Bootsy’s Farfisa Mod. C5/163 Compact FAST 5 (Needs repair)

Farfisa compact combo organs were a staple of the 1960s soundscape, used on seminal rock and soul recordings like Sam the Sham’s “Wooly Bully,” Question Mark and the Mysterians’ “96 Tears,” and Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman.” The Italian manufacturer introduced its FAST series of 61-key, compact combo organs in 1968, with the acronym standing for “Farfisa All Silicon Transistorized.” The FAST 5, or C5/163, was the top of the line among five variants. 

This one, with the serial number A.367/99, was used by Bernie Worrell, Maceo Parker, and Richard “Kush” Griffith on tour with Bootsy’s Rubber Band. Features include a passive volume pedal (with ¼-inch jack), chrome folding legs and retractable carrying handles; keyboard is contained in a metal cabinet covered with a skin plate and plastic edges.

The item does not turn on. It may still work with the right mechanical know-how, or it will still make a nice collectors piece.

Specs: 

• Bass Tabs (black): Pedal Bass Manual: Soft/Sharp, Manual Bass Selector: Treble/Bass
• Vibrato Tabs (blue): Slow/Fast, Light/Heavy, Off/On
• Treble Voice Tabs (purple): Bass 16', Bass Clarinet 16', Flute 8', Oboe 8', Trumpet 8', Strings 8', Flute 4', Piccolo 4', Mixture, Brilliant Mixture
• Percussion Tabs (orange): Manual Bass On/Off, Treble On/Off, Long/Short, Mixture On/Off, Mixture Soft/Sharp
• Sustain Voice Tabs (yellow): Celesta 8', Clavichord 8', Kinura 8'

Knob: Volume