From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Farfisa is a brand name for a series of compact electronic organ, and later, a series of multi-timbral synthesizer. The instruments are made in Ancona in the Marche region of Italy. The organs were marketed for years in the United States by the Chicago Musical Instrument Company.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Early use in rock and roll 1.2 Later use 2 Series 2.1 Compact Series (1965 - 1969) 2.1.1 MINI-COMPACT 2.1.2 Early COMPACT (COMBO COMPACT) 2.1.3 Late COMPACT (COMBO COMPACT I) 2.1.4 COMPACT DELUXE 2.1.5 COMPACT DUO 2.2 FAST Series 2.2.1 FAST 3 2.2.2 FAST 4 2.2.3 FAST 5 2.3 Professional Series (1968 - 1972) 2.4 VIP Series 2.5 Matador 2.6 Syntorchestra 2.7 Transicord 3 See also 4 External links

With several compact, easily-portable and inexpensive models available, and their distinctive sound, Farfisa organs became popular among rock bands and other combos during the 1960s.

Arguably, one of the first rock organists to play and spotlight the Farfisa, was Domingo Samudio, better known as "Sam the Sham," who with his group The Pharaohs, scored big in the summer of 1965, with their first hit, "Wooly Bully." In 1966, a Farfisa was prominently heard at the beginning, the middle, and at the end of "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" the only hit from a South Carolina-based group The Swingin' Medallions.

Although it has been reported that Doug Rhodes of the Music Machine used a Farfisa on the mid 60's "Talk Talk" recording by Sean Bonniwell and The Music Machine, it's clear from early video that he was not. Likewise, the alleged "Farfisa sound" supposedly heard on "Incense and Peppermints" by The Strawberry Alarm Clock is not a Farfisa. Here again, from early video it appears to be a Vox Continental organ in use. On the recording itself, the shrill high pitched tones towards the end of the song (accompanying the vocal "Sha-La-La" refrain) are nothing that a Farfisa could produce and are distinctly characteristic of the Vox instrument.

The instrument was integral to the sound of Pink Floyd's early albums, from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn through Dark Side of the Moon.

Contrary to belief, the Farfisa Compact was not used on Iron Butterfly's "In-a-Gadda-da-Vita." That was the Vox Continental, which is similar in sound.

Though often claimed as Farfisa pioneers, ? and the Mysterians actually used a Vox (musical equipment) organ on "96 Tears", their best-known work. Rod Argent of The Zombies was pictured using a Farfisa on stage during the band's later years (although it seems the Farfisa never made it onto any Zombies recordings). John Paul Jones of the Jeff Beck Group and later Led Zeppelin used a Farfisa on "Dancing Days" from Houses of the Holy, as well as occasionally using a VIP-255 or a professional model onstage.

With the advent of synthesizers, organs such as the classic Farfisa seemed to be headed for obsolescence, but time proved otherwise. In the late 1970s, with older models going cheap, numerous punk rock and New Wave bands, such as Blondie, The B-52's, Suicide, Squeeze and Talking Heads embraced Farfisas as substitutes for more sophisticated keyboards. Their classic sound, in turn, became a staple on multitimbral instruments, first synthesized, then sampled from the originals. Nothing, it seems, could match the unique sound of the Farfisa Combo.

The Farfisa sound is today used to impart a stereotypical 1960s-retro essence to music, and has appeared recently on albums by artists such as Electrelane, Green Day, Krist Novoselic, Death Cab for Cutie, The Blood Brothers, Smash Mouth, Apse_(band), Stereolab, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The American Analog Set, Cadallaca, Tom Waits, Yo La Tengo and Neptune Towers. Clint Boon of Manchester band Inspiral Carpets was also famous for using a Farfisa, giving the band its signature sound. The Farfisa brand name, meanwhile, continues to appear on contemporary MIDI keyboards.

The Compact series had four models. On the Compact Duo, dual manual organs tone and volume were regulated by controls on the F/AR combination pre-amp reverb and power supply unit. On most other models the tone controls and a bass section volume were located on an indented panel on the rear of the keyboard. Underneath the keyboards a knee-high lever could be actuated for the tone boost feature, turned on by rocker levers on the console. All models had reverb except for the mini-compact. Optional feature: 13-note bass pedals (not for the mini-compact). Elton John made particular use of this on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

Smallest of the Compact Series. Only four octaves, no bass on early models. Later version had a selector switch to choose bass or acute sound in the lowest octave; these models had grey naturals with white sharps in the bass octave. Some of these extended bass models have only 3 voices while transitioning to the later models which had 6 voices.

• Tan/Black Tolex
• Early model (Mini Compact, Mini Deluxe Compact) Three tone switches: Dolce, Principale, Strings
• Late model (Mini Deluxe I Compact): 16' Bass; 8' Flute, Oboe, String; 4' Flute and Strings
• Three footages: 16', 8', 4'
• Multi-tone Booster with knee trigger (also served as expression control).
• 1/4" Headphone output
• Swell (expression) pedal (optional)
• Removable legs which stored inside bottom cover (all other models have foldable/pivoting non-removable legs)
• Solid State Preamp

Used by Mike Mills (REM) and by Steve Reich in his piece Four Organs.

Features:

• Red/Black or Grey/Black Tolex
• One octave of bass with inverse key colors.
• 16' Bass, Strings
• 8' Flute, Oboe, Trumpet, Strings
• 4' Flute, Piccolo, Strings
• 4 vibrato settings
• 3 reverb settings
• 3 rockers for bass volume
• Multi-Tone Booster
• Swell (expression) pedal
• 1/4" Headphone Output
• Tube preamp (2 12AX7s) and real spring reverb
• 1/4" bass optional output
• Independent Bass and Treble 1/4" outputs
• Back panel adjustments for treble and bass tone as well as bass output volume.

Features:

• Same as Early Combo Compact except:
• Two inferior octaves (one black/white, one grey/white) on the left-hand side of the keyboard; one set of octaves were switch-controllable for choice of a bass or acute sound with bass note sustain and controllable bass percussion.
• Volume balance control between bass and treble on the front panel (trim pot as opposed to rockers of the earlier version)
• Sharp and Soft sound for the manual bass
• Only backpanel adjustment is for bass output.

Features:

• Tan/Black tolex
• Two inferior octaves (one black/white, one grey/white) on the left-hand side of the keyboard; one set of octaves were switch-controllable for choice of a bass or acute sound.
• Bass note sustain and soft/sharp controls.
• Independent controllable percussion for both bass and treble manuals.
• 16' Bass, Strings
• 8' Flute, Oboe, Trumpet, Strings
• 4' Flute, Piccolo, Strings
• 2-2/3' with independent brilliant tab
• 4 vibrato settings
• Tube preamp (2 12AX7s) and real spring reverb
• 3 reverb settings
• Multi-Tone Booster
• Swell (expression) pedal + knee control for Multi-Tone Booster
• Independent Bass and Treble 1/4" outputs
• 1/4" Headphone Output
• Late models (Combo Deluxe Compact I) also includes a Rhythm Section of Brush Cymbal and Drum

Most renowned of the Compact Series, having been used by Al Kooper (Blues Project), Michael MacNeil (Simple Minds), Rick Wright of Pink Floyd, and Clint Boon of the Inspiral Carpets.

Features:

• Grey/Black Tolex
• Four-octave upper keyboard with 9 selectors: 16' Bass, Strings; 8' Flute, Oboe, Trumpet, Strings; 4' Flute, Strings; 2-2/3' (Flute), Brilliance
• Four-octave lower keyboard with three selectors: Dolce, Principale, Ottavo.
• Two inferior octaves on the left-hand side of the lower keyboard; one set of octaves were switch-controllable for choice of a bass or acute sound.
• 4 vibrato settings
• 3 reverb settings
• Multi-Tone Booster
• Swell (expression) pedal + knee control for Multi-Tone Booster
• Bass note volume control, sustain, sharp, and percussion.
• 1/4" Bass output
• Lower manual volume control
• Brilliance control which only works with the 2-2/3 (Flute) Tab.
• Later models also incorporate tremelo, percussion and repeat functions for both the upper and lower treble manuals independently.
• Unlike other Compact series organs, the Compat Duo models require a separate power supply/solid-state preamp/real spring reverb unit (called the Farfisa F/AR) to operate. The organ connects to the F/AR via a multi-lead cable. The cable on the American version used a 7-pin Amphenol connector, while European models used a Preh multipin. Treble output is only available via the F/AR. The Compact Duos could also operate directly (without the F/AR) with Farfisa Amplifier Models BR80 or Twin 80, which accept the 7-pin connector and provide the organ with power. The organs reverb switches activate the reverb in these two amplifier models.

The FAST (Farfisa All Silicon Transistor) Series models had a metal cabinet covered with a washable skin plate and plastic edges, chrome folding legs, retractable carrying handles, and a removable music rack. This model of Farfisa was used by Philip Glass on some of his early recordings

Features:

• Keyboard: 49 notes (C to C)
• Manual Bass: 12 notes (C to B)
• Voice Stops (7): Bass, Clarinet, Flute (8"), Oboe, Trumpet, Strings, Flute (4")
• Vibrato Stops: On/off, Fast/slow
• Manual Bass Selector: Bass/treble, Piano/forte
• Swell pedal: Optional

Features:

• Keyboard: 61 notes
• Voice Stops (8): Bass, Bass Clarinet, Flute (8"), Oboe, Trumpet, Flue, Oboe, Trumpet, Strings, Flute (4"), Piccolo
• Mixture Stops (2)
• Vibrato Stops (3): On/off, Slow/Fast, Light/Heavy
• Percussion Stops (5): Manual bass on/off, Treble on/off, Long/short, Mixture on/off, Mixture soft/sharp
• Manual Bass Selector: Bass/treble
• Pedal and Manual Bass Sound: Soft/Sharp
• FAST 4 has been used by Philip Glass

Features, same as FAST 4, plus:

• Sustain Stops (3): Celesta, Clavicord, Kinura

Artists:

• FAST 5 used by Ronnie Rancifer (Jackson 5).

• Professional (PP/222 and PP/221) - The original single keyboard organ with gray keys. There are two models - without and without foot pedals.used by Sylvester Stewart of (Sly and the Family Stone). Also by Sun Ra, Tangerine Dream, Jean Michel Jarre, and Art Neville.
• Professional DUO - Double keyboard version with bass pedals and every known option (white keys).
• Professional Piano - used by Ralf Hutter of (Kraftwerk)

• VIP 200
• VIP 202
• VIP 233
• VIP 255 used by John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).
• VIP 345 used by Susan Dey (in role as Laurie Partridge, The Partridge Family).
• VIP 370
• VIP 400
• VIP 500
• VIP 600 used by Michael MacNeil (Simple Minds).

The Farfisa Matador was produced in the Early to mid 1970s. It is a Compact Organ with a built in speaker, and amplifier. Several models of Matador were produced.

• In the mid seventies Farfisa produced the "Stereo Syntorchestra". It has a three octave keyboard, and a "Mono", and "Poli" tone generator section. The "poli" section has four timbres, "Trombone", "Trumpet", "Piano", and "Viola". The Mono section is the "synth" part of the machine. It has nine timbres, Tuba, Trombone, Trumpet, Bari Sax, Alto Sax, Bass Flute, Flute, Piccolo, and Violin. This section is monophonic, with a highest note priority. The mono section can be modified by two envelope controls, and a "Wha-Wha", there is also a variable portamento. Only one timbre, from each section, can be used at a time. each section has a "Brilliance" control, which adds more top end to the sound, and a variable speed Vibrato, which has a delay function, for delayed vibrato effects.

The Syntorchestra also has separate outputs for each of its two sections.

• The "Transicord" was an electronic accordion. It was designed to be used in conjunction with Farfisa's Amplifiers, and had a multi-pin cable that connected the controls of the accordion, with the controls of the amplifier, or the F/AR Reverb preamp power supply unit.

The Transicord came in two models, a standard model and a "DeLuxe" model. The standard model has one row of tab-stops similar to those found on a Combo Compact organ, and is reported to have a similar sound. The color scheme was grey with light blue and green. The DeLuxe model has two rows of tab-stops and is black in color.

Opening and closing the bellows reportedly engages an effect similar to the "tone boost" on Combo Compact model organs. The Transicord can also be equipped with the same volume pedal used for many other Farfisa organs.

• Vox organ
• Hammond organ
• "Farfisa Beat" a song by Squeeze released in 1980

• Farfisa.org
• KTopits: Farfisa Professional
• Combo Organ Heaven
• The Farfisa Organ Page