Clavioline.com

You'll find samples, history, modifications, manuals and more on the Clavioline at Clavioline.com.

Clavioline 1950's Antique Synthesizer

via this auction

"This type of synthesizer was used in such songs as “Runaway” by Del Shannon and “Baby You’re A Rich Man” by the Beatles."

You can see some videos of Del Shannon's "Runaway" here.

Clavioline Old Analog Synthesizer

YouTube via sirredfox00
"This is a Demonstration of my Clavioline, a rare old analog Synthesizer and some excerps of old popular recordings, where the Clavioline has been utilized:

1. Frank Chacksfield's Tunesmiths - Little Red Monkey
2. Del Shannon - Runaway
3. Demonstration of my Clavioline. It was recorded with my Mp3-Voice-Recorder - so excuse the bad sound quality! Its the pure sound of the Clavioline, its own Leslie-Sound and effects and its Tubeamp (which is also the case for the keyboard), no extern amplifier, fx, leslie etc was used!
4. Tornados - Telstar"

Top 20 Weirdest Instruments – The Clavioline

See the write-up on Sonic State.

Del Shannon - Runaway solo on Alesis Ion

YouTube via adzy31.

Be sure to see this post.

"i love this song... mostly for the eerie solo in the middle. apparently performed on a heavily modified Clavioline the keyboard player dubbed the "musitron". good name...

unsurprisingly i can't get the sound right for this...probably need to get some effects going on."

Max Crook and the "Musitron" Custom Clavioline

Image via Max Cook's website. Max Cook was the man who played the "musitron" lead in Del Shannon's Runaway from 1961. Runaway was one of the first pop songs to feature what could be considered one of the first synthesizers. Comments disabled here to keep them in the previous post.

Del Shannon Runaway

YouTube via delshannonnetwork.

Inspired by this excellent post: Synth pop, circa 1961 on Sequence 15.

"Del Shannon singing "Runaway" which was a #1 hit in 1961. This became Del's first big smash and catapulted him to superstar status in over 21 countries. Max Crook was his organ player, playing a "musitron" which was built from parts from a clavioline, Viking 85 reel to reel machine, Fisher K-10 Reverb Spacexpander, a Gibson guitar amp, and several other parts and pieces. Maximilian's musitron was the perfect compliment to Del's soaring vocals and seering falsetto."

Update via Stephen:

Del Shannon Runaway live 1982

Re- Published on Aug 30, 2009 hastronder

Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 Rev 2 takes over the lead.

Del Shannon Runaway Live David Letterman 1986

YouTube via DelRocksMySpace.


Paul Schaffer on Oberheim OB-Xa. The audio isn't too good on this one, but it is fun to watch. Update: image of Max Crook via his website.

I'm guessing that's the "musitron" Clavioline.

Slemar Clavioline Concertmaster

via this auction. BTW, if you are even considering picking this up, read this post including the comments, and be careful with those caps! Also more info here.