Farfisa emergency

[Arpangel]

OK, my Farfisa, it's decision time, I need someone to repair it "now"
I don’t care how much it costs within reason, it's a Farfisa Matador with a few issues, but if it can't be repaired now it's going and I'm having trouble finding anyone to work on it.
All I need is someone to give me a definite quote, take it away, and fix it, any reccomendations?

[Drew Stephenson]

What's actually wrong with it?

[Hugh Robjohns]

The original thread is here:

https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/view ... it=farfisa

Will had a look at it, I think, but I don't know how far he got.

Tony's fault list started near the bottom of page two of the thread above.

No output volume knob
volume pedal connected via a 3 pin DIN plug, doesn’t seem to be working
It sounds great through the internal speakers, if a bit noisy, hum.
It also has an "ext-amplifier" output, that doesn’t seem to be working either.
It has a headphone out, I’m using that for recording, and its clean, not much noise, although I’m not sure if it's a stereo output, as it will only work if the jack plug is pulled half way out.
The top two octaves aren’t as loud as the bottom two,
And certain notes don’t sound according to what drawbars are out,
Also the bottom E has just packed up which is annoying.

These are all pretty straightforward and standard things in a vintage keyboard like this. Nothing too challenging, I wouldn't have thought, for an experienced keyboard tech.

Getting replacement key contact wires might be an issue, if needed, but hopefully they won't be broken and just need cleaning. Most of the rest will be dodgy caps and broken wiring in the looms I expect, with a replacement LDR for the expression pedal.

[BJG145]

Sounds like a hassle. Buy another. If you're not motivated to replace it, you don't need it.

[tacitus]

If you don’t fix it, would you like my Wersi Orion (1970s?). It was given to me so I’m giving it away. As far as I can tell, it works, but it has more buttons, tabs, drawbars, knobs and controls than I can deal with. And I need the space so I can give my friends afternoon tea with music …

[Arpangel]

If you don’t fix it, would you like my Wersi Orion (1970s?). It was given to me so I’m giving it away. As far as I can tell, it works, but it has more buttons, tabs, drawbars, knobs and controls than I can deal with. And I need the space so I can give my friends afternoon tea with music …

Thank you! but this Farfisa has a very nice sound (your's does too, but in a different way) it's very "understated" sounds a bit "reedy" which is what I like.
Where are you? I can pick it up if things don’t work out.

Sounds like a hassle. Buy another. If you're not motivated to replace it, you don't need it.

That’s a different version to what I've got, but it could be interesting.
There's something lovely about these old organs, the feel, the interface.

[tacitus]

I’m near Northampton. If I get any rounder I could easily roll down the hill into Pitsford Water!

I’ll hold on in case you do want to have a look; eventually I’ll have to find it a new home. I have a Nord C2D for actual use, which has its good and bad points but I can still move it easily!

I hadn’t come across the Matador before. Looks interesting …

[Arpangel]

If I can't fix it ill give it to Sam Battle at This Museum Is Not Obsolete, he'll be able to do something with it.
I have offered it to someone else, but they are far away, and having trouble arranging a pick up time for various reasons.
I just want it to be one way or another, it's been hanging around doing nothing for too long.

[Arpangel]

Executive decision, it’s going.
Strangely, I have found an organ in my Yamaha MX61 that is absolutely beautiful, after a bit of tweaking, it's very much like my dream organ, that Robert Wyatt uses a lot, the MX organ is it, spot on.

[BJG145]

Good decision. Wish it well and make space for some functioning music tech. These things belong to people who are happier reading schematics than scores.

(I had a Farfisa Transicord electric accordion at one time; IIRC it had essentially the same sound engine as one of their keyboards. It was fun, but hassly. Hassly things are temporary things.)

[Arpangel]

Talking about hassly things, I bought a Casio CSM10 on Ebay, what is it with Ebay? nothing ever works as described, Ebay's reputation is shit, that's why I try and avoid it.
The CSM10 is amazing, but it had an annoying intermittent fault, wouldn’t power up occasionally, and would cut out now and again, with a loud hum.
I fixed both issues, one day I thought, I don’t care if I f**k this up, I'll just have a go.
Output socket was loose on the board, re-soldered it, power input socket was also loose, soldered that and all worked perfectly, never malfunctioned since.
These issues were obviously there when the guy sold it to me "in perfect working condition"

[Hugh Robjohns]

Ebay is very much a case of caveat emptor... but I've had 100% success with the various things I've won on it. And if something is not exactly as described Ebay is very good at allowing the buyer to reject it.

[tacitus]

Executive decision, it’s going.
Strangely, I have found an organ in my Yamaha MX61 that is absolutely beautiful, after a bit of tweaking, it's very much like my dream organ, that Robert Wyatt uses a lot, the MX organ is it, spot on.

Oddly enough, I had a similar thing happen to me after I started playing my 73-key Yamaha piano in the band I normally play Bari sax in, and accessed the “organ” sound. It’s just a typical screamy Hammond sound but it’s built-in, sounds right in the 9/10 piece band, and if I have the 3-pedal set plugged in I can start and stop the rotor on the Leslie. So for the moment I have the Nord C2D at home, to use its sampled baroque organ for church organ practice. Not what I’d envisaged, but with my feeble keyboard technique it’s close enough.

[Folderol]

I had fully intended to fix it. I've manged to find quite detailed drawings and none of the problems are show-stoppers. However, so far it's been impossible to find days when Tony is at home!

It's a long way to go, just to find nobody's there

[Arpangel]

I had fully intended to fix it. I've manged to find quite detailed drawings and none of the problems are show-stoppers. However, so far it's been impossible to find days when Tony is at home!

It's a long way to go, just to find nobody's there

Will, I didn’t want to bother you, and I didn’t want you to feel pressured in any way.
If you still want to have a go we are here most of the time, our medical stuff has eased off now, plus, I wouldn't expect you to give up your time for nothing.
But it is just another problem, is it worth it? and how much would I use it if it was working, that’s the question.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Wouldn't it make sense to drop the machine off at Will's place — if he's happy to work on it?

That way he can tackle it as and when he has time, with ready access to his tools and test gear, without having to trek across the country and fit in with other people's schedules.

[Folderol]

Well that's a good idea... except...
You haven't seen the size of my place. There would be two choices. The kitchen table or the cellar. The cellar is not very dry and has accumulated {mmmfty}{mummmf} years worth of junk - and I don't even know how I could get rid of it. Sorting and storing the few good bits wouldn't be easy either

[Hugh Robjohns]

Ah yes, the kitchen table... I use it all the time for 'projects' because it has a built-in anti-procrastination feature.....called Mrs R.

[Arpangel]

I think its time to donate the organ to someone who will fix it up, and enjoy it, best thing. I did ask someone, but he doesn’t seem to have time to pick it up.
I'll call Sam Battle at the Museum in Ramsgate, he might be interested in taking it, if not, it’s the charity shop, we just want it out of the way.

[Arpangel]

Update, being collected next week, problem over.

[Folderol]

Well, I'm off to NFFF tomorrow, but will be returning Monday. If you like I can divert to your place on the way back and drop off a somewhat substantial wodge of drawings for it

[Arpangel]

Well, I'm off to NFFF tomorrow, but will be returning Monday. If you like I can divert to your place on the way back and drop off a somewhat substantial wodge of drawings for it

Thanks a lot Will, that would be very useful for the new owner, he collects Farfisa's and has restored them before, I know it's going to a good home.
He’s coming Monday afternoon, if you can make it then.

[Ben Asaro]

Nothing to add except to say that Farfisa Emergency is a brilliant album title. Perhaps Farfisa Emergency Bureau?

[OneWorld]

Sounds like it'd be too much of a Faff-isa to get any use out of it, do you want to swap it for a bowl of cornflakes?

[Folderol]

Well, I'm off to NFFF tomorrow, but will be returning Monday. If you like I can divert to your place on the way back and drop off a somewhat substantial wodge of drawings for it

Thanks a lot Will, that would be very useful for the new owner, he collects Farfisa's and has restored them before, I know it's going to a good home.
He’s coming Monday afternoon, if you can make it then.

It'll depend a lot on the traffic. Monday is not a good traveling day on the motorways, so I usually take the slower A roads and rat runs. If it's not looking practical by the time I get to Maidstone I'll let you know.