Unusual Musical Instruments

[DoubleBlade]

Here are some unusual pianos which i came across on the net.Please feel free to post any other unusual musical instruments here....

Artes, the Art Deco piano.

Artes is inspired by the styles of the Twenties and Thirties. Despite these historical allusions, the piano embodies a timeless elegance and understatement.

Characteristic features of the Art Deco style: clearly defined lines, metal inlay and chromed brackets. These details lend depth and structure to the body with its glossy black finish.

Imago, the Avant-Garde piano.

Imago is a fascinating new creation which redefines the concept of the piano. A great design, extravagant and classic - the sound pattern for a new age.

A large, diagonal-grain pear wood panel frames the body of the piano like a passpartout, forming an exciting contrast between the two different shapes and their materials. An attractive extra: The Touch-Tronic lamps by Ingo Maurer are switched on and off or dimmed by a simply touch.

A piano in it's elemental form, it is the quintessence of minimalist design. The body and keyboard form a solid backdrop for the focal point of the piano - an undulating panel. Yet although Onda is essentially of simple construction, it also has something of the grand piano about it.

It has chrome plated fittings, RR double repetition and muffler pedal.

 

[pooo]

Wow they look cool man, it somehow reminds me of closets. Man if you're design crazy this might just blend into the house and go unnoticed.

 

[Mr_KeyboardMan]

Nice design ... but would the design affect the sound quality? what do you guys think?

For me, I prefer simple design yet with superb sounds

 

[DoubleBlade]

I doubt so IMO because i feel that as long as it follows the laws of piano mechanics and technology , the sound should not be a problem given on how elaborate the design of the piano might be....

It takes superior craftmenship to come up with something like this...

 

[pooo]

Hmm i have a feeling the tonal qualities will be compromised. But we won't know for sure until we try it out yea? Hehe that's if we ever get to. I still prefer the good 'ol piano designs.

 

[ChanMin]

yuck... looks like IKEA came up with their own pianos

 

[Frozen]

I was gonna get one of these...

...maybe if I move out, I'll sell my current kit and change for these as they're easier to move.

 

[Cheez]

http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/index.html

 

[bongman]

lacking here

probably Singapaore still lacking in the arts, never would I know there is a rich culture in unusual odd instruments. the MIDI trumpet certainly is odd and looks like a rifle.

 

[Silencer]

Nice design ... but would the design affect the sound quality? what do you guys think?

For me, I prefer simple design yet with superb sounds

hmmm double blade do u know anything about the wood they use? or the strings or anything? that might give us some idea as to how the sound actually sounds.

 

[Cheez]

I doubt so IMO because i feel that as long as it follows the laws of piano mechanics and technology , the sound should not be a problem given on how elaborate the design of the piano might be....

It takes superior craftmenship to come up with something like this...

Actually, there is more to creating good piano sound than just the mechanics of hammers hitting strings. Of course, the mechanics are important, but the body is just as important. The type and quality of wood, the way the wood is cut etc - all add to the resonance and tonality of the sound. When you start adding chrome and metal into the body, it will definitely affect the way the sound resonate in the body. The tone will surely be affected.

Sorry that I'm a little negative, but I think those pianos make better furnitures than instruments...
Digressing a little, sampling technology of piano sounds today take the resonance of the piano very seriously. That's why there are now impulse technology etc - to emulate the way the sound resonate in the piano. That adds a lot of colour to the actual sound. We no longer contend with sampling of pianos - we now go into sampling of the resonance of the Steinway grand/ Bosendorfer etc. To emphasise my point - it is more than just hammers hitting strings.

 

[DoubleBlade]

I'm not really sure what materials they use for the construction.But this is what i know...German Strings are good and Japanese made hammer actions are good.That's all i know :lol:

I bet you knew that right?

I don't mind learning about different types of wood , types of strings and metal components which affects a Pianos tonal quality

 

[Silencer]

i don't knoe if its just me, but i noticed a trend between how good a piano sounds and its price

 

[Silencer]

Steinway Marble Model L

Schimmel Pegasus

Bosendorfer Black Series

Yamaha CFIIIs

the cream a la cream of grand pianos.

 

[DoubleBlade]

Piano construction uses all kinds of wood found in all parts of the world ranging from the common mahogany , satin to the ultra rare limited edition Pianos made of African Satin , White Oak , Amboyna (Indonesian Wood)

Check out this Bosendofer Grand made of Macassar (Another Indonesian Wood)

My advise to all you musicians out there (If you have the money) to buy Vintage Instruments because the current quality of wood found in acoustic guitars , Pianos , Violins etc has dropped drastically due to deforestation :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

 

[DoubleBlade]

i don't knoe if its just me, but i noticed a trend between how good a piano sounds and its price

That is because using more expensive wood , strings , metal components etc would greatly increase it's tonal quality

 

[Cheez]

Not just wood - but the way the body is structured. This determines how the sound waves resonates through the body to the player's/ audience's ears. That's why funny shaped pianos and pianos with other materials embedded into them (like metal and chrome etc) will tend to sound different from the traditional pianos.

By the way, the Pegasus piano looks like something from Star Trek...

 

[xxjerryxx]

applaud applaud... just produce nice sound can liao lar...

haha... pianos r really cool man... haha... funky i must say...

 

[DoubleBlade]

By the way, the Pegasus piano looks like something from Star Trek...

It looks like a machine gun turret to me :lol:

 

[DoubleBlade]

Hey Frozen , for a moment i thought that drum set were a pair of spectacles :lol: