Custom Movement 18 note
(Your Own Tune)

• We can provide custom tunes for music boxes

• The price listed here is for a minimum of 200 pieces (If you wanted more than 200 please email us for a price quote)

• We can supply both copyrighted songs OR your original songs.

• A musical arrangement is needed. We can write it for you if you are unable.

• We offer turnaround time of 4-8 weeks.

Place your order by clicking "add to cart" below.

Once we receive your order, you will be charged 50% of the total.
For custom tunes, if you have your own recording, please email it to us at info@themusichouse.com

We will immediately begin work on your movement, and within 2 weeks we will send you a sample MP3 file of how your custom movement will sound (the musical arrangement). If you approve, we will begin machining your movement right away.
After approval, within 4-6 weeks, we will send you the completed custom musical movement order and charge the remainder of the balance.

If you would like to place the movement(s) in a music box, please let us know which box you would like and the quantity.  You can select from music boxes that say "1.18" next to them.  Pricing of the music box depends on the quantity.

18 note movement information:
Your own 18 note movement Size: 2" L x 1 3/4" W x 1" H.
Generally it is good practice to have most of the song play only one note at a time, with two at a time interspersed at intervals. You can sometimes play 3 at a time as the last chord of the song. The reason is friction/drag.  Each revolution of the cylinder is approximately 14 - 18 seconds. Some movements are adjustable (slower/faster) between these figures. It is good practice to arrange the music for a target 8 bars and 17 seconds (the music repeats after the full revolution).
A blank, untuned comb is usually machined to sequentially cover about two octaves in a major key (no sharps or flats). However very few songs can use an untuned comb because of duplicates. Duplicate pitches (teeth) are necessary whenever a note plays again in less than about one second (which happens a lot). Most movement combs have between 4 and 10 duplicated teeth, limiting the overall number of different pitches to about 14 or less. The pitches which are lost are therefore unavailable. Arranging for a music box is quite difficult because of this.

[For larger orders, please email us] 

Obtaining Music Rights

If the song you wish to put in your custom music box is your own composition, you need only send us a simple fax or letter with a short statement saying you are the author of the work, that we have your permission, and your signature.

If the song you wish to use was written by someone else, such as a popular tune played on the air, we will need to obtain permission from the publisher to mechanically reproduce it as a music box movement. This permission is called a synchronization (aka merchandising or novelty) rights license. To obtain this license, We will contact the publisher (or author in some cases) to get that signed permission. We make a quick search of the three major performing rights organizations to see which one handles that song, do a song search for the contact info for that artist/publisher on their website, and contact the artist/publisher for permission. Depending on the tune, the publisher and time spent on legal issues, there could be a charge of $35 to $250.
Occasionally there may be an additional licensing fee and we will notify you before we proceed.
If you have the permission, then just fax a signed copy to us at: (516) 883-4438.
Links for your convenience are provided below

BMI Website                         ASCAP Website                       SESAC Website