RhysP Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 After somebody mentioning The Gizmo in another thread earlier today I dug out my old Bass Gizmotron. Unfortunately it hasn't worked for years due to the plastic that the string wheels were made of becoming brittle & snapping off ( a common problem with them, which is why you don't see them anymore). Anyway, for anybody that has never seen a Gizmo here's a picture of one: [url="http://s86.photobucket.com/user/RhysP/media/BassGizmotron_zps56fb8d92.jpg.html"][/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Wow! I haven't seen one of them for a very, very long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkzzBoDnWfM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkzzBoDnWfM[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 (edited) - Edited February 19, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybertect Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gizmo [quote][color=#000000][font=sans-serif][size=3]The actual device, a small box which was attached to the bridge of the guitar, consisted of six small motor-driven wheels with serrated edges to match the size of each string. The continuous bowing action was activated by pressing one or all of keys located on the top of the unit. Pressing a key would allow the wheel to descend against a motor driven shaft and bow the corresponding string, while the other hand remained free to fret single notes or full chords. An extremely powerful sound could be created that changed dynamically depending on how hard or soft the wheels were pressed against the strings. The sound was also affected by the type of guitar strings (round-wound or flat-wound).[/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=sans-serif][size=3]Two versions were planned - one for guitar and one for bass. Ultimately few Gizmotrons were made but bass versions were produced in a much larger quantity than guitar versions. Only the guitar version was used by Godley and Creme and 10cc in recordings.[/size][/font][/color][/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybertect Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 (edited) Found a vid of one being used on a guitar [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c2hAoDePiQ[/media] Edited July 31, 2013 by cybertect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybertect Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 It's one of those things I vaguely recall hearing about many years ago, but I've never actually seen a picture of one before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Amazing and fun bit of kit. What a shame they're not made any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Yes, they stopped making the Orgasmatron too ... [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Just%20Stuff/Sundry/Orgasmatron_zps3036a8ba.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Just%20Stuff/Sundry/Orgasmatron_zps3036a8ba.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybertect Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1375274702' post='2159086'] Yes, they stopped making the Orgasmatron too ...[/quote] That's the [i]Excessive Machine [/i]from [i]Barbarella[/i]. The Orgasmatron was in Woody Allen's [i]Sleeper[/i] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 (edited) - Edited February 19, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 (edited) [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1374870577' post='2154403'] After somebody mentioning The Gizmo in another thread earlier today I dug out my old Bass Gizmotron. Unfortunately it hasn't worked for years due to the plastic that the string wheels were made of becoming brittle & snapping off ( a common problem with them, which is why you don't see them anymore). Anyway, for anybody that has never seen a Gizmo here's a picture of one: [url="http://s86.photobucket.com/user/RhysP/media/BassGizmotron_zps56fb8d92.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] ...and here's it's ancestor. There's not much really new in music these days, is there..? [attachment=140284:Viel.jpg] [attachment=140283:Viel_1.jpg] ...and in concert (not for the faint of heart...)... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BO919Zqm8p0#at=260"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BO919Zqm8p0#at=260[/url] Edited July 31, 2013 by Dad3353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 (edited) - Edited February 19, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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