So you're interested in delving into the world of combo organs! It doesn't matter if you're a collector looking for a minty example of a classic combo used on your favorite albums, a working musician looking for a gig-worthy board, a studio looking for a reliable vintage instrument, or just a musician looking for a fun keyboard, there's a lot to consider before making a purchase. Understand that the production period for combo organs started in the early 1960s and was over by the late 70s. Meaning every single combo organ out there is now approaching 50 years of age or more. If the instrument has not been serviced in recent times, there are bound to be problems hiding under the hood. I find that most organs I see habe never been serviced in their lifetime. Often sitting unused for all this time. Some issues can be easy fixes while others not so much. By the end of this article I hope you will understand how to properly evaluate the condition of any organ you may come across so you can make an informed purchase decision. This knowledge will be equally helpful to those looking to sell an instrument.
One of the most important factors that affects the condition of any instrument is the environment it was stored in. All too often these keyboards are stashed in the basement, barn, shed, or attic where extreme temperatures, critters, and insects may wreak havoc. Not to mention the threat of natural disasters such as floods and fire that can really spoil things. At the very least, there will likely be tons of dirt, dust, and grime built up from years sitting untouched. These things are never good signs for the electronics inside, much like a car that sits unused with no maintenance.
The very first thing I do when I encounter a potential organ purchase is smell it. As funny as that sounds, if there's a strong or really funky odor, you know something is up in there. Every combo organ will have its own sort of scent from manufacturing, oxidization, etc. but what I'm looking for is signs of mildew, mold, rodent droppings, dead animals, or worse. You never know what could be in there, so a little extra detective works pays before outlaying any cash; no matter how good a deal it is.
The next step after the smell test is an in-depth visual inspection. The two main places that critters can enter these instruments is usually through the power supply panel or underneath through some kind of hole or compartment. This is especially true on the Farfisa Compact series of organs which have openings on the bottom panel where the legs fold in.
During the visual inspection you should have checked the power cable and output cable if applicable.
The final thing to consider when purchasing a combo organ is the presence of any accessories with it. I'm talking about lids, pedals, music racks, manuals, schematics, and other paperwork. These can increase the value of an instrument exponentially because they are often missing or were originally sold as an add on accessory.
The first accessory you might notice is a dust cover. Usually this will be a vinyl or leather cover with or without piping and typically a brand logo or model printed on it. Not all organs would have come with one and in many cases it may have been an add on. If you do find one though, it's a very good sign. Only organs that were lightly used or well cared for typically survive with their original dust cover. It of course also helps limit the amount of wear to the organ itself and keeps dust and dirt from embedding into the tolex covering.
Almost every combo organ ever made included some kind of transport lid that would protect the control panel and key bed when moving the instrument around. After all they were designed for portability and safely getting to gigs and practice. The transport lid would typically latch onto the organ cabinet and feature a carrying handle for moving the organ around. One exception is the Farfisa Professional 222 which came with a carrying case that had a wooden lid built into it.
There are without a doubt more organs left today than there are stands and legs for them. No one knows for sure where they went but since they are often detachable they some how escape from the organs. The majority of combo organ legs screw on with a threaded post or are attached with thumbscrews. However, some like the Farfisa Compact and Lowrey T1 were attached to the cabinet and simply folded out. These are much less likely to be missing because they are permanently bolted to the organ. The owner would have had to purposely remove them for some reason.
Often rarer than the legs themselves is the carrying case they originally came in. These were often fairly flimsey and couldn't withstand too much abuse before latches break, coverings tear, and straps start snapping. Dampness also takes a toll.
These two terms were used interchangeably for volume control in the combo organ days. However a couple models like the Gibson G101, 201 and Lowrey T2 did have an actual expression component to their pedals. The main pedal function controlled volume but they also included a small tab to the left for activating the glide or wow wow functions. This pedal aas well as the pedal for the Fender Contempo were necessary to get any sound out of the organ.
Perhaps the rarest of all combo organ accessories are the fabled bass pedals. These were almost always sold as an optional accessory and therefore much less of them are around. They were typically a full octave that mirrored the bass octave on the keyboard and reproduced the same tones. A multi-pin umbilical cord was used to connect them to a socket located on the underside of the organ. These connectors differ greatly in pinout and shape from one brand to another but all work on the same principles. They were usually passive devices that simply switch contacts on and off. Few models did have a powered element for additional features though.
Now that you know what kind of condition the organ is in both cosmetically and electrically, you can begin to estimate the amount of work it will need to get it fully working or completely restored.
There are many places on and offline where you can find combo organs for sale. You must first consider if you're okay with buying online or if you prefer a local sale where you can inspect the organ thoroughly before purchasing. It can be scary shipping a combo organ as well because they are usually fairly heavy and can be fragile especially if packed incorrectly. I will make a guide to properly packing an organ for shipment soon but feel free to reach out to me by email if you have questions.
At Northeast Combo Organ we are always getting new inventory of organs and parts. If you're in the market for an instrument be sure to reach out to us for the most current inventory!
