M1 WORKSTATION *

Probably Korg's most succusful instrument. I'm on my 2nd M1, the first one was nicked. I've always liked Korg gear, from my first DW-8000 (below) to my O5R/W module - not that impressed with the new lot though, these Tritons and Trinitys etc all sound great in the shop or in your bedroom but they all seem very thin to me in a live mix. They're also far too dance orientated for my taste.

RD-300s 88KEY DIGITAL PIANO *

A bloody nice sounding digital piano, I first encountered in RD-250 form and loved the piano sounds, cut right through in a live mix. Pity its so fackin' heavy though!!

O5-RW SOUND MODULE *

Used extensively for its strings sounds in all my ELO sequences. Wonderful tool.

M3R SOUND MODULE *

Al Bundy the shoe salesman gave me this for fixing his mixer. Hardly ever use it though.

DW8000 DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER *

I've had 4 of these, 1st and 2nd were stolen, 3rd one I lobbed across a car park (long story) and the 4th I still use and have promised I won't be lobbing across any car parks.

MICROKORG *

My latest aquisition. This has a brilliant little vocoder facility - ideal for all those robot voices in the ELO stuff I play. Some great synth sounds too, and even plenty of sounds for all you dance music freaks!

DR-660 DRUM MACHINE *

Used solely for Rock Kick Drum sound in my latest sequences.

K2000 V3 SYNTHESIZER

Great sounding synth that unfortunately didn't cut the mustard in a live mix. Bought it from PMT in Birmingham, sold it on eBay 12 months later.

TRILOGY SYNTHESIZER

This looks damned inpressive I know, but it just wasn't! It weighed a ton and wasn't great at all. The name refers to its 3-in-1 architecture, it was an Organ (4-drawbars), string synth (probably the best sounding bit) and a 'synth', a synth in the loosest possible term. All the sounds were very thin and shit and the keyboard action was simply awful! I can't remember what happened to my Trilogy, must have lost it down the back of the sofa!

Another load of bollocks. Cost me £50 in mid 80's and was my first 'electric' piano. Well it was ok to bash around on I suppose. Gave this to a family member who I believe still has.

SX1000 (Above), SX2000 MONO SYNTHESIZERS

Ok, the 1000 was a bit good really for a £100 mono synth, nothing special but useful for the odd synth sound. The least said about the 2000 the better, was designed to be mounted on top a home organ apparently - designed to be mounted in a fucking skip more like.

1000P ELECTRONIC KEYBOARD

I have slated this unfortunate member of the Casio family enough - see Soundsurround page.

VOCALIST II VOCAL HARMONY PROCESSOR *

Cost me £700 and was purchased for ELO tribute project Wishful Thinking. It was a great tool with 3 or 4 real vocals in the mix but I've never heard one or any of its copies or derivatives sound anything other than 'Metal Mickey' with just 1 or 2 real vocals. Not even us!

I use this to submix my keys on stage.

For ELO tribute Wishful Thinking we had two of these, one in dimmer mode for PAR lighting and the other in switch mode for lighting effects such as strobes, flatbeams and 'twister' style lights. These were controlled by an on-stage PC which ran as part of the music sequences.