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Can anyone let me know which instrument can be used for large number of music effects and different varieties of sounds produced.

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I can't see this as being constructive - a synth can have an infinite number of effects and sounds, but some wouldn't class it as a musical instrument. Too subjective. Voted to close. – Dr Mayhem♦ Aug 21 '12 at 9:44
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If you're talking any instrument, then obviously an electronic sampler/synth, as you can program it to reproduce whatever soundwave you choose. If you're talking about 'natural' instruments then you'd be looking at a large theatre or pipe organ. You've tagged this 'string instruments', however, which don't really lend themselves to a 'variety of effects'. – Widor Aug 21 '12 at 9:46
Thanks for the answers and votes! The Question is really subjective and tend to involve huge amount of knowledge of different instruments and music styles. But as far as I know String instruments are subjected to wider range of effects in music. – Aura Aug 21 '12 at 9:48
The Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ would be an acoustic candidate. You can hear it e.g. at the Berlin museum of musical instruments (youtube.com/watch?v=fKI5Rqw_3D4) and at numerous places in the US (youtube.com/watch?v=QiKJgN80jBs) – Ulf Åkerstedt Aug 21 '12 at 13:03
Aura - I think string instruments do not lend themselves well at all to effects. The Wurlitzer @Ulf linked to is awesome, though! – Dr Mayhem♦ Aug 21 '12 at 15:16

closed as not constructive by Dr Mayhem♦, Wheat Williams, Luke, NReilingh♦ Aug 22 '12 at 12:59

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3 Answers

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My Uncle Jimmy has a Pipe organ installed in his basement with everything from a drumset to a Choo-choo Train rigged up to the console.

I tried searching for something online about it, but although he's president of the St. Louis Theatre Organ Society and was involved in the installation of the Organ at the St. Louis City Museum there doesn't appear to be anything online about his own custom Boss Hogg.

It uses electric relays (pre-transistor electronic technology) to communicate to [solenoids??] which operate air-channel switchboxes (IIRC) to play the pipes. Other instruments are triggered through the same relay system and may be powered electrically or pneumatically as appropriate. All of the components are salvaged from various theatre organs from throughout the country as more intact specimens are easier to find public spaces for.

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Is it electric? – Luke Aug 21 '12 at 19:09
@Luke More detail in my edit. – luser droog Aug 22 '12 at 6:14
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good edit..when yesterday I saw you post I was unable to figure out anything. I thought you are mocking. ;) – Aura Aug 22 '12 at 8:53
@Aura In the immortal words of Sherlock Holmes, I am never more serious than when I'm joking. :) :| – luser droog Aug 22 '12 at 9:53
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While I would vote for the mighty Wurlitzer theater organs or a synth with sample options as the most versatile of sound sources I would not rule out what can be done with an electric guitar. Beside the numerous cool sounds that have come up since Les Paul invented multi tracking, there has been a steady and long legacy of effects that have followed: Fuzz, Chorus, phase shifting, whammy bar, amp controls for tremolo and reverb, chain effects, etc.

One could argue that the same effects could be applied to keys, winds, brass, percussion, and so on and be totally correct. However, there is something about strings that makes it so special, what other instruments out there can be as sensitive to the human touch?

Fingers pulling strings vs bowing. I am thinking about the direct connection of the musician's touch to the sonic outcome. With that in mind, let's consider the works of Fred Frith, Frank Zappa, Paul Dresher, Peter Frampton just to name a few of the innovatative guitarist that have pushed the envelope and taken the electric guitar out of the box.

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great answer!!! – Aura Aug 22 '12 at 8:56
Hi Aura, also I omitted that there are synth guitars. With the growth of digital technology are improved human interfaces, so almost any instrument can become a synth. – filzilla Aug 22 '12 at 23:33
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Any present day computer with a soundcard -- it can emulate and/or sample (albeit with varying degrees of fidelity) any other instrument, construct arbitrary waveforms, and model various post-processing effects.

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