Ron "Pigpen" McKernan

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.

In this photo, Pigpen can be seen playing a black Kustom Kombo Organ with the Grateful Dead at the Human Be-In at City Park in 1967. Additional photos here, here, and here.

This Wurlitzer 120 was purchased and used by Pigpen in the late '60s. It has a Leo’s Music Incorporated Oakland CA sticker on back. The piano was up for auction by Sotheby's in 2021.

Roadie Steve Parrish said that this electric piano was used by Pigpen for both rehearsals and gigs.

Pigpen with his Hammond B3 and various percussion instruments in 1970. He began using the B-3 in 1967, though it wouldn't become his primary touring organ until later.

In this photo, Pigpen can be seen playing a Lowrey T-1 with the Warlocks. Pigpen’s T-1 is often confused for a Farfisa due to the organs’ similar appearances. The T-1 one can be identified by its 'X' stand, inward-facing modesty panel, cloud-like music rack, and matching Lowrey amp (the Lowrey T-1 could only be played with its dedicated amp, as it housed the organ’s power supply).