r/UnusualInstruments

I’m currently working on this Morin-Khuur, it’s a Mongolian string instrument.

The name translates into horse head fiddle.

It’s mainly played in Eastern Asia on the stepped by Altai and Turkish tribes.

It symbolizes their celebration of the horse culture.

Two strings are bowed on this fret less instrument that can create about 2. 1/2 octaves and is often used to accompany throat singers.

I build this Tagl harpa a while ago.

It’s a Nordic bowed lyre type also known as jouhikko in Finland and Estonia.

Tagl means horse tail in Norse which is what the strings are made from.

I build a case for it as well.

I have been wanting an omnichord for years… I’m a classically trained cellist and pianist and was in high school when I first heard of this thing. I wanted one immediately because it intrigued me. In my mind it was more of a computer than a musical instrument but I found it inexplicably charming. Back then they were still kinda rare, but you could find em for a few hundred dollars. Then 2020 came around and TikTok sent its popularity into the stratosphere. Overnight prices effectively doubled and it became an unreachable goal for high school me.

Since then it had been in the back of my mind, teasing me with its smooth tunes and sheer whimsy.

I had been casually browsing to see if one happened to pop up but was largely unlucky for many years. Until this week… When I found an OM-300 randomly on Facebook. One hour away. Message sent. Replied immediately.

Seller told me it belonged to a Nun. When she passed away, she willed it to the seller’s father, a good friend, who kept it tucked away safely for 20 years. The seller and his father recently retrieved it and decided it would be best to sell it to someone who would use it. Plus, they would split the money. Neither of them are musicians.

I asked the seller if he could send me some videos and pictures, specifically if the buttons, the strum plate, the power chord, the DC-In port, and the sound. It looked and sounded brand new. Original Suzuki power cord. It even had the manuals and the box. It looked like nobody had even so much as put batteries in it. Not a scratch on it.

The seller was very reasonable with the price but unfortunately times are tough and I just couldn’t afford it without cutting something else in my budget. But this model had my attention. It just seemed way too good to pass up, and I knew if I brainstormed a bit I would find a way to get it.

I out together an excellent counteroffer: I could do a certain amount in cash (which WAS in the budget), and offer something valuable for trade to cover the difference. He agreed. $300 cash, plus 3 pairs of brand name sunglasses I was getting ready to try and sell anyway.

He accepted.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Sold, drove, picked up, went home, and now I sit here typing this very post. I am so excited to play some more and compose with it. I am already working on a soundtrack to a short film so it’ll be interesting to see if it’ll work with that. Otherwise, I have a multimedia project of my own this would be right at home in. And I even have some ideas for gigs? I’d love to do pop-ups at local coffee shops and restaurants or bars and just vibe with people. Is that a cool idea? Is it wacky enough to be universally fun?

Anyway, all this to say I am aware that I should not plug in my Omnichord for power unless I am using the correct, official power supply from Suzuki. I am aware that most other cables will fry the circuits causing permanent catastrophic damage.

Any other tips/tricks I should know? Any advice for unlocking the full power of the OM-300?

Thanks for reading :3
-E

I’m usually pretty good at figuring out odd sounds and whatnot, but this one has thrown me for a loop for 25 years. Now I’m working on a cover of it and can get something close but am curious if anybody knows what this sound actually is?

I’ve narrowed my guesses down to scratching on the guitar strings with heavy reverb and compression and whatever else I can throw at it. My other guess is some kind of shaker or washboard instrument with again, heavy processing.

Anyone know what it is? The effect sound starts at 0:03

https://youtu.be/t0rNuNMCzsQ?si=wFP6oXuJLxmXEo-t