Help: Mylodica (Wooden Melodica)

Subject: Help: Mylodica (Wooden Melodica)
From: GUEST,JJ
Date: 30 Nov 07 - 04:35 PM

Found this via the Wikipedia article on Melodicas: Mylodica. You may have to scroll down and right a little.

Anyone tried one or have more information?

Many thanks

JJ

Subject: RE: Help: Mylodica (Wooden Melodica)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 30 Nov 07 - 09:21 PM

Actually, the 'keyboard sitar' things remind me of an instrument I have been chasing for years since I first saw one.

Seem to remember it was called a 'Clavinachord' - it had several guitar strings - designed like a clavichord - but had magnetic pickups and a jack output - allegedly for use in a rock style band, externally looked like a normal 'rock muso' piano case - btw - google shows some links that may refer to the instrument I saw, but I couldn't find a pic, and only references to the early music (pre-piano) instrument.

It produces sound by striking the strings with small metal blades called tangents - like 'hammering on' a guitar. Vibrations are transmitted through the bridge(s) to the soundboard. . Unlike in a piano action, the tangent does not rebound from the string; rather, it stays in contact with the string as long as the key is held, acting as both the nut and as the initiator of sound. The name is derived from the Latin word 'clavis', meaning "key" and 'chordis' meaning string. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clavichord

This page mentions the Clavinet - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clavinet

which seems to be exactly what I am after - anybody got one they don't want? Hohner stopped production in 1982 - then used the name for electronic instruments - which has frustrated my search... all the bloody 'experts' kept telling me I was mad...

Incidentally, I also found mention of the related instruements, the Cembalet and Pianet.

~~~~~~~~~~
Thought for the day: If someone asks you what time it is, and you reply "6/8", you might be a drummer.