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Continental

Ray Manzarek American
ca. 1962-65
Not on view
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

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 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