Another weird instrument (Optigan)

Subject: Another weird instrument
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 10:30 AM

OK, it may not be acoustic, but who can resist the "Edsel of instruments"? See the Optigan at:
Click Here
RtS (the bizarre is my busines)

Subject: RE: BS: Another weird instrument
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 10:42 AM

Well Skiff.........oy.................

Kinda' brings new meaning to their old slogan,

If its made by Mattel, its swell!

Ya' gotta' love those kind of websites though. Its like someone devoting a lot of time to something really stupid like possums or a mythological nuthouse or.............uh.......hmmmmm............Yeah, well never mind that.............

Thanks for the info.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Another weird instrument
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 10:47 AM

Well, boss, I thought we'd get one for the rec' room at the Center? Must go, gotta throw the Betamax in the trunk of the Edsel, switch on the 8-track and go off to pick some winners for Saturday at Ascot (otherwise known as Roger's annual donation to sick animals).
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Another weird instrument
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 10:55 AM

Good program Skiff.....Go for it. Snatch up all of those things you can get since we seem to have a lot of inmat.....uh, patrons....who are objecting to the used Nose Flutes.

Have a good time. Personally, I haven't bet on a race since October of '91.........I don't think the nag has finished yet, but I haven't checked in the past few days.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Another weird instrument
From: Jon W.
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 03:08 PM

By golly, I'm going to keep my eyes open for one of those (Optigans, not horses)

Subject: RE: BS: Another weird instrument
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 04:07 PM

It's the 21,225 or so visitors to that site that scares me.

Beats the Theremin?

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Another weird instrument
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 05:35 PM

A couple of years ago I was incredibly intrigued when I went to see the Old Rope String Band at Wakefield Folk Festival. I spotted a strangely shaped object and did correctly identify it as a Theremin (Is that the correct spelling?). I was even more impressed when it was actually played. What a beautiful effect, so totally etherial. I would love to have one of my own some day. Quack!

Subject: RE: BS: Another weird instrument
From: Hardiman the Fiddler
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 05:51 PM

Finally, an instrument that I could play well..... Hardiman

Subject: RE: BS: Another weird instrument
From: Dharmabum
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 07:37 PM

We acually had one of these marvels in our living room for a period of time. I think it was around 77/78. My sister,who is an avid garage saler,found one. I don't remember what she paid for it but I'm certain it wasn't much. I remember that it did sound rather cheezy & it was a rather large piece of {dare I say} furniture, considering the small amount of electronics that acually went into it. The biggest attraction for me was putting the disc{we only had one} in upside down for the "effects". Sort of early Pink Floydish, depending on how much& what you were smoking. It eventually was recycled back into the garage sale loop for what I'm certain wasn't much.

Ron.

Subject: RE: BS: Another weird instrument
From: Margaret V
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 10:40 PM

Actually the theremin is currently enjoying relative hipness in the avant garde music scene right now. In a way it reminds me of the didjeridoo; not, of course, in its sound but in the fact that the distinctness of its sound makes a big enough impact on audiences that composers don't always bother to compose music for it that is actually interesting. . . Margaret

Subject: RE: BS: Another weird instrument
From: Margaret V
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 11:32 PM

Whoops. . . apologies for the redundancy of "currently" and "right now." Margaret, grammatically contrite

Subject: RE: BS: Another weird instrument
From: Melani
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 01:03 AM

The thing in the picture looks exactly like my mother's Hammond organ, but from the description, probably sounds a lot worse. By the way, my son has really wanted a theremin for years, ever since he heard it on TV. It does make me wonder a little about the family gene pool.

Subject: RE: BS: Another weird instrument
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 09:12 AM

Intruiging, but I think the Theremin may be more fun or even a Jarre "Laser Harp".

Speaking of nose flutes does anyone know anywhere in the UK I can get one? I used to have one I bought in Cambridge years back (the shops gone now!) but that old habit of putting small instruments in my back jeans pocket did for it and I'd love to find another.

Subject: RE: BS: Another weird instrument
From: Grab
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 11:46 AM

Theremins are a moderately popular electronics project. There were plans in Everyday Practical Electronics magazine not so long back, so you might be able to get back issues if you're interested in making one.

Grab.

Subject: RE: BS: Another weird instrument
From: Jon W.
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 02:05 PM

I think theremins are also available at Lark in the Morning (they have an online catalog but I'm too rushed right now to post a link)