Suzuki Tronichord

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This one spotted and sent in via brian c. A search on Suzuki Tronichord will bring up more posts including a "groovy synth babe" and a video with Martin Gore of Depeche Mode with one.

Suzuki Portachord Tronichord

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"Also Known as 'Tronichord' model pc-27

This is the "original" omnichord (well, it was the beginning of the evolution of the omnichord). This is the first of it's kind, and it then led to the future production of the Omnichord which has more features/options.

I sent this to Suzuki to have the power source modified. Being that this is from the late 70's, the battery compartment had a very old terminal for AA batteries. I could barely get today's AA batteries to fit in, and when they did, they were almost impossible to get them back out. The connection was also undependable and the batteries often felt hot. So about a year ago, I sent it to Suzuki and "Franz"(I guess he is known as the omnichord guy) replaced the AA terminal with a 9-volt. This is much more convenient for quickly swapping batteries out if you were to play it on stage. The battery life seems to be unaffected by replacing the AA's with one 9-volt. Franz from Suzuki thought, if anything it might last longer. He tested it for 4 hours and said it still played(battery didn't die)... After being serviced, the battery door hasn't stayed on as well as it used to..."

This one in via brian comnes.

Suzuki Portachord / Tronichord PC-27 w/ Original Silver Gig Bag & Song Book

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via this auction

"Very rare early analog synth put out by Suzuki. Ths is the younger sibling of the Omnichord, and was also sold under the name Tronichord.

This unit is in very good condition. All lights and controls work. One pot is a bit scratchy from lack of use. The battery bay is clean.

The output port was not tested.

Includes Portachord, vinyl gig bag, and the original Suzuki songbook.

Takes 8 AA batteries.

12 volt power adaptor is NOT included. Sorry."

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Suzuki Tronichord

flickr by mrkbrz.

Update via GKG in the comments:
"This site has a short example"


Depeche Mode - In The Studio (2008) - Web Clip #9
Update via Jose in the comments: "The great Martin Gore using a Tronichord. It sure sounds interesting."

Suzuki OM27 Omnichord w/ Case

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"The OM27 was released in 1981 and became an international overnight success as a truly portable electronic musical instrument. Released in three colours, brown, ivory and red (allegedly), the Omnichord has 27 chords grouped into three rows: major, minor and seventh. The ergonomics are much improved over the Tronichord/Portachord with the 27 tactile chord buttons located centrally.

The Sonic Strings are located just to the right and turned by 90 degrees. This made for a far more comfortable playing experience. The "Instant Off" touch pad is located at the top right hand side of the strumplate which silenced the Omnichord.
The built in speaker is located on the right of the Strumplate whilst the new control panel is on the left of the chord buttons. Like the Tronichord, only one sound is provided for the Stumplate (Harp) however, a new adjustable sustain means the instrument can be played percussively or like a stringed instrument.

The 6 new styles (rhythms) with automatic bass and chords completely opened up the Omnichord and gave Suzuki the much required extra features the Tronichord lacked and a complete marketing program was put into place that has lasted to the present day"

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SUZUKI WARAKU III Gold Edition

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"WARAKU III is extremely rare and one of the most strange japanese electronic musical instruments
it was originally made for playing japanese traditinal music and made by SUZUKI (home of omnichord, NOBARA, tronichord..) but this is one of most strange & bizzare instrument SUZUKI ever made...

WARAKU III was last and top of the line product of WARAKU family and already discontinued products this one is very cool gold edition.

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SUZUKI WARAKU III Super JAPANESE KOTO SYNTH SN 02000449

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Website Promo

flickr by caseydesmond

"Photo by Brit Woollard for New Website"

Anyone ID the kit? The labels on flickr have omnichord.

Update: It's a Suzuki Tronichord. You can see Martin Gore of Depeche Mode with one in this post.

via pea in the comments

Depeche Mode - In The Studio (2008) - Web Clip #9

YouTube via dmdotcom.

Suzuki Tronichord. via Jose in the comments of this post.

More vids in the series here.

"Ben Hillier and Martin working on a keyboard riff for the middle break of "Wrong".

Camera: Mr Andy Fletcher.
Be sure to visit www.depechemode.com for all the latest news, including 'Tour Of The Universe' tour information!
I don't think I've ever heard Martin Gore's voice before this. Pretty deep considering how light and angelic, almost eunuch, sounding it is when singing. I'm guessing that's a Crumar Spirit in the backgound.

SUZUKI WARAKU japanese exotic KOTO synthesizer

via this auction, via inverseroom.

"WARAKU is extremely rare and one of the most strange japanese electronic musical instruments it was originally made for playing japanese traditinal music and made by SUZUKI(home of omnichord,NOBARA,tronichord..) but this is one of most strange & bizzare instrument SUZUKI ever made...

WARNING! WARAKU is looks like classic japanese taisho koto(japanese peacock harp) but WARAKU IS COMPLETE ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT NOT ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS

WARAKU was very expensive and made very limited quantities those days it was made for the very small circle of the people who seriously studying japanese traditional music and never sold at ordinary musical instruments market so i'ts very hard to find even in Japan these days this is your first and last chance to get this bizzare exotic gem!

first of all it's very beautifull! built in classy exotic wood case in classic taisho koto(japanese peacock harp)shape with strange shape 27 key keyboard(same key as classic japanese peacock harp) with 5 string bridge and 4 assignable drum pads it has 16 sounds(all exotic japanese traditional instruments like koto, shamisen, shakuhachi, weird voice etc) and in percussion mode you can play many exotic percussions by keyboard or assignable drum pad there are pitch bend lever and vibrate switch, OUTPUT JACK and HEADPHONE OUT and surprisingly it has MIDI OUT!, so you can play external MIDI module by WARAKU's unique 5 strings or keyboard size is approx W89cm D17cm H10cm

you can play WARAKU by keyboards(polyphonic) or 5 string bridge and 4 assignable drum pads( this unique 5 string brdge can play by usual guitar pick hold one key of the keyboards and play each 5 string bridge by pick like guitar 5 string brdge is sumilate japanese traditinal instruments like taisho koto(japanese peacock harp) etc.. japanese harp musician often uses fast trill play so it has above 3 strings with same sounds 4th string is -1 octave from first 3 strings(in the case you choose taisho koto,other case same as above 3 strings) 5th strings is bass string (you can set it favorite tone) string is touch sensible with verocity and totally electronic device, it's not just simply electrical amplified like usual electric guitar, complete electronic!

WARAKU has MIDI OUT so you can play another MIDI synth by this unique 5 string brdge this 5 strings are very effective for guitar,bass kind of string instruments it's feeling like guitar synthesizer

4 drum pad is also touch sensitive and can easily playing by your fingers assign drum sounds to pad is very easy,just hold one key and hit the one pad in percussion mode drum sounds consists of many exotic japanese traditional percussions of course in drum mode you can play all of them on keybord

WARAKU's sounds are very hi quality,exotic and strange!,very unique original sounds and playing by 5 string bridge wiyh pick is very funny experience"

click here for more images.

Suzuki Nobara

via this auction

Click on the image for the full size shots.

"NOBARA(means wild rose) is extremely rare and one of the most strange japanese electronic musical instruments
it was originally made for playing japanese traditinal music and made by SUZUKI(home of omnichord,tronichord)
but this is most strange & bizzare instrument SUZUKI ever made...

no need to search NOBARA on google because there are no info on the net

first of all it's very beautifull!
built in exotic shape designed dark wine red case
with strange shape 37 key keyboard(look like key of vintage computer) and 2 string bridge and 3 assignable drum pads
it has 16 sounds(including exotic japanese traditional instruments like koto,shamisen,shakuhachi etc)
and 21 exotic percussions
plus you can access more hidden sounds by using MIDI prgramm No. from external midi keyboard(I don't know why) internal speaker,audio output,headphone output and surprisingly it has MIDI IN & OUT!

you can play NOBARA by keyboard(polyphonic) or 2 string bridge(monophonic) and 3 drum pad

this unique 2 string brdge can play by usual guitar pick
hold one key of the keyboards and play 2 string bridge by pick like guitar
2 string brdge is monophonic, it sumilate taisho koto(japanese peacock harp)
japanese harp musician often uses fast trill play so it needs 2 strings with same sounds
and there is metall mute plate to mute sound decay by finger touch
string is touch sensible with verocity and totally electronic device,
it's not just simply electrical amplified like usual electric guitar
NOBARA has MIDI so you can play another MIDI synth by this 2 string brdge!
it's very effective for guitar,bass kind of string instruments
it's like guitar synthesizer feeling

3 drum pad is also touch sensitive and can playing by your fingers
assign drum sounds to pad is very easy,just hold one key and hit the one pad in drum mode
of course drum sounds consists of many exotic japanese traditional percussions
it including some ordinary drum sounds,especially bass and snare is cool electronic sound like KRAFTWERK's drum sound of course in drum mode you can play all of them on keybord

NOBARA's sounds are hi quality,exotic and strange!,very unique original sounds
and playing by 2 string bridge wiyh pick is very funny
NOBARA has MIDI so you can play these exotic sounds from your sequencer or another MIDI device

NOBARA was very expensive and made very limited quantities those days
so i'ts very hard to find even in Japan these days
this is your first and last chance to get this bizzare exotic gem!"

Update via the comments:
smetenan + nobara + taborda (video)

YouTube via smetenan.

SUZUKI WARAKU III Gold Edition! Japanese Futuristic KOTO SYNTH RARE!

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via this auction

"WARAKU III is extremely rare and one of the most strange japanese electronic musical instruments
it was originally made for playing japanese traditional music and made by SUZUKI(home of NOBARA,Tronichord..)
but this is one of most strange & bizarre instrument SUZUKI ever made...

WARAKU III was last and top of the line product of WARAKU family and already discontinued products
and this one is very cool gold edition.

WARAKU III is basically a Koto Synth that original WARAKU and NOBARA into one and add more functions
I'm also selling original WARAKU and NOBARA in my eBay listing,so please check these Koto Synth too."

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Suzuki Portachord PC-27 Video Demo

Published on Feb 16, 2013 StorminDeals·1 video




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"rare little instrument from Suzuki of Japan circa 1980. It is a Portachord (aka Tronichord) model PC-27..."

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RARE Suzuki Portachord (tronichord) - mini omnichord with Original Box

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