Modular multi-neck guitar
The birth of this project
This project was born in response to the needs of my music group. Indeed, in this group, I sometimes alternate between the bass and the electric guitar on days when our bassist is not available. So, I had the idea of a double neck guitar.
I asked around about double neck guitar-bass, and I realised that there is no standard, the bass neck was sometimes above, sometimes below. That gave me the idea to make a modular double neck guitar to try both combinations.
Finally, even if I was going to make a modular double neck guitar, I might as well be able to change the number of necks. My guitar has to be able to accommodate 1 to 3 necks, positioned as required.
The project
The idea is that each neck is independent. To do this, I decomposed the electronics of each neck in two parts: the pickup part and the settings part (filters, level, and pickup selector).
Pickups are linked to a 4-pin jack which run through each neck to be plugged in the settings part. This jack sends different signals from different pickups to the settings part where signals are treated like in a standard electric guitar or bass.
After being treated, signals from different necks get out separately from the guitar to standard jacks.
Different neck of the guitar run along two crosspieces perpendicular to the strings. The length of these crosspieces depends on the number of necks that we want (with a maximum of 3 necks).
The realisation of the project
Before building the guitar, I needed to design it, to visualise my ideas and check their feasibility. Several scale-model prototypes were required.
After modelling the guitar in 3D, I studied the most suitable materials (wood which is both rigid and stable over time, without being too heavy, or too expensive) and thought about the required electronic components.
Then, I worked in a workshop to cut the wood, the metal crosspieces, and solder the electronics. I built 3D pieces for pickups and the inside of the guitar.
Finally, I assembled it all and the result is what I expected, this guitar now accompanies me in my concerts.
Some possible improvements
As with any project, there is still room for improvement. I identified this some improvements:
- Add a Faraday cage in the guitar to reduce sound disturbances,
- Use more precise tools for the crosspieces hole because there's a bit of play involved.
PVC flutes
The birth of this project
During the spring 2020 lockdown, I discovered that some people build PVC flutes. As a scout, I thought that it could be interesting to have a sturdy flute with a low cost to take it during my scout camps.
First realisation
My aim was to build a PVC flute which rang true with a pleasant sound loud enough to be played outdoors. I got some pipe scraps to make the first tests. They turned out to be very conclusive.
I was able to build a flute which suited me well. This flute accompanied me to my scout camps and enabled me to lead evening entertainment and even at the request of my leaders, at Masses. Goal achieved!
To go further
After this success, I would like to experiment more and try new mouthpieces to get new sounds.
So, I built prototypes for different types of flutes, like a low whistle (Irish flute), a quenacho (Peruvian flute), a pan flute and a native American flute.
I also tried to make membrane instruments that sound like an oboe or clarinet.
I modelled in 3D different pieces to have better mouthpieces. 3D prints allowed me to expand my possibilities, with clarinet or saxophone mouthpieces, brass mouthpieces, or even double recorder mouthpieces.
Electronic bagpipe
The birth of this project
This project was born of my interest in Celtic music, I wanted to learn to play the bagpipe. But as a bagpipe is expensive and noisy, I wanted to build an electronic bagpipe to practice without disturbing my neighbours.
The project
The idea was to try the feasibility of such a project without costing too many. I built a prototype with cardboard and aluminium paper, which use the conductivity of the human body to behave like a set of switches. An Arduino board get switches positions (fingerings) and makes a buzzer sound at the frequency corresponding to the fingering played.
This first prototype allowed me to check the project feasibility, with the main limit being the sound quality. It was necessary to use a more sophisticated sound synthesis based on more advanced components which I did not know how to use at the time.
To find out more
The prototype I realised is very basic, but it allowed me to think about improvements:
- Use a Raspberry Pi: It allows to improve the sound with a better sound synthesis,
- Use tactile switches: Using the human body as a conductor was not a bad idea, but it required the player to wear a bracelet linked to the Arduino, which is not practical.