Music Thing: Music toys for Christmas

Each week, Tom Whitwell of Music Thing highlights the best of the new music gear that's coming out, as well as noteworthy vintage equipment. Last Saturday he talked about the
Zvex Nano Head, this week he gives us a little roundup of music toys for Christmas:

If you're looking for real innovation in music gear, the best place to start is a toy shop. Track down the Discovery Channel's range of musical instruments and you'll see where things are really at.

Unlike any guitar produced by Fender or Gibson, the Discovery Laser Light Guitar (pictured above) has three drum pads, a six-note keyboard, and six frets. It also has a built-in laser light show. And it only costs $24.95.

And unlike any synth produced by Moog or Roland, the Discovery Double Jam Keyboard (pictured at right) has a huge hinge just before the middle F key. You can fold the whole thing back on itself, so that two players can jam together.
Genius! It costs $29.95.

Even the wierdest imaginings of Raymond Scott or
Don Buchla never come up with anything like the Discovery Motion Music Maker (pictured above). You don?t even need to touch this big, black, stealth bomber shaped thing. Just wave your hands over the sensors and it creates drums, guitars, basses and special effects.
When they say it?s ?the music machine of the next millennium?, they probably have a point. But innovation costs; in this case it costs $34.99.

Alternatively, for a nostalgic reminder of Chrismas past, visit
miniorgan.com, a brilliant archive of old-school music toys.