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I would like to present one of my favourite projects: new bass pedals for a barefoot CD. I think the 60ies Farfisa combo flagship is complete with bass pedals only. CDs are rare, bass pedals were an extra then, today almost impossible to find. Looking for a substitute I came across an ad of Farfisa Professional 88 from 1980, with bass pedals pictured. I decided to try that. After all the same label, only 10 years ahead technically. The Professional 88 is one of the last combo organs made by Farfisa, very heavy indeed.
Bass pedals come with a tasteful bag (fabric unidentified) and a cable with flat 24-pin plug. First challenge: a Hirschmann MES160 16-pin plug for CD connection. Hard to find but not impossible. Bakelite are vintage steampunk these days. Some months later I had a small collection of such pieces!
Second challenge: changing plugs. The bottom plate should be removed to identify the wiring. The FP88 pedals have about 22 wires with a different colour code compared to CD pedals (16 wires). Wires for each pedal key can be identified and connected to the corresponding pin of MES160 according to the CD schematic. The CD wiring starts with C up to the octave C (13 notes). The FP88 starts with an G# down to the lower octave (schematics). So there are differences. 16 pin for CD: 13 for each key plus 3 others. I figured out the connection of 13, 14, 15 (FP88) to 1,2, 3 (CD, MES160 pins). So, just 16 wires must be connected, the rest is dimissed.
Third challenge: How to get that ominous octave C on THAT bass pedal? This is optional because an octave C wiring on FP88 is not provided (didn't look for one). One octave bass pedals are perfect for playing. One can easily ignore the missing octave C. But I was so ambitious to make it sound. So the corresponding wires for this CD derived pedal note were connected with an impro-extra contact switch (a bit steam punk too).
Conclusion: FP88 bass pedals can be successfully connected to a Farfisa Compact Duo. At least one full bass octave can be activated, octave C connection optional. External requirements: finding FP88 bass pedals, finding Hirschmann MES160. With these shoes this Compact Duo is really good looking.
Bass pedals come with a tasteful bag (fabric unidentified) and a cable with flat 24-pin plug. First challenge: a Hirschmann MES160 16-pin plug for CD connection. Hard to find but not impossible. Bakelite are vintage steampunk these days. Some months later I had a small collection of such pieces!
Second challenge: changing plugs. The bottom plate should be removed to identify the wiring. The FP88 pedals have about 22 wires with a different colour code compared to CD pedals (16 wires). Wires for each pedal key can be identified and connected to the corresponding pin of MES160 according to the CD schematic. The CD wiring starts with C up to the octave C (13 notes). The FP88 starts with an G# down to the lower octave (schematics). So there are differences. 16 pin for CD: 13 for each key plus 3 others. I figured out the connection of 13, 14, 15 (FP88) to 1,2, 3 (CD, MES160 pins). So, just 16 wires must be connected, the rest is dimissed.
Third challenge: How to get that ominous octave C on THAT bass pedal? This is optional because an octave C wiring on FP88 is not provided (didn't look for one). One octave bass pedals are perfect for playing. One can easily ignore the missing octave C. But I was so ambitious to make it sound. So the corresponding wires for this CD derived pedal note were connected with an impro-extra contact switch (a bit steam punk too).
Conclusion: FP88 bass pedals can be successfully connected to a Farfisa Compact Duo. At least one full bass octave can be activated, octave C connection optional. External requirements: finding FP88 bass pedals, finding Hirschmann MES160. With these shoes this Compact Duo is really good looking.
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