Continental
On loan to The Met
This work of art is currently on loan to the museum.Rock bands adopted so-called combo organs (originally developed for jazz combos) like the Vox Continental for their thin, bright, and punchy sounds. Having transistor-based circuits, they required far fewer mechanical parts than large, heavy tonewheel-based Hammond organs. Ray Manzarek of the Doors was one of the first rock musicians to use a multi-keyboard setup, playing chords and melody on an organ like this one and bass parts on a Fender Rhodes bass keyboard stacked on top of it. The combo organ’s distinctive tone became a signature sound of the Doors.
Technical Description:
Reverse-color keys, 16', 8', 4' and IV (2 2/3', 2', 1 3/5', 1') drawbars, and sine "flute" and triangle "reed" tone drawbars. Vibrato on/off switch, Main on/off switch
Technical Description:
Reverse-color keys, 16', 8', 4' and IV (2 2/3', 2', 1 3/5', 1') drawbars, and sine "flute" and triangle "reed" tone drawbars. Vibrato on/off switch, Main on/off switch
Artwork Details
- Title: Continental
- Artist: Vox
- Artist: Ray Manzarek (American, Chicago, Illinois 1939–2013 Rosenheim, Germany)
- Date: ca. 1962-65
- Medium: Wood, plastic, metal
- Dimensions: Length: 36 in. (91.44 cm)
Width: 21.75 in. (55.25 cm)
Height: 6 in. (15.24 cm)
Weight: ~40 lbs. - Classification: Electrophone
- Credit Line: Collection of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; Gift of Ray Manzarek
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments