Farfisa FK-50

This is a really classic organ that has been heard on countless recordings from the 60s and 70s. The most obvious examples that I can think of would have to be The Doors' Ray Manzerak who used them a decent amount, and especially Steve Nieve of Elvis Costello's band the Attractions. There aren't any ways to update this organ, it predates Macs and PCs, as well as MIDI for that matter. It has minimal controls, drawbars for tones (two tones) and four for octave selection. There is no controller for vibrato, it is unison for all settings. It is polyphonic.


UTILIZATION

It's an easy organ to use, actually far less of a burden to operate than a B3. I haven't seen a manual for one officially, I found guides on the internet to help me find out how to set it up and operate it, etc. The setup isn't that simple, but with the guide I was able to do it, and I'm assuming most people could do the same thing. I could have just asked the owner but I wanted to know exactly how to do it myself.


SOUNDS

The sounds that come out of this organ are really cool. While they don't really have the intensity of a B3 or most Hammonds for that matter, they are actually really sweet on their own right. I would say that the best way to describe it is a little bit brighter than a Lowry or B3, but also a bit more nasal and colorful. They are certainly rather thin, though not annoyingly so.


OVERALL OPINION

I think that the relative portability, as well as the nostalgic and classic sound, are the two main selling points about the organ. The worst part is that they are really really hard to find nowadays, and if so, they are extremely expensive. I had the fortune to have a client use one so I got to really experience it firsthand (especially since I had to set it up for him).

(Originally written by LuK le Brugeois/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
The FK 50 is a small Farfisa organ. It weights about 8 lb. My product is not the one depicted because it has no case. It's a rather small, 3-4-octave keyboard made out of gray plastic. It doesn't look very nice.

Few controls. Sustain control (that actually lengthens the release). No pitch (only a tuning wheel on the front panel), no modulation...

It's a very simple keyboard (in other words a Farfisa organ!!!).

The unit has a basic drum machine (which is often the case with Farfisa products) and a kind of arpeggiator (I can't test it because it's broken on my FK50). I have neither the money nor the time to let someone repair an arpeggiator I won't use!

Few sound presets. If I recall correctly it has organ, violin, brass and horn presets, which all sound very organ-like, plus piano and harpsichord sections...

The presets can't be edited...

I think it's full polyphonic... But I'm not totally sure. It's not relevant anyway because the sound turns very muddy as soon as you play more than four notes at the same time...

UTILIZATION

The overall design is very simple...

SOUNDS

The sounds are perfect for my music style (garage rock)...

They are not authentic but they are great for rock... It's not a cheesy organ, but don't even think you'll be able to play Rhoda Scott or J.S. Bach with it. The small keys don't make playing any easier. Your piano abilities won't bring you much with this instrument.

Nevertheless, considering the instrument's size, the sound isn't bad and it can surely find a place within a rock mix. The sound is not very nice but it has a certain character that sometimes reminds me of old Casiotones...

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for six months and I already played about 10 gigs with it... I love its lightness (compared with a Matador LR or a 205R you just can't take anywhere...). It has charm (ok, it looks awful with its gray plastic finish but it's my organ and it sounds quite good considering its size). I used to play with a Farfisa Matador LR and a VIP 205R... They surely sounded better... But they were very heavy and difficult to transport... The FK50 needs less place and it weights less. And that's a great advantage (my back is very grateful).

I can't say anything about the value for money because it was a gift. But don't spend too much money on this keyboard...

Would I buy it again?

Of course.

The CF 50 is a small organ Farfisa. It should be within 3-4 kgs. Photo of Audiofanzine is not the right, this is not an organ-furniture, but a small keyboard plutt 3-4 octaves gray plastic trs not beautiful.
The Controller is pluttrduits. There is a button sustain (which is a plutt rallongeur of release). No pitch (just a tuning knob on the faade), no modulation ...
It's a super simple keyboard (what a Farfisa organ !!!).
A rudimentary rhythm box (as often with Farfisa), and of arpgiateur Espree (I could not test, as it does not work on my FK50. In any fawn, I have neither the money nor the time nor the desire to make a rpar arpgiateur which I shall not use any fawn not ...).
The sounds are not lgion. If my memory is good, there are the sections: Organ, Violin, Brass, Horn (normment are alike, it's just organ sounds with a tone more or less aggressive ...) with the more than one section and another Harpsichord Piano ...
The sounds are not ditables ...
I think the polyphony is total ... But I'm not totally sr. Any fawn, ds that drives more than 4 keys, the slurry is total sound too ...

UTILIZATION

Gnrale configuration is simple archi ...

SOUNDS

The sounds are perfectly suited my style of music (rock a little garage on the edges) ...
They are not ralistes, but suited to rock ... It's not a cheesy organ trs, and do not believe that we will not play or Rhoda Scott JS Bach with this organ. The buttons are small and not very easy to play. So when the opportunities are even Reduces piano.
Nanmoins for a keyboard of this size, the sound is not bad, and s'insre mix well in a rock band. The sound is not super good, but even when he has a certain charm, and in some ways reminiscent of the dusts with their Casiotone ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 6 months, and I made a dozen concerts ... What I like most is its light weight (compared Matador LR or a 205R that are outsized ...) and a charming and indescribable indniable (ok it is ugly with his gray plastic, but that's my organ, and the sound is not bad for a keyboard of this size.) Before this keyboard, I jou in concert with a Farfisa Matador LR 205R and a VIP ... There are no words, the sound really better on the silent keyboard l. .. Taient but super heavy and hard carry ... With the FK50, you win and especially up in weight. And is a positive indniable (my lumbar thank me yet).
I can not judge the relative quality prices saw that I was given in exchange for a service. But I think that we should not dbourser over 50 euros for this keyboard ...
Repeat this choice??
Although sr.