I received an email the other day from a customer who wondered why Gloria3 sold for half of the next professional hymn player but sounded better. Actually, that's a pretty easy question to answer. Gloria3 costs less because the company that owns it has no payroll or office expenses whatsoever. That's right. With no payroll, no central office, no paid advertising, and volunteer management, the company does not have to charge an arm and a leg for the Gloria Hymn Player.
For almost 15 years, the company has been owned and operated by a group of 7-8 individuals who donate their services. Most design engineering, and music composition, has been outsourced to Americans, and Glorias are shipped from a manufacturing and fulfillment house location in Illinois. The principals of the company provide engineering design guidance, accounting, and management support. In essence, the company is operated like it was a not-for-profit company, but is actually a normal "C" corporation that pays taxes. That's why the low price.
As for sound, the Gloria3 is a new internal design completed in 2011 using modern components. This allows us to create the amazing sound of both a 16-channel orchestral soundtrack that backs up most hymns, as well as simple 6-channel tracks that use only four instruments for each hymn. Listening to a Gloria3 play hymns with trumpet countermelodies behind the basic hymn melody is an experience that can only be described as a blessing. That's why Gloria3 is intended to be used by so many folks who buy it for their own enjoyment, or that of their small group from church.
This 16-channel sound is especially interesting when applied to any contemporary hymns or praise songs which will be released by us in the future. It means a full, rich sound, and a worship experience that is unparalleled for those of us who do or do not play instruments.
