via this auction
Anyone know when the Clavitar was released? Here's a pic of George Duke in 1980 with one.
BTW, on the last page of the current September issue of Keyboard magazine (with Devo on the cover) is a one page feature on "Keytars Past and Pressent." I was under the impression that George Mattson's Performance Music Systems Syntar (1980) was the first keytar, before the Moog Liberation (1981). It looks like Roger Powell's Probe may have preceded it in 1977. Anyone know if it was just a controller or if it had a built in synth like the Syntar? Jan Hammer apparently also had a newer Probe, which you can see in this video and this video. Before everything was the Orphica from 1795.
Roger Powell image via audioholics
Orphica image via realsamples where you'll find a sample set of it. This might be a newer model though. The image or the Orphica in Keyboard looks much older and more like a mini harpsichord with neck attached.Update via plaztec in the comments: "The Probe, as invented by Powell (& Jeremy Hill) and refined by Jan Hammer in the area of the pitch & mod wheels (note the left-hand sides of their respective keyboards are quite different, Hammer preferring the Minimoog-style wheels), was a controller and not a self-contained synthesizer. Both had custom rigs; Powell had a bank of Oberheim SEMs, IIRC - and Hammer the same, blending the SEM sound with the Minimoog in order to get his signature lead tone. Jan also experimented with a cruder, squarish remote in order to get the placement and angle of the wheels exactly right for him, prior to the building of his custom Probe. IMHO, those two guys in their heyday were, and remain, the single most credible-looking and compelling rock keyboardists to use remote keyboards on stage, especially considering the musicians they shared the stage with..."
Update via Jimmersound in the comments: "There's also info on the Probe in this Synapse issue."
The Probe, as invented by Powell (& Jeremy Hill) and refined by Jan Hammer in the area of the pitch & mod wheels (note the left-hand sides of their respective keyboards are quite different, Hammer preferring the Minimoog-style wheels), was a controller and not a self-contained synthesizer. Both had custom rigs; Powell had a bank of Oberheim SEMs, IIRC - and Hammer the same, blending the SEM sound with the Minimoog in order to get his signature lead tone. Jan also experimented with a cruder, squarish remote in order to get the placement and angle of the wheels exactly right for him, prior to the building of his custom Probe. IMHO, those two guys in their heyday were, and remain, the single most credible-looking and compelling rock keyboardists to use remote keyboards on stage, especially considering the musicians they shared the stage with...
ReplyDeleteThere's also info on the Probe in this Synapse issue:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cyndustries.com/synapse/synapse.cfm?pc=43&folder=march1977&pic=24
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ReplyDeleteThere were 16 Davis Clavitars made and Mike Werner had number 15 designed by Waytne Yentis in L.A. CV gate dual-phonic and only as controller. Pretty old-school by today's standard, however oh so cool LOOKING!PMW
ReplyDeletehow can I get in touch with you about the clavitar. I have clavitar serial #008
DeleteDavis Clavitar # 008 and schematics to Davis Clavitar, please contact me at crazyjerrys@hotmail.com concerning you mentioning mike werner owner of clavitar # 15. trying to locate Mr. Werner. do you know him, where is clavitar he has. I own # 8 clavitar. trying to locate all 16 made. I have 12 of 16 clavitars owners. If you know any owners please let me know. Thanks so much. I also have the original schematics for the clavitar NECK, BODY, AND THE INTERFACE, DATED 1979, AND A PERSONAL LETTER FROM WAYNE YENTIS, DATED 1983 HAND TYPED AND SIGNED. He answered a question about the clavitar and sent the schematics.
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