Played like a mini keyboard with the guitarists strumming hand, the gizmotron contains a spinning, variablespeed aluminum shaft that drives spinning rollers into the strings. Every member of 10cc was a multiinstrumentalist, singer, writer and producer, and the writing teams frequently switched partners, so that godley gouldman or creme stewart compositions were not uncommon although compositions credited to creme gouldman and godley stewart are rare, only found on 1974s sheet music. The goodbye blue sky graphic of a tank fitted with a harmonica firing rockets is a collagemarriage has the power, surprise, wit and technical nous of peter kennard and richard hamilton. Post10cc, the inventors featured the gizmotron on their 1977 triplerecord concept album, consequences, which began as a promotional piece and demonstration record to market the effect. Gizmotron which he invented with longtime collaborator lol creme. Nov 15, 2017 in the 1970s, i developed an obsession with the songwriting and audio production of the band 10cc. Eu customers please see our dealers page to purchase a gizmotron 2. The gizmo used small motordriven rotating wheels which were pressed into contact with the strings, thus creating a continuous, violinlike bowing effect on all or any combination of.
Gizmo, a device that allowed guitarists to play sustained notes and chords on their guitars. Aug 02, 20 posts about gizmotron written by pureambient. At the 2015 summer namm show, gizmotron llc announced plans to release a reengineered, updated sequel to a guitar effects device that has not been seen or heard since the early 1980s. Making these pictures is like throwing a spanner in the works and only having control over the size of the spanner. The gizmo, also called the gizmotron, is an effects device for the electric guitar and bass guitar. Read first a rare and brief demonstration of the 1970s guitar effects attachment invented by lol creme and kevin godley. The bowing motion was activated by keys located at the bridge of the guitar. He speaks and thinks in code and he made me some software that. Kevin godley, co inventor of the original gizmotron, fully supports our efforts to bring the gizmotron back, and we are truly grateful for his blessing. By then, the gizmotron was already playing its swan song.
Lost guitar devices pt 1, the gizmotron my les paul forum. Jul 27, 2015 at the 2015 summer namm show, gizmotron llc announced plans to release a reengineered, updated sequel to a guitar effects device that has not been seen or heard since the early 1980s. Invented over 40 years ago, by lol creme and kevin godley of the rock group 10cc, the gizmotron debuted at. It was invented in 1969 and patented by the english rock musicians kevin godley and lol creme in 1975, whilst they were members of the british rock group 10cc. But this was an early example of contemporary musicians getting into gear manufacture and invention, in this case of 1970s supergroup 10cc and their madcap gizmotron. Musitronics offered two versions of the gizmotron to the public.
Gizmotron guitar a new version of the godley and creme developed device that attaches to an electric guitar and uses tiny rubber wheels to bow the strings. Apr 09, 2018 by then he had access to the gizmotron, a mechanical bowing device invented by kevin godley and laurence neil lol creme of fellow british rock group 10cc. Invented over 40 years ago, by lol creme and kevin godley of the rock group 10cc, the gizmotron debuted at the namm trade show in 1979. Pressing one key would bow one string, pressing three would bow three, leaving the other hand free to roam the rest of the guitar. Corrupted files are the result of a malfunction during a digital media transfer. Bit indulgent at times, and too long but peter cooks characterisations are magical and some of the songs, which never see the light of day, are really good. Pfam curators use the simple comparison of outputs program as well as.
Godley and creme used only the original prototype gizmotron in 10cc recordings. Jul 09, 2015 a completely redone version of the original gizmotron, which allows you to get infinite, violin like sustain on a guitar or bass. The products could be editors pick award winners in 2015 actually, in this case, from the december 2014 issue through the november 2015 issue, andor devices that also blew our minds with incredible design, superlative value, transcendent craftsmanship, or fun factor. Musitronics chief aaron newman believed in the gizmotron as zealously as creme and godley. The gizmo, also called the gizmotron, is an effects device for the electric guitar. This was a project of godley and creme s doing, an auto bowing device, it could pluck a string up to 100 times per second. Sustaining device originally invented in the mid1970s by lol creme and kevin godley of 10cc, the gizmotron was poised to revolutionize the guitar world with its promise of infin.
The half of 10cc most interested in studio effects and production wizardry, kevin godley and lol creme broke away from the group at the height of their mid. Kevin godley and lol creme were two of the original members of the 70s pop band 10cc. In 1977 lol creme and i released a triple album box set called consequences to explore the potential of a device wed invented years earlier called the. They were amazingly generously provided with skilled and ingenious songwriters. Jimmy page used the gizmo on in the evening, but mere mortal axemen had a harder time getting it to work, and the company went bankrupt. It was published 1977 in an expensive 3lpbox, probably too expensive for a number of possible buyers. A completely redone version of the original gizmotron, which allows you to get infinite. Originally invented in the mid1970s by lol creme and kevin godley of 10cc, the gizmotron was poised to revolutionize the guitar world with its promise of infinite sustain and the ability to create authentic sounds of such stringed instruments as violins, violas and cellos.
Their album consequences was a huge indulgence to launch the gizmo but personally i loved it. Two men battle against the elements to explain, examine, enjoy, and bring lol creme and kevin godley s masterpiece consequences and the brilliant. The pair began releasing albums as a duo after splitting from the pop band 10cc. In 1979 they directed their first music video for their own single an englishman in new york.
Sep 09, 2009 unable to afford an orchestra for early 10cc albums, lol creme and kevin godley conceived a guitar able to play violin sounds. The outcome was accidental but interesting, so i had a simple piece of software made to duplicate the accident and ran some of my music videos through it. So when 10ccs lol creme and kevin godley built the original gizmotron, i was riveted by its undulating, synthlike sounds on various 10cc tracks, led zeppelins in through the out door, and godley and cremes bizarre epic, consequences. The gizmo used small motordriven rotating wheels which were pressed into contact with the strings, thus creating a continuous, violinlike bowing effect on all or any combination of strings, generating infinite sustain in voicings ranging from a single note to a full chord. In 1976, godley and creme left to record as a duo and work on their invention.
The album was recorded at nigel grays surrey sound studios, leatherhead, surrey. Nov 15, 2017 the maximum gear awards shine a spotlight on the most awesome gizmos we played with this past year. You can vary the speed velocity of the wheels on the device itself, which we then sampled to create a dynamic crossfade system in the virtual instrument. Aug 06, 2019 the first record creme and godley released after their departure from 10cc is a monumental, ambitious work that lasts nearly 2 hours and it is one of my favourite records of all time. Welcome to the world of gizmotron gizmotron will tell you tooo all d gizmooo freakssall d latest and new updates on the latest technology.