Electronic Valve Instrument played by Marshall Allen and the Sun Ra Arkestra

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

The Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI) consists of a cased control panel and a handheld unit (a). The case and handheld unit cannot be separated from each other. The case housing also serves as a carrying case. The exterior of the case is covered in stickers with gouges and abbrasions. Stickers advertise for the 2006 Marbella International Jazz Festival and Fiesta Mundial Del Jazz, and a large orange sticker reads [INTERPLANETARY MUSIC / MARSHALL ALLEN / DIRECTOR OF THE / SUN RA ARKESTRA]. The lid to the case (component 'b') is detached with hinge pins missing and is no longer a functional closure. The control panel consists of a black panel with row of dials and toggles. Panels, dials, and toggles show oxidation and grime. A three-pronged power cord extends from the panel. The handheld unit, black, with [STEINER] printed in white text on one side, has dials for tune, scale, and port.

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