Awesome Instruments

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.

A cross between a piano, a drum and a sax, the Eigenharp is an uber-instrument with the capabilities of an electronic keyboard; choose from the budget Pico or professional Alpha.

Korg’s microSAMPLER is a compact keyboard with loop-sequencer, line input, audio player caddy, gooseneck mic, and five sampling methods; it also includes 21 KAOSS PAD effects.

Both the Wii and Xbox 360 get their own flavor of Logitech’s Wireless Drum Controller with similar specs: stainless steel surfaced bass pedal, 30 foot range and quick fold-flat design.

Luis and Clark’s Carbon Fiber instruments aren’t just about looks: they play well, take quite a bit of abuse, and have found their ways into the hands of musicians like Yo Yo Ma.