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. [RacingChikin]

   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. [Kevin]

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

3. [jasony]

   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. [Eidiard]

   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. [Anonymous]

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

6. [Simon Greenwood]

   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. [Listener]

   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. [Marshall]

   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. [License Farm]

   “I think I need a 1980′s keytar set to electric mandolin.”

   – Bret, Flight of the Conchords, “Boom King”

10. [Anonymous]

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

    when will they get cheaper?!

11. [Anonymous]

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

12. [omnichordman]

    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. [Gijs]

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

14. [matthew mars]

    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. [Anonymous]

    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. . . . . )