfectly in tune than I’ve heard it, and it feels better, too,” Jones said.