Back to childhood! (Stylophone Original Pocket Synthesiser)

Member Name: fayp

Product:	Stylophone Original Pocket Synthesiser
Date:	10/10/08 (108 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great fun at reasonable cost!

Disadvantages: Batteries again!

For those of us old enough to be kids in the 70's....stylophone helps us relive that childhood! I spent many happy hours playing on my Grandpa's stylophone, and generally deafening anyone near!

It is a small, retro looking machine, easily held in one hand. It is black and silver, the new version looking identical to the 70's version. There are small keys which you press with a stylus pen. The pen is attached to the stylophone, and sits neatly in its own little space. The keys are numbered so no musical experience is needed, you can just follow the numbers if you wish. You can either hit the keys one at a time, or slide the stylus along for some weird sounds!

Once out of the retro looking box, you insert 3 AA batteries (which last for ages), remove the stylus from its space, switch on and you are ready to make music! You can hold the stylophone as it is light, or place it on a work surface. It has surprisingly loud internal speakers! There is a vibrate tone if you really want weird sounds. This newer model had another new sound, like a dirty organ. There is a head phone socket if you want to spoil the fun! On the back is a tune button so you can tune it into whatever song is playing and play along. This newer model also has an MP3 connector, so you can play your MP3 songs via the stylophone then play along with it!

I think the price is excellent, currently Amazon are selling these for only £10.45, so not bad for a fun pressie to wake everybody up after Christmas lunch! Other sites sell these for £14.99.

Rolf Harris made these famous in the 70's in adverts and used them in "two little boys had two little toys". They also made an appearance in Doctor who, and with David Bowie in Space Oddity!

So do surprise your family and pop one of these into their Christmas stocking! You won't be disappointed I assure you!

Summary: A truly retro toy which is amazing fun!