I thrifted this bad boy for $20 about 10 years ago. Chord Organs are very fun instruments that basically exist somewhere between being a toy and a learning tool. Looks like a keyboard, sounds like an accordion on steroids with a vacuum tube pressing air through a “reed comb”. I guestimate this unit being from the late 50’s; this organ’s housed in a wooden shell that Magnus used in the 40s/50s, later being housed in plastic shells from the 60’s on.
I say that it is a toy, because these were cheap play things even back when they came out. They are not equip for gigging/recording out of the box. First off, they often are a little out of tune with itself, but are most definitely not in A440 standardized tuning; meaning you need to tune your instruments to the organ, or you need to tune the organ up in post (nightmare nightmare nightmare). Not to mention no inputs or outputs, and a fan that is constantly blowing and making noise. At best your end result is gonna be low-fi so embrace wabi-sabi of it.
That being said, a kid could learn a lot of basic principles of music playing around with one of these and I bet a lot of kids born in the 50’s-90’s could have had their first tactile music experiences on one of these!
Also I love this song and I feel like it suits this adorable little instrument.
#chordorgan #reedorgan #electricorgan #retro #rockabilly
2 years agotylerescapeplan
1950’s Magnus Chord Organ I thrifted this bad boy for $20 about 10 years ago. Chord Organs are very fun instruments that basically exist somewhere between being a toy and a learning tool. Looks like a keyboard, sounds like an accordion on steroids with a vacuum tube pressing air through a “reed comb”. I guestimate this unit being from the late 50’s; this organ’s housed in a wooden shell that Magnus used in the 40s/50s, later being housed in plastic shells from the 60’s on. I say that it is a toy, because these were cheap play things even back when they came out. They are not equip for gigging/recording out of the box. First off, they often are a little out of tune with itself, but are most definitely not in A440 standardized tuning; meaning you need to tune your instruments to the organ, or you need to tune the organ up in post (nightmare nightmare nightmare). Not to mention no inputs or outputs, and a fan that is constantly blowing and making noise. At best your end result is gonna be low-fi so embrace wabi-sabi of it. That being said, a kid could learn a lot of basic principles of music playing around with one of these and I bet a lot of kids born in the 50’s-90’s could have had their first tactile music experiences on one of these! Also I love this song and I feel like it suits this adorable little instrument. #chordorgan #reedorgan #electricorgan #retro #rockabilly
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