Stylophone: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Originalstylophone.JPG|thumb|right|Original Stylophone being played]] |
[[Image:Originalstylophone.JPG|thumb|right|Original Stylophone being played]] |
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The '''Dübreq Stylophone''' is a miniature [[stylus]]-operated synthesizer invented in 1967 by [[Brian Jarvis (inventor)|Brian Jarvis]] |
The '''Dübreq Stylophone''' is a miniature [[stylus]]-operated synthesizer invented in 1967 by [[Brian Jarvis (inventor)|Brian Jarvis]]. It consists of a metal [[musical keyboard|keyboard]] played by touching it with a stylus — each note being connected to a [[Potential difference|voltage]]-controlled [[Electronic oscillator|oscillator]] via a different-value [[resistor]] - thus closing a circuit. Some three million Stylophones were sold, mostly as children's toys. |
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The Stylophone was available in three variants: standard, bass and treble, the standard one being by far the most common. There was also a larger version called the 350S with more notes on the keyboard, various voices, a novel 'wah-wah' effect that was controlled by moving one's hand over a photo-sensor, and two stylii. |
The Stylophone was available in three variants: standard, bass and treble, the standard one being by far the most common. There was also a larger version called the 350S with more notes on the keyboard, various voices, a novel 'wah-wah' effect that was controlled by moving one's hand over a photo-sensor, and two stylii. |
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Revision as of 12:52, 1 January 2010
The Dübreq Stylophone is a miniature stylus-operated synthesizer invented in 1967 by Brian Jarvis. It consists of a metal keyboard played by touching it with a stylus — each note being connected to a voltage-controlled oscillator via a different-value resistor - thus closing a circuit. Some three million Stylophones were sold, mostly as children's toys.
The Stylophone was available in three variants: standard, bass and treble, the standard one being by far the most common. There was also a larger version called the 350S with more notes on the keyboard, various voices, a novel 'wah-wah' effect that was controlled by moving one's hand over a photo-sensor, and two stylii.
Rolf Harris appeared for several years as the Stylophone's advertising spokesman in the United Kingdom.
Usage
The Stylophone appears on a few commercial recordings, most notably David Bowie's "Space Oddity" and "Slip Away" and the commercial rave single "Stylophonia" by Two Little Boys in 1991. Kraftwerk used the Stylophone on the track "Pocket Calculator" from their album Computer World. The British duo Erasure also employed it on the single "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me" (from the album Cowboy in 1997) as well as on their 2000 album Loveboat. In a lesser-known instance, the Stylophone is used for the bulk of Orbital's 1999 single, "Style". Marilyn Manson made use of it for "You and Me and the Devil Makes 3". They Might Be Giants played the Stylophone in several of their songs, including "The Cap'm" and "Bee of the Bird of the Moth" on their 2007 album, The Else. Jon Spencer has used the Stylophone extensively on recordings with his band Blues Explosion, and has famously had problems bringing the device — described as "the world's most annoying musical instrument" — through airport security.[citation needed] Korn used the instrument on their seventh studio album, 2005's See You on the Other Side, during the introduction of its thirteenth track, "Seen It All". Umphrey's McGee guitarist Jake Cinninger has used the instrument during live performances.
Jazz saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk played Stylophone on a 1969 live performance of "I Say a Little Prayer".
The Stylophone is also listed as being played by Jack White on The Raconteurs' 2008 album Consolers of the Lonely. While on tour in 2008, The Raconteurs' merchandise booths included Stylophones as something to be purchased by concert-goers. In addition to this, in 2009 they held a contest through their website in which people would cover their songs, via YouTube videos, using a Stylophone. More recently, British band Los Campesinos! used the Stylophone in the song "Ways to Make It Through the Wall" on their latest album We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed, as well as Flight of the Conchords on the song "Demon Woman" off their sophomore album I Told You I Was Freaky.
The more versatile 350s version of the instrument was used by UK experimentalists Camberwell Now, and appeared on their album All's Well. The 350s dual-stylus version was also extensively used as a lead instrument by British band Pulp from 1992 to 1994. Its glacial tones are particularly evident on their breakthrough album His 'n' Hers (most notably the songs "Happy Endings" and "Pink Glove") whilst the 1993 album, Intro, features a track called "Styloroc (Nights of Surburbia)" which revolves around a riff played on the first model.
British electro artist Little Boots uses the Stylophone in many of her songs, often during live performances.
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2007 revival
In October 2007 toy company Re:creation, in conjunction with Dubreq Ltd (re-formed in 2003 by Ben Jarvis, the son of the original inventor), re-launched the Stylophone, 32 years after the original had ceased to be manufactured. The new model, officially called the S1 closely resembles the 1960s original but has a volume control and features an audio throughput function, as well as sporting two new sounds.[1]
The dubreq.co.uk website also lists an upcoming product codenamed S2. The page features a silhouette of the product which looks somewhat like the existing Stylophones, along with the text "The product that dübreq Ltd have been working on since 2002 and which is getting ever closer to fruition. The S2 will be the ultimate incarnation of the pocket synth and will take Stylophonic music to another level". Although there was some speculation that this product might be the forthcoming Stylophone BeatBox, a Dubreq director recently explained that this is not the case; the S2 will be an advanced version of the S1 with added sounds and extended keyboard range. [2]
In popular culture
In the Doctor Who audio drama Horror of Glam Rock, a glam rocker in 1974 is contacted by aliens through his Stylophone, and playing a certain tune on the instrument summons the aliens to Earth. The play includes an original song (composed by Tim Sutton and performed by Stephen Gately and Clare Buckfield) which heavily features the Stylophone.
Comedian Adam Buxton uses one in The Adam and Joe Show for the theme tune of Louise's Guide to Life.
In the UK TV series The Green Wing episode "Slave Auction", Boyce (Oliver Chris) is seen playing the Soft Cell version of the song "Tainted Love" on a Stylophone.
Roger Taylor's single The Unblinking Eye features a brief Stylophone solo.
Stylophone Beatbox
In September 2009, Re:creation released a new model of the Stylophone called the Stylophone Beatbox. This new Stylophone model "focuses on the unique key benefits and features of the original whilst offering new technology and more up to date sound". It has a circular keyboard with 13 metal sound pads that will play a different percussion sound, created by human beatboxer MC Zani - the winner of the 2008 Vauxhall UK Beatbox championships.
References
- ^ Elliott, Amy-Mae (14 September 2007). ""Iconic" Seventies Stylophone to be revived by HMV". Pocket-Lint Ltd. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
- ^ http://www.dubreq.co.uk/products_s2.php
External links
- Official Stylophone Website( www.stylophone.com)
- The Official Home of the ORIGINAL Dubreq Stylophone( www.stylophone.ws)
- The new official Dubreq Stylophone website and forum( www.stylophonica.com)
- Exclusive Studio Black Limited Edition
- Stylophone Beatbox
- Youtube clip of Brett Domino Trio performing on the Stylophone Beatbox
- Stylophone Collectors Website
- Hollow Sun -- Description and samples
- Pictures and films of the Stylophone
- Retrosound-Hobbyton -- Self-built Stylophone by Dr. Böhm
- Retrosound-Stylophone -- Dubreq Stylophone pics and more
- Microorgan -- Dubreq Stylophone and lots of fakes
- Mann Gegen Mann -- Stylophone live performance group
- Brett Domino -- UK based Stylophone virtuoso
- Little Boots -- Stylophone live performance, "Meddle"