1965 Vox Continental Vintage Combo Organ UK V301J Wooden Key w/ Z Legs, Cases, Cover

Up for sale, a circa 1965 Vox Continental, model V301J in near-mint condition and in good working order, complete with original chrome Z legs, volume pedal, legs case, and slip cover, all proprietary accessories for the UK-made iteration of the Continental. This is the most complete Vox Continental we've offered for sale in years, and it's an exceedingly well-kept and freshly serviced example.Among all of the iterations of the Continental to exist in the 1960s, this early British JMI made version is the true original and the combo organ that comes closest to emulating the beloved B3, while retaining the unique tonal character that launched a million combo organs in its wake. Fully serviced, this Continental utilizes tone generators with germanium transistors, giving it a warmth and harmonic richness not found on any later iteration of this organ (by late '66 the USA and Italian Continentals all used silicon transistors). The overall feel and action of the wooden keys is superb, with a light, springy quality and an elegance one simply doesn't expect from a combo organ. For a lush, authentic combo organ sound with an incredible range of tones, this Continental is tops. Nothing comes close to emulating the rich, edgy organ textures of a Continental, and their tonal versatility made them a favorite of the Beatles, the Doors, Elvis Costello and many others.The Vox Continental stands alone as the only combo organ to feature wooden keys on its earliest versions, and the feel and playability of said keys can not be overstated. The action is smooth and responsive, and the key bushings and felts are in great shape, with a quick feel that is consistent across all 49 keys, which are also extremely level.This organ has just been meticulously gone through and serviced, and all key contacts and drawbar settings are responding as they should. All of the drawbars work well and engage properly at all settings with a satisfying click. All of the original burgundy and yellow drawbar tips are intact, with stock "Mains" and "Vibrato" switches. Unlike later Continentals made in Italy, there are also clever Vibrato Speed and Depth trim pots on the vibrato-specific tag board under the hood for further controlling the effect. There's also a 110V-240V voltage selector under the hood, an uncommon feature not seen across all UK Continentals.This organ retains its original smooth dark gray covering and smooth orange top, complete with raised gold "Vox" logo. The UK serial number badge and "Vox Continental" logos are both present as well, and the earliest "Continental" logos were plexiglass (as seen here) as opposed to the metal variety on later versions. The tolex and original piping are incredibly clean, and the hardware is in great shape as well.The original Z legs are included and they are exceptionally clean. The five original oversized wingnuts attach the legs to the organ. The legs come complete in the original legs case, which is by far the rarest early Continental accessory. This case has a gray exterior, black leather accents, distinct early JMI handle, and working latches. The case interior is a very thin and fragile plaid paper which is nearly fully intact and speaks to the overall condition of the legs case. It's one of only a few of these cases we've ever seen for sale, and the cleanest example documented anywhere online.Along with the legs case, the Continental comes with its own original latching lid and vinyl "Vox" cover. Unlike later covers that read "Vox Continental," this accessory only came with the UK iteration and has clean silkscreen lettering (simply reading "Vox"), white piping, zero rips or tears, and black leather around the handle hole.The stock Vox volume pedal is also (you guessed it) unique to the earliest Continentals, with a more V shaped appearance, almost Art Deco-flavored style, and clean Vox letters on the face along with a very clean gray hammerite enclosure.This organ is fully serviced, sounds incredible and plays very well. If you seek the most oft-imitated and highly desired combo organ tones, this UK made Vox will do it with a depth, nuance and variety not found in any other keyboard. As we've detailed, a Continental this complete and thoroughly vetted hasn't shown up in this condition in years.A note on shipping: Shipping in the continental USA will be via FedEx Ground and will cost $225. We use double thick boxes, 1" foam, and industrial 1/2" bubble wrap to assure that your combo organ arrives safely (legs and legs case shipped separately). Due to the vintage and mechanically complex nature of this item, buyer acknowledges that there is a slight risk involved with shipping this keyboard, and accepts this risk in the unlikely event that the item may need minor adjustment upon arrival. The germanium transistors used on this Continental are temperature sensitive and careful adjustment of the trim pots is part of normal maintenance. We have safely packed many vintage analog keyboards and fully insure our shipments against loss or damage. We're here to help our customers get to know their vintage keyboards and we really care!