The Stylophone is a small electronic instrument played with a stylus. It was created in 1967 by Brian Jarvis and began being made in 1968 by a company called Dubreq in London. Over three million of these instruments were sold during its first time on the market, mostly as toys for children. However, some famous musicians, including John Lennon, Kraftwerk, and David Bowie, also used the Stylophone. In 2007, the toy company Re: brought the Stylophone back into production with the help of a new version of Dubreq. Since then, several new models of the Stylophone have been released.

Original models

The Stylophone has a metal keyboard made of printed circuit board. It is played by touching the keyboard with a stylus. Each key is connected to a voltage-controlled oscillator through a resistor of a different size. When the stylus touches the keyboard, it completes a circuit. The only other controls are a power switch, a vibrato control on the front panel next to the keyboard, and a tuning potentiometer on the back.

The Stylophone was sold in standard, bass, and treble versions. Cabinet colors helped identify each type. The standard model was black-and-white. The treble model was white and had a higher pitch, one octave higher. The bass model was beige-and-white and had a lower pitch, one octave lower. The standard version was the most common. A larger version called the 350S had more keys, different sound options, a wah-wah effect controlled by moving a hand over a photosensor, and two styluses.

In the mid-1970s, a new model was made with fake wood on the speaker panel and a volume control. However, production of the Stylophone stopped in 1975.

Entertainer Rolf Harris worked as the Stylophone’s advertising representative in the United Kingdom for several years. He appeared on many "play-along" records sold by the manufacturer.

2007 revival

In October 2007, 28 years after the Stylophone stopped being made, the toy company Re:creation, working with Dubreq Ltd. (which was started in 2003 by Ben Jarvis, the son of the original inventor), brought the Stylophone back into production. The 2007 model, called the S1, was made in China. It looks similar to the original from the 1960s but includes a volume control, audio features, and two extra sounds. Models from the 1970s, such as the Bass, Treble, and 350S, were not included in the relaunch.

In September 2009, Dubreq released the Stylophone Beatbox, the first model focused on making drum sounds. It has a round case with a 13-key touch-sensitive keypad instead of the traditional box shape. The instrument includes three sound options (drum, vocal beatbox, and bass), a tempo control, and a basic record/loop function that allows short music sequences to be saved and played again.

In December 2012, Dubreq released the Series 2 Stylophone, a limited edition version made in Britain. It is a true analogue synthesizer.

In January 2017, Dubreq shared details about the Stylophone Gen X-1, a portable analogue synthesizer made by Dubreq. It includes extra controls for LFO, analog delay, low-pass filter, and envelope settings. It also has sub-octave switches and an input that allows it to be used as an effects unit.

In October 2019, Dubreq released the Stylophone GEN R-8, a limited edition, full-analogue, metal-cased model. Designed for professional use, it includes features like dual VCOs, a multimode filter, an analogue delay, and many modulation options. It is larger than earlier models and was made in a limited run of 500 units.

In July 2020, Dubreq released the Stylophone Analog Sound S1 as a replacement for the 2007 S1. It looks similar to the older model but has less rounded corners and no auxiliary input. Inside, digital sounds were replaced with an analogue oscillator based on a 555 timer IC, and the tone selector has three octave ranges. The sound is closer to the original 1970s models.

In September 2021, Dubreq launched a limited-edition version of the Analog S1 as a tribute to David Bowie. This model has a white finish, a Bowie logo on the front, and a booklet with photos, interviews, and sheet music for some of Bowie’s songs, including Space Oddity.

In October 2023, Dubreq released the Stylophone Beat, the successor to the Beatbox. It has a record and play button, a circular metal pad, and a box shape. It includes four sound banks (rock, techno, hip hop, and beatbox), a click track, tempo lock, and the ability to record multiple layers of beats.

On 8 January 2024, Dubreq released a theremin-themed instrument. Unlike other Stylophone models, it uses a slider instead of a stylus to control pitch. It has a switch to choose between the slider, antenna, or a mix of both.

In December 2024, Dubreq released the Stylosette, a small synthesizer shaped like a cassette. It has a 13-key touch-sensitive keyboard instead of a stylus. It is monophonic, includes vibrato and delay effects, and can be powered by two AA batteries.

In January 2025, Dubreq released the Stylophone CPM DS-2, a compact analogue synthesizer. It has dual oscillators, sub-oscillators, filters, vintage reverb, and Eurorack compatibility.

In August 2025, Dubreq introduced the Stylophone Gen X-2, an upgrade to the Gen X-1. It keeps the portable design and stylus keyboard but adds a tactile expression strip for real-time control. It also has seven CV/Gate inputs and outputs for connecting to other devices. It includes features like a sub-oscillator, pulse-width modulation, and an envelope with attack, pitch, and decay controls. The Gen X-2 was priced at about £69.95 or $99 when it launched.

In November 2025, Dubreq released the Stylophone CPM DF-8, a stereo analogue filter unit with modulation and delay. It has two filter channels, multiple filter types, ADSR envelopes, and Eurorack compatibility.

Also in November 2025, Dubreq released a special edition of the original Stylophone in bright pink. It keeps the classic stylus, speaker, headphone jack, and vibrato effect but has a new look.

In January 2026, Dubreq introduced the Stylophone VOICE, a portable multi-sampler. It allows users to record their own sounds through a microphone or input and play them back using a stylus keyboard. It has three sample playback voices, 12 effects, a sequencer, and integrated drum sounds.

Announced in January 2026, the Stylophone On-The-Fly (OTF) is a real-time performance sequencer. It can be played live with instant controls. It has 8-step pattern programming, supports 16, 32, or 64-step sequences, and includes features like glide, ratchets,

Reception, legacy, and popular culture

The Stylophone is often called a toy and a special type of electronic instrument. Some people say its unique sound and small size made it popular with children. At the same time, famous musicians like David Bowie and Kraftwerk used it in their music, which helped it gain respect in the music world. Today, models like the Gen X-1 and GEN R-8 are seen as helping to connect the Stylophone’s toy-like qualities with the serious side of electronic music. This has made the Stylophone a lasting symbol of electronic music.

The Stylophone has also been used in many famous songs, movies, and shows:

• The Small Faces used the Stylophone in their song "Donkey Rides, A Penny, A Glass," which came out in 1968 as the B-side to their song "The Universal."
• John Lennon played the Stylophone during a practice session for George Harrison’s song "Old Brown Shoe" in January 1969.
• David Bowie used the Stylophone in his 1969 song "Space Oddity" and again on his 2002 album Heathen.
• Rahsaan Roland Kirk played the Stylophone during a 1969 concert introduction to “I Say a Little Prayer for You.”
• The 1981 song "Pocket Calculator" by Kraftwerk includes the Stylophone and ends with a solo played on it.
• The band The Tall Dwarfs used the Stylophone as the main instrument in their 1981 song "All My Hollowness to You."
• The 1999 song "Style" by Orbital is named after the Stylophone and uses it many times.
• Richard Barone and producer Tony Visconti used the Stylophone on Barone’s 2010 album Glow.
• The Russian rock group Gromyka uses the Stylophone as their main instrument.
• The British band Pulp included the Stylophone in their song "Styloroc (Nites of Suburbia)."
• The 2017 movie Baby Driver has a short scene showing the Stylophone.
• Min-Gi Park from the animated show Infinity Train owns a Stylophone.
• James Acaster plays "Auld Lang Syne" on a Stylophone in his Netflix show Repertoire.