The odd instrument thread

maltingsaudio · September 2023

Having just read an article in Guitar magazine from 20 years ago where Joe Naggs talks about a mandolin PRS were making at the time for a customer and inspired by @equalsql thread on guitars you've never played , thought about a making a list of oddballs from various manufacturers. For example Fylde electric guitars, Status 6 string guitars ,Takamine Flying V acoustics etc. Looking for additions to the list bonus points for pictures

PS the one made from a bog seat or the one that looks like a pair of balls or from a skeleton don't count!

BillDL · September 2023

I grew up in Africa. The majority of the indigenous people, particularly in rural areas, couldn't afford to buy toys, musical instruments, etc, so they made their own. They made some tremendously detailed toy cars that could be steered with a steering wheel on a stick by twisting wire and tying it together with slices of inner tube like THIS.

They made "thumb pianos" (Mbira / Kalimba) from metal objects like cutlery hammered flat, and sometimes attached them to hollow gourd shell bowls like THIS. They made flutes, complete with "reeds", from cane/reeds chopped from river banks.

They made "guitars" with friction peg style tuners, fence wire for frets, and the body from 5 litre motor or cooking oil cans and strung them with nylon fishing line. One of my most memorable experiences was happening upon an African man sitting on some rocks next to a river in the bushland that we explored as kids, and hearing him playing the most intricate and syncopated traditional music on one of those 4-string oil can guitars. He wasn't aware that I was watching and listening until after I had listened for some time mesmerised.

This kind of "rustic" musical instrument making using improvised objects and materials has gone on for centuries and wasn't limited to Africa, as is evidenced by Cigar Box Guitars in the Southern states in America.

I was disappointed when I saw that Western companies had started selling modernised and perfected copies of the African wire cars for Western people to make. Somehow it defeated the original concept of the toy being made from improvised materials through necessity. I feel a little of the same sentiment when I see modernised and perfected Western versions of an Mbira, especially when equipped with a piezo contact mic, although I suppose spreading the sound of traditional Southern African music to Western countries encompasses the whole idea of music as a global communication medium.

I remember seeing an article announcing Bohemian Oil Can Gutars about 12 years ago. The company was founded by two white South African brothers who had moved to America and reportedly were inspired by the ingenuity and resourcefulness of African musicians playing their home-made instruments when they were revisiting their homeland. I admire their entrepeneurship in launching and making a success of Bohemian Guitars (not sure if they are still in business), but sadly I feel as though they cashed in on something and took it so far beyond the original concept and sound that it has no relevance to the original inspiration. Although they supposedly "upcycled" vintage oil cans, six steel strings on a maple neck with diecast tuners, a tune-o-matic bridge and humbucking pickups sounds absolutely nothing like 3, 4 or 6 fishing line strings resonating on an old oil can and playing jangly traditional music like THIS and THIS.

Yes I know, classic instrument purists must shudder when they see an electric cello or violin or a Yamaha "skeleton" classical "silent" guitar, but I feel like the companies that make these novelty modern oil can guitars have betrayed the origins.

blobb · September 2023

Tony Revell Rickenbacker mandolin

rpr · September 2023

The Moog guitar https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/the-moog-guitar-model-e1-tremolo-bridge-review

DrBob · September 2023

Ovation solid body electric basses like the one Jah Wobble plays ?

https://reverb.com/item/71775101-ovation-magnum1-mid-70-s-sunburst?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=71775101

Loobs · September 2023

Great thread idea. I'll offer the Kustom K200a.

Image: https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--ReIfT8HI--/a_exif,c_limit,e_unsharp_mask:80,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_south,h_620,q_90,w_620/v1494109706/q5ivcbgtfbtxcccyubkl.jpg

Rocker · September 2023

Loobs said:

Great thread idea. I'll offer the Kustom K200a.

I think this guitar is simply another electric guitar, little different to any other electric guitar out there, and far away from the concept articulated so well by @BillDL above and with little or no connection to the points made in the OP. The guitar might be interesting in itself but it is a far cry from the homemade ‘primitive’ instruments that people played before they had easy access to factory built instruments.

Kalimna · September 2023

Im wondering how long before someone else mentions Mr Elson?

Anyway, what about the Alvarez Scoop guitar?
Used Alvarez DANA SCOOP GRAPHITE MODULUS NECK Solid Body Electric Guitar | Guitar Center

impmann · September 2023

I have one of these... its a fun thing, but I haven't properly found a use for it yet. I will though...

BillDL · September 2023

One guitar I have that is a little bit different in several respects is a Cordoba Mini R (R = solid rosewood back and sides). This particular model is no longer in production and they have since changed the design a bit on current "Mini II" models, but the Mini M (mahogany) is still made and is the same spec:

https://www.cordobaguitars.com/guitars/mini-m/

Image: https://tfb-user-images.eu-central-1.linodeobjects.com/846ba22ebfec5f8ec1c3073c14796e741657f2338e9f5e620b

This isn't your typical 6-string "Guitelele". Although it is tuned up up a 5th to ADGCEA and works better with Guitelele strings than standard classical strings it really is much more like a proper 6-string classical guitar in construction and feel on the neck. The solid spruce and rosewood of the body is very thin and extremely resonant whereby it has much better sustain and string clarity (particularly bass end) than the more plinky-plonk sound of the strings on a guitelele. The scale is 510mm (20 1/8") and the neck fretboard is a full width - 50mm spacing (1.96") at the nut and 63mm at the saddle, so it immediately feels more like you are playing a guitar. The newer "Mini II" models have a 580mm (22 7/8") scale, tune to standard E, and have a tie-on bridge, but are also longer and deeper than the one I have. I think Cordoba got it right with this guitar. It's not a novelty or toy. It's a real guitar, and a perfect travel one.

Loobs · September 2023

Rocker said:

Loobs said:

Great thread idea. I'll offer the Kustom K200a.

I think this guitar is simply another electric guitar, little different to any other electric guitar out there, and far away from the concept articulated so well by @BillDL above and with little or no connection to the points made in the OP. The guitar might be interesting in itself but it is a far cry from the homemade ‘primitive’ instruments that people played before they had easy access to factory built instruments.

Wow, you must be fun at parties. Actually, OP said "oddballs from various manufacturers" - Kustom specialised in 'Tuck and Roll' amps, not guitars. If that's not an oddball guitar from a pretty unique manufacturer, then what is? Certainly no less unusual than Flyde or Stratus electric guitars.

GoFish · September 2023

@BillDL ; - The clips you've linked of the oil can guitars are mesmerising. I love a DIY homemade aesthetic in traditional music makers and of course, many of us love wonderful stringed oddities from around the globe. I'm also quite drawn to what's now called outsider art and music etc so you've served up a tasty brew for me. Thank you.

My In-laws offered to get me an oil can guitar from SA some years back. Aware of the Bohemian-type guitars you mentioned, I declined as I thought it would be just a novelty. Now you've got me interested in the real deal which look and sound far more interesting.

Flanging_Fred · September 2023

I really enjoyed playing the Merlin, an instrument made by Seagull. I believe it is closely related to a dulcimer but appears to be its own thing. Only 3 string on it and was easy and fun to play. I’d recommend having a try if you see one.

The other is an electric solid body Saz ( Turkish instrument) that was on display at the Kempton guitar show a few years ago. That was fun too.

Sporky · September 2023

Schecter Celloblaster?

5 strings, tuned in fifths.

WezV · September 2023

@PhilKing is bringing this MandoSG back to me this week so I can extend its scale length and make it a little more practical

Image: https://tfb-user-images.eu-central-1.linodeobjects.com/7656387a1a962be3bcea01df475da6ac01be688bc440161b63

Loobs · September 2023

Sporky said:

Schecter Celloblaster?

5 strings, tuned in fifths.

these were cool, remember them well

Open_G · September 2023

I suppose there’s the banjitar or guitjo depending on how you feel at the time. A banjo with 6 strings strung as a guitar. For those guitarists who want to sound like a banjo player and can’t be arsed with open G or 5th tuning.

drofluf · September 2023

WezV said:

@PhilKing is bringing this MandoSG back to me this week so I can extend its scale length and make it a little more practical

@wezv what scale length are you going for? Mandola/tenor mandolin or the full octave?

I used to have an electric mandolin lot of fun but I was never any good so I moved it on.

WezV · September 2023

drofluf said:

WezV said:

@PhilKing is bringing this MandoSG back to me this week so I can extend its scale length and make it a little more practical

@wezv what scale length are you going for? Mandola/tenor mandolin or the full octave?

I used to have an electric mandolin lot of fun but I was never any good so I moved it on.

I'm not sure yet. Obviously there is loads of room to move the bridge back so i will see what is possible

It's not really a mandolin, but an Octave 12 guitar. It's based on the Vox mando guitar concept. 12 strings with guitar tuning and chord shapes,.

FelineGuitars · September 2023

5 string Banjo Lion - LP shape

CavemanGrogg · September 2023

I've always wanted a Hurdy Gurdy, but have never been able to find one for sale that is not in kit form that you have to build yourself, or pay somebody to build for you.

MSedg · September 2023

When I was little, my first guitar was a plastic one which had a keyboard built in. It’s a sign of how little I’ve grown up that I really want one with one of these built in…

https://youtube.com/shorts/cs9AEDuXmC4?si=33dsnh5-GPgxpRNy

suspiciousminds · September 2023

Saw Lu Edmonds from Pil last saturday playing a baglama saz with a slide, seen them a few times and he plays it regularly.
have to say it sounds really good.

Offset · September 2023

CavemanGrogg said:

I've always wanted a Hurdy Gurdy, but have never been able to find one for sale that is not in kit form that you have to build yourself, or pay somebody to build for you.

Ask Donovan.

CavemanGrogg · September 2023

Offset said:

CavemanGrogg said:

I've always wanted a Hurdy Gurdy, but have never been able to find one for sale that is not in kit form that you have to build yourself, or pay somebody to build for you.

Ask Donovan.

Early Music sell them, but they rarely have them in stock, and they're not cheap, so if you want one, you can't try it out first, and have to buy it blind, and they start at over £1k, if I'm dropping that sort of cash on an instrument I either want to see it in person first, not pay the full price before they even order one in for me, a deposit is one thing.

blobb · September 2023

Offset said:

CavemanGrogg said:

I've always wanted a Hurdy Gurdy, but have never been able to find one for sale that is not in kit form that you have to build yourself, or pay somebody to build for you.

Ask Donovan.

...or Steve Hillage.

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