All of these instruments are available to use at the studio* *unless they are in the instrument hospital as they sometimes are, awaiting treatment - please contact us if you would like to book in to use a specific instrument.
All of the video links below come from our YouTube Channel. Please subscribe to us to receive updates on new videos and special offers!
The work of maintaining these instruments is ongoing and costly. We are grateful to our sponsors for allowing us to continue this important and historical work. If you would like to help keep our instruments alive you can donate using the PayPal button below, or via our Patreon page.
We also welcome any donated instruments or equipment (broken or working) and can also arrange personal collection if required. All equipment received is either used in the studio, or broken down to be reused as parts for repairs.
Instrument List
See also our Instruments Archive pages from the old site.
PIANOS AND ELECTRIC PIANOS
Steinway ‘A’ Grand Piano (1911) - a beautiful 88 key grand piano, older than the Titanic!, which spent much of its life in a school hall. Now being used to its full capacity! - please note, this piano is tuned regularly every 6 months, and in the interim is always kept in tune with itself (very close to concert pitch), but if a special tuning is required before a session, an £85 tuning fee is required. video here
Hohner Pianet T (1980) - wonderful passive electronic piano in a handy carry case the size of an electric guitar! Sounds very Fender Rhodesy, but more mellow (and nicer to play we think!) video here
Hohner Clavinet L - stupendously rare, stylish ‘home’ edition of the Clavinet purchased by Don Shinn in 1969 from Minn’s Music, Southampton, and used on the album Dada (1970, Atco.) Case fully restored by Andrew Row of Row Antiques and preamp and amp by Steve Christie - video here
Wurlitzer 700 (1959) - Electric Piano with Valve amplifier. Steve has added an insert point for effects in the amp. See this video for more details.
Weltmeister Claviset aka Pianotron (1960s) - A cembelet-style keyboard from Germany. video here
Rogers Upright Prepared Piano (1950s) - The piano Steve learned to play on, with a Challen piano-style mandolin rail video here
ORGANS
Hammond M102 (1967) - This is THE ACTUAL ONE used on the song ‘Let It Be’, and can be seen at Apple Studios (from where it was acquired many years ago by an ex-Beatles roadie) in Peter Jackson’s 2021 movie/documentary ‘The Beatles Get Back’, filmed in 1969. As played by The Beatles and Billy Preston! video here
Hammond C3 (1963) and Leslie 760 (1970s) - Formerly owned by the late, great Don Shinn. A beautiful organ (with accompanying Leslie cabinet) that has been electronically restored by Steve. video here
Hammond S6 Chord Organ (1958) - An unusual accordion-style chord organ, totally valve-based, with a polyphonic organ and string sound, and a mad early mono synth built-in! video here
Lowrey Heritage Deluxe DSO-1 (1965) - A fully-valve driven organ, made famous by The Beatles on ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’. Abbey Road had one of these until it was sold in the ‘sale of the century’ in 1980. It has an in-built Leslie speaker, that was used to great effect on tracks such as ‘Blue Jay Way.’ This particular model was rescued from a skip in 2012! video here
Lowrey Holiday Deluxe TLO-R (1969) - The transistorised version of the above, with some added extras (wah wah pedal and elimentary drum sounds which can be triggered by buttons or from the keyboard or pedals). The model just before the famous ‘Baba O’Reilly’ organ, and it sounds very similar. video here
Lowrey Wandering Genie L2 (1974) - A great little organ with some really characterful sounds, and multicoloured illuminated tabs! video here
Philips Philicorda GM751 (1966) - the scarce, original, valve version. Absolutely iconic sound! video here
Gem Jumbo 61 (1970s) - Combo organ with the world’s loudest onboard amp, and a unique-sounding broken speaker! video here
Yamaha Electone C55 (1979) - Similar organ as used by Jerry Dammers of The Specials. video on its way…
Riha Orchestra (1978) - Crazy three manual organ from Holland, with built-in Analog Monosynth from Hell! Similar sound to a VCS 3 video here
Riha Synth (1978) A synth from a dismantled Riha Orchestra, in a little box!
Jen Carousel C-450 with Jen SX-2000 synth (1978) - A bog-standard home organ, with an inexplicable and fantastic mono synth built in! Video on its way…
Baldwin Fun Machine (1974) - Just like it sounds - one of the first instances of polyphony in any organ or synth! - Steve Christie has added an extra lower octave function to this instrument. video here
VALVE MONOSYNTHS / MONO-ORGANS
Ondioline (made by Georges Jenny, Paris) (1956) - wonderful valve mono synth, designed to emulate woodwind, strings, brass, castanets and bongos! Steve Christie has added functionality on this instrument with a custom-built glissando control. video here
Clavioline Concert (1958) - French made mono synth/organ. Designed after the Hammond Solovox and Ondioline. The ‘Telstar’ / Joe Meek sound! video here
Univox J6 (1952) - made in Dartford, and similar to the French Clavioline, but with added balls! video here
Hammond Solovox ‘J’ (1940) - the very first portable valve-based mono synth/mono organ. The little sister of the famous ‘Novachord’. This model survived a flood, but is extremely temperamental! Video on its way…
OTHER KEYBOARDS
Ondomo Ondes Martenot (2016) - Amazing Ondes Martenot clone / redesign by Naoyuki Omo. video here
Harpsichord - John Reynolds-Catch - hand-built in 1942. Beautiful instrument, but needs frequent tuning! Please contact us prior to booking, if you would like to use this instrument. video here
Optigan 35001 Stereophonic Custom (1970) - Whacky toy organ that uses optical discs to play back strings, brass, organ and rhythm sounds. video here
Deagan Canto Chimes (1940) - Electronic carillon with metal bars through a valve amp and speaker cabinet. video here
Deagan Electravibes (1971) - Electronic vibraphone video here
Godwin String Concert SC749 (1975) - Warm string ensemble analog polysynth with fully editable sounds. video here
PE Clef String Ensemble (1978) - Kit-built string synth with Steve modifications. video here
Behringer Poly D (2020) Mini Moog style synth video here
Behringer Odyssey (Arp Odyssey) (2019)
MFB Synth Lite (2000) video here - MFB Synth Lite (manual download)
Stylophone (1968) - original issue with discrete components, from Dubreq video here
Yamaha VSS 30 (1987) - Little 8 bit sampler keyboard - sounds very similar to a Fairlight! video here
R.S Stevens Harmonium (1950s?) - Portable harmonium video here
Bontempi Organs (1970s)
Eminent P275 with Solina Strings (1983)
AMPS AND LESLIES
Laney Valve Guitar Amp
Trace Elliot Bass Head + Cab
Leslie 910 Cabinet (1970) - ex-Dave Gilmour/Pink Floyd (from Ronnie Wood Mobile Studio)
Leslie 760 Cabinet (late 1960s) - transistor amp
Yamaha P.A. System
Also available to hire from our partner vintage equipment museum for a small charge of £20 per amp + £15 carriage:
(Please contact us to arrange to use any of the following five amps)
Vox AC30 (1964) - Beautifully restored original guitar amp
Ampeg B15 NF Bass amp (1966)
Ampeg B15 S Bass Amp (1972)
Fender Showman (1964)
Marshall Amp (1960) - very rare and very nice!
RHYTHM SECTION
Sonor Drumkit (3 piece) + choice of 2 snares, zildjian cymbals and hardware (1979)
Tokai Jazz Bass (1980s) - other basses also available
Double Bass (1930s)
Also available:
(Please contact us to arrange to use this drum kit)
Ludwig Drum kit (1964) - 4 piece drum set, fully restored and sounding wonderful - also available, Roger Pope’s Snare drum (used on Elton John’s ‘Tiny Dancer’ etc)
EVERYTHING ELSE
Violin
Cello 3/4 size
Boosey and Hawkes Tenor Sax
1900s Strohl Viol Phonofiddle (Steve can’t play it to save his life!) video here
Theremin PV-1
Percussion collection including glockenspiels, shakers, maracas, tambourines etc.