Synthesizers, Circuit bending and the Melvins

[Dumpster D]

OK, I have not been able to offically do any real research into this, but I hear  Vintage analog synthesizer on closely listening to a vast collection of Melvins music over the years, not to mention the circuit bent stuff. Some times Those sneaky melvins (I'm suspecting that a lot of the time it's Dale) will use some really devious sounding very carefully and sparingly, hidden sounds from a variety of classic synthesizers.

I would be interested in learing more, specifically when and where you hear something on a melvins tune that sounds like a synth or some kind of toy that has been circuit bent.
Off the top of my head, I notice lots of Circuit bent toys and gizmos on POTRE, going all the way back to the Throbbing gristle tribute track. (The melvins definetly discovered the potential of circuit bending ages ago and have been keen on that technique ever since coming across it)

I think 'The bit' single has a LOT of really awesome synth, mainly Moog on the remix of Tipping the Lion (I think they gave credit that time) if you have sensative ears you will notice a tone that is not un-like a dentist drill at about 1khz high above the entire track, I can't tell if Buzz is using an actual synth on his guitar, or if it's actually a really messed up moog track that may even be circuit bent itself..or both (again this is why I began this thread to find out who has all the answers)

They seem to be good at "disguising" the synthesizer and not get too carried away putting it up front in a song or the mix.

I hear some on shrinebuilder, there is also the track off H.A.T, when it's all like "Isn't this, isn't this simple.."

uh, the Bride screamed murder has one really devious sounding part with keys or synth, and lets not forget that Adam jones collects synthesizers and Divorced definetly has a huge Bass tone at the beginning, something like a moog taurus 111

also I suspect they've used Arp oddyssey MK11 synths, but before I get too carried away (I gets real exited about my synth sounds man)
I'd like to hear from you!

let me know what, where and when you hear synth ambience on any melvins! (winner gets huge gloating rights over the lesser of us of course)

Thanks~

[dwr budr]

Regarding your subject.  I shot the shit with Toshi for quite some time before a Big Biz show once...he was a little drunk and talked quite excitedly about buying children's toys (e.g. kids electric keyboards etc..) and circuit bending them.  Explained that he helped create a lot of the strange sounds you hear on HAT and POTRE using these toys.  Also discussed how difficult it is to circuit bend some of these things and the complex math used to create sound from these devices to translate to his computer.  I really didn't have any good questions to ask him as I know close to nothing about it.  My advise, talk to Toshi.  I think if the chance is right he could talk your ear off.  He's quite the affable guy!

[(((O)))]

I hear some on shrinebuilder

Probably Toshi. Although it wasnt widely stated he IS additionally credited with playing synth in the liner notes.

[Idlehanz]

It's Toshi. I've seen pictures of him using them in the studio, and seen him use them onstage. I've been trying to get into circuit bending myself, but I haven't had the time.

[the bloat]

I've been trying to get into circuit bending myself, but I haven't had the time.

What can you do? Few of us have time for circuit bending these days.

[Dumpster D]

..go to the thrift store, buy some toy keyboards, and stick a guitar string through a couple of resistors, see what you get.

you don't have to be a pro to get some cool results.

"a man can find the time to do anything If he is so incined to do it"

[(((O)))]

..go to the thrift store, buy some toy keyboards, and stick a guitar string through a couple of resistors, see what you get.

you don't have to be a pro to get some cool results.

Bravo.  Reminds me of this!

Jack White makes a guitar (Scene from It Might Get Loud)

[Mad Arab]

Make sure you look for battery operated toys. And then what you do is go to your local Radio shack and buy two alligator clips and some wire. Put an alligator clip at one end of a piece of wire and put the other on the opposite end of the wire. Take this and hook it up to various parts of the circuit board while playing the toy and see if you get some weird sounds from it. If you like what you hear then you get another piece of wire and solder the ends to the affected parts. You have then effectively circuit bended. You can go all out and buy toggle switches and other accessories once you get the basics down.

[Dumpster D]

I hear something on the Trilogy that is total synth, The bootlicker there is Synth right between Tracks, thereafter going into the cool "...lookin' for the blood, of the white man..." and Also between tracks on the Maggot, before cutting into the really rough sounding tune thats all like "...we cease to be released, a sick animal..."  (damn that is some friggin' bad ass Riffage!)  Both are just Weird huge big resonating Tone pulses.

ok so, I hear a few little Circuit bent tid-bits on stag even, and Honky has a LOT of keyboard all over the place, but you'd have to know exactly what it is already, or it goes over your head as to what your hearing.

Dale used what I beleive to be Wine glasses on Drumb, y'know where you like, rub the rim with a wet finger and it like..uh...vibrates and makes that sound like....OooOOOooooOOOOoooo, and he's also tapping them and then sort of tilting the glass to give it that weird tone that sounds all un-balanced.

anyway let me know if you can catch anything else like that next time you hear something cool and recognize it.

Thinking back to the Interstellar overdrive cover, melvins are into Floyd so I don't know what other types of Synths floyd used, but I ga-ruhn-teee the Melvins know, and perhaps even fooled around with those synths a little too.

[Uncle Fester]

they have circuit bending workshops in some of the local art galleries in my city.
my friends are into that sort of thing... theres alot of weird sounds on hat and potre.

[Dumpster D]

I think Technically I have to add The theramin to this list.

It looks like It could be a Moog theramin.

[Dumpster D]

Also also have to add, that Buzz used some kind of Circuit bent guitar pedal on PORTE.

[Jaron]

What kind of amp head is that?

..go to the thrift store, buy some toy keyboards, and stick a guitar string through a couple of resistors, see what you get.

you don't have to be a pro to get some cool results.

Bravo.  Reminds me of this!

Jack White makes a guitar (Scene from It Might Get Loud)