Farfisa

ACI Farfisa

Industry	Electronics
Founded	1946 (1946)
Founder	Silvio Scandalli[1]
Fate	Music division purchased by Bontempi
Headquarters	Osimo, Italy
Products	Intercom system Historical products: Electronics: Radio receivers, Television sets Musical instruments: Electronic organs, Combo organs, Synthesizers, Accordions

Farfisa is a manufacturer of electronics based in Osimo, Italy, founded in 1946.^[2] The name is commonly associated with a series of compact electronic organs manufactured in the 1960s and 1970s, including the Compact, FAST, Professional and VIP ranges, and later, a series of multi-timbral synthesizers. They were used by a number of popular musicians including Sam the Sham, Pink Floyd, Sly Stone, Blondie, and the Philip Glass Ensemble.

The company was formed after three Italian accordion manufacturers combined to form a single company. Electronic instruments began to be produced in the late 1950s, and combo organs were introduced in response to similar instruments such as the Vox Continental. Farfisa continued to make organs and synthesizers into the 1980s. The brand name has survived, and Farfisa is now a consumer electronics manufacturer.

History[]

	Farfisa Compact Organ Menu 0:00 A Farfisa Compact (here sampled on a Nord Stage)
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Farfisa was established in 1946 following the mergers of Settimo Soprani, Scandalli and Frontalini, whose businesses had suffered during World War II. The company was officially named Fabbriche Riunite Fisarmoniche Italiane S.p.A (United Italian Accordion Factories), and production was based in Castelfidardo, Ancona. It quickly became the world's largest supplier of accordions; the International Accordion Museum now occupies the site of the original factory.^[3]

During the 1950s, Farfisa began to diversify their range of instruments after sales of accordions began to decline, including radios, televisions and musical instruments. The Microrgan, a portable reed organ, was released in 1958; it used an electric fan to blow air across the reeds. Two years later, the company developed the Cordovox accordion with Lowrey, which combined accordion reeds with electronically generated sounds.^[4]

Following the introduction of the Vox Continental combo organ in 1962, Farfisa decided to quickly build a competing instrument using the technical expertise they had gained from working with Lowrey. The first model, the Combo Compact, was introduced in 1964. Production was moved to a factory in .^[5] The relatively cheap labour in Italy, compared to the UK and US meant that Farfisa were able to produce a greater quantity of combo organs at a cheaper cost, and consequently they were picked up by many amateur and semi-professional groups.^[6] Unlike later organs, the Compact series is not fully transistorised, and included high tube circuitry for the reverb unit.^[7] Distribution in the U.S. was handled by the Chicago Musical Instrument Company, which also owned Gibson, and the instruments were originally known as CMI organs when introduced there.^[8] Unlike other combo organs like the Vox Continental, Farfisa organs have integrated legs, which can be folded up and stored inside its base.^[4] This design was copied for later combo organs such as the Gibson G-101.^[8] The organs also had a flip-down modesty panel displaying the brand name.^[5]

The line of FAST (Farfisa All-Silicon Transistorized) organs was launched at the 1968 NAMM show.^[9] These superseded the earlier germanium transistors used in the Compact models, and were styled to closer resemble the Vox Continental, including chrome stands.^[10] The Professional series appeared around the same time, which included more features than earlier models. The VIP models were introduced in 1970, and included a foot-operated pitch bend.^[10] At the height of its production, Farfisa operated three factories to produce instruments in Camerano in the Marche region of Italy.^[1]

By the late 1960s, major groups had moved on from combo organs and begun to use the Hammond organ more prominently.^[10] In response, Farfisa advertised that its latest organs at that point could emulate a Hammond and had a full set of drawbars.^[9] Production of combo organs began to be phased out in the late 1970s after synthesizers had become more commonplace, with the last unit being produced in 1982.^[10] Farfisa has survived into the 21st century, and brand mainly produces intercom systems with the company ACI Farfisa which makes and distributes systems for video intercoms, access control, video surveillance, and home automation.^[2][11] The Bontempi group owns the rights for Farfisa keyboards.^[1]

Series[]

Compact Series (1964–1969)[]

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 preamp, spring reverb and power supply unit.^[9] 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).^[12]

Mini-compact[]

The Mini-Compact is the smallest of the Compact Series. It has only four octaves, with no bass on the early models. The later version had a selector switch to choose bass or high 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 three voices (sounds), while the later models had six voices.^[13]

• Tan/black Tolex
• Early model (Mini Compact, Mini Deluxe Compact) had three tone switches: dolce, principale, strings
• Late model (Mini Deluxe I Compact): 16' bass; 8' flute, oboe, strings; 4' flute and strings
• Three organ 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 folding/pivoting non-removable legs)
• Solid State Preamp

The model was used by Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Kate Radley of Spiritualized and by Steve Reich in his piece Four Organs.^{[citation needed]} This model of Farfisa also was used by Philip Glass and Michael Riesman on some of Glass' early recordings^[14], including Einstein on the Beach; Glass is still in possession of his original Farfisa as of 2018.^[15]

Early Compact (Combo Compact)[]

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

Late COMPACT (COMBO COMPACT I)[]

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.

Compact Deluxe[]

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 high 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 (drum machine) of brush cymbal and drum

Compact duo[]

The Compact Duo weighs 90 pounds (41 kg) and supports 49-key manuals.^[8][16] It has been used by Rick Wright (Pink Floyd),^[4] Stereolab, Al Kooper (Blues Project), Michael MacNeil (Simple Minds), Keith Emerson (ELP), and Clint Boon (The Inspiral Carpets).^[17]

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, Ottava.
• Two inferior octaves on the left-hand side of the lower keyboard; one octave was 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 tremolo, percussion and repeat functions for both the upper and lower treble manuals independently.
• Unlike other Compact series organs, the Compact Duo models require a separate power supply/solid-state preamp/real spring reverb unit (called the Farfisa F/AR), to which the organ connects via a multi-lead cable.^[16] The US version used a 7-pin Amphenol connector, while European models used a 16-pin bakelite (Hirschmann MES 160). Treble output is available only via the F/AR. Farfisa Amplifier Models BR80 or Twin 80 accept the 7-pin connector and power the organ, allowing the Compact Duo to operate directly, without the F/AR; Farfisa Amplifier Models TR60 accepts the Multipin connector and powers the organ, allowing the Compact Duo to operate directly, without the F/AR. Rocker switches on the organ activate the reverb in the amplifiers (a TelRay (Adineko) reverb/echo unit (oilcan) built into the speaker cabinet).

FAST Series (1968–1971)[]

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 series had the combo organs (FAST 2,3,4,5,Console), and the Professional (Original, Duo, and Pianos)

Fast 2[]

Features:

• Keyboard: 49 notes (C to C)
• Manual Bass: 12 notes (lowest C to C)
• Voice Stops (4): Flute, Clarinet, Reed,Strings
• Vibrato Stops: On/off, Fast/slow
• Manual Bass: Dedicated knob for bass output
• Swell Pedal: Optional, the same socket can be used for external bass output

Fast 3[]

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

Fast 4[]

Features:

• Keyboard: 61 notes
• Voice Stops (8): Bass, Bass Clarinet, Flute (8'), Oboe, Trumpet, Flute, 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 5[]

Features, same as FAST 4, plus:

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

Artists:

• FAST 5 used by Ronnie Rancifer (Jackson 5) and The Black Keys.

Professional Series (1968 - 1975)[]

Notable artists: Candida Doyle (Pulp), The Ventures (seen on Hawaii Five-O clip), Irmin Schmidt (Can) Laurent Sinclair of (Taxi Girl),
These are the most sophisticated models made by Farfisa. In 1972 Leir Siegler and started producing VIP models and custom models.

• Professional (PP/222 and PP/221): The original single keyboard organ with gray keys. There are two models, with and without foot pedals. Used by Sylvester Stewart (of Sly and the Family Stone). Also by Sun Ra, Tangerine Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre, Kevin Ayers, Mike Oldfield, François de Roubaix, Anthony Cedric Vuagniaux, Amon Düül II, Art Neville, and Hugh Banton of Van der Graaf Generator. This model later evolved to the VIP 345 and VIP 370.
• Professional DUO: Double keyboard version with bass pedals and an option (white keys). There are two models. This model later evolved to the VIP 400, VIP 500, and VIP 600.
• Professional Piano - used by Ralf Hutter of Kraftwerk (from Kraftwerk 2 through to Autobahn), Edgar Froese of Tangerine Dream throughout 1975 and Irmin Schmidt of Can. There are two models, and a Super Piano model in a console style with integrated amp and speakers.

During this same time period, Farfisa also produced a line of effect pedals: the Repeat/Volume pedal (in orange), the Wah-Wah/Volume pedal (in green), and the Sferasound pedal (in blue). There was also a high-end amplifier called the 80 or S-80, which came with speaker cabinets, either the Twin-80, or the BR-80.

VIP Series[]

• VIP 200
• VIP 202
• VIP 205 and 205 r
• VIP 233 used by Göran Fritzon of Swedish group Gyllene Tider, featuring Per Gessle from Roxette.
• VIP 345 (redesigned Professional) used by Susan Dey (in role as Laurie Partridge, The Partridge Family).
• VIP 255 used by John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).
• VIP 370 (redesigned VIP345)
• VIP 400 (redesigned Professional DUO) used by Edgar Froese of Tangerine Dream
• VIP 500 (improved VIP 400)
• VIP 600 (improved VIP 500) used by Michael MacNeil (Simple Minds).

Matador[]

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.

• Matador A
• Matador AR
• Matador LR
• Matador M (model 111124) appears in 1972/1973 Farfisa catalogs
• Matador SR
• Matador 80

Syntorchestra[]

In the mid-1970s Farfisa produced the "Stereo Syntorchestra", with a three octave keyboard, and "mono" and "poli" tone generator sections. 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 wah-wah; 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. Farfisa also produced two very large organs which incorporated the Syntorchestra at this time, the 259r and 6290r "Maharani" organs.

Some examples of recordings including the Farfisa Syntorchestra are New Age of Earth by Ashra (Manuel Göttsching) and Moondawn by Klaus Schulze (especially the first half of the B-side, "Mindphaser").

The Syntorchestra was produced at a similar period in the mid-1970s to the more basic String Orchestra, which included piano and string sections. The Soundmaker was Farfisa's next non-organ instrument, with a further development of the synthesizer approach, incorporating string, brass and monosynth sections.

Polychrome[]

The "Polychrome", built at the end of the 1970s, was Farfisa's largest and most well-featured non-organ instrument, as an analog synthesizer featuring vocal, brass, string, and percussion sections, and including a built in chorus, phaser and modulation as well as aftertouch sensitivity.

Transicord[]

The "Transicord" was a transistor electric accordion. Essentially, it was not a true accordion; an "accordion-shaped combo organ" would have been perhaps a more fitting name. There were no reeds; it was purely electronic. 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" and a "DeLuxe." The standard has one row of stop-tabs 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 has two rows of stop-tabs and is black in color.

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

Bravo and Commander[]

Among the last combo organs made by Farfisa were the Bravo and Commander, produced at the end of the 1970s. The Commander reprised part of the design of the VIP 205 in updated form, while the lightweight and simple Bravo's sound was a move to reflect the changing tastes of the time.

Notable users[]

1960s[]

One of the first rock organists to play and spotlight the Farfisa was Domingo Samudio, known as "Sam the Sham", who with his group The Pharaohs had their first hit "Wooly Bully" in 1965.^[18] In 1966, a Farfisa was prominently heard in "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" recorded by the South Carolina-based group The Swingin' Medallions. It also featured prominently in "96 Tears", "She's About a Mover"^{[citation needed]} and "Incense and Peppermints".^[18]

Spooner Oldham, the house organist of Alabama recording studio Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, can be heard playing the Farfisa on numerous southern soul recordings from the 1960s, including "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge.^[18]

Richard Wright's use of the Farfisa Compact Duo was integral to Pink Floyd's sound, the organ being his main instrument on the albums from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn to Ummagumma. By 1970, he had started to use a Hammond Organ onstage and alternated between that and the Farfisa, depending on the song.^[19] The Farfisa was last used on 1973's The Dark Side of the Moon (1973),^[18] but Wright reintroduced it to his keyboard setup on David Gilmour's 2006 tour, featured on the Pink Floyd song "Echoes".

Sly Stone from Sly and the Family Stone played a Farfisa Professional, as seen at their 1969 Woodstock Festival performance.^[10]

Hugh Banton from Van der Graaf Generator originally used the Farfisa Professional, applying his knowledge of electronics and contacts as a former BBC engineer to customise it with a variety of additional effects pedals, including distortion and phasing. The Professional is the only organ used on The Aerosol Grey Machine and The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other, after which he also started using Hammonds. It was retired after the group's 1972 split.^[20]

John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin used a Farfisa on "Dancing Days" from Houses of the Holy,^[10] as well as occasionally using a VIP-255 or a Professional model on stage. Another famous recording is the 1970 A Tribute to Jack Johnson by Miles Davis, where Herbie Hancock plays spontaneous licks on a broken Farfisa.

Composer Philip Glass began using Farfisa organs with his ensemble in the late 1960s.

1970s[]

With the advent of synthesizers, Farfisa combo organs seemed to be headed for obsolescence, but were revived in the late 1970s by several punk rock and new wave bands (especially those influenced by 1960s garage rock and psychedelia).^[18] Blondie's Jimmy Destri used the Farfisa as his main instrument, and included stage tricks such as playing it with a hammer.^[21] Other groups using Farfisas included The B-52's, Suicide, Squeeze, Human Switchboard, XTC and Talking Heads embraced Farfisas as substitutes for more sophisticated keyboards and synthesizers. Their classic sound, in turn, became a staple on multitimbral instruments, first synthesized, then sampled from the originals.

Numerous songs by the Industrial group Cabaret Voltaire use Farfisa drum machines and organs.^[22]

Elton John used the Farfisa on several early recordings, including the 1972 hit "Crocodile Rock".^[18] He called the Farfisa "the worst organ sound possible" and used it in order to sound like Johnny and the Hurricanes.^[23]

Composer Giorgio Moroder used the Farfisa i.e. on Donna Summer's smash hit I Feel Love.

The introduction of the Farfisa into West Africa during the 1960s and 1970s played an important role in evolution of Highlife, Mbalax, and later Afro-rock. This can be heard in the work of seminal acts like K. Frimpong and Monomono.^{[citation needed]}

The Farfisa sound is today used to impart a stereotypical 1960s-retro essence to music. It was a key ingredient to the sound of bands such as Inspiral Carpets and has appeared recently on many albums by contemporary artists. The Farfisa brand name, meanwhile, continues to appear on contemporary MIDI keyboards.

The Italian keyboardist/artist used various Farfisas (Syntorchestra, Professional, Compact, Deluxe, and VIP) to create sound in his Italo disco songs.

The ensemble from Belarus "Pesnyary" used Farfisa VIP in their songs.

1980s[]

One of Farfisa's most distinctive and expensive organs was the  [de], which debuted in 1981. Due to its weight of over 200 kilograms (440 lb), the Pergamon didn't have a portable version. In 1983, Todd Rundgren's "Bang The Drum All Day" was Farfisa-driven.

John Linnell of They Might Be Giants used a Farfisa organ at the band's first public performance in 1982.

1990s[]

The Post-rock group Stereolab used various Farfisa organs extensively throughout their career. They were also used by Candida Doyle of the Sheffield group Pulp. A Farfisa was used on Mike Watt's "Against the 70's", played by former Nirvana bassist, Krist Novoselic.

after 1990s[]

The rock group Green Day used a Farfisa organ on the song "Misery" from the album Warning, played by their bassist Mike Dirnt.^[24]

See also[]

• Combo organ
• Hammond organ
• Vox organ
• garage rock
• "Farfisa Beat", a song by Squeeze released in 1980.

References[]

Citations

Sources

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Farfisa.

• The Farfisa Professional Site, 1969-1976 products,bands,videos,photos
• "Entry: Farfisa", Combo Organ Heaven website
• The Farfisa Organ Page
• History of Farfisa Organs (archived 2010)
• The mother group owning the Farfisa brand
• The farfisa website - Keyboards.