Stylophone Beatbox

The Stylophone Beatbox is possibly too much fun. Most people are familiar with the original Stylophone (thanks to the pioneering influence of Rolf Harris), but it's now received a serious makeover with its hipper, grimier cousin, the Stylophone Beatbox.

The principle remains the same - use the stylus to touch the metal areas, complete the circuit and make a sound. Instead of the distinctive shrill wail of the original Stylophone, the Beatbox version produces several different percussion sounds, from bass drum all the way to hi-hat and beyond. There are three different sound palettes - percussion, actual beatboxing (provided by beatbox champion MC Zani) and bass tones, allowing you to create enough beats and melodies to get a production credit on the next Girls Aloud album. One of the craftier features, though, allows you to create a percussion loop, which means you can form a beat over which to improvise with any of the other voices.

It's difficult to describe the sense of pure giggliness that creating your own beats and tapping along with them can produce. You might look like a giddy fool while you drum away, but you'll sound like a beatmaster genius. You can take the fun even further by connecting your MP3 player or hi-fi to the Beatbox (via the headphone socket and included cable) and tapping along with your favourite records. We recommend something a little jauntier than The Complete Works Of Daniel O'Donnell (though it certainly benefited from a little more 'street' influence).

All in all, it's pretty much impossible to get bored of this percussive gem - you can play alone, with headphones, out loud or with friends. Heck, you could even start a Stylophone orchestra, just make sure you pick up the Stylophone Beatbox and start drumming.

Features:

• The world's first ever Stylophone Beatbox.
• Takes the same principle as the original Stylophone but with percussion sounds.
• Three different sound settings including percussion, beatboxing and bass.
• Beatboxing provided by beatbox champion MC Zani.
• Loop your beats using the record function.
• Layer your loops and improvise over the top.
• Connect the Stylophone Beatbox to your MP3 player or hi-fi (cable included) so you can jam along to your favourite records.
• Tuning dial so you can change the pitch of the sounds.
• Circular piano-style layout helps control notes for bass voice.
• Speed control can alter the tempo of your loops.
• Headphone socket so you can beatbox in private.
• Requires 3 x AA batteries (not included).
• Suitable for ages 8 years +.

Size:

• Stylus 10 cm.
• Unit 15 x 12 x 4 cm.