Added: Jul 7, 2008
From: peahix
Duration: 3:8
The Wurlitzer SideMan was arguably the world's first drum machine. It depends on whether you count the Chamberlin Rhythmate, which was introduced some years earlier, but featured tape loops instead of electronically generated drum sounds. (Please see my other videos for a demo of the Rhythmate.) In any event, the SideMan is definitely the first "beat box." I just picked this one up for $50. It's got all its guts exposed so you can see how it works.And yes, you're damn right that's a Mark Hamill poster in the background, be-atch!!
Channel: Music
Tags: beatbox cr-78 doncamatic man side tr-808
Rating: 4.78 (116 ratings) Views: 43675' favoriteCount='235 Comments: 109
TheSwillMan Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - How big is that thing?
paulj0557 Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - I bet the original purchaser was impressed highly by the Western beat. I bet you could do a mod here and there and get it to sound really cool. Except I've yet to hear an intensely sounding tube anything, except when it comes to guitar amps, then nothing is better! I especially like the mechanical sequencer. Crazy!! I grew up playing around with a Hammond tonewheel organ w/ the fizzy pop tuht ssss drums. No wonder I now play a B3 instead of the drums. What about the REAL drum machine??
64mung Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - Amazing !!
ishredu Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - I think this same machine was used on rock the boat by the hues corporation and family affair from sly and the family stone...I could wrong but it sounds exactly like it
AerialTheShamen Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - The sequencer looks like made from electro-mechanical pinball machine parts.Why not make a drum machine completely of old EM pinball hardware?! Playing samba by some dozens of relays and bumpers mounted in a big metal locker would be definitely awesome. Think of the historical "Wall of Sound" sequencer machine. I have ideas for lots of feakish EM sound generators.
ladyandatramp Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - greaat drum machine..the sideman is the best
Hexatyrant Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - Quality man
samuelmichaud Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - lol, piece of shit! ;)
wiresoulmax Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - sell it on ebay
clydesight Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - It is so cool to see these old machines in operation. I assume that this unit was passed through an amp eventually for BIG sound? Thanks for the video!
jeffr890 Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - I like anything mechanical because you can actually see it work. With everything on a 'chip' these days, you can't see anything. Thanks for posting the video.
peahix Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - actually, it has a built in amp/speaker. it was intended to be a stand-alone unit that you could put beside, say, your piano or something. there's no jack on the outside of the unit for PA hookup, but you can get a signal directly from the amp, like i did for this recording.
carlus90 Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - Amazing! Even if I can't understand how it works...
contents99 Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - love the sound of the bass
carbiduis Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - they dont even have a chuck berry rock & roll beat ????!!!!!
432hertz Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - what a beauty ! the tempo controls sliderod/wheel arrangement is especially amusing.so organic!
streakofreaks Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - awesome. i want it!
Yunneck Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - nice vintage
tresillo Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - Thanks fingerzzzzz for showing! ;-)
VideyoJunkei Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - cool find! may need a bit of work (instrument balance) usually some caps get leaky...
CassetteMaster Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - That is soo cool! It's cool to see the machanical device work and all the tube chassisis and speaker! Those beats... wow~!
Taobeth Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - $50???! You are so lucky!
coilgunner2 Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - Im picking up a wurlitzer electric organ for 50$ today from out goodwill
vinylman86 Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - omg, that machine sounds ahead of itz time! thatz some awesome shit there!
gibs0nguitaro Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - lol its probably worth like a million bucks