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Average Price: $799
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Description
The Farfisa Mini Compact is a celebrated gem from the golden era of combo organs, designed for musicians who crave that authentic vintage sound. Known for its unique all-transistor design, this organ delivers the classic tones that have graced countless iconic recordings. Its intuitive interface and sturdy build make it a popular choice for both stage and studio use.
Originally introduced in the 1960s, the Mini Compact continues to impress with its warm, full-bodied sound and versatile controls. It features a variety of tone colors, allowing players to seamlessly transition from smooth, jazzy undertones to bright, punchy leads. The organ's four-octave keyboard is perfect for musicians who need both portability and a wide range of notes to express their creativity.
Ideal for those who appreciate the distinct character of vintage instruments, the Farfisa Mini Compact offers a nostalgic yet timeless sound palette. Whether you're playing psychedelic rock, soulful blues, or experimental music, this organ can adapt to any style with ease. With its unmistakable voice and reliable performance, it's a beloved addition to any keyboard collection.
Key Features:
- All-transistor design for authentic vintage sound
- Four-octave keyboard for extended playability
- Multiple tone colors for versatile sound shaping
- Compact and portable for easy transport
- Classic design with a sturdy build quality
Product specs
| Brand | Farfisa |
| Model | Mini Compact Organ |
| Finish | Gray with 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 | 37 Keys |
FAQs
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What type of sound can I expect from the Farfisa Mini Compact organ?
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The Farfisa Mini Compact organ is known for its bright, punchy sound with a distinctively raspy, aggressive tone that stands out in combo organ music. It's ideal for rock and pop genres, providing a unique character that complements a variety of musical styles.
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How many keys does the Farfisa Mini Compact have, and what is the key action like?
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The Farfisa Mini Compact features 37 full-size keys with a synth action, providing a responsive and expressive playing experience suitable for both live performances and studio work.
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Is the Farfisa Mini Compact organ analog or digital?
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The Farfisa Mini Compact is an analog organ, offering a warm and authentic sound that is characteristic of vintage electronic instruments from the 1960s.
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What are the dimensions of the Farfisa Mini Compact organ?
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While specific dimensions for the Mini Compact are not widely published, similar Farfisa models are compact and portable, designed for ease of transport and setup in live performance settings.
Videos
TheGuitarProfessionals
1967 Farfisa Mini Compact Echorec and the Doors
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Farfisa Mini Compact.
Comparisons
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The Farfisa Compacts with germanium transistors offer a "fuzzy warm" sound, while later silicon models are described as "clean cheese."
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Features and functionality
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Internal spring reverb and tone boost knee lever on Compacts are noted for adding significant "mojo" to the sound.
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Value and pricing
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Stage-ready Farfisa Compacts can cost between 1000-1500 Euros, depending on model and condition. Non-working units often found for 300-500 Euros.
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User experience
Build quality
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The Mini-Compact's hand-built design from late 1965 involves complex wiring with frequency generator cards and dividers for each note.
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Based on 0 Reviews and 2 Ratings
Artist usage
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In a Facebook photo, Madlib's Farfisa Mini Compact is visible, positioned directly beneath the Crumar Roadrunner 2.
FARFISA organ (1965-1972) – The ‘Farfisa’ is a two-manual organ console. In comparison to the more popular Hammond organ (see below), the Farfisa produces a more ‘classic’ organ sound. Wright included a Binson Echorec device for echo as part of his combo and managed to produce many unusual sounds out of it, by experimenting with the Echorec and the organ’s tone and pan settings. The Farfisa was Wright's main keyboard in the early years, when he was playing with Waters, Mason, Barrett, Klose et al. as Sigma 6, The (Screaming…, Architectural…, etc.) Abdabs, T-Set, the Pink Floyd Sound, etc. and was used almost exclusively up until The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn in 1967. Between 1967-72, the Farfisa organ played a crucial role in Floyd’s sound and was used for many of Rick’s leads, which he often panned around the auditorium using a special joystick (an ‘azimuth co-ordinator’ pot) stacked on top of the Echorec unit. Wright used the Farfisa for virtually every solo up until that point, e.g. “The Embryo”, “Fat Old Sun”, “Cymbaline”. He can be seen playing one in Live at Pompeii (1972) and in the studio it was last used for Dark Side (1973). On stage, Floyd kept touring with a Farfisa as part of their equipment while they were still performing live their pre-Dark Side set (e.g. “Careful with that axe, Eugene”, “Echoes” and “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun”). This organ’s sound has been strongly associated with certain tracks. In the last ever live performance of “Careful with that axe, Eugene” (in 5 May 1977) the absence of the Farfisa sound was clearly heard. Wright employed his Hammond (see below) and his array of MiniMoog synthesizers (see SYNTHESIZERS section) to play that rendition and the synth sound was somewhat alien to the piece. The organ in the intro of “Time” is the last time the Farfisa was featured in a Floyd recording.
The Farfisa Mini Compact organ was a big part of the Philip Glass Ensemble’s sound. Often times, several Mini Compacts would be played on stage at once.
Michael Riesman (longtime Philip Glass Ensemble Musical Director) said in this interview, "When I joined, the keyboards consisted of three Farfisa Mini-Compact organs. That was it. Over the years of my involvement, the Ensemble went through a series of migrations to new hardware. The first was the replacement of one of the Farfisas by a Yamaha YC45-D dual manual electric organ, a wonderful machine with touch sensitivity and adjustable percussive attack."
Also in Philip Glass's book, Words Without Music, Philip goes into detail about finding Farfisas in classified sections and the like, "I picked up three Farfisa electric organs for two hundred dollars each from the Buy-Lines. This kind of used keyboard was easy to come by. Usually a few weeks after Christmas they could be found for sale. I always found them, without exception, in a knotty-pine paneled basement in Queens."
Glass still plays the Farfisa Mini Compact today, as you can see here.
Steve Reich is seen with 4 Farfisa Mini Compact organs on his this album cover. According to Pitchfork, "The Farfisas are played by Steve Reich and Philip Glass, joined by Arthur “Art” Bixler Murphy and Steve Chambers, while Jon Gibson supplies the steady maraca shakes." Note: Steve Reich is on the right and Philip Glass is on the bottom.
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21584-four-organs-phase-patterns/
In an Instagram post by qqitemstorage, quickly, quickly is shown with a Farfisa Mini Compact organ, highlighting its role in their "mini corner" setup alongside other vintage gear.
This newspaper clipping shows Cohen playing a Farfisa Mini Compact organ at an anti-HUAC rally. This article predates the band's first studio album, which was released in May 1967.
In this photo, Don can be seen playing the Farfisa Mini Compact live on KEXP in 2019.
In this video, Carolyn Wood can be seen playing a Farfisa Mini Compact organ on a television performance with The Brooklyn Bridge.
While Lee Crabtree was with The Fugs, the liner notes of "Don't Stop Don't Stop" mention his use of a Farfisa organ on several tracks. It's likely he played a Farfisa Mini Compact on tracks like "The Final Moments of J Humpington Billsworth." Additionally, Crabtree was known to use electronic or portable keyboards during live performances. Sadly, he passed away in 1973, making further confirmation challenging.
Album Usage
The Farfisa Mini 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 Mini Compact, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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