All articles tagged with #musical instruments
A thief in Teaneck, New Jersey, who stole two valuable mandolins from a vintage guitar store, returned them with a handwritten apology note, claiming he was drunk. The store owner was surprised by the return, and police are using the incident as evidence in the case, with charges likely.
A man from Pleasantville, New Jersey, was arrested for stealing two valuable instruments from Heart's band during their 2025 Summer Tour, with one instrument sold and the other missing; the band has offered a reward for their safe return.
Heart's summer tour faced a setback when two irreplaceable instruments, a custom purple Telecaster and a vintage mandolin, were stolen from the venue before their first show. The band is offering a reward and urging anyone with information to come forward, but the tour will continue despite the loss.
U.S. authorities have seized over 3,000 counterfeit Gibson guitars, valued at nearly $18.7 million, in a record bust. The fake guitars, shipped from Asia, were intercepted by Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security in Los Angeles. Gibson confirmed the guitars were counterfeit, as genuine Gibsons are made in the U.S. The bust highlights the risk of buying from unauthorized sources, especially during the holiday season. Gibson's CMO expressed the emotional impact on the company and its artisans.
Italian startup Artinoise has launched a Kickstarter campaign for Zefiro, a USB-C accessory that transforms smartphones into wind instruments. The device, priced at €22 for early backers, uses breath sensors to simulate various instrument sounds via a mobile app. It also functions as a MIDI controller, offering a cost-effective alternative to pricier options. The Zefiro app supports iOS and Android, featuring customizable interfaces and recording capabilities. Shipping is expected to begin in February 2025.
The author, a self-proclaimed bad guitarist and hoarder of guitar toys, finally acquires a Leslie speaker, a musical implement introduced as an organ accessory in the 1940s. Despite the challenges of obtaining a Leslie in the past, the author finds one for free from a woman giving away her deceased musician father's instruments. While the market for organs and pianos has dwindled, the author is excited about his new acquisition. However, he now faces the task of figuring out how to use the Leslie with his guitar, which requires additional investment.
A musician and electronic instrument hacker, known as Look Mum No Computer, has used a modded Game Boy to play music on a refurbished church organ. By connecting the Game Boy to the organ via MIDI, the musician is able to program notes and create beautiful musical sequences. The modded console allows for the raw computational power of the Game Boy to be harnessed in playing the organ, resulting in an awesome combination of technology and music.