Chromalin/Guitaro

Subject: RE: Chromalin/Guitaro
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Mar 21 - 02:31 PM

Bazoo bazoooo yimpa-yompy fol-der-rol pish-tosh. Bazoooooo!

Subject: RE: Chromalin/Guitaro
From: GUEST,johnbeltman
Date: 14 Oct 15 - 12:16 PM

i have a RBI ChromAlin 24 strings low F and G through High C standard 15 chord auto/chordharp keys. I like it better than ChromaHarp I sent to my granddaughter. I really have no musical talent; but I really like this thing. I would like to build a few things on the same concept. I really like the guitaro videos on youtube. RBI has the autoharp beat when it comes to the lines of the instrument. Okay i am little biased sorry about that!
F G C D E F F# G A A# B C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C

Subject: RE: Chromalin/Guitaro
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 09:23 PM

i have a rbi auto harp that i inquired dont know what its worth has all strings and the keys could use a little tlc but it looks good let me know if your interested my name is eric 763 2197377

Subject: RE: Chromalin/Guitaro
From: GUEST,Wolf
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:57 AM

I'm doing a restoration on a Guitaro, but have no guideline as to how to tune it. There's no tuning guide on it like on my old Oscar Schmidt autoharps, and I cannot find anything online about it. This Guitaro has 24 strings, 14 chord bars, and a one-piece bridge.

Can anyone tell me how this beastie should be tuned?

Subject: RE: Chromalin/Guitaro
From: dav_byn
Date: 20 Dec 09 - 08:01 PM

The Guitaro made by Oscar Schmidt and the ChromAlin made by Rythm Band Instruments, both are a variation of an autoharp. In this regard both are also considered a Chorded Zither. The Guitaro and the ChromAlin have only 24 strings and 15 chord bars. Plays in 5 keys. They are similiar in shape although the ChromAlin is shaped with more rounded edges. Both use a resonator which is mounted on the back of the bout, no soundhole on the front. But there were few that don't have resonators with a soundhole on the front. I think the latter were made for catalog companies for less money. I don't ever see many for sale. So anyone who has one let me know.

Subject: RE: Chromalin/Guitaro
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 13 Dec 09 - 03:02 AM

Years ago I nearly bought an old musty looking large rectangular sound box
fitted with several groups of short six string permanently tuned open chords.

Each set of 6 strings was equipped with a bridge and some kind of tuning pegs
[probably similar to autoharp pegs, sorry I can't remember]

I don't think it was a home made 'one-off',
I researched it at he time and have vague memories
that it might have been a fairly rare short lived unsucsessful commercial factory product.

I lost contact with the ebay seller, so failed to buy it.
Now I can't remember what it was called or find any trace of any similar instrument on the internet.
I've also lost the digital photos so can't be too sure of the dimensions
and string lengths to reproduce a similar crude acoustic box strummer.

But it would be a very interesting 'build' project,
especially if each individual chord was fitted with a cheap nasty ceramic humbucker
and the entire weird contraption was plugged into a fuzz box.

Subject: Chromalin/Guitaro
From: dav_byn
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 11:34 PM

Does anyone out there have a RBI ChromAlin or Guitaro ? I have one of each. I find them interesting instruments. Most think of them as just something to strum and sing along with, but i have found that for some Applachian music a tune can be played much like as with the " autoharp ". Anyone want to add any information ? It would be great to hear from other players. Thanks !!!