another thing to go along with radio controlled helicopters that I always wanted as a boy but never got and which I can buy now and inflict on my children!

It's good to see this make a comeback! Probably the worst sounding instrument (can you call it that?) of all time, but still iconic.

In the early 90's I remember buying a white label rave 12" that had Rolf Harris & Stylophone samples all over it.. >sheds a tear< I'm going to Firebox right now to buy one!

Oh yeah, it's "Can you *tell* what it is yet" BTW.

Don't they mean line-in? I hate that kind of bullshit marketing, jumping on whatever's the current bandwagon craze just to shift a few more units on the lure that it does more than it says on the box.

I have two of the original Dubreq Stylophones, each has a different pitch, though sadly I can't play a tune on them to save my life.

Menkind (http://www.menkind.co.uk) has had this in for months - probably longer - I've seen pallets of these things going to stores!

But is it compatible with Linux?

"ken yer tell what I'm playin' yet?" ;)> (to be said in an Oz accent)

Even less seriously though, when is someone going to bring back the good old Casio VLtone? Now there was a seriously cool muso device!

Nostalgia just ain't what it used to be....

Not only Rolf - Bowie features the Stylophone on Space Oddity.

...like "Tie me kangaroo down, sport", that wibble(or wobble) board and his blasted digeridoo !!

The "vibro knob" sounds like a buzzword to me.

Surely you mean a Mellotron?

No, really, a Stylophone. Dubreq used the fact in their advertising.

These were on sale in the Debenhams Christmas tat department last year.

I noticed at the time that the box doesn't bear the image of Rolf, who surely can't be credited with the invention of the didgeridoo.

There is certainly a stylophone on Space Oddity (quite clearly heard providing the long bass notes under the first sung phrases "Ground control..."), but it is quickly rather upstaged by Rick Wakeman's mellotron playing.

For a clearer blast of stylophone in Bowie's work, listen to "After All" on "The Man Who Sold The World". The stylus sweeps up the metal strip just as he starts to sing the chorus.

They are two of the most annoying sounds of all time :) (and to cap it all it is better looking as well)

X.

Stylophone - Always wanted one of these but never found one on the west side of the Atlantic, or in NZ when I lived there as a kid.

VLTone - will be playing one in performance tonight. Original owner and I still have the vinyl carry case somewhere as well. Just did the math and realised it is now 27 years old....