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Model Name/Number: C2/143=Compact FAST 2 Rather anemic, feature-wise, the FAST 2 is nonetheless a pretty cool looking little fellow, all orange and dark blue-grey body, with orange ball feet. It sports a 4-octave keyboard, with 3 octaves dedicated to treble voices and a 1-octave fixed bass section. There are only four treble voices, all 8'. The single-voice bass octave is always-on, controlled only by the bass volume control. The bass notes feed into the same voice filter as the Flute tab (but are not switched on/off by that tab), and so have the same sound. Thus, with only the Flute tab on, you get four full octaves of Flutes. The Bass keys, however, are monophonic, with low-note priority. It also has a built-in 10-watt amp with two 6x9 speakers - an unusual feature for one of the earlier Farfisas (some of the later VIPs and Matadors had amps/speakers built-in). The sound of the FAST 2 isn't as anemic as you'd expect. It actually sounds pretty good, for being single-footage voices. The four voices are noticeably different from one another, and mix together well. One rather odd "feature" is that the lowest 5 notes in the Treble section are monophonic. For some odd reason, They decided to save a buck (or two) by skimping on the lowest four dividers. Note about the pictures below. These are some really good pictures, which is why I chose them, but I don't believe the two orange-topped knobs are original. The original knobs are grey with a brass-color top.
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Model Name/Number: Compact FAST 2/C (or 2/E) Model C2-E/144 A rather odd beast, what with its largely wood grain appearance, and *almost* normal colored keys (White naturals, Grey sharps/flats), it just doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the line, cosmetically. Still, the ID plate proudly proclaims it as a member of the FAST line - so be it. The FAST 2/C appeared in a flyer with a 1969 date code, so it may have been introduced somewhat later than the rest of the FAST series. I'm sort of guessing at the first part of the model number (above). The only good clear shot of an ID badge I have is shown below, and the first part is cut off, but if it follows with the others, it's likely a 'C'. As you can see, one of these is a FAST 2/C, and the other a FAST 2/E, but they look identical.
Micke Lindgren supplied the following additional information: "I have an original German leaflet for this model (FARFISA G.V. 69482) and the organ pictured in there looks identical to the ones on your site with the exception that it's sitting on a speaker/amp wood grain cabinet, like a small spinet! Now, from what I understand it actually came like this but if you wanted you could detach the organ part from the cabinet to use as a portable organ (I can imagine though that the ugly looking cabinets were discarded very quickly). The organ has inputs for a swell pedal, an external amp, and a head-phone connector." Micke points out that the number, 69482, on the leaflet, may indicate it was released in 1969. The Fast 2/C did appear in the May, 1970 price list, so that may well be the case. He also was able to translate the description in the leaflet, and from that has surmised that the tabs work as follows: The lighter grey voice tabs are for the treble section. Only the dark grey tabs affect the bass section, which comprises the first 17 keys. The 8'/16' selects either footage for the bass section, "p/f" is a soft.loud switch, and Manual Bass Off/On converts the bass section to extend the treble voices across the keyboard. So that means with the bass section set for bass, you've only got 2-1/2 octaves in the treble section! Controls:
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Another good looker, this time with some significant improvements over the FAST 2. 7-voices in 3 footages, Bass section switchable to extend the treble section. Model Name/Number: I've seen four variations of the FAST 3. Following are the model names/numbers as they appear on the ID plates:
Here's the model C3/133 in White/Green with chrome legs:
And here's pretty much the same model, C3/133, but in White/Black. Note the script "Fast 3" on the back.
And here's the MM/133, looking just like the White/Green C3/133, but with white legs instead of chrome.
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The FAST 4 takes the FAST 3's features, and adds a few voices (Piccolo 4', Mixture, Brilliant Mixture), Percussion (separately selectable for Bass, Treble and/or Mixture voices), and a "Light/Heavy" switch for the Vibrato. Model
Name/Number: Mod.
C4/153=COMPACT FAST 4 - Some came with blue trim, and some with black.
Some have "Fast 4" in script on the back (and some don't).
From what I've seen, they all have the
same model name/number. This is the only decent picture of a blue-trimmed FAST-4 that I have:
Here's an interesting effect. Move your mouse over the picture below to remove the cover:
Here's a black-trimmed one showing the "Fast 4" lettering on the back:
And some more pictures of the black-trimmed version (without the "Fast 4" on the back)
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Top-o-the-line, the FAST 5 improves on the FAST 4 with the addition of three 8' Sustain voices (Celesta, Clavichord, Kinura). Model Name/Number: Mod. C5/163=Compact FAST 5 - I've only seen them with black trim so far. Some have "Fast 5" in script on back, and some don't. I also have seen one ID plate (shown below) with the model# C5/162 - no apparent differences.
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