Fender Contempo Organ
Encyclopedia
The Fender Contempo Organ is a type of combo organ
made by Fender.
, Gibson
, Farfisa
, Ace Tone
, and many others, Fender Musical Instruments chose to take a shot at the combo organ market late into the game. The manufacturing dates are unknown, but the Contempo's were manufactured at least as early as 1967 and sold as late as 1971.
The Fender Contempo was one of the sturdier combo organs of the 1960s, with its heavy wooden, tolex
-covered road case and ABS
top, quite similar to that of the Fender Rhodes in production at that time. Pratt Reed manufactured many of the components for both the Contempo and the Rhodes pianos at the time. It was also a visually striking organ with its bright red top, adorned with the chrome Fender script logo, reverse-coloured bass octave keys, black and white stop tabs and a chrome stand and pedal.
Sonically speaking, the instrument lay somewhere between the thick weedy "buzz" of a Farfisa Combo Compact, and the breathy, piercing flutey tones of the Vox Continental
. The Contempo set itself apart with the inclusion of the 5-1\3' stop tab (often not included on combo organs, though an essential footage of jazz organ), the rarely seen tremolo
effect and the unique triple axis volume
pedal, which controlled both volume on the up and down motion, and tone on the left to right motion. This pedal was actually adapted from the triple axis tone\volume pedals sold with Fender Pedal Steel guitars at the time.
Unfortunately due to the relative unsuccess of the Contempo, it is difficult to provide many examples of the Contempo's usage. One of the most famous users is actually Keith Jarrett
when he played in Miles Davis
group. *Keith Jarrett w. Miles Davis The organ can be heard played together with Rhodes piano
on the Miles Davis record Live-Evil and by itself on some live recordings with the Miles Davis group, when Chick Corea
took over the Rhodes and Jarrett only played the Contempo. Another recording is Ruta and Daitya
with Jarrett and Jack DeJohnette
. In rock music, Toronto indie pop bands Beth in Battle Mode and The Gardens Faithful made extensive use of the Contempo.
Combo organ
A combo organ is an electronic organ of the frequency divider type, generally produced between the early 1960s and the late 1970s. The combo organ concept, at least in the context of mass-production, is thought to have been born from the accordion, probably in Italy, as the brainchild of necessity...
made by Fender.
History
In the early- to mid 1960s, there was an influx of inexpensive portable combo organs aimed at teen keyboardists inproduced by VoxVox (musical equipment)
Vox is a musical equipment manufacturer which is most famous for making the Vox AC30 guitar amplifier, the Vox Continental electric organ, and a series of innovative but commercially unsuccessful electric guitars and bass guitars...
, Gibson
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
, Farfisa
Farfisa
Farfisa is a manufacturer of electronics based in Osimo, Italy.The Farfisa brand name is commonly associated with a series of compact electronic organs, and later, a series of multi-timbral synthesizers. At the height of its production, Farfisa operated three factories to produce instruments, in...
, Ace Tone
Ace Tone
Ace Electronic Industries Inc., or Ace Tone was a manufacturer of musical instruments, including electronic organs and analogue drum machines, and effects pedals. Founded in 1960 by Ikutaro Kakehashi with an investment by Sakata Shokai, Ace Tone can be considered an early incarnation of the Roland...
, and many others, Fender Musical Instruments chose to take a shot at the combo organ market late into the game. The manufacturing dates are unknown, but the Contempo's were manufactured at least as early as 1967 and sold as late as 1971.
The Fender Contempo was one of the sturdier combo organs of the 1960s, with its heavy wooden, tolex
Tolex
Tolex is the trade name of a flexible vinyl material used to cover Fender amplifiers, Coffin Case guitar cases and guitar cases from the 1960s onwards....
-covered road case and ABS
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is a common thermoplastic. Its melting point is approximately 105 °C ....
top, quite similar to that of the Fender Rhodes in production at that time. Pratt Reed manufactured many of the components for both the Contempo and the Rhodes pianos at the time. It was also a visually striking organ with its bright red top, adorned with the chrome Fender script logo, reverse-coloured bass octave keys, black and white stop tabs and a chrome stand and pedal.
Sonically speaking, the instrument lay somewhere between the thick weedy "buzz" of a Farfisa Combo Compact, and the breathy, piercing flutey tones of the Vox Continental
Vox Continental
The Vox Continental is a transistor-based combo organ that was introduced in 1962. Known for its thin, bright, breathy sound, the "Connie," as it was affectionately known, was designed to be used by touring musicians...
. The Contempo set itself apart with the inclusion of the 5-1\3' stop tab (often not included on combo organs, though an essential footage of jazz organ), the rarely seen tremolo
Tremolo
Tremolo, or tremolando, is a musical term that describes various trembling effects, falling roughly into two types. The first is a rapid reiteration...
effect and the unique triple axis volume
Loudness
Loudness is the quality of a sound that is primarily a psychological correlate of physical strength . More formally, it is defined as "that attribute of auditory sensation in terms of which sounds can be ordered on a scale extending from quiet to loud."Loudness, a subjective measure, is often...
pedal, which controlled both volume on the up and down motion, and tone on the left to right motion. This pedal was actually adapted from the triple axis tone\volume pedals sold with Fender Pedal Steel guitars at the time.
Unfortunately due to the relative unsuccess of the Contempo, it is difficult to provide many examples of the Contempo's usage. One of the most famous users is actually Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett is an American pianist and composer who performs both jazz and classical music.Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey, moving on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s he has enjoyed a great deal of success in jazz, jazz fusion, and classical music; as...
when he played in Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
group. *Keith Jarrett w. Miles Davis The organ can be heard played together with Rhodes piano
Rhodes piano
The Rhodes piano is an electro-mechanical piano, invented by Harold Rhodes during the fifties and later manufactured in a number of models, first in collaboration with Fender and after 1965 by CBS....
on the Miles Davis record Live-Evil and by itself on some live recordings with the Miles Davis group, when Chick Corea
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
took over the Rhodes and Jarrett only played the Contempo. Another recording is Ruta and Daitya
Ruta and Daitya
Ruta and Daitya is an album released on ECM by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett and drummer Jack DeJohnette. It features seven duet performances recorded in the studio.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Richard S...
with Jarrett and Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette is an American jazz drummer, pianist, and composer. He is one of the most influential jazz drummers of the 20th century, due to extensive work as leader and sideman for musicians like Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett and Sonny...
. In rock music, Toronto indie pop bands Beth in Battle Mode and The Gardens Faithful made extensive use of the Contempo.
controls
- Bass Voices: Diaphone 16', Boost 16' f/ff/fff, String Bass 8', Boost 8' f/ff/fff, Horn 4', Boost 4' f/ff/fff
- Normal/Solo Switch: Switches the bass section between Bass and Solo voices
- Treble Voices: Cello 16, Diaphone 16, Boost 16 f/ff/fff, Diaphone 8, String 8, Clarinet 8', Boost 8' f/ff/fff, Quint 5-1/3', Boost 5-1/3' f/ff/fff, String 4', Principal 4', Boost 4' f/ff/fff,
- Effects: Solo Timbre, Vibrato Slow/Fast, Vibrato On, Solo Tremolo