Farfisa Mini Compact Organ

This was the simplest of Farfisa Compact Organ. It is by far the most common Farfisa available on the market today. It’s list price in 1968 was a mere $495, something every suburban garage rocker could possibly talk their parents into buying for them. How could they resist this 49 key, C to C keyboard, with a little of that Farfisa bite.

The Mini had just three tabs for sound, but it did have Vibrato, the Multi Tone Knee Booster, and the ALL Booster tab all wrapped up in a fantastically awesome avacado green tolex covered plywood case.

Farfisa Matador R Combo Organ

The Farfisa Matador-R was the deluxe version of the Matador. In included all of the features of the organ, in addition to a super sweet drum machine! My guess is that it the guts of the terribly simple Maestro Rhythm Jester, which is pretty simple, but will let you entertain at cocktail parties all by yourself! It even has built in speakers.

It has a few different tabs for contouring the sounds along with a nice Vibrato, Vibrato Repeat, and Percussion. The best feature about the Matador is the Slalom (Glissando or Pitch Bend) can be controlled by the optional Farfisa Grey Volume pedal. This feature lets you control the pitch of the bend up to the note you are playing on the keyboard.

Farfisa VIP-500 Combo Organ

Thanks to Zoran Stajic for the info and pictures! Zoran says this model is a lot like the VIP400, but the Piano Sounds are different. Possibly the addition of some of the goodies from the Pro Piano???

Thanks to Eric, who posted this comment on the old site: Great Farfisa; much more versatile than Compacts. Sort of like a Compact with many more additional sounds and features. Used by Sun Ra (see Space is the Place video). One feature I particularly like is the percussion/ repeat. Sounds sort of like a square wave LFO, but with more attack (plus control over the attack). Also has “synthaslalom” which is a little like portamento on an analog synth. This feature can also be controlled in terms of time and range of the portamento. Unlike portemento, this effect seems to only go up, elevating the note till it reaches the note of the key. Also has very cool reed/ string like drawbar that sounds like a strings preset analog synth. The other effect in this section is “piano”, which sounds vaguely like a dark electric piano tone. Incredible Bass section for lower quarter of first row of keys. drawbars for very round/ super bassy square wave “bass” and a reedier, fuzzy tone also (think: bass sounds on Suicide’s first album) All in all a very expressive and versatile keyboard capable of the 60s psyche farfisa sound as well as some basic (but well done) 70s analog synth sounds. This was a very professional, and expensive keyboard in it’s day. I believe I saw an mid 70s advertisement for $1800!!! More than a MiniMoog. Cool keyboard.

Compaction! Farfisa Compact Electronic Organs

They Swing… Where The Action Is

The live instruments with compact portability for today’s young action groups!

Today’s action groups swing to a modern sound with a driving beat. The FARFISA Compact Electronic Organs match the go-go tempo of their arrangements.

Easy to play, Farfisa Compacts have the sound and the excitement you’ve been looking for!

The exclusive Tone Booster knee-lever produces an attack sound that puts teeth in an arrangement and power in a combo! The easy portability of the Compact Electronic Organs makes them perfect for the active musician because they can go anywhere.

Each Compact organ folds into its own rugged, self-contained carrying case covered with heavy, colorful vinyl. Handsome and lightweight, the Compact cases resist mars, scratches and wear.

Farfisa Compaction Poster

Farfisa Cromwell Organ

Check out the one and only (no, seriously, there is probably just one of these) Farfisa Cromwell. Or is it the Farfisa Foyer like it says in the last picture? In an incredible engineering feat, someone took a Mini Compact Deluxe and mounted it into a wood console with 2 – 10″ Speakers, and a sweet built in volume pedal. In addition to the Multi-Tone Booster, it looks like someone snuck in an extra tab for a Chorus effect!

Combo Compact Brochure, The Swinging Rhythm and Driving Beat

The Combo Compact

Its sleek, modern handsome design and attractive colors suit the COMBO COMPACT to the smartest surroundings. Constructed of hi-impact polystyrene and covered with heavy vinyl, this unique electronic instrument is practically impervious to mars, cracks, or scratches.  Set up for use, the COMBO COMPACT is 38″ long, 18″ wide and 51″ high.

The entire unit folds easily into a single carrying case that weighs just 70 pounds.  The legs fold into the bottom of the keyboard console. Storage space for the swell pedal and the 13-note pedalboard (optional extra) is contained in the lid.

The swinging rhythm and driving beat of today’s music make the new electronic COMBO COMPACT a “natural” for young groups who play this modern sound. Its unique Multi-Tone Booster gives tremendous attack and “edge” by boosting the upper frequencies, highly desirable in arrangements popular with many young groups. The COMBO COMPACT is the modern sound for which they are looking!

However, the fully polyphonic COMBO COMPACT is a versatile keyboard instrument suited to a wide range of professional expression. Its 12-note Manual Bass enables the player to obtain authentic organ pedal sounds without using the footpedals. Full organ pedal sounds are produced with the 13-note pedalboard, an optional extra. The COMBO COMPACT is easy-to-play. Used with an amplifier, it puts to work all the features – like tremolo and reverb – found on the amplifier.

Still keeping with today’s tempo, is the compact portability of the COMBO COMPACT. It folds to form its own self-… (The last line is cut off in this scan. If you know what it is, or want to take a guess in the comments below, that’d be great!)

Hi-Tone Booster

This feature produces tremendous edge and unusual hi-frequency “wows” by boosting the upper frequencies.  It’s a perfect for today’s younger groups.
Actuated by a knee-lever located beneath the right side of the keyboard console, the HI-TONE BOOSTER immediately cuts out the actual organ voices and basic 16′, 8′, and 4′ voices can be used individually or in unison.

Earphone Feature For Silent Practice

Practice sessions without disturbing others are a simple matter. The player simply plugs earphones into the convenient built-in jack socket on the left end panel of the keyboard.

COMBO COMPACT FEATURES

  • 49 Full Sized Keys (4 Octaves C to C)
  • 12-note Bass Incorporated, in addition to Keyboard
  • Swell Pedal Volume Control
  • Knee-lever Control for Hi-Tone Booster
  • Earphone Output for silent practice
  • On/off Switch
  • 13-note Pedalboard (optional)
  • Pedalboard Tabs for Manual or Pedal Bass: soft, med loud, and loud
  • Vibrato Tabs: slow-fast, light-heavy, on/off Switch
  • Reverberation Tabs: on/off Switch, medium-long
  • Tone Stops: 16′ Bass, 16′ Strings, 8′ Flute, 8′ Oboe, 8′ Trumpet, 8′ Strings, 4′ Flute, 4′ Piccolo, 4′ Strings
  • High Tone Booster Tabs: 16′ Bass, 8′ Medium, High, on/off Switch

The Combo Compact

Its sleek, modern handsome design and attractive colors suit the COMBO COMPACT to the smartest surroundings. Constructed of hi-impact polystyrene and covered with heavy vinyl, this unique electronic instrument is practically impervious to mars, cracks, or scratches.  Set up for use, the COMBO COMPACT is 38″ long, 18″ wide and 51″ high.

The entire unit folds easily into a single carrying case that weighs just 70 pounds.  The legs fold into the bottom of the keyboard console. Storage space for the swell pedal and the 13-note pedalboard (optional extra) is contained in the lid.

The swinging rhythm and driving beat of today’s music make the new electronic COMBO COMPACT a “natural” for young groups who play this modern sound. Its unique Multi-Tone Booster gives tremendous attack and “edge” by boosting the upper frequencies, highly desirable in arrangements popular with many young groups. The COMBO COMPACT is the modern sound for which they are looking!

However, the fully polyphonic COMBO COMPACT is a versatile keyboard instrument suited to a wide range of professional expression. Its 12-note Manual Bass enables the player to obtain authentic organ pedal sounds without using the footpedals. Full organ pedal sounds are produced with the 13-note pedalboard, an optional extra. The COMBO COMPACT is easy-to-play. Used with an amplifier, it puts to work all the features – like tremolo and reverb – found on the amplifier.

Still keeping with today’s tempo, is the compact portability of the COMBO COMPACT. It folds to form its own self-… (The last line is cut off in this scan. If you know what it is, or want to take a guess in the comments below, that’d be great!)

Hi-Tone Booster

This feature produces tremendous edge and unusual hi-frequency “wows” by boosting the upper frequencies.  It’s a perfect for today’s younger groups.

Actuated by a knee-lever located beneath the right side of the keyboard console, the HI-TONE BOOSTER immediately cuts out the actual organ voices and basic 16′, 8′, and 4′ voices can be used individually or in unison.

Earphone Feature For Silent Practice

Practice sessions without disturbing others are a simple matter. The player simply plugs earphones into the convenient built-in jack socket on the left end panel of the keyboard.

  • COMBO COMPACT FEATURES
  • 49 Full Sized Keys (4 Octaves C to C)
  • 12-note Bass Incorporated, in addition to Keyboard
  • Swell Pedal Volume Control
  • Knee-lever Control for Hi-Tone Booster
  • Earphone Output for silent practice
  • On/off Switch
  • 13-note Pedalboard (optional)
  • Pedalboard Tabs for Manual or Pedal Bass: soft, med loud, and loud
  • Vibrato Tabs: slow-fast, light-heavy, on/off Switch
  • Reverberation Tabs: on/off Switch, medium-long
  • Tone Stops: 16′ Bass, 16′ Strings, 8′ Flute, 8′ Oboe, 8′ Trumpet, 8′ Strings, 4′ Flute, 4′ Piccolo, 4′ Strings
  • High Tone Booster Tabs: 16′ Bass, 8′ Medium, High, on/off Switch