One of the First Electronic Instruments, Restored

This week's Fess Find is a beautifully restored Selmer Clavioline. As one of the first electronic instruments to reach a mass market, this pioneering predecessor to the analog synth was ahead of its time in many ways. It brought forth a new realm of electronic tones that had not been heard in any traditional instrument and sparked interest in sound synthesis prior to Bob Moog's exploration into voltage control and modular systems ten years later.

The Clavioline was intended for use as an accompaniment instrument that could imitate the sounds of orchestral strings or brass sections. It generates its iconic buzzing sound with the help of a vacuum tube oscillator, resulting in an almost square wave-like tone. To create a vast array of innovative sounds, high- and low-pass filters are utilized as tone modifiers that can be blended in numerous ways to modify the original sound.

Tone adjustment is achieved through its knee bender bar, which adds enriched expression when playing—particularly when paired with the amplifier's distortion. The Clavioline's immense capacity for crafting captivating melodies is evident in the iconic recordings of "Telstar" by The Tornados and the classic Beatles single "Baby You're a Rich Man."

Originally developed by French Engineer Constant Martin in 1947, several different models of the Clavioline were produced by various companies. This particular model is incredibly scarce and was created by brass and woodwind maker Henri Selmer only for sale at his shop in Place Dancourt in Paris. It has been restored with absolute precision by expert enthusiast Daniel Kitzig, and comes with its original transport case with 50W amplifier, original cables, and knee bender. The seller also mentions including an overview of how the filter settings operate. This is yet another extraordinary find that belongs in a museum!