The 15 most unusual and unlikely instrument and audio collaborations
Phrases by Cambell Courtney
From Fender and Lego to Roland and Puma, we take a look at the collabs that took us abruptly
Collaborations in music between artists is commonplace, that’s no secret. On scales massive and small, from the largest names to the smallest, we see it on a regular basis whether or not it’s taking up a producing function, writing, performing, or extra.
These don’t always turn out that properly, simply ask Lou Reed and Metallica which was one of many extra uncommon (and unlucky) pairings we’ve had the (dis)pleasure of listening to. These collabs aren’t restricted to only songs and albums although, as among the greatest names in audio and instrument manufacturing have paired with some fairly far eliminated firms over the journey.
Fortuitously for us, they’re usually fairly sick – listed below are 15 of the extra unlikely instrument and audio collaborations that we’re completely right here for.
Learn all the newest options, columns and extra here.
Fender x Supreme
To begin off this checklist is the primary of many collaborations between music producers and Supreme, the style label. The Supreme Fender Stratocaster was launched in 2017 and featured an all white design, together with fretboard and headstock, adorned with the pink Supreme field emblem in between the pickups.
Teenage Engineering x Off White
One of many extra shocking entries on this checklist is the collaboration between Teenage Engineering and Off White. Off white is a streetwear style label, a lot in the identical vein as Supreme, whereas Teenage Engineering is most well-known for his or her synthesisers, samplers, and audio items such because the OP-1.
The collaboration noticed the 2 firms group up on a transportable speaker. The speaker is able to the recording and playback of small loops, in addition to coming with a spread of Off White branded equipment similar to a strap and carry case.
Gibson x Triumph
The collaboration between Gibson Guitars and Triumph Bikes noticed every reissuing accompanying basic fashions from every of their most iconic ranges. Gibson produced a 1959 Les Paul reissue whereas Triumph made a 1959 Bonneville T120.
Every is a one-off design, drawing inspiration from each other. The guitar options the triumph emblem on the pickups and the pickguard is stripped to resemble the bikes cooling fins. The motorbike mimics the guitar’s sunburst end with an orange paint job, whereas the seat contains small holders to your guitar picks.
Fender x Lego
The Fender and Lego collaboration noticed Lego producing build-your-own units of the enduring Fender Stratocaster. Standing at 35cm excessive, the fashions embrace two colors for the physique, pink and black, in addition to an accompanying stand, amplifier and foot change to finish the package.
The Stratocaster Lego kits make for an important reward or exercise for any guitar lover.
Shure x Supreme
Subsequent on the checklist is one other supreme collaboration, this time with Shure, the enduring producer of dynamic microphones and the trade customary in terms of reside performances.
The collaboration with Supreme noticed the discharge of the basic Shure SM58 customised to appear like the pink Supreme emblem. The Supreme x Shure microphone noticed a restricted launch as a part of Supreme’s seasonal drops in 2020.
Fender x Recreation of Thrones
Fender teamed up with widespread TV sequence Recreation of Thrones to launch basic Fender devices with designs impressed from the present. The vary features a Stratocaster, Telecaster, and Jaguar every styled after the distinguished ‘homes’ featured within the present.
The Stratocaster relies on Home Targaryen, with the sigil of a dragon. The Telecaster relies on Home Stark, whose sigil is a wolf. And at last the Jaguar, primarily based on Home Lannister, that includes a sigil of a lion.
Korg x Nintendo
Korg and Nintendo have a standing relationship starting with the Nintendo DS. Korg has launched official ‘video games’ and emulators of their basic synthesisers, drum machines, and results on each the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo Swap.
The Korg Gadget software program is obtainable on the Swap, and is the closest factor to a DAW on a house console that we’ve got ever seen. Not solely does it assist the enjoying and tweaking of synthesiser plugins, it additionally permits for sequencing, mixing, and submit manufacturing.
Marshall x Raymond Weil
The excessive finish watch maker Raymond Weil teamed up with Marshall Amplifiers to supply a classy restricted version run of wrist watches.
With just one thousand produced, the watch was featured in Raymond Weil’s music icon sequence. The design of the watch borrows from the Marshall aesthetic of black with gold trim.
Squier x Good day Kitty
Maybe essentially the most notorious of all uncommon collaborations is the Good day Kitty Squier Stratocaster. Produced from 2006 to 2009, the Good day Kitty Strat quickly reached cult standing, because of the abundance of heavy metallic covers quickly being uploaded to YouTube and channels similar to Loud Wire getting legendary guitarist similar to Zakk Wylde to play with it.
Lately, the Good day Kitty Strat sells for upwards $800.
Roland x Puma
Legendary synth producer Roland collaborated with Puma, the sportswear and shoe model, to supply footwear impressed by the enduring Roland TR-808 drum machine. The 2 pairs of footwear draw inspiration from the design of the 808, primarily the white, yellow, pink, and orange step keys of the sequencer.
One design is brightly colored with bigger patches of stable color, whereas the opposite is rather more refined, being principally black with the Puma stripe together with the colors. These footwear would make any 808 or Roland fanatic comfortable.
Gibson x Louis Vuitton
One other crossover between a style label and a guitar producer, this time between Gibson and Louis Vuitton. The pair of 1959 Les Paul reissues have been created to be displayed on the Louis Vuitton retailer in Nashville, Tennessee.
One is adorned with the Louis Vuitton ‘LV’ emblem, whereas the opposite has a white, pink, black, and blue design, harking back to the clothes they produce.
Akai x Supreme
Okay we promise that is the ultimate collaboration between Supreme and an instrument producer. The Supreme Akai MPC once more is an everyday MPC 2 however made to appear like the Supreme pink field emblem.
Given the connection between style, the MPC vary, and hip hop, the MPC supreme is smart as a restricted vary for followers of hip hop and streetwear.
Audio-Technica x Marvel
The professional audio producer Audio-Technica collaborated with Marvel for the discharge of the Iron Man-inspired M50X monitor headphones and ATH wi-fi earbuds. The palette of gold and pink, harking back to Iron Man’s armour, have been used for the restricted sequence.
Ibanez x HR Giger
Japanese guitar producer Ibanez collaborated with famend artist HR Giger for a sequence of guitars impressed by his distinct artwork model. HR Giger is maybe most well-known for his work on the movie Alien, serving to to design the alien and set items for the film.
Every guitar options totally different paintings within the basic HR Giger biomechanical model.
Fender x Neon Genesis
In 2020, Fender produced a Telecaster within the model of Asuka from the favored ‘90s anime, Neon Genesis: Evangelion. The end of the guitar is styled after the character and their accompanying battle mech. Crimson and orange with a colored striped pickguard provides an industrial aesthetic.
For the twelfth fret inlay, the guitar options the phrases ‘Eva 2’, which is the character’s name signal within the present. The guitar comes with a certificates of authenticity in addition to graphics of the character with the guitar itself.
See the complete Fender and Lego collab here.
