A combo organ is a type of 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, was born from the transistor accordion, probably in Italy, as the brainchild of necessity for portable organs of simple design, mainly for use in small groups playing jazz, pop or dance music. These groups were known in the early 1960s as combos, hence the designation for this type of organ. As accordions were nicknamed "squeezebox," combo organs were likewise often dubbed "cheesebox." Combo organs ended up having a major impact on the music scene of the mid- and late 1960s, particularly on Rock & Roll of that era.
The definition of a combo organ is an electronic portable organ, usually transistorized (although some early designs used tubes while from the late 1960s onwards many models incorporated integrated circuits) and designed for use on stage, usually in the context of a band or group. Combo organs were best known for their bright, reedy, (or, as some describe it, a "cheesy") sound; their portability; surprising versatility; and relatively low price tag. Most such instruments have no built-in amplification - a guitar-type amplifier would normally be used. A typical combo organ has one or two keyboards, each covering between three and five octaves. A number of different pitches and tone-colours can be selected, usually via rocker switches known as stop-tabs or sliders called drawbars. Although the sounds may bear such names as "flute", "string" or "horn", they are not intended to sound like their orchestral namesakes - the nomenclature is borrowed from pipe organ tradition. Some instruments allow the keyboard to be split, the lowest octave or two producing a pedal-like bass tone. Most combo organs allow vibrato to be added to the sound; a few feature more unusual effects such as repeat percussion, "slalom" (pitch bend) or wah-wah. A volume pedal is normally used to vary the volume while playing. Less frequently an optional set of bass pedals can be attached. A combo organ is usually supported on a removable or folding stand or legs; these originally would have been supplied as part of the instrument. Soundwise, combo organs are very similar to each other, although there are definite discernable tonal characteristics that differ between models that might be considered "default" for each model. For instance, the Vox Continental tends toward having somewhat of a Hammond-like sound (only thinner); while the Gibson G-101 seems to have a metallic, harpsichord-like, percussive tone on some of its voices, with a bit of "after-ring" (even without "sustain" selected); and the Farfisa Combo Compact has a wiry, aggressive, muscular bite to some of its boosted tones.
To current collectors, players and enthusiasts, the visual aesthetic is often as important as the sound; the instruments were often available in bright and unusual colors (orange, blue, bright red, green) with showy chrome stands, multi-colored stop-tabs and reverse-colored or gray-and-white keys. Towards the mid 1970s, combo organs began to take on a more muted appearance, with woodgrain or black covering and conventional keyboard colors.
It should be noted that organs intended to emulate the sound and characteristics of a Hammond organ are not generally regarded as combo organs; see clonewheel organ.
Well-known combo organs include:
Many excellent combo organs were produced in such countries as Italy or Japan, yet some more common models used by major acts were manufactured in the United Kingdom or the USA. The combo organ's greatest popularity was during the 1960s, when it was featured on hits by The Doors, The Animals, Iron Butterfly, Manfred Mann, Them, Strawberry Alarm Clock, and many others. Although the instrument fell from favor during the 1970s there was a resurgence about 1977 when New Wave artists such as Blondie, Elvis Costello, Talking Heads and XTC started using them. More recently, vintage combo organs have been enjoying a substantial comeback, particularly among collectors, aficionados and players known affectionately as "Combo-nauts," and have been used extensively by The Horrors, Stereolab, Pulp, Kaiser Chiefs and Arctic Monkeys.
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