MIA: Clef electronic musical instruments

[playthatbeat]

So, to a mystery that has haunted electronic musicians for decades - the CLEF BAND IN A BOX.

Clef were a kit company, making cheapo synths and not-so-cheapo drumboxes.. the MASTER RHYTHM is the same design as the soundmaster SD-88 and well known to grot electro heads already.. more of a mystery is the horrific BAND IN A BOX. allegedly it could sync to external clock, sounded like hell, and was impossible to build if purchaced as a kit.. i NEVER saw one. in fact, nobody i have ever spoken to about CLEF has ever seen one or used one.

Given the awesome packed into the MASTER RHYTHM and it's cousins, it is IMPERITIVE we have a BAND IN A BOX for the collection. Just imagine how it must sound? in fact, the MICROSYNTH looks delicious too.. WHY ARE NONE OF THESE EVER FOR SALE? i think it's 'powertran' syndrome - the kits were either never built properly and disgarded in disgust, or badly built and abandoned first chance.

Whatever - let it now be known - CLEF GEAR IS ON THE LIST.

[digitalallstars]

clef goodie goodie yum yum

http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2008/12/clef-b30.html

thats a clef b30
Designed by Allan Bradford MSc who went on to design for Drawmer, 3G, WEM, Joe Meek, PMI and many others
good b30 back story on this page of ie government spies and b30 synths



http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2010...grammable.html

clef drum box video

[playthatbeat]

Another little press add from a couple of years before the Band in a Box - featuring the master rhythm KIT

add mentions JAYCAR in Sydney australia as agents.. SO.. how about it OZ? any clef gear lurking in Your 2nd hand shops?

[playthatbeat]

Time to BUMP this thread again, as some justice is required.

About 2 years of checking auctions and the usual haunts has brought up a total of FU*K-ALL in the CLEF department. I find this astonishing, and expected in equal measure. Looking at the prices in that range-add, the £400ish price of the BAND-BOX is reallllly waaaay far to much. At that price you could get something made by someone you had heard of, and respected. Even the kit for £300 odd is madness.

Of coarse, you realise this means the CLEF BB is now the most fantastical instrument (not) out there, right? Like everything is for sale at some stage - even prototypes and custom equipment surface sooner or later, but the ONLY CLEF thing i have seen in 2 years+ of checking is this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ULTRA-RARE-V...-/222269192755 - a fuc*ing GRAND for what is clearly a very basic monosynth that was £199 at it's peak of popularity. At those appreciation rates, it's as valuable as a TR808 or TB303 - i think *NOT*. Looks like this is one of those eastern-eu/ex-iron curtain music dealers, specialising in ads that claim knockoff russian shit from the 80's sounds like a MINIMOOG. Sigh. How he ended up with a Clef mono is understandable - it was likely dumped there after failing to sell in the UK, or maybe smuggled in as a kit? Whatever. It's taking the piss.

Notice it has a Black THUMBWHEEL? one in the add was WHITE.. Maybe that's why it's worth $1000 now..

Up for sale very rare analog synthesizer Clef B-30 Microsynth.
synthesizer was made of the English corporation Clef Musical instruments. This synthesizer is in working condition. it is very difficult to find, and has a unique electronic circuitry. Despite its small size, this synth has many modes of operation - a look at the control panel. as we include the original instructions. super packaging for shipment. please note - this is a very rare vintage synths and we sell as is - no refunds. it runs on 220 volts AC , European standard.
please - only synth fan people make your bid for this item. thanks to all!

[playthatbeat]

OK, one appears to have surfaced in the latest VEmia auction.. see the pdf for more..

It's NOT complete, and looks like it was a kit. Shame. BUT, it exists!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[playthatbeat]

The pics... Check out the TOTAL win in this box of joy..

[playthatbeat]

BAND BOX appears in this horrific video that also includes the legendary Greengate DS3 - proving once again that sampling in the hands of the wrong people will give you utter shite every time



Video also includes a look at the BBC Micro running THE MUSIC SYSTEM - this was the first piece of 'music software' i remember anyone buying (my friend Sacha) and it was SO BAD he wrote a letter to the publisher questioning their sanity, as the thing was utterly useless on every level.