R&D - suggestions for new Zoybar hardware features
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bat Tao Lo on -
My list would include:
A reversible neck (fretted one side, fretless the other)
Multi string headstock and bridge for, say, 7, 9, 12 strings - Check out a 60's Vox Teardrop 12 string bridge - each saddle has - I think - four "slots"
A clamping system for drone strings.
A bay for other kinds of effects. I often use a Boss digital delay but (short of taping it my guitar - which I have done in the past) I have to kneel down to twiddle it. Using it with feedback settings set high it creates some nice metallic tones and detuning effects. An on-board unit would be better for tweaking while playing.
Other technologies for pick-ups, peizos, close mics, a PZM type mic for example in conjunction with a resonator dish.
An built-in Ebow (or several), maybe on some kind of flip-over bar mechanism
A Thumb piano - it could fitted over the pickups for amplification. There are some nice ideas on the web for thumb pianos with pickups and mechanics for change pitch etc. It could operate as hammers on the strings too.
When I look at most of the videos on the site, it seems to me, that it's not all that easy for a lot of people (including Marc Ribot) to get REALLY interesting (different) sounds. The Kaoss pad is a great idea but seems a little difficult to use while playing. I use a guitar synth and I have to change my playing style a bit to use it well and that may be inevitable with the Kaoss pad too. Maybe it's about location. Does it have to be centered on the guitar? Is there a better location?
That's it for now...
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Permalink Reply by zoybar on -
Wow that is some impressive list :)
Most of it is quite easy to realize right now:
Zoybar offers a new kind of possibilities that were never available before to the common musician.
The hard work that was involved in developing one prototype at a time has now reduced to the point were a musician can really start to explore new instrument combinations.
Controlling the kaoss pad among other effects while playing require different kind of playing technique that takes time to master.
As you noticed, most of the videos shows the first few encounters of the musicians with the Zoybar instruments and involved more around the potential that the Zoybar platform have to offer.
Further along there will be more skillful videos.
You are right about the importance of the effect location regarding the playing technique, however the kaoss pad III requires a bigger support than a mini kaoss pad or a pedal. That is why it is centered on the guitar.
Meanwhile if you are interested in mounting different effects you'll be happy to know that there is no need for a special "bay for other kinds of effects"
For more information about how to attach a sound effect you should check this discussion http://www.zoybar.net/forum/topics/how-to-attach-a-sound-effect-1
A reversible neck (fretted one side, fretless the other) might not be that comfortable to play because it won't have a radius at its bottom…
As for the Multi string headstock, the machine head or tuners are attached to the profile by the Zoybar brackets. Each bracket holds two machine heads (one from each side). You could mount several bracket with different combinations bass/guitar to the profile grooves to get 8 or 10 strings but keep in mind that that might effect the action of the instrument depending on the scale you will apply.
You can learn more about the component at these links:
http://www.zoybar.net/sixstringskit.html
http://www.zoybar.net/profiles/blogs/designing-an-open-platform
Cheers,
The Zoybar team.
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Permalink Reply by Screaming_Soloist on -
On the topic of more strings, would an alternate wider fretboard be available sometime in the future, or maybe if when ordering we could custom order the width of the fretboard so that one could accommodate more than six strings.
Also I would like to know about strong the zoybar system actually is. Does the base zoybar actually fluctuate or bend much (noticeably?) when there a great amount of tension over it?
Bat Tao Lo, I really like the idea of a fingerboard that is fretted one side and frettless the other.
Cheers,
Connor.
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Permalink Reply by Screaming_Soloist on
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Also, as it just hit me, if we are talking about more then six strings, would a bridge to accommodate them be a bad idea? haha.
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Permalink Reply by Zoybar Support on -
The Zoybar system is very strong, bass and six strings.
All of the parts are made from cast aluminum alloy, the bridge and the nut from brass and the fingerboard is made of course from wood...
You are right about the string tension, more strings might cause bending, but it will also be dependent on the scale length, so in some of the smaller scales it wouldn't be noticeable.
All in all as a modular system it is very flexible for moderations including adding more strings and of course new bridges and nuts :)
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Permalink Reply by Screaming_Soloist on
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Alright, that sounds pretty cool, but would zoybar itself be offering fretted or wider fretboards?
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Permalink Reply by Zoybar Support on
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At the moment we do not supply fretted necks.
As a modular instrument the fretless neck stays relevant to any scale length while fretted necks can only be relevant for only one specific scale. Nevertheless we encourage the use of local business. You can bring the Zoybar kit to any local luthier and fabricate a custom fretted neck of your choice.Here's an example of such customization.
http://www.zoybar.net/photo/fretted-zoybar-with-mini-kaoss?context=...
There are also several videos of this guitar in our video gallery.Please let us know if there is anything else we might help with.
Cheers,
The Zoybar Team.
© 2013 Created by zoybar.
