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“The General” — Built by Roy Thomas, owner and founder of Pedalmaster Steel Guitar in Maurice, Louisiana.

There were two different instruments to bear the RMI Calliope name. Both were limited production items, and both appeared on the market in the same time frame, 1969. The first one was simply called the Calliope, while the second was called the Calliope Model B.

The first model consisted of a 37-note keyboard with its own built-in amplification system. The instrument featured a red body with 19 gold cylinders of various lengths on top resembling organ pipes. Each cylinder has a speaker in it, one for each of the 19 shared oscillators. The retail cost of the unit was $795.

The Model B consisted of 49 notes and was built in the standard RMI wood case. It was painted red and featured a fancy gold design on the exterior. The unit came with its own built-in amplification system. The retail price of the instrument was $595.

There were two different instruments to bear the RMI Calliope name. Both were limited production items, and both appeared on the market in the same time frame, 1969. The first one was simply called the Calliope, while the second was called the Calliope Model B.

The first model consisted of a 37-note keyboard with its own built-in amplification system. The instrument featured a red body with 19 gold cylinders of various lengths on top resembling organ pipes. Each cylinder has a speaker in it, one for each of the 19 shared oscillators. The retail cost of the unit was $795.

The Model B consisted of 49 notes and was built in the standard RMI wood case. It was painted red and featured a fancy gold design on the exterior. The unit came with its own built-in amplification system. The retail price of the instrument was $595.

RMI's calliope models are often confused with the RMI Band Organ, which also emulates the look and sound of a calliope.

There were two models of the Lark produced: a 37-note model that was introduced in early 1967 and a 49-note model that was introduced in late 1967. Both models were produced in a plywood case, a majority of which were black on the lower part and orange on the top. The case of the instrument differed from other RMI models in that it had a low profile design. The case was only about six inches thick and had black folding legs. The 49-note model had an additional octave of bass notes. A later 49-note model dubbed the Lark A-400 was manufactured using the standard RMI case design.

The organ uses shared oscillators (one oscillator for every two notes), meaning two notes sharing an oscillator (C and C#, for example) can’t be played at the same time.

The retail cost of the 37-note model was $289, while the 49-note retail cost was $389 for the earlier version and $425 for the later version. Production stopped in 1968.

The Compact Deluxe was part of Farfisa’s Compact line, which included the Combo Compact, Mini Compact, Compact Deluxe, and Compact Duo.

The Compact Deluxe features similar controls to the Compact I, with additional voices such as the 2-2/3' footage with an independent "brilliant" tab. Later models, such as the Combo Deluxe Compact I, also include a rhythm section (drum machine) of brush cymbal and drum.

The final Compact models were manufactured in 1969.

The Compact Deluxe was part of Farfisa’s Compact line, which included the Combo Compact, Mini Compact, Compact Deluxe, and Compact Duo. The Compact Deluxe features similar controls to the Combo Compact, with additional voices such as the 2-2/3' footage with an independent "brilliant" tab. Later models also include a rhythm section (drum machine) of brush cymbal and drum. The final Compact models were manufactured in 1969.

The RMI Band Organ was introduced in June of 1966, and has the distinction of being the first musical instrument to be manufactured at the RMI plant in North Carolina. It was available in kit form or factory built.

The instrument consisted of a 37-note keyboard, 19 electronic oscillators and had the authentic sound of a calliope. Its purpose was to add life to a party, or add the sound of the calliope to a band. It was intended to be fun to play, and it was very successful. With "Wind" control, and a "Toot" button, the novelty factor is through the roof.

As stated above, the instrument was available in kit form or factory built. In kit form the instrument could be purchased with or with out the undecorated plywood cabinet. The kit without the cabinet sold for $180, the kit with a put together cabinet sold for $225. The unit, completely factory assembled, and decorated sold for $395.

The RMI Band Organ was introduced in June of 1966, and has the distinction of being the first musical instrument to be manufactured at the RMI plant in North Carolina. The instrument consisted of a 37-note keyboard, 19 electronic oscillators and had the authentic sound of a calliope. Its purpose was to add life to a party, or add the sound of the calliope to a band. With "Wind" control, and a "Toot" button, the novelty factor is through the roof.

The instrument was available in kit form or factory built. In kit form the instrument could be purchased with or with out the undecorated plywood cabinet. The kit without the cabinet sold for $180, the kit with a put together cabinet sold for $225. The unit, completely factory assembled, and decorated sold for $395.

This calliope-style organ is often confused with two later keyboards released by RMI under the Calliope name.

There were two different instruments to bear the RMI Calliope name. Both were limited production items, and both appeared on the market in the same time frame, 1969. The first one was simply called the Calliope, while the second was called the Calliope Model B.

The first model consisted of a 37-note keyboard with its own built-in amplification system. The instrument featured a red body with 19 gold cylinders of various lengths on top resembling organ pipes. Each cylinder has a speaker in it, one for each of the 19 shared oscillators. The retail cost of the unit was $795.

The Model B consisted of 49 notes and was built in the standard RMI wood case. It was painted red and featured a fancy gold design on the exterior. The unit came with its own built-in amplification system. The retail price of the instrument was $595.

RMI's first electric piano was the Model 100 Rock-Si-Chord in 1967. Retailing for $695, it contained two sounds (string and lute) but was later updated as the Model 100A which contained additional sounds (harpsichord, cembalo, lute, and two guitars). The "Model 200 Rock-Si-Chord" cost $995 and added an additional 4' voice, which required an additional set of tone generator boards for each key. The keyboard was discontinued in 1968 as the company introduced the Rock-Si-Chord’s successor, the RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord.

RMI's first electric piano was the Model 100 Rock-Si-Chord in 1967. Retailing for $695, it contained two sounds (string and lute) but was later updated as the Model 100A which contained additional sounds (harpsichord, cembalo, lute, and two guitars). The Model 200 Rock-Si-Chord cost $995 and added an additional 4' voice, which required an additional set of tone generator boards for each key. The keyboard was discontinued in 1968 as the company shifted focus to the RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord.

Rock-Si-Chords are most commonly seen in a classic RMI-style case with blue tolex, however, other less common models and prototypes have surfaced over the years such one with a green, three-tiered, wooden case similar to the RMI Explorer.

The Vintage Vibe Vibanet is string-based electric clavichord modeled after the Hohner Clavinet. The Vibanet was introduced in 2013 and features 60 keys, an auto-wah preamplifier, and a revolutionary dampening system using a polymer gel rather than the yarn used by Hohner. Weighing in at 35 pounds, the Vibanet flashes a sleek and modern design, inside and out.

The Vintage Vibe Piano is an electro-mechanical instrument hand-crafted by master technicians in New Jersey, USA. Improving upon the patented designs of Harold Rhodes, Vintage Vibe has created a modern-day masterpiece. With new and innovative techniques along with our decades of experience in restoring old Fender Rhodes pianos, Vintage Vibe offers a truly improved piano of exceptional elegance, style, and portability; something that just cannot be found in an old piano today.

From its American-made steel tines, to its all new keyboard action, pre-amp and hammer design, the Vintage Vibe Classic Piano is a working musician’s dream axe. But the Vintage Vibe Classic Piano doesn’t just sound great, it’s the sharpest looking electric piano available anywhere.