MATRIXSYNTH: Search results for Johnson Intonation Trainer


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Showing posts sorted by date for query Johnson Intonation Trainer. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Saturday, September 06, 2025

Rare Gear Demo: The Johnson Intonation Trainer (1966)

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by Instrument Attic

via this eBay listing

"The 1966 Johnson Intonation Trainer is a rare and intriguing instrument developed by the E.F. Johnson Company of Waseca, Minnesota. Originally designed to assess pitch-matching and pitch-discrimination abilities, this device has garnered attention for its unique features and potential applications in modern music production.  

One of the standout characteristics of the Johnson Intonation Trainer is its full polyphony, allowing all 37 keys to be played simultaneously. Each key is associated with its own oscillator, enabling microtonal adjustments and the exploration of unconventional scales and tunings. The instrument offers four distinct voicing options, ranging from basic sine waves to more complex, reedy tones. Additionally, the “Scale Selector” switch provides a choice between standard tempered tuning and a tunable mode, with individual “Tunable Scale Controls” corresponding to each note on the keyboard for precise pitch calibration.    

Housed in a robust fiberglass case, the Intonation Trainer features a built-in speaker, though it can also be connected to external amplifiers or mixers via standard 1/4” outputs. Some units include a vibrato effect, though functionality may vary between models. 

In contemporary settings, the Johnson Intonation Trainer has found a niche among experimental musicians and sound designers. Its ability to produce rich drones and facilitate microtonal exploration makes it a valuable tool for creating unique sonic textures. The instrument’s vintage analog circuitry imparts a distinctive warmth and character that is highly sought after in modern music production.

Due to limited production and the passage of time, functional units of the Johnson Intonation Trainer are exceedingly rare. Finding one in full working condition, complete with original documentation, is a remarkable discovery for collectors and enthusiasts alike. The scarcity of this instrument, combined with its unique capabilities, underscores its status as a treasured piece of audio history."


via this eBay listing

"Made in 1966 in Waseca, Minnesota by the E. F. Johnson Company. Originally designed as an ear training and intonation device, but in practice it is a unique fully polyphonic analog synthesizer with extensive tuning control. Very few were made, and surviving examples in this condition are vanishingly rare.

Sunday, December 01, 2019

1966 Johnson Intonation Trainer


via this auction

"Very nice and ultra rare Johnson Intonation Trainer Synthesizer from 1966 with Tunable Keyboard.
Made by the E.F. Johnson Co in 1966 Waseca, Minnesota U.S.A.
Speaker in case, it can also connect to external amp or mixer.
Note from users:
Voicing - choose from four voices, basic sine wave to reedy / edgy
Scale Selector - choose between reference (tempered tuning) or tunable
Tunable Scale Controls - correspond to notes on keyboard and adjust pitch in tunable mode
Originally used to test the relationship of pitch-matching and pitch-discrimination abilities

It's FULLY polyphonic with vibrato etc. Cool for Drones and Experimental music, original manual inlcuded.
Excellent cosmetic conditions with an unique design and in perfect working order."

You can find a few demos in previous posts here.

Saturday, September 07, 2019

Rare 1966 Johnson Intonation Trainer Vintage Analog Synthesizer Tunable Keyboard


via this auction

You can actually find a couple of demos of the Johnson Intonation Trainer in the archives here.

"Very nice and ultra rare Johnson Intonation Trainer Synthesizer from 1966 with Tunable Keyboard.

Made by the E.F. Johnson Co in 1966 Waseca, Minnesota U.S.A.

Speaker in case, it can also connect to external amp or mixer.

Note from users:

Voicing - choose from four voices, basic sine wave to reedy / edgy

Scale Selector - choose between reference (tempered tuning) or tunable

Tunable Scale Controls - correspond to notes on keyboard and adjust pitch in tunable mode

Originally used to test the relationship of pitch-matching and pitch-discrimination abilities

It's FULLY polyphonic with vibrato etc. Cool for Drones and Experimental music, original manual inlcuded.
Conditions are at TOP! Excellent cosmetic conditions with an unique design and in perfect working order."

Thursday, August 09, 2018

Vintage Rare 1966 Johnson Intonation Trainer Synthesizer Tunable Keyboard

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Aug 1, 2018 Sharief Hoffman


via this auction

You can find another video of one previously posted here.

"Very Rare to find Johnson Intonation Trainer
Made by the E.F. Johnson Co in 1966
Waseca, Minnesota U.S.A.

* Cool four-voice tunable electronic keyboard (scale selector switch offers choice of standard/tempered tuning or tunable modes)
* Originally used to test the relationship of pitch-matching and pitch-discrimination abilities

Highlights
* Three octave keyboard
* Scale Selector - choose between reference (tempered tuning) or tunable
* Tunable Scale Controls - correspond to notes on keyboard and adjust pitch in tunable mode
* Voicing - choose from four voices - - basic sine wave to reedy / edgy

* Speaker in case (can also connect to external amp, mixer, etc)"

Wednesday, April 09, 2014

1966 Johnson Intonation Trainer microtonal analog synthesizer


Published on Apr 9, 2014 Golden Gate Estate Services·2 videos

"This is the 'Intonation Trainer', a specialized keyboard or synthesizer made in Waseca, Minnesota in 1966 by the E. F. Johnson Company. Better known for their high-quality amateur ("ham") radio equipment, Johnson made the Intonation Trainer for a few years in the '60s and marketed it to orchestra and choral conductors and, to a lesser degree, to musicians, for the purpose of training the ear to recognize when a note is correctly pitched.

Each of the 12 notes in the octave can be tuned to any pitch within about 5 steps of the given note, so microtonal music is possible. You can pitch the notes for just intonation, Pythagorean, well-temperament or any other form of the 12-tone scale. It also has four different oscillator waveforms (sine, square, triangle and sawtooth), it has tremolo, and is fully polyphonic. It has a reference tone generator (440-hz) for self-tuning and a separate tuning trim for each of the adjustable tones! Furthermore, it's fully self-contained with a built-in amplifier and speaker system, and the whole thing is enclosed in a fiberglass carrying case.

Intonation Trainers are quite rare; I only know of 3 other examples in existence. They were also hugely expensive when new -- $525 in 1966, which works out to about $4,000 in 2014 dollars.

This one is in excellent condition, both cosmetically and functionally."

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

VTG EF Johnson Intonation Trainer Keyboard


via this auction

"You are looking at a vintage E.F. Johnson Intonation Trainer.....37 Keys...really don't know much about this or what it is used for but it has a 1/4" Speaker out so I plugged it into my mixing board & it made some pretty crazy sounds. It seems like a synthesizer but not sure really. It comes in a hard case that has latches...it locks up but the handle you are suppose to carry it with is broke off."

Monday, February 09, 2009

johnson intonation trainer synthesizer tunable keyboard


via this auction

"Johnson Intonation Trainer
Made by the E.F. Johnson Co.
Waseca, Minnesota U.S.A.

* Cool four-voice tunable electronic keyboard (scale selector switch offers choice of standard/tempered tuning or tunable modes)
* Originally used to test the relationship of pitch-matching and pitch-discrimination abilities

Highlights
* Three octave keyboard
* Scale Selector - choose between reference (tempered tuning) or tunable
* Tunable Scale Controls - correspond to notes on keyboard and adjust pitch in tunable mode
* Voicing - choose from four voices - - basic sine wave to reedy / edgy

* Speaker in case (can also connect to external amp, mixer, etc)"

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