Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $776
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$799
$2000+
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Description
The Farfisa Combo Compact debuted in the mid-1960s and made a splash on the scene immediately. Boasting loud colors, a rough sound, and a price the touring musician could afford, the Compact Combo quickly became one of the prominent combo organs of the ‘60s.
The organ came in two color choices, red or gray, with red being more common.
Product specs
| Brand | Farfisa |
| Model | Combo Compact Organ |
| Finish | Blue with Black-White / White-Black Keys, Gray with Black-White / White-Black Keys, Red with Black-White / White-Black Keys |
| Year | 1964 - 1968 |
| Made In | Italy |
| Categories | Organs |
| Analog / Digital | Analog |
| Key Size | Full Size |
| Keyboard Action | Synth Action |
| Number of Keys | 61 Keys |
FAQs
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What type of sound can I expect from the Farfisa Combo Compact organ?
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The Farfisa Combo Compact is known for its distinctive, aggressive, and raspy tone, making it ideal for classic rock and psychedelic music. Its sound is often described as more raw and vibrant compared to other organs like the Vox Continental.
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How many keys does the Farfisa Combo Compact have?
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The Farfisa Combo Compact features a full-size keyboard with 61 keys, offering a wide range for expressive playing.
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Is the Farfisa Combo Compact organ suitable for live performances?
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Yes, the Farfisa Combo Compact is designed for live performances with its durable build and full-size keybed, making it a favorite among touring musicians in the 1960s and 1970s.
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Is the Farfisa Combo Compact an analog or digital organ?
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The Farfisa Combo Compact is an analog organ, which contributes to its warm and distinctive sound character.
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What is the keyboard action like on the Farfisa Combo Compact?
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The Farfisa Combo Compact features a synth action keyboard, providing a light and responsive touch suitable for fast playing styles.
Videos
picure
Farfisa Combo Compact Demo (SOLD!)
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Farfisa Combo Compact.
Value and pricing
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Non-working Farfisa Compact organs can be found for 300-500 Euros, though restoration is challenging.
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An $850 price for a Farfisa Compact is considered fair, though additional repair costs should be anticipated.
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Farfisa Compact organs typically range from 1000-1500 Euros for a stage-ready model, depending on condition and location.
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Features and functionality
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The Korg Vox Continental features a waterfall-style keybed reminiscent of traditional organs, enhancing playability for classic organ techniques.
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The Crumar Mojo is praised for its Farfisa Compact emulation, with identical tone to the original Compact Deluxe.
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Internal spring reverb and tone boost knee lever significantly enhance the sound and presence of Farfisa Compacts.
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Compacts with germanium transistors offer "fuzzy warm goodness," unlike later silicon models, which sound cleaner.
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The Yamaha Reface YC, when set to mode F and paired with Catalinbread Echorec and a wah pedal, closely replicates Richard Wright's Pink Floyd sounds.
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Owners appreciate the drawbars on the Mojo, which act like switches when pulled halfway, similar to the Nord series.
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Comparisons
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The Farfisa VIP series is noted for durability and often includes a drum machine, making it a robust alternative to the more delicate Compact.
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Korg's modern Vox Continental is praised for its versatility, offering Farfisa, Vox, and B-3 sounds with a waterfall keybed, ideal for glisses and swoops.
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FAST, Duo, and VIP models offer similar sounds to the Compact but differ in pricing, with FAST generally costing less and Duo/VIP models more.
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Nord Electro models offer a tactile experience with buttons emulating Farfisa switches, and later versions include optional hardware drawbars for a more authentic feel.
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The Mojo's Vox emulation is noted to have 6 drawbar settings, matching the original Italian Vox Continental's sound closely.
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User experience
Setup and maintenance
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Real Farfisa organs may require specialized maintenance, often needing a few hundred dollars in repairs.
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4.5 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 5 Ratings
Artist usage
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In this photo, Briggs can be seen playing a Farfisa Combo Compact organ. The photo comes from one of the Remains’ first recording sessions in 1965 at Columbia Studio A in Manhattan.
Sam the Sham frequently played a red Farfisa Combo Compact organ. The organ is featured on the band’s hit “Wooly Bully.”
In this photo, Hooper can be seen on stage with a Farfisa Combo Compact (right) and a Wurlitzer electric piano (left). This was his primary touring setup with the Seeds.
Mentioned by Hornsby in this May 2017 Road to Jacksonville interview.
Then, about 1964 I heard Eric Burden and the Animals. Alan Price with his Vox portable organ impressed me a lot. I thought that keyboard was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. The band I was in, was already playing their House Of The Rising Sun. I thought that if I had one of those organs, I bet I could play that tune. Before long I bought a Farfisa Combo Compact organ. I remember I got it on Monday and I played my first gig with it on Friday. I played the hell out of that thing & did as much with it as was possible during the next 6 months. Then I came across a Jimmy Smith album and discovered the Hammond organ. That changed everything. That was real organ playing. I had to have one right away. So, I continued playing guitar and organ about equal amounts for the next 10 years.
Album Usage
The Farfisa Combo Compact has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Farfisa Combo Compact, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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Add recommendation1 alternative for Farfisa Combo Compact, curated by the Equipboard community.
$834.71
Both the Combo Compact and Compact Deluxe were a part of Farfisa’s Compact line. The organs look and sound nearly identical, however the Compact Deluxe has 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.
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