Organs

[HarvestmanMan]

What were some of the common organs used on garage records? The Farfisa Combo Compact seems to have gotten lots of use, but what are some others?

 

[Dave Baldwin]

The Vox Continental was a popular portable. Players prized the "reverse black/white keys" version like the one that Mike Smith used on DC5 tours.

 

[paul messis]

I can pretty much state, the above two named organs were the gold standard for organ use in 60s garage music.

other variants used include Vox Jaguar and Farfisa VIP although the majority were the Compact and Continetal ... in some very rare occasions a Hammond Organ was also used.

The Hammond was used certainly more on British and European recordings.

 

[HarvestmanMan]

Edit: never mind

 

[chas_kit]

Hammond would have come in later for the heavier soul sound. Couldn't have been many garage bands toting around a Hammond in '65.

Yamaha combos were common enough. Others include Doric, Wurlitzer, even Conn.

 

[buckeyebeat]

Yahama wasn't around until the late 1960s. Hammonds were in use, especially in the NW and the NY area.....without them there would not have been a portable organ market. Obviously they were a lot harder to move and more expensive. B3 was the Hammond standard.

Of the 100s of 60s bands I've talked to over the years, I can't recall any band that did not use Vox, Farfisa, Ace Tone, Doric, I think there were a couple Sears or JC Pennys ones, maybe even a Rheem or two.

All you ever need to know.....
http://www.combo-organ.com/index.htm

 

[M.T. Wallet]

Farfisa VIP

VIPs are early 70s organs ; maybe you mean Fast? still I never seen pics of garage bands with Fast models yet

Sometimes, the ones played on records were spinet organs available in studio (such as the Lowrey on 96 Tears) while the band used the portable one on stage for obvious reasons
I don't know about distribution back in the days, but I hear more Vox organs among bands from UK (DC5, Animals, Fab Four) and more Farfisa sounds among US garage bands, especially the "multitone booster" sound of the Compact ; maybe it was something already known at the time but I've read many times that Farfisa's are easier to fix than Vox's... Manzarek used the Vox because of the flat top to put his Fender Rhodes piano bass on it, but I don't know other bassless band doing that...
Any suggestions of US garage bands using B3?
Any pics of 60s bands using the Yamaha YC series?

 

[legbarecords]

I think there are more Hammonds and other organs with Leslie speakers "on record" than you would think. If you loved the Young Rascals and had the opportunity to leave your combo organ at home, I imagine you'd jump at a chance to use the real thing. Regarding the Yamaha organs from the late 60's, they have a real unique character. Not quite like a Vox or Farfisa.

 

[wildpaws]

Ray Manzarek of the Doors replaced his Vox Continental after two and a half albums with a Gibson G101, ( the G101 was first introduced as the Kalamazoo K101). Other combo organs from back then included a two manual Gibson G201 and Lowery T2 (which were identical other than name and trim) and a Lowery T1 which was almost identical to the T2 except it was trimmed out with more vinyl and less wood. I used a Lowery T1 (which came out in '63/'64) in the first few bands I played in, on the Wild Ones from Richmond,VA '65 release of "Listen to the Drums" and "Baby I love You" I was using the Lowery T1.

Fender also had a couple of models (made by Guild I think). Vox models included the Jaguar, single manual Continental, dual manual Continental II and Super Continental and a couple of other models. There were 20+ manufacturer names on Combo Organs of the '60s/'70s not including store names like JC Penny and Sear's Silvertone.
Clyde

 

[nadorozny2001]

i have a Yamaha yc-30.t cuts through drums & other loud sounds very well. had an italian organ (Doric) and it was very quiet.

 

[chas_kit]

The Yamaha A-3 started in '66. I'd be happy to own a Yamaha, though the sound may be closer to the garage revival of the '80s than most sixties recordings.

'Good Lovin' was from '66, so the Hammond was hardly an established, must-have instrument for garage bands. Hammonds were very expensive and good for bands who could hold down a residency. No one would be carting those around to high school gigs. Well-equipped studios would have had them, but not everywhere.

Also, plenty of bands used electric pianos instead of organs on gigs.

This would be a good topic for the Hideout, or maybe Blair or someone could really school us in what was really most frequently used.

 

[M.T. Wallet]

Also, plenty of bands used electric pianos instead of organs on gigs.

Wurlitzer, Rhodes, Hohner Pianet: I would love to know more about their distribution/price in the 60s
these guys do a terrific job: http://www.vintagevibe.com

 

[HarvestmanMan]

Apparently the Lemon Fog's "Summer" was played on a Farfisa.

Which would set me back more - an actual Farfisa or a copy of that record?