Univox Stringman
This is my second Stringman, purchased on Ebay in the 1990s.
I bought my first Univox Stringman in the late 1970s as a teenager growing up in Savannah, Georgia. I had been writing and recording my own songs on my Teac A-2340 four-track reel-to-reel, and I wanted to add another dimension to my predominantly guitar/bass/drum recordings. What I really wanted was some sort of synthesizer or string section sound, but buying anything like a new Moog or Oberheim synthesizer was not going to happen (I couldn’t afford it) and finding used instruments like those in Savannah during that time was about as likely as winning the lottery (and there was no lottery in Georgia in those days). So, one day I was lamenting my predicament to Frank Andrews at Schroeder’s Music and he offered a used Univox Stringman that had recently come into the store on a trade. It was a little nicked up, but it worked, and just the name “Stringman” made me think this might be exactly what I was looking for. We plugged it in, I played a few chords, and next thing I knew I was taking it home. I can’t remember how much I paid for it, but I’m guessing it was in the $150-$200 range.
So, what does the Univox Stringman sound like? It’s probably easier to let you listen to an example rather than try to describe with words. I used it for the bass and strings on my song “Create the Future” which was recorded around 1982.
I thought the Stringman sounded pretty good back then, but I have to admit I’ve grown to appreciate the sound even more over the years. It sits nicely in the mix with other keyboards, the bass section is deep and rich, and overall it brings a certain analog charm to the proceedings. And it’s very simple - I like simple. But, like any other instrument or piece of equipment, it’s not necessarily right for everything. I parted with my first Stringman along the way (I traded it as partial payment for a Moog Rogue), but I always regretted letting it go and purchased two more on Ebay in the 1990s. They seem to be getting harder to find these days. I still use the Stringman on occasion, and actually used it in 2023 on my instrumental “Chorus Grandiflorus”. However, one of them has started acting a little squirrelly, so I’m a bit concerned about how well they’re holding up. Such is life with vintage electronics.
Comparing the Stringman, or any other piece of vintage gear, to modern day equipment might be a little unfair and probably missing the point altogether. The Stringman is what it is - nothing more, nothing less. It has its own unique voice, and being too critical is kind of like taking points away from the banjo for not sounding more like a guitar.
Another view of my Univox Stringman. I’d say it’s in pretty good cosmetic shape for a 50 year-old instrument!
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