Interesting new instruments for September
Echoes of yesterday
The Oberheim TEO-5 Desktop is a retro-inspired, five-voice analog synthesizer that can be controlled via an external keyboard. The TEO-5 is named after Thomas Elroy Oberheim, the founder of the Oberheim company, which became famous in the 1970s for its synthesizers.
The TEO-5 Desktop features, among other things, two VCOs and sub-oscillators per voice, as well as three simultaneous waveforms for each voice. Oscillator 1 can be synchronized with Oscillator 2.
There are two freely assignable LFOs with five different waveforms, a five-stage DADSR envelope generator, an arpeggiator, and a 64-step sequencer.
Two 24-bit digital effects — including reverb, delay, chorus, and flanger — provide a touch of the digital realm.
The unit includes 256 preset memory slots, along with a second bank for user-programmable patches.
Priced at 1290 euros, the synthesizer offers two line-level output jacks, plus connections for headphones, footswitch, sustain pedal, and MIDI. There’s even a slot for a USB memory stick.
A keyboard version is also available.
Timeless patina
The Hagström Adina Creme combines modern design with the timeless philosophy of the Hagström guitar factory. Paying homage to the classic 1960s Automatic, Hagström’s offset model features a maple top that blends seamlessly into a mahogany body, which, according to the manufacturer, offers a well-balanced combination of resonance and visual appeal.
Hagström states that the 25.5-inch scale bolt-on neck ensures a smooth playing experience, comfortably fitting the hands of both seasoned players and beginners.
The vintage-style P50 neck pickup is described as warm and full of character, while the rock-inspired Custom 60 bridge pickup promises a solid tone that helps the guitar cut through the mix.
The Wrap-Around bridge is designed to efficiently transfer string energy to the body, and the patented H-Expander truss rod is tensioned at both ends of the neck for added stability. The neck is topped with a Resinator fingerboard made from a wood composite material.
Priced at around 750 eruos, the Adina is available not only in the elegant Creme finish, but also in three modern color options: Blue Sky, Dark Storm, and Purple Burst.
The traveler’s production unit
The 1010 Music Bento is a portable sampling and production unit featuring a touchscreen, pads, a powerful effects engine, and internal resampling—all without the need for a computer connection.
Bento is a standalone creative tool for music-making on the go, offering sampling, sequencing, and live performance capabilities in a single compact device.
It features a 7-inch touchscreen for intuitive control, 16 velocity-sensitive pads, and eight control knobs for sound shaping and parameter adjustment. The eight-track unit includes a versatile, modern sequencer and a powerful, track-specific effects section.
Resampling allows you to record internally processed tracks on the fly. You can also record from external sources and play long WAV files directly from a microSD card.
Powered by a rechargeable battery and priced at around 1000 euros, Bento includes three stereo inputs and outputs, a headphone output, and full connectivity for portable setups.
Stack your cymbals
Zildjian’s FX Stacks series consists of cymbal stacks made up of two larger and one smaller short-decay, perforated FX Splash cymbals. The cymbals can be stacked in any order to achieve the desired effect, including in a traditional hi-hat configuration.
Zildjian’s Cymbolt mount, which adjusts the tension between the FX Stacks cymbals, allows for quick and convenient sound customization—from a bright, trashy tone to a raw, fast, and cutting sound.
Cymbal stacks have gained popularity especially in fusion, industrial, and certain subgenres of hip hop, but modern effect cymbals can just as easily expand the tonal palette of any drum or percussion setup.
For example, a three-cymbal FX Stack featuring a 10-inch splash costs just over 250 euros. FX Stacks are also available in both smaller and larger sizes.
