Showing posts with label MCI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MCI. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Guitorgan Flexi Disc Demo Records
Published on Nov 9, 2013 Adrian Täckman
Playlist:
1. Guitorgan B35, MCI/Steiner Synthesizer, Bassmate. Demo Record. 1981. Side A - "MCI presents the Guitorgan. As demonstrated by Bob Wiley. Also featuring the Bass Mate. Side 1 Model 340. Side 2 Model B300"
2. Guitorgan demonstration record. Side 2
3. Guitorgan B35, MCI/Steiner Synthesizer, Bassmate. Demo Record. 1981. Side A - "Instruments featured: B35 Guitorgan, MCI/Steiner Guitorgan Synthesizer. ABC-1. Bassmate II. The Money Makers from MCI, Inc. Waco, Texas"
4. Guitorgan B35, MCI/Steiner Synthesizer. Bassmate. Demo Record. 1981. Side B
Monday, May 26, 2014
Hoy Crap! GUITORGAN Analog Guitar Synth SN 1444
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction (yes it is "Hoy")
See the MCI channel label below for more.
via the seller: "Oh sweet mother of pearl! It's the Guitorgan. Here's the skinny:
What the 'ef is it? It's a late 60s or early 70s guitar/organ. Each fret is segmented, so the "brain" can read each note and make organ-like sounds, which really sound more like cheesy synth patches. It's also a regular guitar, and the footpedal/power supply thingy has an output for organ and straight guitar built right in along with a volume pedal. The guitar itself also has a regular 1/4" guitar out.
Where the 'ef did it come from? As I understand it, the Guitorgan company was in business a long time, mostly kept afloat by the inventor himself. The guitar itself seems to me to be some kind of Norma or similar Japanese guitar. The knobs, hardware, pickups, tuners, all scream Norma/Grecco and other imported guitars of that period.
What the 'ef does it sound like? Well…..it's actually not as bad as you'd think. Listening to the strait organ sound, you get a miniature forrest of switches to change the pitch, tone, waveform, add vibrato etc. But overall, it sounds for all the world like a cheese ball Lowery organ. What's cool about it is mixing that tone back in with the regular guitar sound. Then it starts actually sounding good.
What's even more interesting is that it if you slide or bend a string, you misstrigger the fret/switch, and that adds some random weirdness to what you are playing. So if you get all geeky and take the regular guitar sound and distort it, then mix it with the vibrating organ sound, you actually get something pretty huge and unique. A guy who puts a lot of time into using both sounds with a lot of pedals is likely to make some really special sounds with this. Add to that the idea that there's no reason the guitar has to be in tune with the organ since it's triggered off the frets. Tune every string a 5th out and you've got something crazy sounding.
I should also point out that you can also play this thing with one hand because the organ doesn't rely on the right hand strumming or plucking. So you can hold a full chord and the organ sound will play while you pick individual notes. Try it with Stairway to Heaven and you'll dig it. Also note the button by the nut: you can hit that and it triggers another chord, so you can play it open I suppose. I'm not really sure what that button and the button on the pick guard are supposed to do.
Condition: this Guitorgan is complete and appears to be working great. The cable is good, the foot pedal is good, the case is original. The guitar is played but I find no major flaws on it.
Playability: the action is fairly high on this guitar, and I think it has 11s on it right now. But it plays fine, though I think it would benefit from new and lighter strings. The guitar itself is HEAVY because of all the electronics."
via this auction (yes it is "Hoy")
See the MCI channel label below for more.
via the seller: "Oh sweet mother of pearl! It's the Guitorgan. Here's the skinny:What the 'ef is it? It's a late 60s or early 70s guitar/organ. Each fret is segmented, so the "brain" can read each note and make organ-like sounds, which really sound more like cheesy synth patches. It's also a regular guitar, and the footpedal/power supply thingy has an output for organ and straight guitar built right in along with a volume pedal. The guitar itself also has a regular 1/4" guitar out.
Where the 'ef did it come from? As I understand it, the Guitorgan company was in business a long time, mostly kept afloat by the inventor himself. The guitar itself seems to me to be some kind of Norma or similar Japanese guitar. The knobs, hardware, pickups, tuners, all scream Norma/Grecco and other imported guitars of that period.
What the 'ef does it sound like? Well…..it's actually not as bad as you'd think. Listening to the strait organ sound, you get a miniature forrest of switches to change the pitch, tone, waveform, add vibrato etc. But overall, it sounds for all the world like a cheese ball Lowery organ. What's cool about it is mixing that tone back in with the regular guitar sound. Then it starts actually sounding good.
What's even more interesting is that it if you slide or bend a string, you misstrigger the fret/switch, and that adds some random weirdness to what you are playing. So if you get all geeky and take the regular guitar sound and distort it, then mix it with the vibrating organ sound, you actually get something pretty huge and unique. A guy who puts a lot of time into using both sounds with a lot of pedals is likely to make some really special sounds with this. Add to that the idea that there's no reason the guitar has to be in tune with the organ since it's triggered off the frets. Tune every string a 5th out and you've got something crazy sounding.
I should also point out that you can also play this thing with one hand because the organ doesn't rely on the right hand strumming or plucking. So you can hold a full chord and the organ sound will play while you pick individual notes. Try it with Stairway to Heaven and you'll dig it. Also note the button by the nut: you can hit that and it triggers another chord, so you can play it open I suppose. I'm not really sure what that button and the button on the pick guard are supposed to do.
Condition: this Guitorgan is complete and appears to be working great. The cable is good, the foot pedal is good, the case is original. The guitar is played but I find no major flaws on it.
Playability: the action is fairly high on this guitar, and I think it has 11s on it right now. But it plays fine, though I think it would benefit from new and lighter strings. The guitar itself is HEAVY because of all the electronics."
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
1970s Vintage MCI Model M340 Guitorgan
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction
"This is a very rare, one-of-a-kind guitar designed to function as a regular guitar and an organ complete with multiple organ-style settings located on the guitar. It even includes the original organ volume pedal!.. The organ portion of the instrument is a 6-note polyphonic circuit which allows full guitar chords to be played. The guitar section always remains playable but organ notes can be played alone or simultaneously with the guitar. The frets are divided into six segments creating independent contact switches for each string. This allows several noted to be played by making contact with the string against the fret. The expression pedal is then used to bring in the organ sounds so the player can have only the guitar signal, only the organ signal or both at the same time. As stated above the truss rod is not functioning properly but all notes can be played on the neck without any fretting out or significant buzzing."
via this auction
"This is a very rare, one-of-a-kind guitar designed to function as a regular guitar and an organ complete with multiple organ-style settings located on the guitar. It even includes the original organ volume pedal!.. The organ portion of the instrument is a 6-note polyphonic circuit which allows full guitar chords to be played. The guitar section always remains playable but organ notes can be played alone or simultaneously with the guitar. The frets are divided into six segments creating independent contact switches for each string. This allows several noted to be played by making contact with the string against the fret. The expression pedal is then used to bring in the organ sounds so the player can have only the guitar signal, only the organ signal or both at the same time. As stated above the truss rod is not functioning properly but all notes can be played on the neck without any fretting out or significant buzzing."
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Vintage 1970s MCI Guitorgan Made in Waco TX USA
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction
"Vintage 1970s MCI Guitorgan Guitar/ Organ Synth. Made in Waco Texas. Guitar is in overall excellent condition and includes pedal, cable and original hard shell case. This guitar has been tested and functions properly. The following frets work faintly or intermittently in the organ mode: G- 3rd fret, D- 8th Fret, A-13th Fret. They may need the contacts cleaned. This instrument has received a complete professional setup from our shop technician..."
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via this auction
"Vintage 1970s MCI Guitorgan Guitar/ Organ Synth. Made in Waco Texas. Guitar is in overall excellent condition and includes pedal, cable and original hard shell case. This guitar has been tested and functions properly. The following frets work faintly or intermittently in the organ mode: G- 3rd fret, D- 8th Fret, A-13th Fret. They may need the contacts cleaned. This instrument has received a complete professional setup from our shop technician..."Ur0yg~~60_57.JPG)
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© Matrixsynth - All posts are presented here for informative, historical and educative purposes as applicable within fair use.
MATRIXSYNTH is supported by affiliate links that use cookies to track clickthroughs and sales. See the privacy policy for details.
MATRIXSYNTH - EVERYTHING SYNTH
