Suzuki Omnicord (1981)

Cool Hunting has a short piece on the Suzuki Omnichord, a sort of digital autoharp of which I'd never heard. There are even more recent models with MIDI out and expandable sound banks.

Suzuki Omnichord [Cool Hunting]

[#1 posted by RacingChikin , December 20, 2007 2:16 PM]

These things are pretty neat. I first learned about them researching an artist who calls himself Half-Handed Cloud. His most recent album features an omnichord on every track.

http://asthmatickitty.com/musicians.php?artistID=3

[#2 posted by Kevin , December 20, 2007 6:01 PM]

Daniel Lanois often plays one of these, to great effect.

[#3 posted by jasony , December 20, 2007 9:50 PM]

my aunt received an Omnichord (actually 2) when i was young in the early 80s. her friend was involved with suzuki music and he sent her the instruments. i wasn't and still am not musically talented, but i loved playing with the omnichord and it brings a bit of joy back to me to see the picture. i wonder if one of them is still in my mom's basement.

they are super-awesome

[#4 posted by Eidiard , December 20, 2007 9:55 PM]

Odds are you have heard it. DEVO used one for a number of years, from the pictured original version onward.
I am lucky enough to have one of the first generation ones. Plays fine even today.

[#5 posted by Anonymous , December 20, 2007 10:38 PM]

I have one of these. Cracking little instruments.
http://flickr.com/photos/tico24/85347398/

[#6 posted by Simon Greenwood , December 21, 2007 2:09 AM]

When Julian Cope plays his occasional epic solo shows, he does a part with just him and a guitar and his keyboard player playing an Omnichord. They have a very nice clavinet sort of sound and are less fragile than a clavinet and more portable than a laptop/keyboard combination.

I can remember playing with an Omnichord at a trade show when they were launched. The controller was very responsive, perhaps a little too so until you got used to it. I thought it would be a great MIDI controller but as you say, the early ones were actually just pre-Yamaha's MIDI implementation. I'm quite tempted to go and look for one now...

[#7 posted by Listener , December 21, 2007 5:42 AM]

My elementary-school music teacher had one of these. It was always a treat when one of us would win the right to play it. I remember it sounding like a hybrid between a synthesizer, a harp, and an accordion. I wonder how long it took Mr Anderson to learn to play it.

[#8 posted by Marshall , December 21, 2007 6:11 AM]

I've stared at these in vintage instrument shops for years, but never actually played one or seen one played. I've always loved their faux-future design, though.

[#9 posted by License Farm , December 21, 2007 8:09 AM]

"I think I need a 1980's keytar set to electric mandolin."

-- Bret, Flight of the Conchords, "Boom King"

[#10 posted by Anonymous , December 21, 2007 8:37 AM]

some people like to circuit-bend these beauties too..

when will they get cheaper?!

[#11 posted by Anonymous , December 21, 2007 9:14 AM]

I rocked an interactive Omnichord (Q-Chord) mutant bike on the playa this year w/ sound activated EL wire art. Folks lurved it!

[#12 posted by omnichordman , December 23, 2007 8:31 AM]

If you want to know what the "Omni" in Omnichord stands for, check out my pages about the pictured first Omnichord model OM-27.

Here´s a movie on how to mod it:

http://www.klangbureau.de/bendpics/OmniMoovieWeb.mov

here´s some tech details:

http://www.klangbureau.de/Omnicon_E.html

[#13 posted by Gijs , December 27, 2007 8:48 AM]

here is another video:
http://www.vimeo.com/448505

[#14 posted by matthew mars , December 31, 2007 10:18 AM]

My mom got one back when they first came out, in order to lead worship songs in sunday school. I borrowed it for entirely more profane reasons. Eventually moved up to the Q-chord which I have used in dozens of recording sessions and live shows. It's my main ax, as it were, and invariably engenders post-gig "what the fuck is that thing?" sort of conversation(s). Love me my Q.

[#15 posted by Anonymous , January 28, 2009 8:06 AM]

Hi OMNICHORDMAN, , Thanks so much for sharing all of your bend info and technical data.

I was lucky enough to find one of these chocolate brown beauties today in a charity shop. It sounds fantastic! Analog drums, lush chords, and the strum board is great. Yep, this is a really nice machine, and as soon as I can find a screwdriver I will be attempting some bending.....

So, thanks again. . . . . :))