Experimental Musical Instruments Products

Piezo Films

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

For those who want to wire up their own contact pickups, we offer these piezo films in three sizes: 3/8" x 1", 1/2" x 2-1/2", and 3/4" x 6". Piezo-electric film has several advantages over traditional rigid contact pickups, as described in the "More Info" pages for this and the other piezo film products we sell.

Quantity discounts are available for these items. Please call or email for information.

Making Marimbas and Other Bar Percussion Instruments

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Book with audio CD, by Bart Hopkin and Carl Dean with Christopher Banta

How to make bar percussion instruments of all sort, including marimbas and related instruments with sounding bars of wood, metal, bamboo, and other materials.

Making Musical Instruments with Kids

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

67 Easy Projects for Adults Working with Children

Book with audio CD by Bart Hopkin

This book, with its accompanying audio CD, is a treasure trove of musical instrument ideas simple enough for children to make. It's written primarily for adults who work with children, including teachers, parents, and others involved in the lives of young people.

Piezo Cable

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Piezo cable isn't cable meant for peizos; rather, it's piezo material in the form of a cable. It can be used for under-the-saddle pickups in guitars and similar instruments, placed in the bridge slot under the saddle. We sell it by the inch (a typical guitar bridge installation requires about 5" of cable).

Quantity discounts are available for these items. Cick on "More Details" below for information.

Piezo cable is sold by the inch. In the "quantity" field, indicate how many inches you want.

SDT1 Piezo Film Contact Pickup

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

The SDT1 is a piezo film pickup, fully shielded, in a nicely configured ready-to use form. The film itself is 5/8" by 1-1/8". We sell it two ways: 1) Plug-and-play ready, including a standard 1/4" jack at end of the 18" cable ($39). 2) No jack -- the end of the cable is left bare, so you can run it to any sort of jack, plug, or other destination you wish ($32). Piezo-electric film has several advantages over traditional rigid contact pickups, as described in the "More Info" pages for this and the other piezo film products we sell.

(Do you need info on shipping costs, payment options, returns policy, etc.? Click here).

Fret Slotting Saw

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

To install frets, you tap the lower part of the fret wire into a slot cut in the fingerboard. It’s important that the saw you use cuts a slot just the right width to hold the fret wire securely. This fret slotting saw is designed for just this purpose.

Sponge Rubber

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

This dense, durable, and extremely resilient black sponge rubber is the best material to use as pads under marimba bars, and for countless other padding and damping purposes. We sell it in sheets or strips 1/2" thick. We'll send each square foot you order as a 4" by 36" strip unless you request otherwise.

Price is per square foot. Under "quantity," indicate the number of square feet you want.

Economy Mid-sized Tuning Machine

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

A basic, no-frills open-gear tuner. Functional, dependable, affordable. This tuner is made as a guitar tuner, but it can be used on any number of different instruments. Available in left and right orientations.

Quantity discounts are available for this product. Click "More Details" below for information.

To order some of each orientation, select one orientation, indicate quantity and add to cart, then repeat for the other orientation.

(Do you need info on shipping costs, payment options, returns policy, etc.? Click here).

Zither Tuning Pins

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Not just for zithers! Use these tuning pins for almost any string instrument smaller than a piano.

Quantity discounts are available for this item. Click on "More details" below for information.

Recommended for use with these pins: the tuning wrench described below.

Fret Slotting Saw

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Fret Wire

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

We have fret wire in three sizes: large (suitable for anything bigger than a guitar), medium (suitable for guitars, banjos, and similarly sized instruments), and small (suitable for ukuleles, mandolins, and other small instruments). Sold by the foot.

Also recomended: our fret slotting saw, described below, used to cut fret slots of exactly the right width to secure the frets.

Fret wire prices are per foot. Under "quantity" below, indicate how many feet you want.

Zither Pin Turning Wrench

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

This is the tuning wrench to use with the zither pins described above. Easy to use and quite affordable. Quantity discounts are available for this product. Click on "More Details" below for information.

Shielded Cable, Narrow Gauge

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

This lightweight cable is suitable wherever you want light, flexible shielded wiring. Good for attaching to piezos, as well as most other pickup wiring other than the main exterior lead cable. Overall diameter .071" (just over 1/16"). This sort of narrow shielded cable is difficult to find elsewhere if you’re not planning to buy huge quantities. So ... get it here.

Quantity discounts are avalilable for this item. Click "More Details" below for information.

Sold by the foot. Indicate the number of feet you want in the quantity field.

Shielded Cable, Heavy Gauge

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

This sturdy coaxial shielded cable is suitable as a lead cord for applications where there'll be some wear and tear, such as the cord used for plugging a pickup or instrument into an external amp or preamp.

Quantity discounts are available for this product. Click "More Details" below for information.

Sold by the foot. Indicate the number of feet you want in the quantity field.

250K Potentiometer (Volume Control), Audio Taper

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

This volume control's 250K Ohm resistance is suitable for the signal strength coming from either a typical piezo or typical magnetic pickup. It is “audio taper,” meaning that it provides a uniform rate of increase in perceived volume as you turn the knob. Complete wiring instructions included.

You can purchase this volume pot with or without the knob. Purchase it with the knob if you’re happy to use the functional but not fancy knob we offer. Purchase it without the knob if you prefer to look elsewhere for a knob in a different style.

Quarter-inch Mono Phone Jack (Female), Panel Mount

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

This s a standard, quarter-inch phone jack, designed to be mounted on the body of an instrument or the casing of an electronic component. Use this if you want to be able to connect your instrument using a standard musical instrument cable. Wiring instructions included.

Quarter-inch Mono In-Line Phone Jack (Female)

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

SORRY, this item is temporarily out of stock

This jack is the female counterpart to the standard quarter inch phone plug described above, designed to go at the end of a cable. Use this if you want to be able to connect your instrument using a standard musical instrument cable such as an electric guitar cord. All-steel casing provides shielding; excellent overall quality. Wiring instructions will be are included with your order.

The picture shows the assembled jack on the left, and the same jack disassembled to show components on the right.

Quarter-inch Mono Phone Plug (Male), Shielded

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

This is the plug that you see at the ends of an electric guitar player's guitar lead cord. It's the standard connector for plugging instruments into amplifiers, mixers, effects processors, etc. All-steel casing provides shielding; excellent overall quality. Information sheet with wiring instructions included.

The picture shows the assembled plug on the left and the same plug disassembled to show components on the right.

Powerjack Miniature Endpin Preamp

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

The Powerjack, made by Fishman, is as small and unobtrusive as a preamp can be, making it suitable for mounting on or in an instrument. The package includes a battery clip for separate mounting of a standard 9-volt battery. The very high input impedance makes it ideal for piezo pickups, good for most magnetic pickups, not suitable for low-impedance microphones. Some soldering required.

Pure Compact Preamp from K&K Sound Systems

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

This compact preamp, made by K&K Sound Systems, will improve the performance of contact pickups, magnetic pickups, and other high-impedance, low-level sources. (It will work with low-impedance microphone signals as well, but not optimally.)

Lollar Oversized Magnetic Pickups

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Magnetic pickups are the sort used in electric guitars. They can also be used on other sorts of string instruments, as well as kalimbas, tuning fork instruments, or anything else in which the vibrating elements are made of steel. These oversized pickups, in 6- inch and 8-inch lengths are custom-made for Experimental Musical Instruments by Jason Lollar of Lollar Guitars. Their tone is excellent – full and clear, with good signal strength. Same price for either size -- $108.

Magnetic Spot Pickups

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Electro-magnetic pickups are the sort used in electric guitars and basses. In addition, they can be used on any instrument in which the vibrating body is of steel (and there are ways to make them work with many non-steel instruments as well). Our unique spot pickups are suitable for all sorts of applications calling for anywhere from one to a great many small pickups. Comes with complete documentation on use and installation.

Quantity discounts are available for this item. Click on "More Details" below for information.

K&K Twin Spot Classic Contact Pickup: Dual Sensing Elements

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

THIS PRODUCT ENTRY IS NO LONGER IN USE. TWIN SPOT NOW APPEARS AS A VARIATION ON HOT SPOT/TWIN SPOT PAGE.

The K&K pickups are the most affordable ready-made contact pickups around, yet they are excellent in versatility, duriability and sound quality. The Twin Spot has two sensing elements wired to a single 1/4" output jack.

K&K Contact Pickups: Hot Spot or Twin Spot

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Affordable, durable, excellent-sounding ready-to-use piezo pickups from K&K Sound, suitable for use on almost any instrument with a vibrating surface you can attach it to. We sell two models: the Hot Spot ($32), with a single sensing element, and Twin Spot ($54) with dual sensing elements.

For more information on different types of pickups, their uses, and the pre-amp question, click here.

Choose Hot Spot (single sensing element) or twin spot (dual sensing elements)

Classical Guitar Tuning Machine Set

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

These functional, attractive and affordably priced classical guitar tuning machines come as a set of two brackets, three tuners on each bracket, just as you expect to see on classical guitars. Mounting screws are included. The brackets have a nickel finish; the buttons (turning knobs) are a pearly plastic.

Quantity discounts are available on this item. Click "More details" below for information.

Friction Tuner

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

A high-quality chrome friction tuner with plastic button (“button” is the term used for the knob or handle that you turn). Made for ukulele; suitable for all sorts of small instruments.

Quantity discounts are available for large orders of these tuners. Clink on "More details" below for information.

Bass Tuning Machine

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

An attractive, high-quality, chrome-finish, enclosed-gear, large-size tuning machine at an excellent price. Made as a tuner for electric bass; suitable for a wide variety of large
instruments. Available in left and right orientations.

Quantity discounts are available on these tuners. Click "more details" below for information.

To order some of each orientation, select one orientation, indicate quantity and add to cart, then repeat for the other orientation.

Quality Mid-sized Tuning Machine

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

A beautiful, high-quality, chrome-finished, enclosed-gear tuning machine at an excellent price. It's made as a guitar tuner, but it can be used on any number of different instruments. Available in left and right orientations.

Quantity discounds are available on this item. Click "More details" below for information.

To order some of each orientation, select one orientation, indicate quantity and add to cart, then repeat for the other orientation.

Experimental Musical Instruments Back Issues Volumes in Print

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Individual Volumes or Complete Set of 14 Volumes

All of the issues from the Experimental Musical Instruments quarterly journal's 14-year run remain available in the form of fourteen photocopied, paper-bound volumes. Each volume contains all of the issues that appeared over a period of a year (either four or six issues each). The content of the photocopied volumes is complete and identical to the originals.

You can order any of the 14 volumes at $14 apeice, or order the complete set for $200. In the selection box below, choose any individual volume or the complete set. (To order several different volumes, select a volume, add to cart, and repeat for additional voumes.)

Gravikords, Whirlies and Pyrophones - Abridged version

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Book by Bart Hopkin with an introduction by Tom Waits, with audio CD containing recordings by 19 featured artists.

Available again! (but only a few dozen copies)

For several years this collection has been unavailable except for used copies at high prices from resellers. Just recently the publisher located a couple of boxes that had been overlooked in a corner someplace. He sent them our way and we're making them available to you.

This collection takes the form of a 96-page, CD-sized hardbound book with audio CD bound in, featuring informative text, wonderful photographs, and great music of 19 of the most creative instrument makers from around the world.

The Experimental Musical Instruments Wall Chart

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

A big 24"w x 36"h wall poster of reference information for makers and lovers of musical instruments. It includes charts showing frequency, pitch & wavelength relationships, just and tempered scales, the Sachs-Hornbostel musical instrument classification system, and much more.

21 Ways and Instrumentarium Hopkinis

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Get both Bart Hopkin CDs – 21 Ways and Instrumentarium Hopkinis (described above) – for one reduced price.

21 Ways of Looking at Things

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Sound Instruments Designed by Bart Hopkin

Compared to the Instrumentarium CD described above, this newer audio CD is more textural, landscape-ish, atmospheric. 21 pieces featuring dozens of instruments ranging from unusual to scarcely imaginable.

Instrumentarium Hopkinis: Bart Hopkin Plays Invented Instruments

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

In this audio CD, Bart Hopkin (the founder and still the main guy at Experimental Musical Instruments) plays his own instruments. Great music played on a wildly diverse collection of instruments. Includes 16-page booklet with information on the instruments.

Experimental Musical Instruments - Later Years

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Later Years is the second of the pair of CDs containing selections from the Experimental Musical Instruments annual audio cassette series that ran from 1985 - 1999. (The first, called Early Years is described above.) Later Years covers the years from 1993-1999, featuring 17 different instrument makers in all their diversity, inventiveness and originality. The liner notes are a sixteen-page booklet containing the original notes for each track followed by short updates on most of the artists and their work.

You can purchase either Early Years or Later Years for $14, or both for $24.

Air Columns and Toneholes: Principles for Wind Instrument Design

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

By Bart Hopkin

A booklet containing theory and how-to on these aspects of wind instrument design, starting with a not-too-demanding generalist's approach and working its way through to a more exacting mathematical approach.

Getting a Bigger Sound

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Pickups and Microphones for your Musical Instrument

Book by Bart Hopkin with Robert Cain and Jason Lollar

This book tells you how to take the sound of a musical instrument and convert it to an electrical signal for amplification. Whether your instrument is something as familiar as an acoustic guitar or something as exotic as a recycled-junk-o-phone, you can learn here about the best options for adding a pickup or an onboard microphone to it. It includes complete how-to on pickup making, and much more.

Funny Noises for the Connoisseur

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Book and audio CD by Bart Hopkin with Ray Brunelle and Vincent Nicastro

This book, with its accompanying audio CD, is about comical sounds and how to make them. Squishy sounds and gloopy sounds, farting sounds and belching sounds, laughing sounds and crying sounds, crazy-bad musical instrument sounds, Martians conversing, morticians giggling, etc., etc.

Experimental Musical Instruments Complete Back Issues on CD-ROM

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

70 Issues, 1985-1999, on two CDs

All 70 issues of the late, great Experimental Musical Instruments journal, 1985-1999, on two CD-ROMs in Adobe .pdf format, at under a fifth of the price of the printed version. The content is complete and identical to the original print versions. Fourteen years' worth of great stuff! It's a real treasure chest.

To keep our production costs and your purchase cost for these CDs manageable, we didn't give them all of the functionalities that many other CD-ROMs have. You can get the specifics and see sample pages by clicking "More Details" below. In addition, you can search the contents of the back issues here.

(Do you need info on shipping costs, payment options, returns policy, etc.? Click here).

Slap Tubes and Other Plosive Aerophones

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Book and audio CD by Phil Dadson and Bart Hopkin

The category of musical instruments known as plosive aerophones includes the end-struck tubes sometimes called slap tubes, as well as many other instrument types. These instruments can be simple to make, yet they are fully musical and they sound great. This book tells you everything you need to know to make them, with ready-to-build designs as well as the information you need to design your own.

Wind Chimes: Design and Construction

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Book with audio CD by Bart Hopkin

Complete how-to information on the making of this most accessible of instruments. Descriptions, photos and and sounds of a great many diverse types, from the familiar to the very unusual.

Musical Instrument Design

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Book by Bart Hopkin, with an introduction by Jon Scoville.

A key resource for anyone interested in musical instrument making. It provides an overview of acoustic instrument design principles for acoustic instruments of all sorts loads of practical, hands-on information, generously illustrated. The tone is accessible and friendly without sacrificing seriousness of purpose. This is the only book of its kind: there are other books that offer plans for making specific instruments, but no others that provide a systematic exposition of underlying design principles as this one does.

(Do you need info on shipping costs, payment options, returns policy, etc.? Click here).

Experimental Musical Instruments -- Early Years

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:02:56 -0700

Early Years is the first of a pair of CDs containing selections from the Experimental Musical Instruments annual audio cassette series that ran from 1985 - 1999. (The otherCD, called Later Years, is described below.) The Early Years CD covers the seven years from 1985-1992. The original cassettes from those years are now sold out. This CD brings them back to life by making 19 of the tracks available again, recapturing the wonderful vitality and variety of those early releases. The liner notes are a sixteen-page booklet containing the original notes for each track followed by short updates on the artists and their work