Stylophone

As silly as it sounds, I have been wanting a Stylophone for a while now. Some might denigrate the device by calling it a "cheap toy". Indeed, it probably classifies as that as well. But it can also be a musical instrument.

Music is in the heart. Anyone who's ever seen a street musician carry a beat with plastic buckets, pipes and an assortment of other random objects not normally characterized as musical instruments knows this. So what's not to love about a cheap little syn

thesizer capable of a range of tones that actually has a keyboard?

For those not in the know, the Dubreq Stylophone came into existence sometime during 1967, and thereafter took off as a commercial success, chiefly in Britain, where it was invented. Some time later Dubreq went belly up and ceased production. In 2007, the company, risen from the ashes by inventor's son, started selling a slightly updated version of the Stylophone.

There are more advanced portable options available. One of my favorite "tech instruments" to hear is the Korg Kaossilator. It's a very cool little device, with more/different functionality. I may buy one some day. The same company makes the more complete DS-10 synthesizer software for the DS. But those will both cost you over $100, counting the hardware and software. The Stylophone can be had for under $20.

So I finally went about ordering one. It's worth the entertainment value alone. And I find myself coming up with fun little ditties, playing pre-written songs (the booklet that comes with it has Silent Night and The Londonberry Air), and trying play my favorite tunes on it by ear. And it's catchy-- My girlfriend likes playing on it too, and we have a lot of fun alternatively trying to play something and getting it wrong until we eventually get some part right.

There is a Stylophone blog with a collection of popular tunes for the instrument which are rather fun to try to play. The Stylophone even has its own band.

Below is my Stylophone (click here for a larger version).

In the first photo, you see the keyboard and the stylus, attached by an electrical cord, which completes a circuit when it is placed on a key, producing the sound. There is also a button which allows the player to switch between an oscillating (vibrato) or continual sound when the keys are played. The front border of the device sports a switch with three positions which changes the sound of the device, going from low to high-pitch from left to right.

(Click here for a larger version)

In the second photo is the bottom of the device, where the battery case, and a control to tune the device (which makes it capable of a broader range of sound, used in conjunction with the three-way switch on the front border) lives.

I doubt the Stylophone will turn me into a musical mastermind, but it's good fun, and I think it makes a great gift for the occasional musician. And I think it's a great toy for a kid too. One that might just provide that initial inspiration for the next musical genius. At least, for $20 you can't go wrong!