This is a quick how-to on how to build yourself the easiest/quickest tunable stringed instrument in the world out of bits you probably have lying around your house. The wire I used was from the inside of a washing line, however you can use a plethora of other types of wire/fishing line/old guitar strings etc.Continue reading “How-To: The 5 minute tunable 1-stringed instrument”
Author Archives: Vulpestruments
I used to play music too…
Back in 2007, before I got interested in making instruments, I did a little solo set with a loop station and a few different instruments of my own. Looking back now, it’s pretty bad! but it exists, so I may as well share it.
Pallet Wood Headphones
Recently my headphones broke, so naturally I had to make some more from scrap wood, nuts and bolts and the bits that were still working. They’ve come out quite nicely!
Vulpestruments on the MAKE Blog!
The brilliant, hugely influential and wonderful team at MAKE have included my post on DIY Tuning pegs onto their Blog, which is probably how most of you came across my website in the first place! http://blog.makezine.com/2013/05/08/tricks-for-diy-tuning-pegs/ Many thanks to Michael Colombo for making it happen.
The Mocimer
I was commissioned to create a hollow-bodied version of the moustache shaped guitar that I auctioned off for November last year. This was a tricky build but worked out well, all the wood was reclaimed. I also included a small resonating tin inside the hollow body which is connected to the sound board via twoContinue reading “The Mocimer”
Igilish
I’ve recently been really enjoying Tuvan music and the philosophies and views they have on music. All of their instruments are made from things they find in nature, wood, bone, hides etc. Their music too is a form of mimicry of their surroundings, often the rhythms are akin to horse hooves, the throat singing resembles the windContinue reading “Igilish”
The Fanhorn Harp
I’ve just finished a commission which has taken me a good few.months to complete. So it felt right to work on something that would materialise much much quicker. I looked around my bits of scrap that I keep for the ‘just incase’ times. I found this grill from a small electric fan that sounded funContinue reading “The Fanhorn Harp”
A Note on DIY Tuning Pegs
Tuning pegs might be one of the trickiest parts of a stringed instrument to get right while still remaining DIY. There are easy, time tested methods of accurately and reliably tuning strings; such as a set of machine heads like these: Or zither pins (these are actually amazingly useful, I ordered 100 when I started outContinue reading “A Note on DIY Tuning Pegs”
Achievement Unlocked!
Not too long ago I got the amazing honour of having The Guardian Music tweet my humble blog. Home-made musical instruments – brilliant vulpestruments.blogspot.co.uk — Guardian music (@guardianmusic) December 14, 2012 I’m not sure if I’m more thrilled by that, or that the incredibly talented and influential composer Clint Mansell re-tweeted it.Continue reading “Achievement Unlocked!”
Current works in progress
I have recently received a commission for a new instrument. Which means I will be busy for a month or so working on that. In the meantime, here are some images of recent experiments that will have to go on hiatus for a while! 10 points if you can guess what they might become.
Vulpestruments 