https://preview.redd.it/la8130bzut2e1.png?width=2822&format=png&auto=webp&s=9d0cf001f538d18c7d7f1a3b42ee9ab2e4c6fe6c

Instructables: https://www.instructables.com/Desk-Mat-to-MIDI-Drums/

I'm working on a prototype for a small portable harpsichord and I thought I'd try to see if having one string that just loops around the entire soundboard and is tuned with sliding bridge(s) for each key/note would work. Waddya think? I saw a similar concept for a small dulcimer type instrument on Youtube so I know the concept works, but I don't know if it would work on this scale. Thoughts?

https://preview.redd.it/y8tzepjl9dzd1.jpg?width=1749&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=91ef0e8f7d16897d16f6f2d044ce43ba4f0a36eb

Hi, I want to know how far an opened key has to be away from the hole, in order that it does not affect the acoustics? Are there percentage rules (for example: the key has to be 75% of the diameter of the hole away) or general rules (every key has to be at least be 0,5cm from the hole away) or something different?

So, I'm going to have to be moving in a hurry and was going to break down my 20 y/o upright Young Chang piano because I have no way to get it into my new space.

I really don't want to just wreck it. It's still usable and has big sentimental value.

After watching a few videos on YouTube on deconstructing similar uprights, the process looks relatively simple. The thing is, I don't know that I could put it back together properly and am thinking if I can make a bare-bones piano out of it. I've always liked the sound of older uprights; jangly with a little more character in sound quality.

If anyone has ANY tips on how to maintain the most important parts and ideas on reassembling the parts back into a playable "skeleton" piano, that would be great!

tl;dr

Need to disassemble upright piano, need thoughts/ideas/tips on how to do so while preserving what I might need to create a new, lighter-weight, FUNCTIONAL instrument.

The brand is Young Chang. Here's a picture of the model I'm referring to. TIA!

https://preview.redd.it/ueg5x0sovbud1.png?width=412&format=png&auto=webp&s=e79fb994cde88158e92165927b255d101cce7b45

I don’t expect much out of this but the goal is to make an instrument that can at least make a sound then work with It from there. I do plan to add close to all kinds of slides to this since a bugle is pretty simple. I just want to have a blueprint of a trumpet so I can use it to base my pvc trumpet off of

I'm interested in making a metallophone with MIDI control similar to this which I plan to build from scratch. Just looking to get some input on suitable materials/sizes for the bars and actuator options for the beaters.

Aluminium seems best as it's cheap, lightweight and comes as round, square or rectangular hollow pipe. (I'm guessing round pipe with a thin wall would be the best option for maximum resonance?)
I'm looking at ~25mm pipe, though a few DIY projects have used 1/2" copper pipe and tubular bells use 30-40mm brass pipe. (Brass is very appealing but is 5x the price!)
Can anyone who has built something similar offer any advice on dimensions/materials? And should I be concerned with corrosion of the bars/is there any way to protect against it without ruining the sound of them?

For the actuators there are a couple of options:
This video uses GM10s which could easily have a beater mounted to them as in the video
Alternatively solenoids could be used directly or with a lever system attached to beaters to strike the pipes.
The first video I linked to uses electromagnets with a metal rod in the magnetic field to pull the beaters down, though I'm not sure this is the best solution available.

I'd also like to mount 2 types of beaters with their own actuators so the instrument could be played with both hard or soft mallets, and build some sort of damper system so the bars could be muted globally (or potentially individually).

Modulated resonators like on a vibraphone would also be cool, but that's probably something for later in the project or for a Mk2 version!

Hey We are two folk fiddle players trying to build a very very simple violin with ressonance strings (like hardingfele or viola d'amore have). We plan on making a wooden rectangle box, glueing a violin neck to it, carving the neck and placing 4 ressonance strings inside along with the 4 standard strings on top. If anyone has experience on creating squared/rectangle bow instruments, we would love to appreciate your feedback!

Our main basic questions:

• How big should be the central or side holes?
• Does the exact length of the whole instrument matter a lot for tuning it?
• And does the exact shape of the box matter?

Thank you

Recently, the YouTube algo offered me a video showing someone making a Passerelle bridge, not strictly a DIY instrument, but it is a quick and easy way to make a 'new' instrument from an existing one, basically turning an acoustic guitar into a sort of 'koto-guitar' by adding a second bridge. I decided to make a Passerelle bridge from wood, using a cheap craft store box. Works well, although I'd need some time to perfect my playing technique (both hands become plucking hands). Anyone else have experience with this guitar hack? Is there a better tuning (I have DADGAD currently)?

https://youtu.be/nr9NeSzdwv0

It's out of toy guitar and mandolin parts. Only part I bought for this built is geared tuning pegs instead of friction pegs on it. I'm planning to convert it 6 string balalaika with doubled up strings like mandolin.

https://preview.redd.it/ro9qactxvqcd1.jpg?width=1245&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10ebfb5d486f46ffa2e117efd7e9ac363acb2830

https://reddit.com/link/1e45j6a/video/vmrklzz0xqcd1/player

Hey everyone, i'm doing a custom lyre build that's pretty massive and with a chromatic scale. I was wondering when doing calculations for my strings length/gauge : what tension should I aim for ? I instinctively went to ~11.5kgs on steel strings (it's for calculus purposes, the real version will vary in materials and tension slightly) for an electric type build (with magnetic pickups similar to what you might find on a guitar).

Do you think it is a good tension rule of thumb or should i change it ? Maybe it differs for different octaves ? My range is c2 to b4

Can't find anything relevant on Google, any links or ideas where to start?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY95drtKCAQ

Maybe 15 years ago, I made a slide guitar using an old minnow bucket as the body (“resonator”). It gave such a dense metallic resonance to the sound and I loved it.

Ever since then I’ve been thinking about scaling up and using a 55 gallon steel drum, thinking the resonance would be even deeper, maybe even some reverb to it.

I wanted to ask you guys if anything like this had ever been done before. Is there something practical that would make this impossible/a stupid idea? My idea is basically to brace the top, have a sound hole, and the neck extend through the barrel, protruding a bit out the other side.

I am building an instrument similar to a violin called a rebec, and I would like to know what you think about nylon violin strings, if anyone has tried it obviously. To reduce costs since violin strings are out of my budget.