Non-bass instruments you wish you owned

[Michedelic]

Moog Liberation keytar
Electric jug

13th Floor Elevators fan?

 

[tubatodd]

 

[WestyBassBob]

Pipe organ

 

[jmlee]

It'd have to be fun...really fun...

 

[Wood and Wire]

And if you're referring to the movie those 5 notes are being played on a tuba and piccolo and not on a magnificent synth.
The guy playing the synth was the chief engineer or designer at ARP and he did give a live demo from the airplane hanger of what the synth could do and it apparently could be heard throughout the whole area:

Rhodes Chroma · Philip Dodds/Tony Williams Interview

Link Removed" made synthesizers more visible to a wide audience. Tell us more about your work on the film. Did you compose the famous alien tune?
Philip Dodds
No I didn't compose the tune, but it's an interesting story nonetheless (at least to me!). I was called down as a "subject expert" to install the 2500 system on the set--ARP was to get some screen credits for this--and I was there in Mobile AL to make sure all was well. (This wasn't unusual; I helped with other films such as Logan's Run and some of the early Star Trek films--to support the sound effects and score folks).

To make a long story a bit longer, John Williams prescored Close Encounters--which is a bit unusual I'm told--the score is often done after the fact. Spielberg wanted the music to drive the concept and went to Williams early-on to work out the haunting theme that was used throughout. (I still have the original score Williams gave me to "play" during the filming--it's all for traditional instruments...)

On the final day of installation of the 2500 down there, I hooked it up to a huge four channel system (on the set) and cut loose with all of the sequencers and sound effects I could muster from the console. It was fabulous. This was in a huge dirigible hanger (since there was no set in Hollywood big enough) and the sounds echoed for miles, I was told.

The next day, Spielberg and Williams came to the set and asked for a demonstration of the synthesizer's capabilities. (Spielberg introduced me to George Lucas, who had just completed post production of Star Wars, and visited the set that day as well, but I was clueless about it all at the time.)

Williams asked for "an oboe" sound, then "a trumpet" sound. Etc. Etc. Piece of cake, I thought. This is fun. (Except that I had to fly out a 4PM to get home, so I hoped they would hurry up.)

Then Spielberg came to the console and asked--"have you had any acting experience?" I said, well, no. "Would you like to try?" I said, yeah, I guess (I was 25). Cool. In a matter of hours I had a contract in my hand and I was signed on. For the next 9 weeks, Columbia Pictures owned me. I learned a lot and it was a great experience.

In summary, Steven Spielberg is a wonderful director, and a really nice person. I still look back on those weeks with wonder and wish I could work with him again. He really has talent!

Cheers! I haven't read that interview before.

I've lost track of how many times I've seem that film, but it probably took a good 10 years before I even noticed that Arp in the scene.

There's a really nice little documentary on Amazon Prime called 'Who are you people?'.
It's from the point of view of the locals of Mobile, as the production came to town, and took over their lives.
It's very homemade, which gives it an interesting perspective.




The Fender Chroma Polaris is another favourite of mine, which is basically an Arp product.

 

[Wood and Wire]

It'd have to be fun...really fun...

I normally help the drummer load in / out, but that guy can take a fly f#%k at a rolling kick drum on a gravel path.

 

[logdrum]

9 foot grand.
Full Scale Marimba or vibes

 

[Wood and Wire]

I should probably add :

Vibraphone

Theremin

to my earlier list.

 

[NortyFiner]

A Rickenbacker 370 guitar would definitely be on my list. So would a Les Paul Black Beauty, three humbuckers, Frampton style.

 

[ChickWithaRic]

This. Absolutely, this.

 

[BassinCT]

Nord Stage 3 !
After recording some tracks with it, I would hand it over to my son, who is a beast of a player.

 

[J_Bass]

 

[sotua]

Acoustic drums.

 

[Avezzano]

More of a regret, for me. Year 2000; thrift shop somewhere near Leesburg, VA. There was a beautiful black MIA stratocaster for sale at less than 100 dollars. It was in absolute perfect conditions, almost new. Only thing it was... a lefty guitar! I did not take the opportunity. Stupid.

 

[Pauly 4001]

Cheers! I haven't read that interview before.

I've lost track of how many times I've seem that film, but it probably took a good 10 years before I even noticed that Arp in the scene.

There's a really nice little documentary on Amazon Prime called 'Who are you people?'.
It's from the point of view of the locals of Mobile, as the production came to town, and took over their lives.
It's very homemade, which gives it an interesting perspective.




The Fender Chroma Polaris is another favourite of mine, which is basically an Arp product.

I do have a Rhodes Chroma and a Polaris too.
I’ll have to look for that documentary.
I didn’t mention the Ricky 370 12 string or the Theremin or the dulcimers or 3 sets of Taurus bass pedals.

 

[El_Charro]

Lol-Have always wanted one of these even if it's in the Spinal Tap kind of way where you shouldn't play it or look at it:

Along those lines- I would even "settle" for one of these:

EC-1000FR

 

[jmlee]

Oh, man, everybody's playing electric these days!

 

[soundsupport1]

Fully agree. Nord Stage 3.

Technically a bass instrument, but I wish I owned one anyway!

Harley Benton MA-500. Same as the Eastwood, a quarter the price. By far the most likely purchase coming up!

Peace,
SoundSupport

 

[MustangWally]

Electric jug

For an electric jug band I presume? Would you play lead jug or bass jug or rhythm jug?

 

[ChickWithaRic]

Roland SH-101.