Gibson Clavioline w/ Solid State Tube Replacement

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This unit has been overhauled and is fully functional. All electrolytic and paper capacitors have been replaced. Also the 5Y3 has been replaced with a solid state device. The cabinet has been reconstructed. Also a three prong grounded cable has been installed, and has reduced hum a lot. Includes a keyboard stand and knee lever"

Tube "synth" minus the tube. See this repair video for what they look like on the inside.

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Farfisa Clavioline, vintage monophonic tube synthesizer from 50s/60s

video upload by Vintage Echo Room

Vintage Echo Room on Reverb

"Forgive my way of playing...really i don't have any technique! The video was made quickly just to demonstrate the functionality of the Clavioline. Initially the sound is taken directly from its amplifier, then I used the auxiliary jack output with my amplifier and I tried some external effects.

After this video i fixed the switch number "3" (basically a filter), there was a contact that didn't touch very well."

The First Songs to Use a Synth

Published on Sep 27, 2019 David Bennett Piano

"Most pop music today features ample synth, but when did the sound of the synthesizer first start featuring in pop and rock music? I take a look at some of pop music's synth pioneers, including The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Wendy Carlos, Paul Beaver and Max Crook."

Buchla doesn't get mentioned, but still a pretty cool video.

Brian Wilson talking about theramins late 80s-early 90s

Published on Jul 26, 2017 Elizabeth Haney

"This video ruined my life and I have a duty to reupload it"

Max Crook ( Del Shannon's keyboard player on Runaway )

Published on Apr 13, 2017 rockinkb

"Max talks about the musitron and the making of Runaway!"

Clavioline repair maybe one of the earliest valve vacuum tube synthesizers

Published on Feb 28, 2019 markusfuller

"Here is a simple repair on the Clavioline. this is one of the earliest ever synthesizers available from 1947. this was a simple fix though theres a lot more work that needs doing to it to bring it back to good health again."

Selmer Clavioline Auditorium Rare Vintage Valve/Tube Synth

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This rare Selmer valve 'synth' is in good working order - was serviced on behalf of the previous owner a year or so ago.
The outer case that houses the amp has been repainted and has had modern catches fitted.
The connecting cable looks to have been refurbished.
It plays well, keyboard is even and in good order and all switches seem to work as they should.
Sold as parts or not working simply because we can't guarantee it to be perfect - the tuning seems very good, but as we're not accepting returns, it's auctioned as-is.
The sound of the Tornados Telstar."

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30 Instruments and Innovations of Roland's Ikutaro Kakehashi on emusician.com

emusician.com has a post up here featuring the top 30 instruments and innovations of Ikutaro Kakehashi.

"With the passing of Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi, the synthesizer world lost one of its greatest visionaries.

In celebration of Kakehashi and his lifetime of defining, and redefining, the term 'musical instrument,' we have assembled a list of his most influential products and technologies—items that have had the greatest impact on popular music over the last 50 years— from his early days as the leader of Ace Tone to his legacy as the founder of Roland.

1. Ace Tone Canary S-2 (1962) [pictured] One of Ace Tone’s earliest successes was the Canary S-2 Clavioline. Based on the original Clavioline designed by Constant Martin in 1947, its tube-based architecture was later replaced by transistors in the S-3 model (pictured above). An example of the Clavioline sound can be found in the solo from Del Shannon’s “Runaway” (which for hair-splitters was actually a heavily modified early-model Clavioline unit redubbed the Musitron)."

Click through above for the full list.

Gibson Clavioline w/ amp, schematics and extra tubes

via this auction

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Gibson Clavioline France Selmer ondioline synthesizer

via this auction

"1950's Made in France Clavioline. I suspect this was a Gibson model since the 6 pin plug on it matches the Gibson schematic. These were made under license by many companies in many countries. Probably most famous for that 'Telstar' lead sound, also used on the Beatles 'Baby you're a rich man' (that weird Indian sounding oboe sound) and in modified form on 'Runaway'. I don't know that anyone is using one of these today in music outside of tribute/cover bands. Who knows, one of these may end up on an upcoming Daft Punk or Air record.

Physical condition: paint has lots of little scratches and dings as can be seen in the pictures but nothing is broken, all keys are in good shape -no cracks -just some scratches that will polish out, all toggles are in good shape and toggle, volume lever is present and its guts look clean, tuning knobs on either side are present and turn easily and all the hardware holding it together looks like the original hand made French Cad or Nick plated stuff. All in all a nice unit to restore or just clean up and use.

Functional condition: All the cloth bound wiring looks to be original without any cut wires. All capacitors are the original 'Tiny Chief' items and will likely require replacement. All tubes are in good shape -though untested. All the keys feel like they're doing what their supposed to. As far as using this, these were designed to be mated to an amplifier that provided power. I don't have the amp. I was going to build a break-out box that powered the unit, conditioned the signal coming out, had a regular volume pot and a 1/4" instrument jack. Not a big job for a competent DIY tube electronics type.

Box will be 26" x 18" x 8" and weight about 18 pounds."

Pics of the inside at the auction and below.

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Selmer Clavioline (The Telstar Sound) Antique Synth

via this auction
"This could have been delivered by Doctor Who 5 minutes ago from 1958. A bit of a timewarp item, you don't find these very often, they are rare, few survived the gigging of the sixties, and when you do they are usually in bits with half the keyboard missing. This one is in pretty good shape for its 60 or so years of age, and yes every key on the keyboard works. The built in amplifier also functions perfectly.
The case is in great condition, and I do have the original handle which needs to be fitted by an leather craftsman. The clavioline could probably do with a service as the switches on the front which change the sounds and reverberations work, but but a couple of them do not change the sound at all. There is a lot of information about these on the internet. Most interestingly is the historic value. The clavioline was the worlds FIRST electronic synthesiser [not really]. No museum music department should be without one."

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Vintage CLAVIOLINE Keyboard Manual

via this auction

See the seller's other items for more.

Tubular Bells by the Brooklyn Organ Synth Orchestra

YouTube Uploaded by rastro2 on Mar 3, 2011

Originally posted on 3/04/2011 10:09:00 AM but the video was taken down. It's back!
"Filmed and Directed by Amy Hobby.
Edited by Tony Zajkowski.

Over 20 different NYC female keyboardists playing vintage keyboards at Joe McGinty's Carousel Studio in Brooklyn, NY.

Available on iTunes!

Featuring:
Kaia Wong (Mixel Pixel)
Kelly Rae Kerwin (Private Income)
Natasha Bartolf

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1960's SELMER CLAVIOLINE "TYPE A"

via this auction

Serial Number 2727

Selmer Clavioline

YouTube via lockitout | January 23, 2011 |

"Selmer Clavioline testing.
Seems to work fine :)"

via this auction

"Here for auction is this very rare vintage synthesizer made in the late 50's - early 60's. This was one of the first electronic synthesizers and was quite advanced for its time. For those of you that have never heard of the Clavioline please have a look at this website"

Joe McGinty's "Tubular Bells" Video Screening & Mellodrama: The Mellotron Documentary

"For those in NYC:

Tubular Bells is an 8 minute video, directed by Amy Hobby, edited by Tony Zajkowski, featuring female keyboardists playing Joe McGinty's arrangement of Tubular Bells, performed on the vintage keyboard instruments at Carousel Studios, Brooklyn, NY.

Featuring (in order of appearance):
Kaia Wong (Mixel Pixel), Kelly Rae Kerwin (Private Income), Natasha Bartolf, Joanna Choy (Spray Paint Star), Amy Merril (Mia Riddle)
Greta Gertler (Universal Thump), Supercute!, Anna Copacabanna, Rolyn Hu (True Primes), Sondra Sun-Odeon (Silver Summit), Michi Turner (Crash Diet Crew, Jacques Detergent), Katia Floreska (The Tall Pines), Natalie Weiss (Unicornicopia), Wendy Ip, Alice Cohen, Kelley Vaughn-Kauffman (Winston Troy), Yvette Perez (H.E.R., Birdbrain, Peter Zummo Group), The Hula Hoop Harlot, Melissa-Anne, Alix Brown (Golden Triangle), Leah Cary (Girl Crisis), Caitlin Jemeson (Queen Of Sibyls).

Instruments (in order of appearance):
Hammond M3 Organ, Fender Rhodes Stage Piano, 1914 Steinway Vertigrand Piano, RMI Keyboard Computer KC-2, Jenco Celeste, Baldwin Solid Body Electric Harpsichord, Mattel Magical Musical Thing, Bebot, Thingamagoop, Hohner Clavinet D6, Casio CZ-101, Wurlitzer Electric Piano Model 700, Conn Electric Band, ARP 2600, ARP Omni, Suzuki Omnichord, Roland Keytar/Yamaha TX802, Yamaha CS01, Vox Continental, Farfisa Combo Compact, Fender Starmaster, Buzzing Bee, Stylophone, 360 Systems Digital Keyboard, Hammond Synthesizer, Gibson Clavioline, Yamaha CP60, Moog Little Phatty, Moog MiniMoog, Mellotron, Maas-Rowe Vibrachime.

Also screening: Mellodrama: The Mellotron Documentary
View the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCabuis6t2w [first posted here]

At IndieScreen
289 Kent Avenue at S 2nd Street, Williamsburg
Advance tickets here: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/130664"

Bode exhibit at Estey Organ Museum & a Note on The First Modulars

via el macaco on the AH list:

"I had the opportunity to check this exhibit out this past weekend, and I would recommend it to anyone in the Brattleboro, VT area to stop by and check it out. It is mostly pictures and text, with some of Harald Bode's notebooks and such, and some audio files from his tape recordings of his experiments. The organ museum is small but it has many old organs you can play and a walk through pipe organ, which is really the highlight of the place IMO.

I have heard so many times that Bob Moog and Don Buchla independently and at the same time came up with voltage controlled music circuits and a modular format for their synthesizers/electric music boxes around 1963. But Bode had built a voltage controlled modular system with integrated tape echo and reverb in 1960, and had published an article in Electronics magazine in 1961 about 'transistorized modular synthesis circuits. The web sites this article as a big influence on Bob Moog, and I am sure Don Buchla was aware of the article or at least of Bode's work stretching back to his 1937 formant organ and the melocord built for and used by Stockhausen. Bode appears to have built the first barberpole phaser so the influence on Buchla seems plausible. I would love to read the 1961 article, but I haven't found it in my websearches, if anyone has it please let me know.

It seems odd to me, because it wouldn't take anything away from Bob or Don, but it does take away the truth and the legacy of Harald Bode. It always seemed odd that they both came up with such similar systems independently, but it makes sense if they were drawing from the existing state of electronic design. So it seems to me, first voltage controlled modular synthesizer, Harald Bode 1960.

Anywho, they put out a CD of some of Bode's demonstration tapes which is available at the museum or through amazon. [LINK]

some beautiful music and some interesting demonstrations of his devices."

Update via haroldbodenews in the comments:

"Thanks for this great review!

We just posted the 1961 Electronics Magazine article for download.

http://haraldbodenews.wordpress.com/2010/08/31/123/

enjoy!

bests,
rp"

Jennings Univox / Clavioline

via this auction
"rare Jennings Univox. This is a similar synth to a Gibson Clavioline. I've owned the unit for a few years now and done a lot of work to it. The synth works well ... all the tubes work, all the keys work, and the buttons work as well. The tuning is stable ... you need to tune it every few hours or so. The action on the keyboard is a little rough, its an antique and plays like one. The cabinet has been retolexed with the green alligator-ish tolex. Underneath is the original brown tolex on the inside ... on the outside it seems to be there as well. This could be a great restoration project, or a really cool unique mono synth for your collection. This is the only tube synth you might ever own. These synths are pretty awesome. We've owned and maintained it at a pro studio in NYC"

Selmer Clavioline

via this auction

"Selmer Clavioline Concert model... restored a couple of years ago and it is in perfect working order. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clavioline This is a portable unit with its own valve amplifier and 10" speaker,Normally used mounted underneath a piano keyboard, where volume is controlled by a knee operated lever, it can also be used on a stand. The Clavioline is capable of some really 'way-out' sounds. Instantly recognisable as the sound used on "Telstar" by The Tornados (Joe Meek), or The Beatles 'Baby You're A Rich Man'. Iit was also Sun Ra's signature instrument. "

Selmer Clavioline valve analogue synthesizer reverb

via this auction

"This all valve keyboard has a wonderful sound. The concert reverb model is one of the rarest and was the most advanced of the clavioline models. It is alot more sophisticated than the univox or the other clavioline models. It can produce a huge variety of sounds. the reverb is really stunning.

Some of the fake crocodile cover is worn away on the corners, the cable from the keyboard to the amp is not original and there is bit of background hum but this becomes insignificant when you play it louder.

Otherwise it is in very good condition and very playable. I have used it on recordings and it has a really unusual sound, quite emotional. I think that valve based instruments do have special qualities, there aren't many out there to choose from.

It is quite versatile and can produce some modern aggressive sounds. A useful modification would be to get a signal out before the speaker so that you could record all the low end.
It would sound amazing with a valve based VCA and VCF. You could even convert it to midi using a midi to parallel converter. If you want to build the ultimate valve synthesizer you couldn't get a much better start than this." inside a clavioline

Selmer Clavioline

via this auction

"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clavioline

The Clavioline was the basis for the Vox / Jennings Univox. Invented in 1947 it is one of the very first electronic instruments, a monophonic synthesizer based on all-valve circuitry. A portable unit with its own valve amplifier and 10" speaker, it is also possible to use this mounted underneath a piano keyboard. The Clavioline is capable of some really out-there sounds. Famously used on "Telstar" by The Tornados (Joe Meek), it was also Sun Ra's signature instrument."

Maestrovox tube synth

via this auction
"Up for sale is a rare Maestrovox tube synthesizer keyboard instrument, one of 17 known to exist, and a unique model. These first went on sale in 1952. Much information on these, including schematics, can be obtained by visiting the following website, which belongs to the granddaughter of the inventor of the Maestrovox:
http://www.debbiecurtis.co.uk/id99.html

This Maestrovox is a special instrument because the keyboard's facade (rocker switches, entirely black paneling, etc), is imitative of the Clavioline, while it still maintained the same speaker/ amp cabinet as the regular Maestrovox Consort model. It has mounting stand. I think the way this Maestrovox was supposed to work is that you place the speaker/ amp cabinet on the ground, which brings the keyboard to playing height if you are in the sitting position. Quite a unique, cool set-up.

This Maestrovox is cosmetically in very good condition. The keyboard itself is in excellent condition. The speaker/ amp cabinet is missing its original grillcloth (a green replacement grillcloth has been mounted to the front with thumbtacks), and the tolex if pealing in a few places.

This Maestrovox MIGHT be completely functional, but my power converter does not provide enough wattage to adequately test it. It runs off of 220V/240V, because it was invented in Australia, and the only converter I could find locally that would support that voltage was at Radioshack, and it only could provide 44W of power, which is only enough for a small appliance (I have included a picture of the converter I used to test it). So, because of that, the Maestrovox could not be properly tested. From my albeit insufficient testing, the upper two octaves definitely worked, and the lower octave did not work. That is likely a simple fix because the Maestrovox, like the Clavioline, used three-octave dividers to derive all the pitches from a single top-octave tone generator. The sound is somewhat weak, which is also likely due to the insufficient wattage. It could even just be a bad tube, or perhaps the lack of power resulted in only two of the octaves working during testing. Why did Maestrovoxes, Claviolines, Ondiolines, and Solovoxes have only 36 notes? Because adding a 37th note would have required a fourth divider. This Maestrovox has an octave switcher with three positions immediately to the left of the rocker switches, and two tuning knobs on the left and right side of the keyboard front. The same thing happens one each octave setting: the lower octave of the keyboard does not play anything. With the schematics, it should be very easy to bring this to perfect functional condition, if it is not functioning perfect already when properly powered (I'm not able to test it sufficiently, as described below).

Further information on the history and function of portable and mountable tube synthesizers (namely the Clavioline, but also the Maestrovox, Ondioline, and Solovox) can be found here
And another Maestrovox-related webpage"