Guitar Synthesizer From The 80's Perfect For Controlling Analog Synths

[@brendalee6796]

This is what marty mcfly and doc brown would be like if they were just one person

[@randyfurlong6181]

Excellent comment right there Brenda. I genuinely laughed out loud. Well played, well played indeed.

[@dionygerman8340]

Lol literally

[@darkshaman7087]

He is their love child

[@rickc2102]

😂🤣

[@coupledyetivonvanderburg5385]

I backed out of the video right as I saw this comment, and immediately came back just to like it.

[@skydklovnen282]

My father is 86 years old. He was electronic engineer at Brüel & Kjær. He made those green tone generators in the background for more than 50 years ago :)

[@bangermccrusher]

Skyd Klovnen awesome!

[@goodfella1605]

Ok boomer

[@jonathanscott5932]

@PHONOGRAPH calm down boomer.

[@tomlewis5105]

@@jonathanscott5932 HAHAHAHA LE FUNNI BOOMER MEM!!!!1!!1!

[@aitortilla5128]

@@goodfella1605 That's the most interesting thing your generation can say: ok boomer.

[@Quad8track]

He's got the cocaine part of the 80s down well.

[@gorillaxrich]

😆!!!

[@johnDingoFoxVelocity]

Rolmao I think red bull

[@Ethanol80085]

Cocaine and redbull... and a five hour energy... that’s what he’s on.

[@OutOfRangeDE]

No probably only fascinated by tech and its possibilities and sound.

[@larslevinberget9558]

No that was Steve Porcaro...this young Einstein runs on Duracell !!

[@xPalsen]

"I've taken some of the strings off this one because it's easier to play when there's less strings on it." Now that's a synth guy talking.

[@rachelar]

Yes, how horrible. Learn to play midi guitar properly

[@AntoSous]

He used to be a guitarist before being a synth guy

[@NeuronalAxon]

Guitars are definitely imperial instruments, and synths are more metric.

[@BarnacleButtock]

@@NeuronalAxon this is actually the most dumbass and pretentious thing I've ever seen on the comments

[@graxjpg]

annabelleshaus explain why and then maybe the guy can have a reason to clarify

[@Doctormix]

KILLER INSTRUMENT!!!!!!! You're a superstar Sam. Well done man !!!!!!!

[@zyslug7503]

Hey its doctor mix

[@itsenzo3000]

Docta mixxxxxxxxxxx!

[@michaelodendaal5776]

I love you both your awesome

[@heathkitchen4315]

He’s like a guitar mad scientist.

[@Smiirffable]

mad guitar tits

[@phansy9642]

He IS the mad scientist

[@furqueue9590]

Yeah he's a real "character"

[@borntopwnyou]

That's what I thought when he started turning knobs like a mad man.

[@PACKERMAN2077]

If the Door Warrior was in blade runner instead of mad max

[@RegebroRepairs]

Well, they are gonna get expensive NOW...

[@iamgodbringmecake]

Lennart Regebro I know right? Damn

[@CIubDuck]

That's why he owns 2 of them, so he can resell his other one for mad profit

[@RegebroRepairs]

@@y.debruijn There's always a lot of wishful thinking orders on eBay. The question is what they will sell for.

[@omgsolikevalleygirl]

a short hype, until everyone realizes it actually IS a piece of trash with 0 possibility for expression :D

[@omgsolikevalleygirl]

@10 it has no velocity, it works with pressure switches along the neck and these sensors are pretty unreliable, the fingerboard's rubber coating bulges over the years, the plastic strings can't really be played in any actually controlled way. It's pretty much a rather awful insult to anyone who can actually play guitar. For good git synth control it's better to look at the Roland GK-pickups or a Godin Multiac.

[@jgirling6890]

I loved that little solo just after 1:27 sounded so good!

[@nunofernandes4501]

Funny how things go full circle, when these came out I was a teenager and wouldn't be caught dead playing them. Now they're vintage and even look cool as a synth controller. Wait, I'm old.

[@NeuronalAxon]

That's true.

[@FoulOwl2112]

No. They're even less cool now.

[@PlatinumEagleStudios]

@@FoulOwl2112 Shut up, boomer.

[@user-zi5rs1by7b]

4:02 We need a full version.

[@danielmoraes7397]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/goOalnSprb-Wg7M

[@johnbornjohnborn]

Seriously that was dope

[@xDreams2Realityx]

The year is 2024, I've just newly heard this...and I can confirm that this is still Dope. 🔥

[@dmeat0rz]

This is the perfect instrument for a DOOM 2016 OST cover !

[@SamirPatnaik]

Yeaaahhh!!!

[@pylon2144]

FUCK YES

[@ozguroyus]

With Polivoks vst that is. ( The real thing doesn't support midi)

[@matthewboyea]

That was recorded with an 8 string guitar I believe. Not a lot was synth

[@dmeat0rz]

@@matthewboyea Correct ! Bot Mick Gordon used a lot of layers of various distortion effects on it to achieve that synth-like sound

[@marylarsen2288]

I get Trainspotting vibes from this dude. I love it.

[@MilkoOfficialChannel]

Mary Larsen he's the complete opposite

[@Mtaalas]

I'm an electronics designer and I've always wanted to make a new mechanism for MIDI-guitar where it's basically a real and complete guitar, except that the fret board and strings are used as a "switch matrix" and it uses special pickups where they have individual outputs for each string. When you press down on string to fret it, it'll tell the brains through that contact that where it's been fretted and if there's a signal on the pickup that's strong enough, it's counted as "note on". Thus there's no issue of being out of tune since all that matters is the signal going over set threshold and depending on if it's fretted or not defines it's pitch. The processors today are so cheap and powerful that it's quite easy to do very complex and good algorithm for midi translation unlike back in the 80's...

[@Ewr42]

Dude, I invented exactly the same thing when I was 15, I have several pages of drawings of it lmao

[@Francois_L_7933]

You should really do something with those Guitar Hero controllers that are cluttering every charity shop in the nation.

[@threepotMR2]

This is a great idea!!

[@Francois_L_7933]

Thanks guys. I did find a long time ago a project that used Processing to turn them into bona fide guitars. The USB ones are recognized as simple joysticks by computers. But it would be super easy to strip the circuits out of one and turn it into a MIDI controller using an Arduino.

[@blastfromthepast8344]

@@Francois_L_7933 And you could take it up in your Mirage III and play the theme to the Aeronauts while you're looping the loop and flying faster than fast in a furious flame. ;0)

[@ChazSeamus28]

Think its possible to make a controller from those guitar hero things? They have drums and everything...that would be so interesting!

[@SparkySINN]

@@Francois_L_7933 Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or just use Max for Ableton Live....

[@michalszymanski367]

4:05 I love this! Pls make full song of it!

[@rafaelmanna4698]

Yes

[@patrykapiezo1650]

He did! Search for "Groundhog Day cut back version"

[@danielmoraes7397]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/goOalnSprb-Wg7M

[@jonathanmack5474]

The guitar was featured in "Vice Versa". Fred Savage 80s film

[@lazylion420]

YOU CAN EVEN DO HAMMER ONS OH NO YOU CAN'T OH YOU CAN NO YOU CAN'T

[@logandogan272]

That was my favorite part

[@doodoostickstain]

yeah that was brilliant haha :D

[@pmvoice88]

I have one. I rate it on the high-end of low-end. Great fun. If you're a guitar player who doesn't play keyboards, this could be a great addition to your studio.

[@pastel_guts81]

the little jam at 4:04 was so good hsbshgs 🤤 i'd love a full song of that or even just a loop omg

[@LetsXenoX]

Try album Simulation Theory from Muse. Especially song The Void If you haven’t already

[@pepepenfl008]

Song?

[@sspark2686]

@@pepepenfl008 It's a jam

[@ares395]

Been 5 years, one of first vids of yours I've even watched and still one of the coolest instruments I've ever experienced.

[@kanesgames7474]

1:28 wow beautiful piece

[@CynHicks]

I started playing guitar in the late 80s as a child. Back then I thought that this type of guitar would evolve into THE guitar one day. Today, if there was a high quality, mature version of this I'd be down for it.

[@mb2776]

Reminds me i still got my electric saxophone with midi to try out. Yes, electric midi saxophone!

[@vegisaynom]

I need one! That sounds amazing! Could you do a video showing how it? :)

[@MiguelBaptista1981]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnjUZoujq52aobs minute 1:15

[@bhargavchavda1478]

@@MiguelBaptista1981 thx

[@asusmctablet9180]

Show me an electric midi hammered dulcimer and I'll be impressed

[@weesnaorc1203]

Is it a saxoboom?

[@collinrohwer1790]

I am not a musician by any means but I've dreamed up many many cool instruments and this was one my favorite ideas. I'm so glad you made this happen, it couldn't have came out better. I used to get mad when others beat me to the punch but now I just get stoked. Good job brother. Sounds dope. More vids of what she can do and the music you can make!

[@krautworks]

The whole person violently screams 80s. I love it. I mean, look at that wall!

[@Rezaroth]

I'm the farthest away from being a music person. But this guitar makes the coolest and the most nostalgic tunes I've ever heard man. Would love to listen to whole music made by it.

[@MatthewWenzel31]

I've wanted one of these ever since I saw Bret playing one on Flight of the Conchords years ago. Good stuff

[@twtclikk7841]

i have no idea what he's saying but it makes me happy to see him talking about his passion. and also the music is great!

[@MikaelKonradsson]

This seems like something Kevin Parker from Tame Impala would take to some extreme levels and use it live or something. He uses the DG-20 on some live performance but with the built-in sounds

[@nathanschimke7309]

That'd be siiick

[@Byborne]

I feel like he could have taken this to crazy levels maybe 5 years ago. It seems like he have headed toward a completely different direction nowadays. Am I right?

[@ezzong]

@@Byborne a step into mundane retro dancing music, apparently. More marketable, sure, no hate, but i kinda miss their psych rock days.

[@hadiomrane8594]

Ugh tell me bout it... he’s a sellout at this point but I don’t blame him. You need money to survive sooo

[@Mastercluster]

Look mum no guitar?

[@mayfairwitch]

👍🏻

[@djsensacion7]

1:09 My spirit came alive on that riff. It was a call to me specifically... I'm sure of it

[@lastditch727]

"You can even do hammer ons, no you can't, wait yes you can. Nope ow." 🤣😵

[@jordyboy321]

1:27 is the best thing I've ever heard.

[@jakp8777]

You know electronics, keyboards and now guitar? You’re talents amaze.

[@billtuttle809]

Art is all about breaking rules, innovating, and inspiring. Exactly what this guy is doing.

[@skiesquiggles7319]

This man is insane and I've never been more inspired

[@AA-iq6ev]

Gosebump moment 1 -> 3:26-3:36 You are genious

[@fatihguler7141]

omg. when that filter opens!!!

[@zenpotatoe]

Remember watching this in Flight of the Conchords and was keen on knowing what's it all about. Thanks for this man :)

[@Franksey180]

Only discovered this recently but love this channel, keep up the great work Sam. 5:15 this section made me chuckle with the murdered Smoke On The Water attempts using the built in sounds :)

[@LowerWestSideStudio]

Great tip with the volume pedal. I've dredged mine out of storage and now use it to attenuate my filters! Thanks!!

[@DBCisco]

I bought a DG-20 when they first cam out and still have it ! Awesome MIDI guitar

[@AngeloCoelho]

I have a DG-10 and a DG-20, got both on the MIT flea market some time ago, they weren't working, but after few hours on my work bench, they got like brand new again !

[@U014B]

Casio should make a newer version of this based around an actual guitar. Maybe even have it run off their phase-distortion synthesis. Call it the DG-20XX.

[@six_5000]

I've been playing music for 18 years, and I've never had as much fun as this guy had in a six minute video...

[@68bmx36]

Casio has been very before it´s time,..Thankz Sam

[@timberwolfenstein]

I actually had one that I received as a gift when it first hit the shelves in the mid 1980's! I even gigged with it a few times but it was more trouble than it was worth. Still, I had a lot of fun with it!

[@God-eu6sz]

this man sounds like the sort of person who would fight anyone and comes from the midlands

[@codebracker]

He comes from the midi-lands

[@God-eu6sz]

@Roderick storey not really cockney enough though, it sounds either like Birmingham or could even be north essex

[@Idontcommentonvideos]

@@God-eu6sz Not cockney enough? When were you last in London, not many cockneys about mate. And definitely not Birmingham. Sounds like Guildford to me

[@RWL2012]

lol he lives in London or possibly Kent

[@furqueue9590]

You're an idiot and wrong, he is a pussy, he is from the home counties - likely just West of London and he is an insufferable millenial fake

[@rubbymcrubrub1369]

This is that kind of video that I like early on but then everytime it makes me smile again I'm almost sad I liked it already

[@reverendgaddy2435]

Gary Numan suddenly got a warm tingly feeling...

[@danielking8163]

It might have been a rape machine... down in the park.

[@idleidol5184]

"My Numan senses are tingling!"

[@daggersdukc]

Numan is what came to mind here too.

[@Hxxrtbrxxk]

4:05 -4:25 was just so insane! This would be so fun to use with my modular synth. I'll keep an eye out for one at a reasonable price.

[@KeytarKris]

The 80s live!🤘🎹🎸! Soooo wanna accompany you whilst playin' keytar!

[@alexperkes4839]

Mate this is nuts, looking forward to more of your videos

[@flekkzo]

Just watched Rob Scallon’s video on the maaaaaaaaasive church organ in Chicago. You need to build a full sized synth organ that can compete with that:)

[@lemonhscott7667]

Tbh I think magpie might be a better synth dude to talk to about that lol

[@scottbruckner4653]

@@lemonhscott7667 collab video 2.

[@therealchayd]

Google the International Touring Organ (basically a massive custom-built wavetable instrument that has samples of hundreds of different pipe and theater organs and likely other instruments too)

[@SpectrumDIY]

That's epic as hell the way you've got it hooked up

[@bloocheez3]

3:20 Sounds like Ming the Merciless just walked in!

[@n3wttron]

I have one of these sitting in my closest with a broken string Ive been debating on selling, now after watching this im going to move the strings around and just use it as a bass and plug it into my V-synth! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@scottmargerison]

You could smash the terminator theme tune with that 80’s electronic string box

[@lovesgibson]

This sounds amazing. You’re a genius

[@alanlaraperez1189]

He looks like a cyberpunk character and that’s reaaaaally cool

[@Waktrax2]

Other reviewers call it a toy, you make it look much better!

[@guitorb]

I bought a similar beast called the You Rock Guitar. Every time I plugged it in it was an exercise in frustration. The seller wouldn't take it back. I ended up giving to my grandson. I'm sure it's in a closet or dumpster. Either way I'm happier.

[@parasiteunit]

That is the most exciting use of an underrated controller I've ever heard... Not since Grand Master flash used an electronic drum kit to trigger a sampler loaded with vocals have my ears been so surprised

[@2mbst1]

As a guitarist turning synthguy I really hope these kind of midi controllers will get a revival - with state-of-the-art tech etc. I'll feel at home faster than learning the keytar. :D

[@lxxwj]

yeah seriously, get behringer on that shit already

[@Speedojesus]

Why not just use one of the Roland synth pickups? Essentially just this, but better in every way.

[@lxxwj]

@@Speedojesus can those send midi information though?

[@2mbst1]

@@Speedojesus because until now I was not aware of their existence. Need to look into those!

[@soyburglar77]

I got this very guitar for my 12th birthday!!! It was the “guitar” with which I learned to play the A-G chords and the baseline to the first song I ever learned, U2’s ‘With or Without You’. A very cool instrument, but not great as a guitar. The very next year, I saved up my allowance and summer earnings from yard work and car washing and paid $35 for a proper guitar...a ‘70s Harmony H-802, which I found at a local pawn shop! I paid much more for the amp...it was a Crate solid state with two 8-inch speakers and I’m pretty sure it was around $250-300 because my family had to step in and help me ☺️. Back in those days (the late ‘80s thru early ‘90s) and in a very small southern town, you pretty much had to take what you could find.

[@P529Nr1]

4:00 sounds so good, I need a track with that baseline and the high notes x.x

[@bytad]

Reminds me of The Prodigy - Timebomb Zone

[@P529Nr1]

@@bytad Thanks dude. Sounds pretty nice

[@fatkev1983]

I bought a fully working one with a dodgy power barrel and missing the cover for the anchor points of the strings on the body... 80 quid. That was in 2009 before I even had any synth or MIDI enabled gear. We all know why I bought it - Flight of the Conchords. I lent it to my friend, an actual guitarist, and it has moved 3 times with him. He recently dug it out of the loft when I asked if he still had it. Thankfully he did as I, like yourself, was also surprised at the asking price they're going for these days. This kind of put me off my plans to mod mine. But I certainly want to incorporate it into my synth set up. Your video has inspired me.

[@kenopsia9013]

He’s quite a solid lad I’d say

[@RWL2012]

who is...? or did you mean to say "you're quite a solid lad I'd say"...?

[@Caniballe]

Boy, how i LOVE this channel!!!

[@daftmi9hty327]

You could do some cyber punk stuff with this

[@flammenwerfer9645]

Dude, we live in the age of cyberpunk. Its here. Its our reality. And, guess what?: It sucks, mate.

[@arrmigliato]

@@flammenwerfer9645 i guess this is not exactly what cyberpunk should be

[@tja9212]

​@@flammenwerfer9645 you are right. we are in the cyberpunk era with many aspects that raegan/thatcher-era-inspired genre had defined. especially the megacorp-have-more-power-than-politics-thing, the cyberspace and all the fucked up things the 80s scifi predicted in basic functionality, but coulnd't get the visuals of today right and how the predicted things came then. flatscreen-supercomputers in the pocket and youtube are more confenient that what we saw at johnny mnemonic and others. the only thing missing in the real cyberpunk age is the knowing in what world we live yet - and cyberpunks and creative use of technologies. i would count the creater of this channel quite cyberpunk, but i miss it elsewhere.

[@tja9212]

@@RetroOnSpeedDial sorry m8

[@steveclark9934]

I have experience with the Roland/Boss gr-20 and gr-55 guitar synth pedals and they were so much fun so many sounds this video made me miss making music with them.

[@mobius273]

I think i need a 1983 casio dg-20... set to electric mandolin...

[@StrawberryStationMusic]

'EAR ME NOW

[@markashworth1]

Clicked the video for this comment

[@xtraflo]

They'll definitely go up in value now since you just reviewed it !!

[@garnetbezanson1404]

I'd love to see a band like rush use something like this

[@panko4875]

I know how to play guitar, but mostly metal, but I’ve been a fan of the synthwave- retro what ever, I REALLY would love to do this

[@tianixtv]

Synthwave artist are going to hunt this beauty

[@perrycrawford2691]

My brother had one of these. I loved playing it.

[@andywillis9701]

i am dying to know how much is ur electricity bill. please tell us :))

[@scottmargerison]

Andy Willis Andy wired

[@bigmcchickenmcsloppyjerky]

his synths are actually powered by the loudness of his haircut 😂

[@chrislugo1137]

This guy is literally a mad scientist and i love it

[@ClaudioDesideriMusic]

Holy shynth! Do we all agree this is one of the coolest thing on the web, right?

[@LeoBego]

I'm amazed by these graphics. This Cyberpunk 2077 gameplay looks astonishing.

[@KWLOTR]

Awesome music! Can you suggest any artists / bands plaing something like that? For example, 1:20, 3:22, 3:55, 5:00. Very cool!

[@megasocky]

Edit: the more i listen, i think lemon demon is the closest bet. Ill try to find specific songs but a lot of his view monster/spirit phone songs come close but just search around. He has a lot of midi like tunes I dont know but the general aesthetic wise TWRP has that feel to it. And some of Lemon Demons songs uses a synth guitar (specifically songs from View Monster or Spirit Phone). Specifically man in stripes and glasses by lemon demon kind of has the synth feel

[@sweetsoul3145]

Running After Ganymede, Jack Name is fantastically Synthy

[@sweetsoul3145]

Pretty Hate Machine by NIN is cool too, but for something directly heavy like that, you gotta try Dangerous Days by Pertubator, that guy is cool. Try ‘Raw Power’ that track is groovy

[@CodyMadeThis]

Olympus by Groundislava, Nightcall by Kavinsky, Cop Killer by John Maus, anything by Com Truise, oh and definitely anything by Timecop1983. Actually look up Timecop1983 first.

[@KWLOTR]

​ MegaSocky, Devilled Eggs, CodyMadeThis! Thank you guys!

[@DBCisco]

I still have my DG20 from the 80s, I love it !

[@stelleratorsuprise8185]

This made me curious ... but even the cheapest DG20 A on ebay was still 180€. But hearing even the first sound you made with it, it seems worth the price.

[@KiR_3d]

if you have a regular guitar there was some cheap (not so sharp though) workaround: VAZ Modular (one of the 1st Steinberg's virtual synths) has a module that can detect notes so you can play monophonic parts. At least you'll get if you need all this at all.

[@certifiedpossum8655]

For an 80s relic, I say $180 is a deal. Guitar + midi tracker would cost at least $500. Besides, it looks frikin amazing

[@Chris-mc2dt]

The first sound he “made with it” was made by his System 15 and Grandmother synths.

[@legomyfego]

Kevin Parker of tame impala used this a couple years back in a pitchfork performance, but I don’t think he knew about or used it for its midi capabilities. Pretty cool video.

[@ryanb.31funky]

dude, we need to make a new wave cover band!!!

[@VashTheAverage]

This guys energy makes me happy

[@djoverkin]

Noice!. Are you doing something with that Big Mouth Billie Bass?

[@Kalumbatsch]

He's going to turn it into a bass guitar obviously.

[@damian2779]

I've never seen Your channel before! You're great man, really like that sense of humour :D

[@zeg132]

Please a cover of any muse song with this guitar

[@maydaygoingdown5602]

Wow,...absolutely fascinating. So many ideas what I could do with that flooding into my mind. Excellent video mate.

[@johntrevena4280]

I remember when these were being sold in dixons tandy and argos!!! AND Xmas '88!!!! Yes we had a test in the shop, but as for midi applications it Shuld work fine thou I never got the chance to try it out in that capacity.. More of a studio tool, coz guitar wise live it didn't cut it... No hammer ons or offs no finger taps or harmonics eighter... It the only guitar that hasn't got the soul of a guitar, that's why they flopped...

[@Kiboune_YT]

This thing sounds heavenly!

[@dadvader6197]

"..the main thing's AH SHATAP!!!"

[@andriealinsangao613]

LOL

[@DonnDeVoreMusic]

this is brilliant!! I remember when these were new around 1987. kind of wanted one but they were super not cool since it was considered a toy at the time.

[@feraldrollerypdx]

"Smoke on the Water" by The Residents :p

[@Ringlefinch-e7u]

Mindblowing .. simply just wow !

[@junaidisutara4577]

Obligatory Smoke on the water riff. 🤘

[@skywatchernorth]

On the wrong two strings as well, lol

[@JoeyLevenson]

There were a couple in a local shop for years. I was always wondering why the keytar became the symbol of retro synths, this is much more 80's. It screams 80's!

[@Ian-ff2hz]

Your the colinfurze of synthisizers!

[@Alexpaka1111]

Dope Sam! Can’t wait to hear you live when all this over!