Stupid idea....a bass with laser strings?

Fassa Albrecht · #1 01-14-2009, 08:04 PM

A while ago I played a harp which didn't have any strings but lasers instead. You placed your fingers in the path of the laser beam and dependant on how low or high you were playing, it would make a note.

So I was thinking- could a bass be built on the same idea? There could be two sets of lasers, one running along the fretboard down to the bottom of the neck (there'd be a sensor at the bottom of the neck to detect the fretting position) and then another laser running from the sensor box down to a bridge with another sensor array in it which would detect which string is being played.

There'd be a thumb-ring for slap sounds too.

Stupid idea or good idea?

EDIT: I really need to get a life.

undeadbass · #2 01-14-2009, 08:18 PM

could be fun... although the learning curve would be crazy!

Fassa Albrecht · #3 01-14-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undeadbass

could be fun... although the learning curve would be crazy!

I might see if there's any way I could find the kit to actually build this. I'm sure I can find the parts for the laser from somewhere.

lemur821 · #4 01-14-2009, 09:06 PM

I saw a video of just such a thing. This particular instrument used a camera at the bridge to determine where your fingers were. Presumably with some trig or something.

fdeck · #5 01-14-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

I might see if there's any way I could find the kit to actually build this. I'm sure I can find the parts for the laser from somewhere.

Something similar to what you want is used in industrial safety equipment to prevent someone from reaching into a dangerous machine. I suppose such a thing could be adapted...

http://www.controlcomponentsinc.com/SUNX.html

These guys at SUNX have all sorts of nifty optical sensors. Of course this stuff will make a high-end conventional bass seem cheap.

Bassist4Life · #6 01-14-2009, 10:29 PM

How would it handle things like ghost notes and left hand hammer-ons/pull-offs?

What about dynamics? How about staccato and legato articulations?

Would the bass react a little more like a keyboard without touch sensitive keys?

It sounds like a neat idea, but I don't know how much expression is possible.

Peace & Music,
Joe

Solarmist · #7 01-15-2009, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

How would it handle things like ghost notes and left hand hammer-ons/pull-offs?

What about dynamics? How about staccato and legato articulations?

Would the bass react a little more like a keyboard without touch sensitive keys?

It sounds like a neat idea, but I don't know how much expression is possible.

Peace & Music,
Joe

You have a good point, but it might do wonders for fretless

Fassa Albrecht · #8 01-15-2009, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

How would it handle things like ghost notes and left hand hammer-ons/pull-offs?

Assuming that there were two sensors, one at the nut and one at the bottom of the neck:-

Pull-offs: Place your two fingers on the fretboard as you would normally play it. The bottom sensor on the neck would detect the finger nearest to it, whilst the top sensor on the nut would detect the other. When you take the bottom finger off, the laser would detect the finger being lifted and play it as a ghost note.

Hammer-on: As above, in reverse.

Quote:

What about dynamics? How about staccato and legato articulations?

I have no idea...the bass would probably need an internal computer.

Quote:

Would the bass react a little more like a keyboard without touch sensitive keys?

No because you'd still have to actually pluck the 'string' (or slap the string)

Quote:

It sounds like a neat idea, but I don't know how much expression is possible.

Peace & Music,
Joe

Like I said, I'd probably have to build a prototype in order to see what problems arise and then work my way around them

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solarmist

You have a good point, but it might do wonders for fretless

It would save more than one fingerboard from thr tyranny of roundwounds.

dreadheadbass · #9 01-15-2009, 04:46 AM

i think finger players might struggle for a start how is your plucking finger gonna come to a stop on the string above it like on a normal bass?
how are you gonna do bends?
what options are there gonna be for players who rest on the E string?

it would be kinda cool though especially if the guitarists also had the same thing when you walked onstage and powered up it would look like a jedi rock band

BassChuck · #10 01-15-2009, 04:55 AM

One question Fassa. Have you ever played a Theremin?

Jefenator · #11 01-15-2009, 11:32 AM

No love for sharks with lasers? *wipe tear*

Fassa Albrecht · #12 01-15-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassChuck

One question Fassa. Have you ever played a Theremin?

Yep!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreadheadbass

i think finger players might struggle for a start how is your plucking finger gonna come to a stop on the string above it like on a normal bass?
how are you gonna do bends?
what options are there gonna be for players who rest on the E string?

it would be kinda cool though especially if the guitarists also had the same thing when you walked onstage and powered up it would look like a jedi rock band

For the pluckers, you'd just have to adapt.

Resting on the E? A finger rest just above the lasers? I don't know...

Bends? I don't know...maybe some sort of switch on the back of the neck.

Phalex · #13 01-15-2009, 01:50 PM

You'd burn your fingers right off!! It'd be a hell of a show, but you want to be sure that you charge enough money up front. That's not the sort of thing you can do over.

So how many megawatts you talkin here??? You'll need a tank of liquid nitrogen to keep things running nice and cool..........

**baba** · #14 01-15-2009, 01:58 PM

It wouldn't account for dynamics of playing. I think a cheap keyboard with midi would accomplish the same thing.

superbassman2000 · #15 01-15-2009, 02:59 PM

it would be about as cool as this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpDZ3WotLXY
lol kidding but that's the first thing i thought of!

on the other hand, this idea got me thinking about somehow mixing a bass with an Ondes Martenot. That would be like a synth fretless...that'd be cool to me at least...you could have some syrupy funky basslines

Fassa Albrecht · #16 01-15-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

it would be about as cool as this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpDZ3WotLXY
lol kidding but that's the first thing i thought of!

on the other hand, this idea got me thinking about somehow mixing a bass with an Ondes Martenot. That would be like a synth fretless...that'd be cool to me at least...you could have some syrupy funky basslines

That video rocked!

I want....I want lots.

Fancy a partnership luthiery project?

IanStephenson · #17 01-15-2009, 04:47 PM

Where does the NOISE come from?

Fassa Albrecht · #18 01-15-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

Where does the NOISE come from?

Obviously it'd be hooked up to an amp! I was thinking of making it stereo like my Shergold too...;

theshadow2001 · #19 01-15-2009, 04:50 PM

They already have touch screens that use lasers to determine where abouts your hand touches the screen

The plucking could incorporate the same technique as the harp.

Completely pointless though. A keyboard would sound exactly the same and be way more functional.

Fassa Albrecht · #20 01-15-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshadow2001

They already have touch screens that use lasers to determine where abouts your hand touches the screen

The plucking could incorporate the same technique as the harp.

Completely pointless though. A keyboard would sound exactly the same and be way more functional.

A bass would get you extra cool points and sound better.