Bid in the timed auction for this rare set of electronic drums as used by Madlib. Sold serviced and working.
Bid in the timed auction for this rare set of electronic drums as used by Madlib. Sold serviced and working.
Bid extensions / overtime: if a bid is placed in the final 5 minutes of the auction, the end time will be extended for a further 5 minutes. Read more about this…
Bid in the auction for a set of Mica-Sonic Electronic Bongos/Percussion (branded CBS Masterworks for the US market).
They’ve been part-serviced and will be further tidied up after the sale, but are working well and sounding great.
This is only the third set of these we’ve seen in the last ten years. Tony owns a set and we sold another set some years ago. The only information we found at the time was their alleged use on Anne Peebles’ version of “I Can’t Stand the Rain” – there’s certainly a strong sonic similarity.
However, their profile has since increased thanks to the Freddie Gibbs & Madlib NPR Tiny Desk Concert (highly recommended viewing) and we’ve also found this lovely footage of Madlib in El Michel Affair’s studio… rehearsing in preparation for that show.
So this is an instrument dating from the late 60s/early 70s, produced in Japan by a drum manufacturer, at a time when they were all embracing the rise of electronics (see also Pearl and the Syncussion, Toyo Gakki with the Ult Sound DS-4 etc).
The unit is battery powered with has two congas, two bongos and a woodblock. The on/off “mute” control switch subtly removes some resonance for a drier sound and power on/off is via the master volume control pot. Each pad has a simple piezo pick up with a fair amount of sensitivity that allows for a range of volume whether played with hands, sticks (ideally rubber ended or a softer mallet/beater).
Sound? While it is basic, it can be pretty realistic and like a lot of these odd, quirky pieces it just has a certain “something”. It is unlike other electronic drums of the period and we know of nothing else quite like it. The congas have a pleasing boom, the bongos do their thing and the woodblock is particularly snappy and gets electronic and sharp when pushed, and if you hit pads together something overloads and you get a great electronic stab of sound.
These react extremely well when overdriven and we’ve yet to tire of running them through a Soundgas Type 636P, or any number of preamps and pedals.
In good condition with some scuffs and signs of age to the pads, including someone’s lovingly hand-drawn character on the far right. Please see photos or get in touch if you require more information on condition.
See description for more information.
For sales in UK the price will include 20% VAT. Buyers elsewhere may incur VAT or other local taxes on import.
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