Farfisa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

Farfisa is a brand name for a series of electronic organs and later multitimbral keyboards, made in Potenza Picena in the Marche region of Italy. The organs were marketed for years in the United States by the Chicago Musical Instrument Company.

With several compact, easily-portable, and inexpensive models available, and their distinctive "cheesy" sound, Farfisa organs became popular among rock bands and other combos during the 1960s. Many listeners first heard a Farfisa on 1966's "Talk Talk" by Sean Bonniwell and The Music Machine. The instrument was integral to the sound of Pink Floyd's early albums, from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn through Dark Side of the Moon. Clint Boon of Madchester band Inspiral Carpets was also famous for using a Farfisa, giving the band its signature sound. (Though often claimed as Farfisa pioneers, ? and the Mysterians actually used a Vox organ on "96 Tears", their best-known work.) John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin used a Farfisa on Dancing Days from Houses of the Holy, as well as occasionally using a VIP-255 or a professional model onstage.

With the advent of synthesizers, organs such as the classic Farfisa seemed to be headed for obsolescence, but time proved otherwise. In the late 1970s, with older models going cheap, numerous punk rock and New Wave bands, such as Blondie, The B-52s, Suicide, and the Talking Heads embraced Farfisas as substitutes for more sophisticated keyboards. Their classic sound, in turn, became a staple on multitimbral instruments, first synthesized, then sampled from the originals.

The Farfisa sound is today used to impart a stereotypically kitschy, 1960s-retro essence to music, and has appeared recently on albums by artists such as Electrelane, Green Day, The Blood Brothers, Smash Mouth, Stereolab, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The American Analog Set, Cadallaca, Tom Waits,Yo La Tengo and Neptune Towers. The Farfisa brand name, meanwhile, continues to appear on contemporary MIDI keyboards.

Contents

[edit] Series

[edit] Compact Series (1965 - 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 pre-amp reverb and power supply unit. 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 of the mini-compact. Optional feature: 13-note bass pedals (not for the mini-compact).

[edit] MINI-COMPACT

Smallest of the Compact Series. Only four octaves, no bass on early models. Later version had a selector switch to choose bass or acute 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 3 voices while transitioning to the later models which had 6 voices.

  • Tan/Black Tolex
  • Early model Three tone switches: Dolce, Principale, Strings
  • Late model (Mini Deluxe Compact I): 16' Bass, 8' Flute, Oboe, String 8', 4' Flute and Strings
  • Three footages: 16', 8', 4'
  • Multi-tone Booster with knee pedal (also served as expression control).
  • 1/4" Output
  • Removable legs which stored inside bottom cover (all other models have foldable/pivoting non-removable legs)
  • Solid State Preamp

Used by Mike Mills (REM) and by Steve Reich in his piece Four Organs.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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 acute 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 of Brush Cymbal and Drum

[edit] COMPACT DUO

Most renowned of the Compact Series, having been used by Al Kooper (Blues Project), Mick McNeil (Simple Minds), Rick Wright of Pink Floyd, and Clint Boon of the Inspiral Carpets.

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, Ottavo.
  • Two inferior octaves on the left-hand side of the lower keyboard; one set of octaves were 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 tremelo, percussion and repeat functions for both the upper and lower treble manuals independently.
  • Unlike other Compact series organs, the Compat Duo models require a separate power supply/solid-state preamp/real spring reverb unit (called the Farfisa F/AR) to operate. The organ connects to the F/AR via a multi-lead cable. The cable on the American version used a 7-pin Amphenol connector, while European models used a Preh multipin. Treble output is only available via the F/AR. The Compact Duos could also operate directly (without the F/AR) with Farfisa Amplifier Models BR80 or Twin 80, which accept the 7-pin connector and provide the organ with power. The organs reverb switches activate the reverb in these two amplifier models.

[edit] FAST Series

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 model of Farfisa was used by Phillip Glass on some of his early recordings

[edit] 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

[edit] FAST 4

Features:

  • Keyboard: 61 notes
  • Voice Stops (8): Bass, Bass Clarinet, Flute (8"), Oboe, Trumpet, Flue, 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 4 has been used by Philip Glass

[edit] FAST 5

Features, same as FAST 4, plus:

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

Artists:

[edit] Professional Series

[edit] VIP Series

[edit] 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.

[edit] Synthorchestra

  • In the mid seventies Farfisa produced the "Stereo Synthorchestra". It has a three octave keyboard, and a "Mono", and "Poli" tone generator section. 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 "Wha-Wha", 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 Synthorchestra also has separate outputs for each of its two sections, giving it the name "StereoSynthorchestra"

[edit] Transicord

  • The "Transicord" was an electronic accordion. 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 model and a "DeLuxe" model. The standard model has one row of tab-stops 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 model has two rows of tab-stops and is black in color.

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

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../f/a/r/Farfisa.html"
In other languages