Farfisa Fast 3

10: If you know how to play a keyboarded instrument, this organ will not be a problem....but that's it, you gotta actually know how to play a keyboarded instrument, you cannot assemble songs in the sequencer or become a "one man band" with built-in beats. This keyboard however makes great accompanyment for any band playing a sixties sound

This keyboard has unlimited polyphony, like a B3 or other classic electric organ. The only effect this organ has is a slow or fast vibrato. The fun thing about it though is that it can really be creative if one hooks up external audio processors to, like guitar stomp-boxes and such. This keyboard though was built before computer technology, so there is not any midi or sequencing capabilites built in.

For a classic sixties sound, this organ really fits the bill. The strings setting creates a reall buzzy synth-like sound, while the oboe produces a more mellow sound. Mix and match the stops to create all sorts of different organ sounds. One of the neat things I like to do with mine is run it through guitar stomp-boxes. My favorite is a phaser, and digital delay/reverb.

This organ has not been a problem for me at all. In fact, it took a tumble off the back of the previous owner's car. It was in it's road case and survived perfectly well. The FAST 3 is fully transistorized and pretty well built, so it can be trusted on the road. It is recommended however to pack it in a road case. I don't think the plastic end caps could survive a lot of banging around. The only gripe I have is that the audio output cable is hard wired into the organ. I replaced it with a female socket on the bottom so that the cord could be completely removed. This organ does not like humidity, or sitting around a while not being played. The contacts in the keyboard will corrode, and not all the tones will pass through. About an hour of vigiorous playing however is enough to clear up this issue. We have not had a problem with this keyboard on the road, and have never had a reason not to trust it.

Farfisa is long gone, so the only real support one can get for these is fellow musicians, and the internet. Thankfully, there's not much in the form of complexity and the unit is pretty reliable. If you are one of the lucky ones that have an owner's manual with yours, it contains a schematic diagram of the oscillators and a block diagram. If you know a little bit about electronics, most problems can be repaired using these digrams. I can definitely say that Farfisa was thinking of the customer when they printed these in the manual, since this is never seen these days. I doo hafta give customer support a low rating though considering they are not around anymore

This is a fun little keybard. Very rare. I was given this keyboard from a friend because it didn't have the sound he wanted. He bought it at a yard sale for $5. There is not doubt it has been around the block. Since I enjoy keyboards and a psychedellic sound like this keyboard plays, I have definitely found it really cool. It's really a one of a kind. In all the bands around here, I have never even seen a VOX or a Farfisa played. It complements the rest of the band great. It would be nice to have all the modern gadgets, like MIDI and stuff, but I don't think I would use it all that much, since we play live most of the time anyways.

Very simple late sixties combo organ. You plug it in, turn it on, and mess with the rocker tabs to get your sounds, and THEN you PLAY!!! any questions??

Unlimited polyphony like most organs. The keys are plastic, but mine is in good shape and the action is firm and responsive. Has vibrato (standard organ effect)with a tab for fast/slow. Has 7 voice tabs(bass 16, clarinet 16, flute 8, oboe 8, trumpet 8, strings 8 flute 4), a 4 octave keyboard. Bass sounds for the lowest octave(big and boomy) which can also be for treble voices. Has a tab for loud/soft bass. and a volume knob. Very strait forward. Midi?? uh no. It is also light and portable, weights maybe 30lbs. Has built in legs that fold up under, and a stand that stableizes the legs. This also covers the keys when folded up. A neat little combo organ. My only compalint is it could use a few more voice tabs, like an extra 4' voice. oh well.

Farfisa first introduced these combo organs in 1968, the tail end of the combo era. they came after the famous compact series. It still has that classic "reedy" 60's Farfisa sound, but the tone is different from the compacts. The vibrato is very good, (strong and pulsy). The voice tabs have orchestral names, but it's a combo organ so it sounds like a 60's organ! vox, ect. If you want orchestra sounds well that's what the mellotron was for. It has a good sound, that works well for 60's rock, mod, and they were very popular among garage bands of the era. The tone of the organ reminds me of old Atari and Nintendo games. the bass reminds me of the old Atari game Keystone Capers, the organ has that vibe to it. An old warm analog transistor sound. You might think it's cheesy, but that is what these were famous for. The fast 3 can be applied to modern music like punk, ska, and indie rock. it does what it does, and if your into the sound it is quite cool.

well this combo is at least 30 years old. keyboards like these are long extict(such a damn shame). Like all old gear the trick is you must get one in good condition. Mine is nearly mint. It works almost perfectly. there is some hiss, and one of the D keys crackle a little. Most likely contact problems which can easlily be fixed. I plan on using it for gigs, it's in good enough shape to jam with without a back up. but with old gear it's hard to predict. At the time Farfisa was the cutting edge of transistor organ technology and this fast 3 is a top quiality piece of gear, it's not a cheap piece of shit that most people seem to think.

The Farfisa company is long dead and these units are a vintage organ form the 60's. Your only hope is finding an old organ techie who knows old farfisa's and can get parts(which is not easy) there is a place in italy that still has parts available, but most people don't want to wait for that. I hear the Italians are slow with that?

If it were lost I would try to get another, or maybe try to get a fast 5, which was the deluxe model to the fast 3. I have been playing for 3 years. I also own a Farfisa compact duo organ (60's) I play the fast 3 throught a fender twin reverb reissue. I love the way the organ looks!! very modern design for such an old unit. It has grey keys with white sharps, it's white with green plastic trim(looks like something out of clockwork orange) and it has that unique sound: 60's organ meets Atari. I have compared it to my other farfisa organ, it is not as versatile as the other but it's cool in it's own way. I like the way the fast 3 looks and I got it in good shape. It could have used a few more sound tabs. I think it's a rare and unique keyboard to use. great for retro styles, and also cool for reviving a unique sound.
By the way, they call it a fast 3 becase it stands for "farfisa all silicon transistorized". email me on this topic if you want, but I am not interested in selling at this time.