This Wednesday, I start a temporary gig to work on a reconstruction of the world's first voltage-controlled synth - the electronic sackbut. The original is stored at the national Museum of Science & Technology in Ottawa, Canada. And, while it is on display, it is *completely* unsafe to play, being both a very flimsy construction from the late '40s *AND* powered by 600V (tube-based sound generators). Basically, an electrocution accident waiting to happen. While it could not be taken apart to fully reverse engineer, and there is no existing schematic for the original, many of the secrets have been reverse engineered, and museum staff (and ringers like myself) are building a functional equivalent for museum-goers (especially children) to be able to play...without electrocuting themselves. My own role will be minor; essentially building and connecting cables between the keyboard and controllers and the digital sound engine. BUt I am utterly stoked to have anything to do with this mission.
Was standing just to the right of this filming, trying to be helpful (that's my hand at 10.14). Amazing instrument, and fascinating to watch a SonicState video being put together.
I bought this Nagoya later on… it’s an amazing thing. The sounds are astonishing - I hope to get some stuff online as soon as I’ve written some stuff with it and worked out what I can do with the MIDI out.
Great to meet you Gaz and thanks for dropping by - always good to talk gear ti someone who’s clearly as excited by it as I am! Perhaps predictably the Koto Synth we had listed sold this morning - some electric Taishogotos still on the site. We have another Koto synth on the way - fingers crossed it arrives in good order (always something of a gamble with these).
Hainbach did an interesting Video on this... he referred to it as being "from 1989" & answered your MIDI question in the intro. "The Waraku is also a MIDI Controller. So you can use this to play any other MIDI Synthesizer!"
Absolutely - watch out for import fees/vat (add 20-25% total) and the prospect of dealing with faults post shipping and you could save some cash over buying from us for sure.
Would agree with Hainbach 1989. I've been looking some years and have never seen any newly made ones though there are somewhat newer more high tech versions of these. Meant for the later traditional Japanese music market so they were never imported back in the day and only recently have people been buying the up in Japan and flipping the in other markets
Thats the Indian version - I had one that I ordered direct from Indai - it arrived in several pieces! Japanese build quality wins - highly recommend buying a Taishogoto
@@Soundgas Yeah, I think there must be a few regional variations. Theres a substantial quality difference to be sure! The Bulbul Tarang has a certain " rustic charm", would be the nicest way to phrase it!
@@angstrom Mine is certainly 'rustic' - was never able to make much musical use of it (unlike my various Taishogotos), but it was an interesting experience...
The Indian bulbul tarang instrument was indeed imported 100-ish years ago (as was curry powder). It was tweaked in construction and re-tuned for Japanese music use in the 1920s under the reign of Emperor Taisho (hence Taishogoto). They were acoustic only for decades. At some point some company did a guitar pickup to make them louder. Ones like in the video were more for home recording ("DTM" Desktop Music in Japan) and start throwing in all sorts of alternate samples and sometimes percussion trigger pads.
I don't mean to be salty, but this demo does not do this beautiful instrument any justice to be honest... The Vongon Ultrasheer pedal adds way to much modulation and kinda ruins the tone and character of the Waraku. Definitely not a good match.
This Wednesday, I start a temporary gig to work on a reconstruction of the world's first voltage-controlled synth - the electronic sackbut. The original is stored at the national Museum of Science & Technology in Ottawa, Canada. And, while it is on display, it is *completely* unsafe to play, being both a very flimsy construction from the late '40s *AND* powered by 600V (tube-based sound generators). Basically, an electrocution accident waiting to happen. While it could not be taken apart to fully reverse engineer, and there is no existing schematic for the original, many of the secrets have been reverse engineered, and museum staff (and ringers like myself) are building a functional equivalent for museum-goers (especially children) to be able to play...without electrocuting themselves. My own role will be minor; essentially building and connecting cables between the keyboard and controllers and the digital sound engine. BUt I am utterly stoked to have anything to do with this mission.
Hugh Le Caine!
@@CaalamusTube Yup, that's the guy!
Was standing just to the right of this filming, trying to be helpful (that's my hand at 10.14). Amazing instrument, and fascinating to watch a SonicState video being put together.
I bought this Nagoya later on… it’s an amazing thing. The sounds are astonishing - I hope to get some stuff online as soon as I’ve written some stuff with it and worked out what I can do with the MIDI out.
Thanks Jez - so glad you're happy with it! Do tag us in anything you post please - love to hear what you're doing with it, Tony
WHAT !!!! I asked them if it was for sale and they said no !!!!
Great to meet you Gaz and thanks for dropping by - always good to talk gear ti someone who’s clearly as excited by it as I am!
Perhaps predictably the Koto Synth we had listed sold this morning - some electric Taishogotos still on the site. We have another Koto synth on the way - fingers crossed it arrives in good order (always something of a gamble with these).
Great history lesson, Beautiful looking units. You guys are true wizards in it for the right reasons. thank you for your dedication
Thanks, appreciate your kind words
Hainbach did an interesting Video on this... he referred to it as being "from 1989" & answered your MIDI question in the intro.
"The Waraku is also a MIDI Controller. So you can use this to play any other MIDI Synthesizer!"
Thanks!
@@Soundgas :]
@soma should reimagine this thing.
Several of these interesting instruments available used eg (on ebay) for under £300. Would be a worthwhile acquisition
Absolutely - watch out for import fees/vat (add 20-25% total) and the prospect of dealing with faults post shipping and you could save some cash over buying from us for sure.
This is brilliant
So freaking cool
That Suzuki was the best thing at Synthfest IMO. I tried to buy it, but it wasn't for sale.
Would agree with Hainbach 1989. I've been looking some years and have never seen any newly made ones though there are somewhat newer more high tech versions of these. Meant for the later traditional Japanese music market so they were never imported back in the day and only recently have people been buying the up in Japan and flipping the in other markets
I have an acoustic one of these, which is called a Bulbul Tarang.
Thats the Indian version - I had one that I ordered direct from Indai - it arrived in several pieces! Japanese build quality wins - highly recommend buying a Taishogoto
@@Soundgas Yeah, I think there must be a few regional variations. Theres a substantial quality difference to be sure! The Bulbul Tarang has a certain " rustic charm", would be the nicest way to phrase it!
@@angstrom Mine is certainly 'rustic' - was never able to make much musical use of it (unlike my various Taishogotos), but it was an interesting experience...
The Indian bulbul tarang instrument was indeed imported 100-ish years ago (as was curry powder). It was tweaked in construction and re-tuned for Japanese music use in the 1920s under the reign of Emperor Taisho (hence Taishogoto). They were acoustic only for decades. At some point some company did a guitar pickup to make them louder. Ones like in the video were more for home recording ("DTM" Desktop Music in Japan) and start throwing in all sorts of alternate samples and sometimes percussion trigger pads.
@@nkent6581 looks like my recollected history of the Taishogoto wasn’t correct - thanks for clarifying!
Brilliant! There are low cost plastic versions like Waraku III Suzuki TES-371S Koto Synth
I don't mean to be salty, but this demo does not do this beautiful instrument any justice to be honest... The Vongon Ultrasheer pedal adds way to much modulation and kinda ruins the tone and character of the Waraku. Definitely not a good match.
no 432 tuning. PASS.
meant to play Japanese tuning only