The Midwestern Musical Co

11/04/2024

Hotel California

09/22/2024

Buy guitars not guns!

08/30/2024

Thursday, Sept 19th at Knuckleheads

08/24/2024

SHE SAID on the Friday Night Concert series sponsored by AARP Kansas.

08/06/2024

Lev Sergeyevich Termen

Leon Theremin, originally named Lev Sergeyevich Termen, invented the Theremin in 1920, marking one of the earliest ventures into electronic musical instruments. This device stands out because it is played without any physical contact. Theremin stumbled upon the concept while working on proximity sensors for the Soviet government, leading to the creation of an instrument that relies on electromagnetic fields.

The Theremin generates sound through two metal antennas: one controls pitch, and the other controls volume. By moving their hands near these antennas, performers manipulate the electromagnetic fields, altering the frequency and amplitude of the produced sound. The right hand typically handles pitch adjustments, moving closer to or further from the vertical rod antenna to change the sound's pitch. Meanwhile, the left hand controls the volume via a loop antenna, where proximity determines the loudness.

This invention had a significant impact on music, particularly in film scores for science fiction and horror genres, due to its distinctive, eerie tones. The Theremin's unique sound also influenced the development of electronic music and subsequent instruments like synthesizers. Clara Rockmore, a virtuoso Theremin player, notably advanced its performance techniques, demonstrating its musical potential and complexity. Theremin's innovation thus bridges the realms of music, science, and technology, illustrating the diverse applications of early electronic devices.

08/05/2024

Check out the Emmy Award winning Rockumentary "There Will Be Rock" and come see The Doo-Dads - Rock at Roe Park! 🎸 on Wednesday, August 7th at 10 am!

The Doo-Dads, Kansas City’s premier adult-friendly rock ‘n’ roll band for kids has a new movie!! The band is proud to announce the release of the live concer...

07/06/2024

You can't make others happy unless you're happy yourself.

06/21/2024

Silvertone!

06/20/2024

The Mini-Midwestern Musical Co
Located at the Metcalf Antique Mall on the Quivera aisle.
Recently added:

2009 Fender Squire Duo Sonic with Fender, USA made Hardshell case, like new $499.

80s Tokai Hard Puncher, Rare made in Japan "P-Bass copy" with tweed case, Very Good Condition $999.

2016 Epiphone Master Built DE LUXE with original Harshell case, Excellent Condition $899.

06/20/2024

The Mini-Midwestern Musical Co
Located at the Metcalf Antique Mall on the Quivera aisle.
Recently added:

2009 Fender Squire Duo Sonic with Fender, USA made Hardshell case, like new $499.

80s Tokai Hard Puncher, Rare made in Japan "P-Bass copy" with tweed case, Very Good Condition $999.

2016 Epiphone Master Built DE LUXE with original Harshell case, Excellent Condition $899.

06/19/2024

Be cool!

06/02/2024

Orville Gibson

In the year 1894, a visionary luthier named Orville H. Gibson, born in May 1856, embarked on a journey that would revolutionize the world of stringed instruments. He established the renowned Gibson Guitar Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1902, which became synonymous with high-quality guitars, mandolins, and a variety of other musical instruments.

Orville Gibson's first creation, a unique 10-string mandolin-guitar dated 1894, marked the beginning of his legacy. His approach to crafting mandolins broke new ground, departing from traditional flatback designs, as noted by music historian Paul Sparks. The Gibson brand became known for its exceptional manufacturing standards and strategic marketing efforts.

Orville's story began on a farm near Chateaugay, Franklin County, New York, where he was the youngest of five siblings. His lineage was a blend of English and American heritage, with his father, John W. Gibson, hailing from England and his mother, Amy Nichols Gibson, originating from Peru, New York.

Without any formal training, Orville Gibson started shaping the future of mandolins and guitars in 1894 from his home workshop. By 1898, he had patented a revolutionary design that drew inspiration from the violin, featuring a curved top and bottom that were meticulously carved rather than bent or pressed. This design not only enhanced the durability and volume of the instruments but also set a new standard that musicians eagerly sought after.

Gibson's innovative ideas caught the attention of five businessmen in Kalamazoo, leading to the formation of the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co., Ltd., in 1902. The company's board decided to compensate Orville based on the actual hours he dedicated to the company's work. His role thereafter, whether as a full-time employee or consultant, remains unclear. Julius Bellson, in his 1973 book "The Gibson Story," described Orville as a man of eccentric visions and dreams.

Gibson and his company leveraged music teachers and robust print advertising campaigns to promote their instruments, successfully phasing out the production of round-backed mandolins in the U.S. The impact of Gibson's guitars was equally significant, with designs that continue to resonate in modern jazz guitars.

The company's collaboration with instrument designer and sound engineer Lloyd Loar led to the creation of the Gibson F-5 mandolin, hailed by Sparks as the finest flat-back mandolin ever produced. Loar also designed the L-5 guitar, introducing the f-hole—a feature borrowed from the violin family—replacing the traditional round or oval sound-holes. These innovations were cherished by bluegrass musicians and found a special place among jazz artists, despite mixed reactions from classical musicians.

From 1908, Orville received an annual salary of $500 from the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Co., Limited, which is roughly equivalent to $20,000 today. His health saw him in and out of hospitals between 1907 and 1911, and after a final hospitalization in 1916, he passed away on August 19, 1918, at the age of 62, in St. Lawrence State Hospital in Ogdensburg, New York. Orville Gibson rests at Morningside Cemetery in Malone, New York.

Born in Chateaugay, New York, Orville Gibson's life and contributions were chronicled in the 1900 U.S. Federal Census and his obituary in The Malone Farmer, published on August 21, 1918. His funeral was held at the residence of his brother O. M. Gibson, marking the end of an era for a man whose dreams shaped the sound of music for generations to come.

Photo : Orville Wilson, 1894
✍️ Keith Langerman

05/31/2024

The Midwestern Musical Co logo is a picture of Jim Strahm's 1956 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins Western hollow body now on display at the recordBar in Kansas City, MO.

Eddie Cochran's modified 1956 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins Western hollow body is now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

05/31/2024