Tag: Musical Instrument

You probably remember the 1998 movie Big, where Tom Hanks played on a giant electronic piano keyboard at the F.A.O. Schwarz toy store in New York City. Everyone knows it. It’s a classic scene that people love.

Back in April we checked out a 3D printed violin that looked more like a Predator’s weapon than a musical instrument. But 3D printing isn’t just about making new physical forms. The technology can be tuned for very practical purposes as well, as exhibited by violin maker Hovalin. Hovalin violins have PLA bodies that are split into four parts: the neck, the top, the middle and the bottom.

Nicola Pavan of Pavan Wood Works is a genius. He has singlehandedly taken the electric guitar to a whole new level. How, you ask? By building a guitar from LEGO. Pavan created this cool instrument in six days.

The image you see here is not a woman giving a violin concert on an alien world using an alien violin. It’s actually a 3D printed instrument called a two-string piezoelectric violin. Despite its otherworldly looks, it was really created right here on Earth.

Brockett Parsons plays keyboard for Lady Gaga, who is as famous for her outlandish outfits as for her songs. Brockett wanted to get in line with his star and be an eye-catching performer on his own.

Japan is home to all sorts of brilliant things. Chock up another one courtesy of Mr. Knocky. This silly invention is a remote-controlled drummer, and looks like a ton of fun – for at least an afternoon. I have no idea why there’s a “Parental Advisory” logo above, unless you start to swear because he’s only available in Japan so far.

Last year, 3D Systems CEO Avi Reichental dared 3D printed guitar maker Olaf Diegel to make a 3D printed saxophone. Challenge accepted. Olaf recently showed off one of his prototypes on YouTube, an alto saxophone mostly made of nylon, which he printed using selective laser sintering (SLS). Watch Olaf play a couple of tunes on his sax: Olaf knows that his prototype is not the first plastic saxophone, but he took on the project partly because he wants to remind us that “3D printing can be used for applications beyond trinkets, phone cases, and jewelry.”

Check out these beautiful guitars. Dave Gartland, aka Ali Kat, builds these custom instruments from classic car parts. In some cases they even have working tail lights.

If you are strumming on a 19th century Lyre like this one, made from a human skull, antelope horns, skin, gut, and hair, you are probably the creepiest minstrel ever and should lock yourself up immediately.

Are you tired of the standard ding-dong of your doorbell? Maybe it’s time to welcome your guests to the sounds of a guitar. When people walk into you home or business, they will be greeted by the strumming of a guitar with the Guitar Doorbell (aka the “GuitDoorbell”).

This custom Super Mario Bros. Drum Kit looks pretty awesome. It’s the kind of thing they would play at the Koopa Cabana. If such a place existed. Anyway, your Mario themed band has found it’s first set of equipment.

The tower of Pringles cans you’re looking at here isn’t the remnants of a week-long gaming marathon (though it could be). Instead, it’s a fully-functional musical instrument – assuming that you like slightly off-key, strange sounding tunes. The functional sculpture was made by Brooklyn music production company Fall on Your Sword.

The FretPen is a pen that doubles as a miniature guitar. Even if you can’t do much with one string and teensy frets, at least you can write and play a neat little tune with it.

The Super Mario Bros. theme is nearly 30 years old. It’s quite old, but not as ancient as the sheng, a Chinese instrument that’s mentioned in texts from 11th to 12th century B.C., which means it could be about 3,000 years old.

This Super Mario themed drum kit was built by Josh Fry and it looks amazing. I can see Mario, Luigi, the Princess and even Toad all rocking out together.

If you are looking for some of the coolest guitars ever, look no further than Jamie Ghio Sanches and Mike Braunewell. Togther, the Gibraltar-based artists make some of the sweetest guitars you will ever see. This duo has backgrounds in music and car modding, so it is a great match.