One does not simply walk into Mordor. Nor does one simply create the neck of a double bass. This component does a *lot* of heavy lifting for this very complicated type of instrument, so it has a lot of structural and material requirements in order to work properly. Full disclosure: I am not a luthier …
The acoustic bass is pretty simple, mechanically speaking: Strings stretch across a resonant box, making deep notes when plucked or bowed. You can make one out of a washtub and a broomstick if you like. For the Jam Table, I would rather build something that any fool can fool with – but that any bass …
So, I decided after the Tube Bass failure to try something more orthodox: an electric slide bass. Jack White’s demo in “It Might Get Loud” – slapping together an electric slide guitar and wailing on it within about 10 minutes – made it look almost simple. I used a slab of salvaged oak for the …
The table needs a bass. I have no idea how build that for a melodic bottom end; something anyone can plan, something that can survive Seattle weather like the other instruments can. I knew exactly how to the xylophones and propane tank drum for the Jam Table because I had built them before. And I …
The second instrument I installed was the easiest to build: I pulled a set of keys from XyloVan’s Keyboard 3, the treble set that used to live on the van’s sliding door. C4 to Eflat5. I wanted to shape the array to flow better visually with the circular table top, and speak to the position …
The kick drum had to come first. Since it is embedded in the table base and I’m going to have to figure out all the other instruments on the table top one by one, I wanted to get it out of the way. My goal has been to build everything out of salvaged materials: An …
I never thought about tables much – until a friend opened a door in my head: She wondered whether artists might enjoy building table tops to go with the fancy stainless-steel table bases that her friend had salvaged from a dumpster. And suddenly for me, it clicked: We gather at tables to eat, chat, and …
I’ve dreamed of installing XyloVan‘s big xylophone (8’x3’) in front of the house ever since we moved in five years ago. My son and I finally picked up all the instruments from storage in LA and brought them home in January. I have another project in the works using keys from the other big keyboard …
The audacious Long Now Foundation is working to redefine how we see time. With its massive 10,000-year clock mechanism now functioning inside a mountain in Texas, and the likes of Danny Hillis, Brian Eno and Jeff Bezos engaged, the organization has launched Long Now Labs: The goal is to extend our methods, frameworks, and lenses …
This is an audio- and touch-reactive table designed for intentional conversation. Participants spin two concentric rings to align the themes and framing they intend to focus on, and begin. The fact that the rings remain spinnable allows conversation to shift, as the participants’ discussion refocuses what’s most meaningful to them individually and collectively. As new …
At one point last year, I had this vision of a kalimba made of 3- and 6-sided planes – an instrument that would be pleasing to the eye, but fit nicely in your hands to enhance the pleasure of plinking away in the sing-songy way of kalimbas. After prototyping it in cardboard, I translated the …
I worried when I started this final phase of our 2nd-floor gut-remodel that my lighting plan was going to look corny or fail structurally. Now that it’s installed, I like the way it turned out. When I designed the remodel, I figured that we would want recessed, dimmable lighting of some kind that comes on …
The trick with scrap-aluminum gongs is that you just can’t tune them. So I built this basic array by ear (back when I decommissioned XyloVan), choosing disc gongs that would resonate well together. This past month, I upgraded the whole thing to get it ready for visitors to Seacompression to bang on and enjoy. Weather …
I spent quite a few hours finishing this for Jack, the big, friendly genius/nice guy of a home builder who finished the last major step of our 2nd floor remodel this afternoon. I engraved two gongs that sound good together, mounted them on a chunk of the butcher block that I milled from scrap left …
Long, long ago, in a city far, far away (2010, Los Angeles), I made this crazy thing with the help of my loving and endlessly tolerant family. XyloVan – the only musical instrument I know of that got 8 miles a gallon downhill in a tailwind – played and ran for many years at Burning …
My first try using a laser cutter. These came out pretty much as-advertised, from templates I bought on Etsy. I’m taking these as a training round – and inspiration for working on my own designs.
Every fall, Seattle holds “Luminata” – a festival of lights with a parade around the Green Lake in lighted costumes. I built this from scrap plywood, found hardware, chicken wire, and added a light array in front, and wore it with a black robe. You could *just* see through the slit across the bridge of …
This was scratch-built from 3mm birch plywood, transparent red acrylic rod, patterned sheet plastic, and an assortment of hardware including metal strap and hog rings. I leaned hard on influences from the art deco age, where something warm and futuristic was always in the corner, lighting the room.
Once again, ladies and gentlemen: the brutality, the majesty, the stupidity of Gong Fights. (What???) This session was at Seacompression a few weeks ago. @findthecoretruth (parading the round numbers around the ring), our good friend Lara (in referee garb, judiciously scoring the fights and calling the winner of each round) and I (the robed announcer in …
I wanted to bring something fast, loud, and stupid to the playa this year. Something that was portable, easy to make and use, and memorable. (photo gallery below!) You know the sound a steel mixing bowl makes when you strike its edge? I love the round, BONGing resonance of it. So: Equipment: I built two …