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  #1  
Old 08-06-2008, 11:49 AM
Barkless to a point
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Anyone else own a Gizmotron?

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Not only do you have one, is it still functional?

Mine the rubber arms are crumbling, does anyone else have the same problem?

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/rdgiz.jpg[/IMG

I have two I am trying to get repaired here-
Gizmotron offer-




What a Gizmo is-

Quote:
The Gizmo (sometimes called The Gizmotron) was an effects device for the electric guitar, invented ca. 1975 by the English rock musicians Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, whilst they were members of the British rock group 10cc.
The Gizmo first featured on 10cc's second album, Sheet Music (1974) on the track "Old Wild Men", and its ability to create a wide range of sounds was central to the production of Godley and Creme's first post 10cc project, the 1977 triple concept album, Consequences.
According to Paul Gambaccini's sleeve notes for Consequences,[1] 10cc were unable to afford an orchestra for their early albums, so Creme and Godley imagined an effects unit that would enable a guitar to produce violin-like sounds (this was some years before the introduction of the polyphonic synthesiser and long before the development of digital sampling).
The resulting device, a small box which was attached to the bridge of the guitar, consisted of six small motor-driven wheels, whose continuous bowing action was activated by pressing one or all of keys located on the top of the unit. Pressing a key would bow the corresponding string, while the other hand remained free to fret single notes or full chords.
John McConnell, then a senior lecturer in Physics at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) assisted Godley and Creme in the development of the prototype. He considered it critical that the instrument retain the natural decay of a note rather than the sharp cut-off often experienced with an electronic synthesizer.
Other Godley & Creme albums featuring the Gizmo include L and Godley & Creme.
The Gizmo can also be heard on:
The Church's "Violet Town" where it is played by Marty Willson-Piper.
The Siouxsie and the Banshees' song "Into the Light", played by John McGeoch.
This Mortal Coil's recording "It'll End in Tears" (4AD), where it was played by Simon Raymonde of Cocteau Twins.
Led Zeppelin's In Through the Out Door (1979) .
  #2  
Old 08-06-2008, 11:51 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Scotland
I've heard of those, but never seen one, and especially not on a bass! How does it sound, got any clips?
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  #3  
Old 08-06-2008, 11:59 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Cypress, TX (NW Houston)
Is that what that sound is on Violet Town (listening to it) now. I figured it was an e-bow. I saw The Curch several times and Wilson-Piper and Koppes used lots of e-bows. Never noticed extra hardware on eithers guitars.
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  #4  
Old 08-06-2008, 12:06 PM
Barkless to a point
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
All the recordings I had were before Digital!!!!


I could not find any. It sounds a lot like bowed cello.

You can hear some here - in the intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNNhDAEk-Wo

An Interview With Creme & Godley and they discuss the Gizmo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbNBy...eature=related

Last edited by Barkless Dog : 08-06-2008 at 12:43 PM.
  #5  
Old 08-06-2008, 01:04 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Cypress, TX (NW Houston)
On Violent Town it sounds more like a viola or violin since it is on a regular guitar. You can hear it quite well. I just thought it was an e-bow since I have seen them use it in person. Front row in a small bar, small stage (Tipitina's in New Orleans)
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