Large console organs like the Hammond B-3 and C-3 were used by many rock bands. However, the big drawback to these large dual manual organs was the size and weight. Bands needed a large truck or van and several strong backs to carry these to and from gigs.

In the 1950s Vox in England, who had been manufacturing large church organs started to make smaller organs. These smaller, lighter, way more portable instruments where known as "combo organs", since they were used by combos, another name for a band.

They called their original combo organ "The Univox". It had a three-octave keyboard, and was designed to easily fit under a piano keyboard. In addition to the standard organ sounds, it also had a good synth-banjo sound.

In 1960 Vox began making the Continental, which they called "a transistor organ", since it was solid state, unlike the Univox, which had tubes. It had a four-octave (49 note) keyboard and came with aluminum legs that could be easily removed for transporting. This organ was made popular by the 60's British invasion groups, like the Animals and the Dave Clark Five. Later that decade, Vox also introduced two dual-manual versions of the Continental.

Another very popular combo organ, that first appeared in 1965, was the Farfisa, made in Italy. Like the Vox Continental, it was available in both single and dual manual versions.

Sales of combo organs probably peaked in 1967, when there were around 30 different organs ranging in price from a few hundred to over $1000.

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