1. The Design
Will start with an electric guitar mostly for the body and main structure, but will be using some of the electronic pickups and the amp if the sounds generated by airflow are not ‘LOUD’ enough :)
Compressed air flows through a pipe, a strum switch (something similar to Rockband strum switch) allows the player to open/close an electronic valve and let air flow to a pipe that functions similar to a clarinette… the further away these valves are opened from were the air hits the sound generating ‘reed’ the lower the sound… so basically the instrument works similar to a guitar, the further up the ‘neck’ a user opens up a valve (comparable to pressing a string onto a ‘fret’) the lower the sound.
To keep cost at bay thinking that 4 separate sound generating pipes should be enough to have some fun. So theoretically it a bass, but we are not that picky.
Will be using the arduino platform to control all valve action.
Simple enough, right?
2. Needed Parts
- air compressor and hose
- air hose connector to connect hose to guitar
- various copper piping
- strum switches (Rockband alike)
- electronic air valves for main air flows
- cheap valves either mechanical or electronic that will act as ‘frets’
- electric guitar and amp
- arduino
- tools and soldering equipment
3. The Challenge
- Can we produce meaningful sounds and calibrate them to generate a real scale.
- Find cheap enough components to keep out project cost for the guitar without arduino (we already have one of these) and air compressor at a max of 100 USD.
4. The Research
Air-valves OPTION 1:
Expensive at ~22/valve but certainly the right stuff. Clippard The Mouse Valve 2 Normally Closed; In-line Mount: http://www.clippard.com/store/byo_electr…
Air-valves OPTION 2:
Pneumadyne ~ $ 28/valve: http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreF…
Air Regulator; for alternative design: http://www.controlair.com/transducers/90…
