Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated .

Average Price: $715

Budget/Beginner

$799

$2000+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

Meet the Vox Continental, a timeless classic that continues to resonate within the music industry since 1962. Known for its signature reverse-color keyboard and vibrant red hood, this organ offers a simplified yet powerful alternative to the traditional stop-tab systems of its era. Just by adjusting the six drawbars, you can easily switch between reed or flute voicing and octave range. Its ethereal, breathy sound has been the backbone of iconic tracks such as The Doors' "Light My Fire" and The Animals' "House of the Rising Sun". Unleash your creativity with the Vox Continental and dive into the world of extraordinary, otherworldly sounds.

Key Features:

  • Classic reverse-color keyboard design
  • Vibrant red hood, adding a standout visual element
  • Six drawbars for controlling voicing and octave range
  • Streamlined answer to bulky stop-tab systems
  • Signature ethereal, breathy sound quality
  • Played a key role in iconic tracks throughout music history

Product specs

Brand Vox
Model Continental
Finish Black / Orange
Year 1960s
Categories Organs
Analog / Digital Analog
Key Size Full Size
Keyboard Action Synth Action
Number of Keys 49 Keys

FAQs

What type of sound can I expect from the Vox Continental organ?

The Vox Continental organ is known for its distinctive, bright tone with a sine wave-like sound, making it ideal for classic rock and pop music.

Is the Vox Continental suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Vox Continental is highly regarded for its portability and robust build, making it a popular choice for live performances.

How many keys does the Vox Continental have?

The Vox Continental features a 49-key, full-size keyboard with synth action, offering a comfortable playing experience.

What is the difference between the Vox Continental and a Farfisa organ?

The Vox Continental offers a thinner, Hammond-like sound, while the Farfisa organ is known for its aggressive, raspy tones.

Is the Vox Continental an analog or digital instrument?

The Vox Continental is an analog organ, known for its classic vintage sound.

Reverb

Reverb

VOX Continental Performance Keyboard 61-Key | Reverb Demo Video

Video thumbnail for VOX Continental Performance Keyboard 61-Key | Reverb Demo Video by Reverb

VOX Continental Performance Keyboard 61-Key | Reverb Demo Video

Reverb

Reverb

Video thumbnail for Vox Continental 73-key Performance Keyboard Review by Sweetwater

Vox Continental 73-key Performance Keyboard Review

Sweetwater

Sweetwater

Video thumbnail for VOX Continental Keyboard - Offizielles Produktvideo mit Sevan Gökoglu by voxampsde

VOX Continental Keyboard - Offizielles Produktvideo mit Sevan Gökoglu

voxampsde

voxampsde

Video thumbnail for The Vox Continental Combo Organ (Overview & Demo) by Syntaur

The Vox Continental Combo Organ (Overview & Demo)

Syntaur

Syntaur

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Vox Continental.

Features and functionality

  • The valve drive effect is praised for enhancing the aggressive sound, especially in rock band settings.

    Source
  • Firmware version 2.0 allows configuring a split to play Rhodes bass lines with the left hand.

    Source
  • The organ's 12 oscillators generate the top octave, with a divider chain for lower octaves, impacting note functionality.

    Source
  • The Korg Vox Continental only samples the Super Continental, not the regular version, impacting authenticity in recreating specific classic sounds.

    Source

Comparisons

  • It excels in piano sounds compared to the Hammond SK1 but lacks in pipe organ and mellotron voicings.

    Source
  • The Korg Vox Continental excels in Vox and Farfisa sounds, surpassing the Nord Electro in these areas.

    Source
  • Korg Vox Continental is viewed as an economy version of the Nord Electro, with fewer tones and Hammond imitation rather than samples.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The Vox Continental is favored for its ability to cover transistor organ, Hammond, electric piano, and clavinet sounds effectively.

    Source
  • The Korg Vox Continental's case is an additional cost and owners express concern over the reliability of its straps for transport.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Official Vox Continental stand is hard to find and may involve expensive shipping.

    Source
  • Troubleshooting A note issues involves examining oscillator cards and drawbar circuitry, with an oscilloscope aiding significantly over a multimeter.

    Source

Build quality

  • Some Vox Continental models feature a slanted/italic logo, suggesting varying manufacturers and possibly differing build qualities.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners have found combo-organ.com and ep-forum.com invaluable for repair advice and historical context on vintage organs.

    Source
  • Owners experienced disappointment with the misleading labeling of the Korg Vox Continental, expecting a "Light My Fire" sound that it doesn't deliver.

    Source

4.5 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 15 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Gregg Rolie uses Vox Continental

Gregg Rolie

Singer, Keyboardist

Journey

...
Verified via Photo

Rolie played a Vox Continental with William Penn & His Pals, a band he joined while attending high school in California. The band had one regional hit, “Swami.”

See how Ron "Pigpen" McKernan uses Vox Continental

Ron "Pigpen" McKernan

Singer, Keyboardist

Grateful Dead

...
Verified via Photo

Pigpen played a Vox Continental in the late ‘60s with the Grateful Dead. The Vox and the Hammond, 1967-1969 provides a great breakdown of Pigpen's use of the Vox Continental and his gradual shift to a Hammond B-3 (though it incorrectly claims that Pigpen played a Farfisa with the Warlocks, when it was actually a Lowrey T1).

As a brief background -- Pigpen had started out playing a Farfisa organ in the Warlocks, but by March '66 had switched to a Vox Continental, which was the Dead's organ for the next year. The Dead got their first B-3 in May '67, but as we see it was hardly used at every show. At the majority of the outdoor park shows (where the Dead were more likely to be photographed) in mid/late-'67 and early '68, Pigpen still used the Vox.

See how Doug Ingle uses Vox Continental

Doug Ingle

Singer, Keyboardist

Iron Butterfly

...
Verified via Photo

Doug Ingle's Vox Continental organ defined Iron Butterfly's signature sound. As is seen in the attached picture, he seems to have built a custom, taller stand (resembling those made by RMI) allowing him to comfortably play standing up.

See how Manfred Mann uses Vox Continental

Manfred Mann

Keyboardist

Manfred Mann's Earth Band

...
Verified via Photo

Manfred Mann can be seen here playing a Vox Continental in February 1965. He frequently played this organ in the 1960s.

See how Alan Price uses Vox Continental

Alan Price

Singer, Keyboardist

The Animals

...
Verified via Photo

The Vox Continental was Alan Price's primary organ during his time with the Animals, both for touring and recording. He played the Continental on a majority of the Animals songs, including hits such as "House of the Rising Sun," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," and "Boom Boom."

Additional photos here, here, and here.

See how Danny Federici uses Vox Continental

Danny Federici

Keyboardist

E Street Band

...
Verified via Tumblr

Used doing the River Tour.

See how Chris Watson uses Vox Continental

Chris Watson

Composer, Music Producer

Cabaret Voltaire

...
Verified via Discogs

According to the liner notes of 2x45, Chris Watson played a Vox Continental on the album.

See how Andy Bown uses Vox Continental

Andy Bown

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Status Quo

...
Verified via Photo

Bown can be seen here playing a Vox Continental on stage with The Herd in Copenhagen, Denmark in March 1968.

See how Sean Hopper uses Vox Continental

Sean Hopper

Keyboardist

Huey Lewis & the News

...
Verified via YouTube

Used in the early music video for Some of my Lies are True (Sooner or Later) its the keyboard Hopper's seen playing

See how William D. Drake uses Vox Continental

William D. Drake

Keyboardist, Composer

...
Verified via YouTube

William can be seen playing a Vox Continental throughout the music video for "R.E.S."

See how Dave Rowberry uses Vox Continental

Dave Rowberry

Keyboardist

The Animals

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, Rowberry can be seen playing a Vox Continental on stage with the Animals. Rowberry primarily used a Vox Continental organ after taking over for Alan Price in the group.

See how Michael Nutt uses Vox Continental

Michael Nutt

Singer, Keyboardist

...
Verified via Photo

Vox Continental Organ used by Michael Nutt at a gig with The High Learys at Wamba Buluba club in Barcelona, Spain

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 Vox Continental, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Yamaha DX7
Yamaha DX7 Synthesizers
2
Boss TR-2 Tremolo
Boss TR-2 Tremolo Tremolo Effects Pedals
1
E-Mu E4XT Ultra
E-Mu E4XT Ultra Audio Samplers
1
Danelectro '56 Baritone
Danelectro '56 Baritone Extended Range Guitars
1
Korg Prophecy
Korg Prophecy Synthesizers
1
Casio VL-1
Casio VL-1 Synthesizers
1
Moog Liberation
Moog Liberation Synthesizers
1
Wurlitzer 200
Wurlitzer 200 Vintage & Electric Pianos
1
Lovetone Meatball
Lovetone Meatball Filter Effects Pedals
1

3 alternative and related items for Vox Continental, curated by the Equipboard community.

Vox Jaguar

$1,550.00

Vintage or Discontinued cheaper alternative

Introduced in 1966 as the more affordable alternative to the Continental, the Jaguar sports the same signature reverse-color keys and red hood, but with streamlined voice options of Mellow, Bright, and Brass, each of which captures a simplified snapshot of the Continental's versatility.

Vox Super Continental

$1,313.57

Vintage or Discontinued similar sound

Introduced in 1965, the Super Continental was the dual manual version of the original Continental.

More Vox Organs

Vox Jaguar

$1,550.00

# 37

Rank

Adam Granduciel James Petralli Graham Massey
17 artists using
Yamaha Reface YC Combo Organ

$349.00 - $499.99

# 1

Rank

Ambrose Kenny Smith Yasutaka Nakata Minoru Mukaiya
9 artists using
Korg CX-3 Organ

$599.00

# 2

Rank

Jack White Lee Ranaldo Rick Wakeman
47 artists using
Hammond Xk5

$3,179.29 - $3,900.00

# 3

Rank

Jordan Rudess Chuck Leavell Toby Lee Marshall
7 artists using
Hammond B-3

$2,795.00

# 4

Rank

Jack White Prince Steve Albini
192 artists using
Hammond Sk1

$1,200.00

# 5

Rank

John Paul Jones Rick Wakeman Nicolas Jaar
9 artists using
Nord C2D

$3,200.00 - $6,227.86

# 7

Rank

Steve Winwood Tori Amos PJ Morton
8 artists using
Hammond XK-3c

$928.33

# 9

Rank

Dizzy Reed Rod Argent Karen Grotberg
12 artists using
Roland VK-8

$700.00

# 10

Rank

Adam Jones Jay Watson Ocean Alley
18 artists using
Hammond XB-2

 

# 12

Rank

Thom Yorke Madlib Rick Wakeman
15 artists using
Crumar Mojo 61

$749.00 - $1,579.00

# 13

Rank

 
Hammond A-100 Organ

 

# 16

Rank

Jon Lord Don Airey Benmont Tench
15 artists using
Hammond SK2 Organ

$1,790.04

# 17

Rank

Sam Kiszka Bernie Worrell Angel Olsen
5 artists using
Roland VK-7

$487.99

# 20

Rank

Prince Charly García Liam Howlett
14 artists using
Hammond XK1C

$1,495.00 - $1,769.00

# 21

Rank

 
Hammond XK-5 Heritage Pro System

$3,900.00 - $10,320.00

# 22

Rank

Mark Stein
1 artist using
Viscount Legend Live

$2,034.00 - $2,222.00

# 23

Rank

 
Hammond XB-2 Organ

 

# 24

Rank

Jonny Greenwood Thom Yorke Jon Lord
5 artists using
Hammond XK-4

$2,268.00 - $2,495.00

# 25

Rank

 
Korg BX-3 Organ

$850.00

# 26

Rank

Keith Emerson Don Airey Alan Fitzgerald
10 artists using
Viscount Legend Solo

$1,164.00 - $1,259.00

# 27

Rank

 
Hammond XK-1

$350.74 - $941.12

# 28

Rank

Nobuo Uematsu Ferdy Doernberg
2 artists using
Roland VK-09

$537.37

# 32

Rank

Lily Rogers Meredith Monk Chico Mann
3 artists using
StudioLogic Numa Organ

$649.09 - $1,299.95

# 33

Rank

Paul Taylor
1 artist using
Nord C2

$2,999.00

# 34

Rank

Jean Michel Jarre David Cook
2 artists using
numa organ 2

$149.00 - $649.09

# 36

Rank

 

Accessories & Related Items

Community setups

  • Added to Equipboard on by

    austinmw
    austinmw

    Gear IQ 5227