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Orchid is a delightfully retro and approachable hipster synth
·1 min read
Key Takeaway
In 2017, I bought an old Magnus chord organ off Craigslist for $10. It's one of my favorite music gear purchases.
Published July 19, 2026 · Category: Tech
Overview
A modern tribute to electric chord organs which were basically giant harmonicas connected to a fan. | Photo: Terrence O’Brien / The Verge
In 2017, I bought an old Magnus chord organ off Craigslist for $10. It's one of my favorite music gear purchases. Electric chord organs let you play full chords with just a press of a button, making them perfect for aspiring singer-songwriters or fooling around at home. But chord organs largely fell out of favor in the '80s, as digital keyboards like those from Casio grew in popularity.
The Telepathic Instruments Orchid attempts to recapture some of that simple parlor instrument magic. Just like those vintage electric chord organs, the Orchid allows you to play rich chord progressions without having to master a ton of theory or complex fing …
What is "Orchid is a delightfully retro and approachable hipster synth" about?+
In 2017, I bought an old Magnus chord organ off Craigslist for $10. It's one of my favorite music gear purchases. Electric chord organs let you play full chords with just a press of a button, making them perfect for aspiring singer-songwriters or fooling around at home. But chord organs largely fell out of favor […]
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