# Another "What instrument is this?"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-instrument-is-this/802906>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 28, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-instrument-is-this/802906 "2017-11-28T00:30:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-instrument-is-this/802906/1 "2017-11-28T00:30:10Z")

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In the song [Apostrophe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXP_pr7np-o) by Frank Zappa there is a instrument playing “lead” from 0:18 to 1:18. You can’t miss it; it’s right out front. (After 1:18 you can still hear it, but it’s more in the background.)

I used to think it was just a distorted guitar. But lately I’ve been thinking it’s some kind of horn. Or I suppose it could be a heavily distorted bass guitar. Or keyboard. Hell, I dunno.

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**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-instrument-is-this/802906/2 "2017-11-28T00:38:09Z")

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It’s Jack Bruce playing bass guitar.

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**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-instrument-is-this/802906/3 "2017-11-28T11:36:33Z")

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> [@Pork\_Rind](#):
>
> It’s Jack Bruce playing bass guitar.

Thanks! Never heard a bass sound like that. I wonder what he was playing through?

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**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-instrument-is-this/802906/4 "2017-11-28T13:08:43Z")

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> [@Crafter\_Man](#):
>
> Thanks! Never heard a bass sound like that. I wonder what he was playing through?

Sounds like an Envelope Filter to me.