Hey, check out this ebay auction for an awesome Farfisa VIP 255 organ. The auction ends Aug 10, 201112:00:33 PDT.
This organ looks mint, is at a decent price, and the seller is offering worldwide shipping! Here’s a video from the seller:
Parent Category for all the different Console and Combo Organs that Farfisa made.
Hey, check out this ebay auction for an awesome Farfisa VIP 255 organ. The auction ends Aug 10, 201112:00:33 PDT.
This organ looks mint, is at a decent price, and the seller is offering worldwide shipping! Here’s a video from the seller:
Check out this beautiful example of the Farfisa Soundmaker Synthesizer on ebay right now!
This is my Farfisa Soundmaker, and what an interesting beast it is!
Built from 1979 to 1981, this thing cost around £900 new (this model was bought in 1982, I think I’ve got the receipt somewhere!) which put it in competition with some pretty serious hardware. It also explains why it’s so rare. It was in production until just before MIDI, the Prophet 600 and Juno 106 came along, but looks like it’s from an entirely different era. The whole keyboard and front panel are angled slightly forwards, as it was designed to sit on top of a combo organ or piano (although a snazzy stand was also available as you’ll see from the promotional literature included).
Here’s the detail from Vintage Synth:
Built in 1979-81, the Soundmaker has Synth, String and Piano/Brass Sections. The Monophonic Synth section has 12 preset sounds (Tuba, Trombone, Trumpet, Sax, Clarinet, Oboe, Flute, Piccolo, Violin, Accordion, El Bass, El Guitar) and one Free patch which lets you use the controls to create your own sound. Basic controls for the filter, the one ADSR for the filter and/or the VCA, and the LFO are laid out plain and simple.
The Polyphonic Preset Synth section has Volume & Brightness controls for its four preset Piano type sounds (Piano, Electric Piano, Honkey Tonk, Brass).
The String section offers a fairly decent string sound with Volume, Brightness, Attack and Sustain controls for a choice of two preset strings (8″ footage or 4″ footage).
The Soundmaker is a bulky synth, weighing in at 27kg! Its keyboard may be split (at middle F only) and the Strings and Poly Synth sections play with the left hand and the Mono Synth plays with the right hand. The keyboard also has polyphonic aftertouch which can be used to control the Mono Synth Brilliance, OSC (vibrato), Synth Glide or Brass Brilliance. The String and Poly Synth sections can be switched to monophonic at the same time. The Farfisa is not the best String Machine you’ll ever hear, but it is very rare and that alone gives these machines some serious vintage appeal.
Here’s the detail on this Soundmaker:
Physically it’s in OK shape. There are some knocks in the walnut veneered cabinet, as you’d expect from a 30-year old instrument. It’s also very heavy (see above) and built like a tank. The only bodywork point to mention really, is that the hole for one leg of the detachable music stand has chipped, leaving a gap about 7cm long. It doesn’t show when the stand is in place, however.
Electronically, this synthesizer is in need of a little attention. The ‘poli synth’ (sic) section works fine. The monosynth section does not. It really is probably the simplest of repairs – but I haven’t the time or skills to carry it out. There is a full set of schematics and a fantastically detailed Service Manual included, so for someone with the ability, this would make an excellent project. It’s also had what appears to be a pitchbend/modulation modification added to the left hand keyboard cheek. Again, it looks like a professionally done job though.
I’m including the original Service Manual, a Sales Brochure, a Brochure/Manual and a patch guide called ‘Some Registrations’ (it’s that organ-based theme again!)
I’m happy to ship worldwide, but remember, this thing is HEAVY. 27kg of heavy, in fact. And that’s before packing materials. UK shipping will be £19.80, Europe £32, USA £126
Thanks to the wonderful Antonio Grazioli at Vintage Manuals, I can now offer you the finest in Farfisa Bravo Schematics (PDF). Don’t hurt yourself!
The Farfisa MicrOrgan was one of the earlier reed organs, all done up classy in a beautiful art deco style. Like most of the other Farfisa reed organs, it folds up nice into its own little carrying case, complete with legs and all. This one is up on ebay right now. Here is a description from the seller:
FARFISA MicrOrgan CHORD ORGAN in CASE. 100% complete & working. Made in Italy in the late 1950’s. This is a reed Organ with an Art deco design. Built into case like an old combo organ. Has detachable legs that store in the case. Excellent condition.
Well, this is a new approach. A truly nice human being, BasementLoadSound has scanned in, and made an HD video of the complete Farfisa Soundmaker Service Manual which includes all of the schematics. Here’s his description:
Very rare and cool 1979 Farfisa Soundmaker service manual (Italian and English). Maybe the only one all over the world 🙂 I did my best to scan the pages but you have to watch the video full screen and possibly in HD resolution. Hope Soundmaker owners will find this document useful.
Check out this great performance by Charles Bradley backed up by The Menahan Street Band at The Leedervile Hotel in Perth, Australia. “Just carve yourselves a corner of the floor to set up boys, the kids will dig it.” Hells yeah they will. I am so stealing that to the sky, drop to the knees move from you Charlie! I’m pretty sure that I spy the Budos Band Farfisa in the background.
You probably know Tara Busch from her famously singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow backwards or her ridiculously awesome analogsuicide blog. Here is a great video where she is playing her Farfisa Compact Combo Deluxe through a Moogerfooger Low Pass Filter, something that I have been known to do, just not as well!
Check out Paul’s sexy new Farfisa and his sensitive man music. Don’t worry, he also delves into the darker side with what he calls increasingly irritating sounds, although they sound better and better to me, so I don’t know what to say about that!
Seriously though, this is one hell of a great video if you didn’t get that from the title. There is like math and and science and history and stuff, and super extra awesome bonus points for including the cat!
Holy crap! If you have never seen The Mummies, get ready for something else! Doing high kicks and tumble salts on a Farfisa Mini Compact sure adds to it’s durability cred though.
Check out the fine musical stylings of the Boston super group, Thick Shakes live in Portland, Maine.