Wurlitzer SideMan - 1950s Tube Drum Machine

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!!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• side
• man
• TR-808
• CR-78
• Doncamatic
• beatbox

[raymondleeleggs]

Thats a massive sounding analogue bass drum, that's what I am talking about.

[koldkuts2]

its sounds like a choo choo remix

[muzikman2008]

Wow! so mechanical! i never knew these existed till now...thanks for sharing :o)

[MrWestonColleon]

This is dope .. How much is this worth ??

[geroin31337]

you can make some deadly minimal music with this machine

[Prublixa]

i prefar tape based when you getting this early - cr78 was 1st worth while e - machine

[DesecratedProduction]

That is one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

[madincraft]

Good Gawd man! $50? Where? How? Wha!?

[paulj0557]

5/15/11 was one w/ a Wurli 4700 in Bowling Green Ohio for a hundred bucks total for both!( another rare incredible sounding organ, as are the 4500, 4520, 4502- same as prev., but no key percussion). Also the 4300 is same, but in spinet form. Ironically it had same exact functions as the 4500/4520.

[411Soulman1]

Didn't Stone Flower Records use one of these in Little Sister's 1970 recording "Somebody's Watching You"?