On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Combo Compact Deluxe
Farfisa Italian
Kate Pierson
Not on view
The Farfisa company, originally a maker of accordions, began manufacturing transistor organs in Italy in the early 1960s before transitioning to synthesizers in the 1970s. Sam the Sham was one of the earliest rock organists to play a Farfisa; his group the Pharaohs recorded their hit “Wooly Bully” with one in 1965. This organ belongs to Kate Pierson of the B-52’s, who used it to record songs such as “Planet Claire” and “Rock Lobster.” The organ’s bright and warbly tone contributed to the band’s eccentric flair. Other notable bands who incorporated the Farfisa include Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Sly and the Family Stone.
Technical Description:
61 keys (24 splittable bass and 37 chord/melody); bass volume control, three pedal bass manual switches, grey keys treble/bass selector; three percussion manual bass switches; three vibrato control switches; two reverb switches; tabs for 16', 8', 4', all off/on and multi-tone booster switches; Voice tabs for bass 16', strings 16', flute 8', oboe 8', trumpet 8', strings 8', flute 4', strings 4', 2 2/3', "brilliant" tabs
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