Scored a Farfisa Professional

[Franz]

Hey everybody...seems like I'm saturating the boards here. Anyways...

I just scored a Farfisa Professional! What a weird instrument! Totally different tone than my Mini Compact. It's got so many features, its ridiculous. It's almost part synthesizer. Almost. But I like it a lot. Particular the odd percussion behavior. But as per usual, it's some some problems.

First, it came with out a top. I'm not really sure the nature of what the top was, because there's no latches or hinges, and combo-organ heaven doesn't have any clear pictures. So I'll post a "wanted" ad elsewhere here for a top.

Second, it's got a bunch of keys contact problems, like the lowest C doesn't play the 16' flute, and the high B flat doesnt play the 4' clarinet, and a few A flats are quiet. The thing is pretty dirty, so hopefully, I can use the tutorial (elsewhere on this forum) and clean the contacts myself.

Finally, the BIG issue is oscillator leakage. You know, that's when the organ is on, and there's the quiet sound of all the keys being pressed down at once, but real quiet like. Well, on this Professional, its not so quiet. Its pretty loud and irritating. I wouldn't mind a little bit, but it gets on my nerves. No organ I've ever played ever had leakage that bad.

So oscillator leakage. Is that even the right phrase to describe it? Hopefully, you catch my drift. Is this a problem that the technically challenged like myself could fix? Is it a short? I dig all the crazy sounds this rig can dish.

And is Farfisa Professional Guru Kirk Topit a member of this forum?

Hey thanks every one.

Franz

[plateauphase]

The professional does not actually have a lid like other combo organs, per se. There is a plywood top built into the vinyl gig bag, but not something that you hinge and clasp onto the organ itself. I really like the Professional and kind of regret selling mine last year.

[Franz]

Ah, a gig bag. Now I get it.

I gotta figure out a way to protect it during transport... a fabricated wood case seems too heavy, and the Pro is already too heavy for any kind of keyboard case. I suppose I could try to find a deep Gator soft case, rip it up and tie it back together in the shape of the Pro.

Or I could buy the top off someone selling a parts Professional. Meh, that's unlikely.

I was considering taking off the legs, to reduce weight, and make it easier to put in a case; but the bottom doesn't suit most keyboard stands. Plus, it seems a little sinful to amputate the chrome stand. Just spitballing.

[plateauphase]

As I recall, the Professional is built like a tank. One thing you could do -- which would be cheap and light -- would be to build a plywood box lid for the top and strap it onto the organ. That's pretty much how the "lid" in the gig bag works.

[Franz]

Inside my Farfisa Professional I found a number of spider webs. Hmm.

Also, I noticed that someone carved their initials (very small) on the frame. It reads, "SDF '74" If this is you, please contact me.

After vigorous cleaning of the contacts, I managed to only fix one problem key, and cause three others.

I told you I sucked a fixing things.