the Vox Continental. The Contempo had a unique 5-1⅓' stop tab (often not included on combo organs, though seen on a Hammond), a tremolo effect and a 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 adapted from the triple axis tone and volume pedals sold with Fender Pedal Steel guitars at the time. Two different cases were available for the Contempo. The more common version had handles on both the case lid and bottom, while the other had tapered edges and both handles on the lid. Controls The Contempo has a number of different voices. Each one has different switches to select volume (f/ff/fff)) by activating certain resistors. This is conceptually similar to the drawbars on a Hammond organ. 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 5-1⅓', Boost 5-1⅓' f/ff/fff, String 4', Principal 4', Boost 4' f/ff/fff, Effects: Solo Timbre, Vibrato Slow/Fast, Vibrato On, Solo Tremolo Users The Contempo was commercially unsuccessful and few models were manufactured, and was not used by many professional musicians. Keith Jarrett played a Contempo in Miles Davis' group, after Fender had given Davis the instrument. It can be heard together with the Rhodes piano on the album Live-Evil and by itself on some live recordings with Davis, when Chick Corea took over the Rhodes and Jarrett only played the Contempo. References Citations Sources External links The Fender Contempo Organ - Chicago Electric Piano Company Fender Contempo Organ demo Electronic organs