Aster Dettweiler, Spencer McGrath, Nathan Smythe, and Curtis Soloff

MU2301 Making Music With Machines, A term, 2024

The main idea for the Macro Magnet Guitar (MMG) is to modify a guitar so that electromagnets actuate the strings. While the original plans modified the guitar so that one of the guitar’s pickups would act as the electromagnetic actuator, after some initial issues, a separate electromagnet positioned over the headboard was instead chosen to be the sound actuator.

The current setup has one electromagnet positioned over the low E and A strings that can excite both strings. The electromagnet receives audio input from a computer through the audio amplifier. The frequencies can be controlled with the computer, whether through MIDI or other means. Moreover, the guitar allows for human cooperation, where the human player not only can fret the strings when the electromagnet is actuating but also strum and fret the other open strings.