Frequently Asked Questions

• How many strings does it have?

  • 11 strings, each are 24 gauge piano wire.
• What's it tuned to?
  • E1 unison.
• Why not mix gauges, like 12 and 24 for octaves?
  • Tried it, it was harder to keep in tune and differing heights made it inconsistent.
• Why not tune it to a 5th like power chords in a guitar?
  • I'm worried about it being muddy and it's frankly a pain to tune.
• Why not use wrapped wire?
  • More expensive and I wanted to MVP with something simple. I'll probably try more performance options. I need to be careful of how low it gets, though, this is supposed to be a creative instrument, not a fart generator.
• Why aren't there any potentiometers to control levels like a guitar?
  • Anecdotally, it's set and forget. I do my mixing digitally and I'm mostly recording it, so a lack of controls meets my needs.
• Where are the contact microphones?
  • One is under the neck, and the other is about midway down.
• What would you do differently if you did it again?
  • Get guitar pickups instead of bass pickups (4 x 2 = 8 vs 11 strings, what was I thinking?). Skip drilling a mounting hole, I put it on a pair of camera stands which were really wobbly, then put it on cheap plastic sawhorses which were just fine.
• How much did the project cost?
  • Roughly $300-400. Shop around for the parts. I got some hardware in bulk from Tractor Supply and found a coupon for the aluminum. I got no-name pickups, which can be very expensive.
• How long did it take to put it together?
  • It was spread out over several weeks due to life and work. Roughly 10-20 hours, I didn't log it.
• What do you use it for?
  • Big, lovely pads. Drones (this thing loves to pedal). Solo Instruments (especially with distortion). Sound Effects.
• Why?
  • I use a lot of digital instruments in my music. They can be expressive, but lack the tangible connection from being able to directly manipulate the sound. I do have multi-touch controllers with plenty of knobs and faders and so many different ways to affect the instruments, but that's very different from live performance with an actual physical instrument.
  • It also sounds really cool.

Parts List

Adapted from Angelspit’s Blaster Beam

Body & Performance

• Beam - 1 x 6061-T6 Aluminum Association Channel - 5" x 2.25" x 72" x 0.15"
• Bridge & Neck - 2 x 6061-T6 Aluminum Equal Leg Structural Angle - 1" x 1" x 5" x 0.25"
• Tuning Stock - 2 x 6061-T6 Aluminum Equal Leg Structural Angle - 1.25" x 1.25" x 5" x 0.25"
• LH Slide Cylinder - 1 x 6061-T6 Aluminum Round Tube - 2.25" x 12" x 0.125"
• RH Striker Cylinder - 1 x 6061-T6 Aluminum Round Tube - .5" x 12" x .120"

Hardware

• Tuning Bolts - 11 count of Steel Eye Bolts With Nuts, ¼”-20 coarse thread, 4” length
• Lock Nuts (tuning) - 11 count of ¼”-20 coarse thread Stainless Steel Nylon Lock Nut
• Structural Bolts - 15 count of 1½” ¼”-20 coarse thread, ½” collar, 1” thread Stainless Steel Hex Bolts
• Washers - 36 count of ¼” inner diameter
• Piano Wire - 1 lb of 24 gauge piano wire
• Bass Pickups - 1 pair of FLEOR Alnico 5 P
• Humbucker Pickups - 2 count of Musiclily Dual Hot Rail High Output Guitar Single Coil
• Pickup Mounts - M3 Male-Female Brass Spacer Standoff & Stainless Steel Screw Nut Assortment Kit
• Contact Mic - 2 count of 27mm Piezo Discs with Leads
• Audio Sockets - 5 count of Jack Neutrik Rean ¼” Long Shaft with Nut and Washer
• Snake - 20’ length of 8-Channel ¼” TRS Male to ¼” TRS Male Snake 26AWG Cable
• Bow - 4/4 Horsehair Violin Bow & Rosin

Tools

• Deep Socket Wrench (tuning, connection)
• String Loop Block (winding)
• Wheel Brass Wire Brush (cosmetic)
• Metal Clear Finish Coat (sealing)