Vox Continental

VOX CONTINENTAL

The Vox Continental is probably the most famous of the 'new breed' of transistor organs that started emerging in the early '60s.

Previously, organs were built around tone-wheel technology. This undoubtedly created a fantastic (classic) organ sound but made the instruments heavy and unwieldy (and expensive).

With the advent of transistors, it was possible to create lightweight, portable organs.... in theory.

In practice, the majority sounded thin and weak by comparison. However, that sound in itself appealled to the new 'surf' and 'beatnik' music that was evolving at the time. The portability also appealled to groups.

The Vox Continental was unusual in that it actually sounded quite good.... not cheap and cheesy like so many of its rivals.

Although possibly better known for their amplifiers (the legendary AC30, for example), Vox actually started life as a manufacturer of 'traditional' home and church organs. With the emerging new 'micro' technology of transistors, they saw the possibility to use this technology in their products.

The Vox Continental was the first of these (1962) and had drawbars to create sounds. The first three white ones allowed you to adjust the levels of the 16', 8' and 4' registers whilst the two maroon drawbars offered a sine wave and a reedy sawtooth wave. The fourth white drawbar was labelled "IV" (known as the 'Frank IV' - dunno why!) and had the effect of all three main drawbars and the "Sine" drawbar on their full setting.

Below these were the mains switch and a switch to activate a simple vibrato effect. Although the vibrato wasn't variable in any way, below the panel were trimmer pots which allowed you to set your preferred rate and depth - more adventurous players had these brought out on controls so that these parameters could be set more freely.

Of course, one distinctive feature of the Continental was the inverse keyboard. This styling served no purpose other than to make the thing look more distinctive.

Another distinctive feature of the instrument was its striking, chrome 'Z-frame' legs - this thing just looked cool compared with the stuffy wooden organ cabinets of the time!

Vox went on to make a dual manual Continental and other variations on the theme. Later on, they produced the Jaguar but many claim that this is a poor substitute for a Continental.

The Vox Continental's most famous user was probably Ray Manzarek of the Doors but prior to this, it was also used by UK organist Alan Price (The Animals), the Dave Clarke Five, the Tornados and countless others.

Although lacking the body and depth of a 'proper' tonewheel organ, the Continental has a strong and distinctive sound and still has many devotees today.