Guitar modded to integrate laptop with music visualizer

Old laptops are a geek modder's best friend: this particular example is one of the better mods we've seen to incorporate an old lappie, with a guy called Ben sticking his old machine behind the strings of an electric guitar. He then linked up the sound produced by the guitar to a visualizer in the laptop, allowing it to pump some psychedelic-looking sound waves out to onlookers. Beats the usual sticker decorations, dontchafink?

[Via Technabob]

[Robert @ Nov 26th 2007 10:20AM]

Dude, thats some really cool stuff... This is the kind of mods that make a tear run across my cheek.

[gjp303 @ Nov 25th 2007 9:47PM]

But how is the "bridge" placed in the middle of the screen?

[Jordan @ Nov 26th 2007 2:32PM]

I'm sure it's just glued on or something...

PS: Is there a video??

[Cam @ Nov 25th 2007 9:59PM]

I would think the screen is mounted under plexiglass or similar.

[Arjy @ Nov 25th 2007 10:06PM]

Thats not the bridge, the bridge is further back. I'm assuming that what you're seeing is either another pickup or another sort of sensor that is reading the sound from the strings to make the screen do its thing. But yes, whatever it is is mounted on the cover above the screen.

[Hung @ Nov 26th 2007 12:50AM]

Unless those guitar classes were just a waste of time, that "thing" that's raising the strings is definitely the bridge. Then again, those guitar classes were probably wastes of time.

[Othello @ Nov 25th 2007 9:53PM]

That's pretty boss.

[Derek @ Nov 25th 2007 9:58PM]

Wow. That is cool.

(Btw, that wasn't sarcasm)

[Lesterine @ Dec 27th 2007 6:54PM]

bridge... Screen!? Does it function

[peshue @ Nov 25th 2007 10:12PM]

Must be kinda heavy, but still pretty cool.

[Solmin @ Nov 25th 2007 10:19PM]

Spiffy

[Reader @ Nov 25th 2007 10:35PM]

For best results add LSD.

[Luis @ Nov 25th 2007 10:36PM]

Way to be 4 hours behind giz. Jk I still love you Engadget + your comment section isn't filled with flamers.

[Grey Acumen @ Nov 25th 2007 10:54PM]

This is seriously nice. The first couple designs the screen was playing looked pretty lame, but once he got to the oscilloscope-like designs, it was looking cool

[Eh @ Nov 25th 2007 10:56PM]

David Gilmour would be proud.

I hope he patented it.

[ethana2 @ Nov 26th 2007 4:00AM]

As long as patents never get to the point where they can prevent me from freely doing whatever I will with what is mine, I guess they're not all bad. The second they do, screw them.

[sendeth @ Nov 26th 2007 11:21AM]

omfg winamp for a freaking guitar!!! that is wicked. every group will want one. especially cool for musicians in smaller bands in smaller settings. time to make some money. i am interested in how the pick up was incorporated, but over all, one of the best mods i have ever seen. i can't wait to see one at the local bar. this guy should charge to build them. bigtime money.

[Jon @ Nov 25th 2007 11:06PM]

My god that thing is one of the ugliest creations I've ever seen! I thought it was a cake to begin with!! His TVGuitar v2.0 isn't quite so ugly looking.

[Zadillo @ Nov 25th 2007 11:18PM]

Why are you spamming this site of yours in every comment you've posted (looking at your post history)?

[Tavis Veighey @ Nov 25th 2007 11:24PM]

That thin has GOT to weigh a TON!!!

[David @ Nov 25th 2007 11:36PM]

As a proof of concept, this is ok. But since the scale length looks to be around 30" and the guy seems to have used a stock neck that probably has it's frets spaced for a 25.5" scale length it can't be tuned.

[Nightfyre @ Nov 26th 2007 12:03AM]

Or maybe the bridge is that thing in the middle (looks to be an acoustic-style bridge) so the scale is correct... the strings continue past it far more than is normal, but that's definitely the bridge, contrary to what others have said. I'm guessing the wire extending out from beneath it might be from a piezo?

[Jack @ Nov 25th 2007 11:50PM]

Actually, I heard about that site on TheBuzz.
I think it's a cool idea and they donate to Autism Research & Treatment.

[Javier Medina @ Nov 25th 2007 11:58PM]

Cool

[KarlW @ Nov 26th 2007 12:07AM]

Hope he patented that. That idea could make _a lot_ of money, especially if he used custom equiptment instead of a stock laptop. You'd have a massive margin on these things anyway, if the patent isn't bought.

It also probably isn't that heavy - the main things that make a laptop heavy are the battery and disk drives. He can remove the battery by replacing the guitar's power source, remove the optical drive, and if it has USB-boot, use a mini version of Linux on a cheap USB stick. There also isn't much need for a case, providing the parts are mounted securely.

[Firebird @ Nov 26th 2007 2:40AM]

Explain to me how he can remove the battery? Guitars don't usually have power sources. Ok, if it has active pickups or an active eq on board, it'll have a 9volt battery for a power source, but that wont power a laptop. Maybe he could take the battery out and just use the power brick, but what is he going to do with the power brick, either put it in the guitar or let it drag awkwardly behind the guitar all night? Might be a better idea to just keep the battery and charge between uses.

[MARSHAK @ Nov 26th 2007 1:31AM]

Actually, He'd still need a battery. Electric guitars aren't very electric. They have a small current so a signal can be detected but it certainly isn't enough to power an LCD screen. If there was a battery on there and someone started producing this they could also power a built in wireless model.

[maveric101 @ Nov 26th 2007 12:32AM]

very cool

[Matt Lance @ Nov 26th 2007 12:55AM]

I want me one!

[holycow @ Nov 26th 2007 1:57AM]

put the ASUS EEE PC on it.. would make it lighter..

[bjrcboy @ Nov 26th 2007 2:06AM]

Anyone else see the original bat mobile? (glossy black body with red outlining!)

[David @ Nov 26th 2007 4:29AM]

now if only there was someone who did this kind of crap who listens to more than just pink floyd...

[Paul Chan @ Nov 26th 2007 6:09AM]

def a cool concept, although I would have to say the body does look very ugly, if he reshaped it and repositioned the buttons and the knobs so that they aren;t all clumped at the bottom.
A good mod, but also has room for improvement on the aesthetics side

[Jacko @ Nov 26th 2007 6:30AM]

Please, will some administrator look at this guy's post history and kick this spammer off of here? Has anyone actually gone to this 'www.fakebuddy.com' site? Not only is it the stupidest idea in the history of the Internet, if not the world, it's a scam. "A percentage of your purchase goes to autism research." So... perhaps even 0.002% of my $5.95/month would go to autism research?! Yay! I've helped no one! Yet I can feel so good about it! Maybe I'll even tell my fake buddy penpal! What crap.

[Greg @ Nov 26th 2007 9:37AM]

Any video of this in use?

[andyg8180 @ Nov 26th 2007 9:54AM]

hehe looks like something out of the 80's... pretty funky!

[Maddie @ Nov 26th 2007 1:16PM]

Actually (JackO) you should get your facts straight before you start spewing lies about this website.
They donate $50 for every 100 members, which works out to around 10%.
I happen to think it's a great idea, and they really are helping people.
Maybe you should learn to think before you write!!!

[Daimyo Nintendo @ Nov 27th 2007 9:36AM]

FUGLY