Farfisa Compact

The Farfisa Compact is simply one of the most basic keyboard instruments you'll ever play, yet it is so incredibly versatile for many genres of music. Although the Compact is quite heavy, it is still rather very portable and movable. It is built like a tank, although the one I have is quite well used and I think its time to get a better-conditioned Farfisa Compact organ. Overall, the construction is solid and the analog transistorized electronics give the organ a rather unique, exclusive sound separating it from any other keyboard that is able to replicate its sound; in other words...no matter what some other people say, I don't think any keyboard will truly come close to replicating every nuance and detail of this organ; ranging all the way from the classic key click, hiss, tansistor hum, and tube preamp hiss and overdrive. The voices IMHO cannot be repicated well by modern synths, try give me an Oboe 8' blended with a Strings 4' with a Roland digital synth, that's right, you can't. Get the picture, if you want the real vintage sound, you should have the real organ.

As with the features on the organ; I have the red one, there are three bass key tabs: piano is soft, mesoforte is medium, and forte is loud). There are Vibrato on/off and light/heavy, and slow/fast (the heavy mode gives the organ a somewhat Leslie-like vibrato). There are two reverb tabs (on/off and short/long). The reverb on my Farfisa does not work, but I heard that the spring tank beneath the organ gives a nice ambient effect. There are also five green tabs which function the Multi-Tone-Booster system. These tabs are what made the Farfisa Compact famous, introducing that harsh, agressive,. balls-to-the-wall, reedy, saw-toothy, valve-overdriven sound. Laslty, but not least, there are nine white voicing tabs: Bass, 16', Strings 16', Flute 8', Oboe 8', Trumpet 8', Strings 8', Flute 4', Piccolo 4', and Strings 4'. These tabs give more variety to the organ's pallete of sounds. Jusdt remember though, when the MTB green tabs are engaged, the white voicing tabs are automatically bypassed and disengaged. There is also a MTB knee lever used to manually control the timbre and overdrive of the organ when using the green tabs. Very expressive indeed! The All-Booster switch just simply makes the organ scream with lush harmonics and classic 60s cheese sound, however I think the sound can be used for other music styles as well (think Stereolab). Although I would like to rate this keyboard a 10 for features, there is one thing that I wish that the organ can do, and that is to make the MTB system applicable to all the voicing switches so one can have tube overdrive with their Oboes or Strings sounds. So I rate the features with an 8.

The key-action here is very short, fast and springy, much rather like a real organ. The variety of sounds on the Compact are just simply astounding, especially when you add effects such as choruus, reverb, tape echo dealy, and perhaps even ring modualtion. The purity oif the Flute tones may not be quite like the Yamahas or Vox organs, but the flutes still give a good church organ sound. The Strings on the organ give a more raspy, sawtoothy cheese organ sound, and the Oboe reminds me of "The Scarecrow" from Pink Floyd's Piper At The Gates Of Dawn album, very unique. Although my organ is old and is in the process of getting some electronic repairs, I find it hasrd to get a nice square-wavy like reed sound. I have heard that the type of amplifier you have with your keyboard will effect the Compact's overall output sound. Also, for those who think that getting the rred sounds are easy like cake, well its not. First of all you need to experiment with what type of amp is most appropriate for you Farfisa, and secondly you must know how to balnce the bass and treble tones via the tone knobs on the back panel of the organ near the fuse. Controlling these treble and bass knobs will help you to achieve how mush raspy-ness or roundness, or reediness you want with your sound. If you want nice round church organ sounds, you should add more bass, but if you want the most extreme raspy saw-toothed sounds, adjust the treble to max. If you want a mellow reedy sound (depending on which voicing tabs you use) use less bass and treble for a flatter tone. ALthough I think the Farfisa COmpact is capable of a wide variety of combo organ and other sounds, I think my organ does me no justice because the filter cards near the preamp have old resistors and caps that may need to be replaced. I also thik that inorder to get the best Farfisa sound, you not only need the right instrumentation, but you will also need to know that it pays to get a nice Farfisa in good condition, even if the price is a little to expensive, I think it is well worth it. Don't ry to be like me and buy yourself a clunker and end up spending a whole year learning electronics and reading schematics in order to fix certain issues with the organ just to play it...all I want to do is just play my heart out, not to become a technician. I have to admit though, learning about the organ's electronics and schemtics was very educational to me, I just hope that the next time I'll be smart enough to by a cherry, not a lemon (if you know what that means). Overall, this organ is great for all sorts of rock, and don't get me wrong, Hammond organs are nice, but they just only offer sine-wave tones. If you want the best in reed and sawtooth/brass tones, get the Farfisa Compact, incredibly versatile with Avante-garde rock, space pop/rock, acid rock, dream pop, psycho-ambient, and much more.

As far as reliablilty is concerned, it just depends on how well your Farisa was taken care of. Don't let anybody fool you into thinking that Farfisa's are not worth gigging with. Look at Stereolab, Sun ra, and some other bands who still use classic vintage keyboards. Anybody who has basic electronic skills and knowledge of repairing such instruments will find this organ quite a treasure. Although the electronics and parts inside are quite a hectic cluster, once you know what to do, you'll fix this organ in no time. I think if you take really good care of your Farfisa, and maitain it well, it will give you years of long-lasting joy and pleasure. As with the construction, the exterior case is made of solid pine wood, and the internal component is made with some sort of steel/aluminum frame that holds together the keybed, tone generators, filter cards, preamp, and power supply. I'm sure that any old Farfisa is bound to have electronic issues, but if you can get the organ fixed by a good technician or even by yourself, and if you use goo replacement parts that are teseted well, you'll find that the Compact can be very reliable and is a rather heavy-duty instrument to gig with. If you see a Farfisa Copact for sale, and if it works fine, get it! I will only deduct two points just because relaibility depends on the users negelct level of maintenance, and will also be affected by the skill and lack of knowledge of analog electronics. Therefore, overall reliablity is an 8.

Farfisa no longer makes musical instruments of this excalibur, however, they do make rather cheap digital workstation synth keyboards (something you'd find at Big K-Mart or Costco for sale). I heard these keyboards make rather good acoustic piano sounds as well as with church organ and several synth-like presets, but I heard also that the organ sounds are not quite like the original organs of the 60s and 70s. From what I have read and seen on the Internet, Farfisa currently has two divisions: one division produces security devices such as intercoms and communication devices such as walki-talkies, console phones, and miniture surveilance cameras. The other division makes digital muscial instruments such as synth modules and workstation keyboards. (a good example is the AutoOrchestra synth module). I'm hoping Farfisa will comeback with a new generation of Combo organs, maintainning classic Farfisa flute, reed, string, and brass organ sounds.

If my organ were lost or stolen, I'd definitely find to buy another one, and this time I will make sure that I spend good money on one that works well and that has no cracked keys. Jeez, ine lloks like it is a huindred yeras old, even after you clean and polish it up. Well, I've learned my leasson. If you really don't want to mess with the electronics, but still want a good reliable vintage instrument, get one that works completely well. Buy a "sweet cherry", not a "sour lemon".

I have previously only played vox continetals (standared V301J and Super) and the compact is much easier to switch between tones since it is quicker to flick the tabs that adjust the drawbars. Especially since the tabs are above both hands and not stuck over to the left.

Features are as mentioned previously. I thought the tabs would limit the versality of the sounds relative to drawbars, but since I have been playing the compact I find that I can get very similar sounds to drawbar voxes, with less effort. The vibrato is great, you may have to adjust the pot inside to fit your taste. I like the way the bass section is adjustable in volume, both with the trio of tabs, and with the volume control on the rear. The bass section is cool, although a switch to make it treble (which could only be accomplished by including two more contacts per key) would make the board more versatile.

Early grey ones have adjustable volumes for the bass section on a small circuit board inside. Later red ones do not. I have both a red and a grey one, I would say there is not difference in tones between them.

Note that the reverb feedsback something awful when you play at high stage volumes. Through a cranked leslie 760 or 860, you will have to use a pico or nanoverb. No choice about it. The spring reverb is nice for recording at low volumes though.

Thicker, meatier, grittier than a contintenal. More bite on the highs. More fuzzy on the lows. I love it. After playing voxes for years, this is better. You can change the pre-amp tubes (2 12AX7s) for more gain, or for cooler mellower running.

I sold my beat to a pulp V301J wood key continental for $1K and bought pair of combo compacts for $650 (a mint grey one and a workhorse red one). Best thing I ever did. Do not get caught up in the hype of the continentals. Farfisas have a more masculine sound, a better thought out stand/volume pedal setup, excellent case, and are just cool combo organs.

Keep the key contacts clean and *straight* (DO NTO BEND THEM!) and you should be ok. Preamp tubes (12ax7) seem to be well insulated from damage.

Does not exist. Try Roy Klos or Jake Cavaliere.

If you want a cleaner more hammond like sound with drawbar versalitity, pick up a Wurlitzer 7300. They are the best kept secret in combo organs. Otherwise, there is nothing better than a combo compact, save for maybe a duo compact, which is not as easy to lug around. Play it through a Leslie 760 or 860 and you will cry. It is just too cool.

IT's pretty strait up. There's basically two settings. The regular settings where you mix and match your footages, and sounds(such as flute 8', strings 8' piccalo 16' etc) which gives you a small amount of versatility. You can also use the multi tone section, which is a pinch 'cause it only has three switches. 4'8' and 16'. You can adjust timber of them with a faggy knee lever, or you can do what the rest of the world does, and hit the "all booster" tab which launches you into pure obnoctious cheese territory. That after all is thr reason you're playing one right?

It has a few cool features. Vibrato-fast\slow Heavy-light. Reverb long (useless) reverb short(even more useless) a volume pedal, a swell knee lever, which fuzzes out the tone. and a set of reversed black keys. It has built in legs, and folds up nicely into a suitcase style package. The tonal options are presented in rocker switches, wich means they're on, or off. This doesnt give you the versatility you'd get with drawbars, but sometimes keeping it simple is better.

The sounds are nothing like they're labelled. You will not get any flutes, or strings out of this thing. You will get reedy, wheezy cheese in the form of a soft pad, or a screaming lead. But the whole point of this organ is that sound. So, if you're into it, than it's the shit. If you're not, then you can keep playin your roland xp-80-mxj-30 super electro sequencer piano, and hopefully I will never have to listen to it.

Mine seems to have barely been played so I'm pretty confiedent it'll keep up with my playing. I've had no problems with it yet. I have seen alot of them it terrible condition though. Many have not aged well. I was once told that Farfisa was italian for "broken"

nope. They make phones now. There are more and more techs popping up that can deal with these things. I'm getting to be a bit of a hack myself.

I love my Compact. If it were stolen I'd laugh at the sucker who had to carry it. I doubt I'd buy another one, as I'm a broke ass student. But if you've got the $$$, and the need for the sound then get it. I play mine in a 60's-ish garage rock band called The Midways, and it's definetly suited. Before that I played a Vox Jaguar. The most notable differences (other then the fact that the Farfisa works ALL of the time) is the farfisa is heavier, and the tones dont "fold back" as you go up the keys. On the Voxes, the top two C notes play the same C, so there is little differences between the octaves. The action and contacts on the Farfisa is a lot better. I also have a Yamaha yc-25d. It is more hammond like. More Flute tones. The Vox is Reedier and full, and the Farfisa is fuzzier, and shrill. It also looks cool as shit.

This organ is quite easy to use. There aren't abundant amounts of controls or sounds, but just enough to get a decent variety of sounds. Each different sound (e.g. flute, trumpet, strings) is activated or deactivated by a tab-type switch. Honestly, this is an Italian organ from the 60's, long before any synth-techno-electronic-fusion-press-a-button-and-hear-a-cheesy-bass-drum-sound-DJ-Scratch-My-Ass garbage came out! For a more distorted sound, there's a "Multi-Tone Booster" tab, with three distinct pitch tabs, 16, 8, and 4. No printed circuit boards here (as far as I know!) I heard there's a revival in the demand for these old organs for techno "musicians." My guess is they're using them to record and repeat a high-pitched beeping sound or something. I use it in a surf/instro band and find it pretty straight forward. My favourite setting is every sound except the piccolo, and through a Leslie.

As afore mentioned, the Compact has a Multi-Tone Booster, which functions completely independantly from the regular sounds. In this area, there are 5 switches. Three of them are the octave sounds (the 16, 8, and 4), one of them switches the tone booster on, and the other one, called "All," maxes out the tone. When this "All" switch is off, you won't hear any distortion over the sound. You can gradually add a distorted sound by using a swell under the organ (I guess with your knee, or something). It's kinda like those old sewing machines where you used to adjust the speed by shifting your knee side to side. It gives a cool gradual distortion kinda sound. I would use the Multi-Tone Booster for go-go songs, and maybe some rock n' roll sorta stuff. It's ultra cheesy! Aside from the tone booster, you get several normal sounds. These are, Bass 16, Strings 16, Flute 8, Strings 8, Oboe 8, Trumpet 8, Flute 4, Strings 4, and Piccolo 4. Basically none of them sound anything like their names, but hey, I'm sure there was some method to the creators' madness! There's built-in reverb, which changes the sound by basically nothing. It's really cool for crashing, though! The reverb can be set to last a short or long time, with an additional tab. It also has vibrato, which can be set to slow or fast. Although, mine seems to be slow no matter what the setting. Lastly, the compact I own, which is a rare transitional model from around 1967, I believe, has an octave of black bass keys, and another octave above of grey keys, which can be turned onto the bass or regular, treble sound. The bass keys have a "soft" switch that makes the sound less bassy, and less clean. There is also a "percussion" tab, which causes the sound to be loud at first, then drop in volume. The drop can be set to slow or fast. When it's set to fast, it basically sounds like the regular bass key setting, only quieter. I suppose the idea of the feature was to make the bass keys sound slightly more like a real bass, because the volume drops. It's like a Fp kinda thing (Forte pianissimo, or whatever the hell it is). The bass keys have a separate volume knob. The only other cool features are its portability (well, as compared to a B3 or something!), and the on/off switch. If you hold down a chord and then turn the organ off, it makes these cool, spacy, high-pitched sounds! The whole unit folds up into its own pick-up-able case, with the legs folded inside.

I suppose the best uses for an organ like this are most retro styles of music. I use it in a surf/instro band in Montreal called The Treblemakers. Farfisas have also been used for ska, punk, go-go, garage, blues, rock n' roll, and Doors-like stuff. The Compact is pretty versatile, but it won't give you as full a sound as a Hammond B3 or an equivalent. It's a thinner sorta sound, with less varied options. It sounds very little like a B#, no matter what setting. Instead of drawbars, it only has on/off tabs for all the sounds. This limits its range of sound compared to a Hammond. However, for my intents and purposes, this sound is just about all I need.

Well, unlike most of the synth stuff in this section, this organ has been around since the 60's, and it seems to have held up pretty well. Aside from a few minor glitches, like that vibrato thing, and a few loose keys, the organ is still in great shape. Jake, from the Bomboras, has mistreated his Compact in most ways imaginable, and he only has 2 or 3 backups. I've been pretty happy with the reliability of my Compact, and a little less happy with my Mini-Compact, which is a little less sturdy. Both fold up into somewhat portable shapes, and the hardware seems relatively strong.

As was stated in another review of a Farfisa, there is next to no customer support for these organs. They haven't made them, I believe, since the 70's, and I think Farfisa now focusses more on modern stuff... and accordians. Although, I do know a couple of places to take it for repairs in Montreal, so I'm never really stuck with any problems for too long.

I love my Farfisa organs. I don't know what I would do without them. They answer the great question of the meaning of life. Well, OK, seriously, these are great organs. You can sort of compare the sound to a Vox, but I think these are of higher quality. I have two Farfisas, the Mini-Compact and the regular Compact, and they both sound almost identical. While the Mini doesn't have a tube pre-amp like the Compact, they still sound essentially the same. They combine really well with a Leslie, but still sound nice and cheesy without. I've been playing these for about 2 years now with The Treblemakers. I love the fact that I can bring them to shows without having 6 built Arnold/Fabio/Stallone-type men lift it. I'm not planning to sell either one, unless someone gives me a good offer for the Mini!