Categories: SynthesizersTechnical

1951: The Thyratone, a DIY Vacuum-Tube Monophonic Keyboard Synth

Download a ten-page pair of articles from RADIO ELECTRONICS, 1951, on the subject of building your own keyboard synth. Author Richard H. Dorf.

DOWNLOAD: ThyratoneSynth1951

This has got to be one of the most insane DIY projects I have encountered from the era. You would have to be a really ambitious MF’r to try and crack this one. Also, and perhaps this goes without saying, it was very ahead of its time. The Thyratone predates the appearance of the Musitron (AFAIK, the first synth to be used on a pop hit) by eight years. Many now-accepted synthesizer features, such as variable attack and decay, are fixed in the this circuit so as to more closely create the sound of a conventional organ, but since everything in the article is more or less explained, it seems certainly possible to make these aspects player-adjustable.

Anyone ever tried building a keyboard-playable, all-tube synthesizer? Success?

chris

Next Audio Mixing Console Circa 1949 »

Previous « Prepare For A Journey Thru Time And Space (*special soldering-iron edition)

View Comments

rrusston says:

10/27/2012 at 9:46 pm

Richard H. Dorf was a prolific author many of whose books are still well worth reading. He wrote about electronic organs and other musical instruments a great deal and devoted much effort to DIY efforts as well as commercial projects.

Sadly, the TRCs (Toob Roller C**ts) have parted out a great many classic tube home and church organs. I believe many are worth preserving, not just the overrated Hammonds.
Gletson says:

02/24/2014 at 2:52 pm

I looking for schematic !!!