Suzuki launches latest Omnichord OM-108 electronic auto harp after 25 year wait to the delight of musicians

Suzuki has finally unveiled the latest Omnichord OM-108 electronic auto harp. This model arrives 25 years after the 1999 Qchord QC-1 in response to the growing popularity of the Omnichord in music, cartoons, and social media.

The zither is a stringed instrument that is played by strumming and plucking. An auto harp is the same instrument with a chords bridge, and selecting a chord bar plays only the strings needed for the chord by muting the rest. The Omnichord OM-27 was released in 1981 by Suzuki as the first model in this brand of electronic auto harps. Because it does not use strings, musicians slide their fingers along a strumplate to play selected chords and notes.

In the past two decades, the Omnichord has been used in popular media such as the 2001 UK hit song “Clint Eastwood” by Gorillaz and the 2010-2018 cartoon “Adventure Time” on the Cartoon Network. This has resulted in a run on used Omnichords pushing prices over $500.

The OM-108 can play 108 chords while reproducing the analog synthesizer sound of the OM-84 that enthusiasts love. When not in chord mode, the Omnichord can be played like a 20-key keyboard or a drum kit. In addition to the classic harp and piano, the latest model adds a FM piano and more using PCM sound synthesis for a total of 10 instruments. 10 rhythm patterns covering the latest hip hop music style as well as older music styles are included. The MIDI out port allows musicians to synchronize performances with other instruments and record into a DAW.

The Omnichord is powered by 8 AA batteries for 8 hours or an AC adapter. Jacks for line out and headphones are included and an optional strap can be attached for portability. The instrument weighs 2.6 pounds (1.2 kg) with dimensions of 18.0 x 9.45 x 2.04 inches (45.7 x 24 x 5.18 cm).

Pricing for the Omnichord OM-108 has not been announced, but sales are planned to begin July 2024.