Awesome Instruments

The Instrument 1 is a USB MIDI controller that can be played like a guitar, violin, piano and more. Its pressure-sensitive pad and companion app lets you play multiple notes per string, trigger a different instrument per string and more.

Gorkem Sen’s Yaybahar is an incredibly strange acoustic instrument. When its strings, springs or drum-like membranes are struck, the vibration bounces back and forth between the spring and the membranes, creating a layered echo.

We’ve featured DOIY’s weapon-shaped pillows, but if you’re more of a lover than a fighter, check out the store’s Pillow Band. The set consists of three small pillows. Two are shaped like a guitar and one looks like a mic.

Stratton Violin makes electric violins with skull-shaped bodies. They come with Barbera Twin Hybrid bridge pickups with frets and wood stain as options. You can also opt for hand-carved and detailed bodies or even fully customized designs.

Yamaha announced the US debut of their popular b Series Upright Pianos with this quirky short video that shows off their aesthetics as well as their ability to bring people from all walks of life together to make beautiful music.

Baby’s first Korg. The tinyPiano has 25 keys, 25 different sounds and 50 built-in songs, so you can use it as a music box as well. It has a 3.5mm output jack and can be powered via its adapter or with 6 AA batteries.

The twangy Bohemian Guitar line will offer choice of 3 oil can styles, maple necks with rosewood fingerboards and bridge, adjustable truss rods and chrome tuning machines. (Thanks Bryan!)

James McVay created the MechBass as his Engineering honors project at Victoria University of Wellington in 2012. The machine makes quick work of the intricate bassline from Muse’s Hysteria.

You don’t have to be a pro to enjoy enjoy playing with Google Chrome’s latest experiment. It lets you select from 19 instruments to jam with up to three friends in real time using your Chrome browser.

Musician, composer and instrument maker Linsey Pollak introduces us to some strange but awesome sounding instrumentation and music in this clip from his show Passing Wind. (Thanks, Don!)

Jon Gomm doesn’t so much shred as make use of interesting guitar techniques to produce his heartfelt songs. They’re still just as fun to watch being played as they are to listen to though.

If funded, Starr Labs iTar will turn your iPad into a fully-functional electronic guitar, complete with MIDI fretboard controller and a music app with virtual stings and a whammy bar.

In 1957, Daphne Oram created the Oramics synth, which interprets sound from painted film strips. The 1957 prototype was recently found and is now on exhibit in London. Soon to be an iPhone app, too.

A portable electronic piano made to look like a grand piano. You even have to open the lid to expose its speakers. Has 61 keys, 61 sounds and 25 phrases. Also available with a red lid finish.

In the late 70’s, Guitarist and master luthier Keith Medley conceived this unique creation with 21 more strings than most people will ever be able to play. He uses it to perform his original compositions.

Wilson Wen-Cheng Liang designed the Ambidextro keytar with dual-sided keys so that righties and lefties can equally go synth crazy. But even better is the opportunity it opens up for using both hands.

Kid Rock and other savvy musicians are fans of Memphis blues musician Johnny Lowe, who forges collectible handmade guitars out of cigar boxes, pool sticks and other repurposed objects.

Check out this medley of popular tunes from the young and talented Snubby J, whose instrument of choice is a handbuilt PVC pipe organ/drum set. Bonus: Ozzy at 3:24. (Thanks Kelley!)

Hohner’s Little Lady is the world’s smallest harmonica at only 3.5 cm long; it’s able to play a full eight note C-major octave and includes a carrying case and brass keying loop.

Make Rock Band and Guitar Hero sessions more realistic with Omega’s GM-1 System, which hooks up to a real drum set via a MIDI or accessory cable; it also includes 2-3 cymbal triggers.

It may look like an axe, but the Misa Digital Guitar a completely different instrument; this string-less Linux-powered MIDI controller features 24 frets and a multifunction touchscreen.

The EverTune Bridge promises to make retuning guitars a thing of the past thanks to an adaptive spring tensioner; it maintains constant tension on the strings, keeping them in tune forever.

Gibson redesigns the classic 7-String Explorer for the 21st century with a glossy ebony nitrocellulose finish, mahogany neck/body, EMG pickups, 25k linear pot and Grover Rotomatics.