moog circuit bending challenge 2010 barbie guitar

This is a video of an old Barbie guitar getting a face lift with a soldering iron.
All for the sake of the first annual 2010 Moog circuit bending contest.

It is a very cheesy sounding "karaoke" guitar that allows young kids to be real superstars (according to Barbie).

This video shows some of the possibilities a toy like this hold when you know what the circuit shouldn't do. I demonstrate this by adding in the following features:

-Gain knob for even more lo-fi overdriven grunge
-Looping the delay circuitry back into the audio for a wall of feedback whirlwind
-Adding 2 adjustable controls for the cpu clock speed to speed up and slow down the pitch and tempo of the sounds.
-Creating an internal digital audio feedback loop for endless sampled repeated of noises
-Bringing critical circuit traces on to the surface of the instrument with bare wire to allow your hands to join the traces and create audio loops though your body based on the pressure of your hand
-Repeating the above, but with different circuit traces and having a switch between a knob or two screws. This allows either a fixed tone oscillating or a variable trigger that is touch-sensitive.
-A mute or "kill" switch to silence the sound momentarily to give a stutter effect
-A 1/4 inch switching output jack that, when plugged in, redirects the sound from the speaker to any effect pedal and amp combination desired.

Very bizarre and unique sounds are now available through these mods and it is now an even more interactive instrument than ever before!

I will be attempting to video a clearer runthough of it's sonic possibilites in a second video.

All music played in the video was written and performed by me.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• moog
• circuit
• bending
• competition
• 2010
• Moogfest
• barbie
• guitar
• bent

[mufflercrunch]

I like the music especially during the "finished look" part.

[wewanttoseeninjas]

@mufflercrunch

Thanks.

I can give you guys a CD of my tunes if you like.

[jamesedwardtheobald]

@Hokit321Go haha, mic them up and import and transform them (the sounds, that is) into some DAW electronica projects and share with her, in order to lend validation to yer hobby!

[jamesedwardtheobald]

LOL with the slow and ominous approach of the drill! fun stuff. imagine having the cash to circuit bend top-of-the-line instrments.

[Hokit321Go]

Circuit bending is definitely for the open minded. I deal with a lot blah blah from the wife about "annoying noises"

[pooryorik3]

How in the world did you get the circuit board flipped out to access the solder points? Mine is glued down like crazy... the plastic knobs are also making it difficult to detach! Great job, thanks for the post!

[mbreeson]

Good Job! Hope this worked out for you. Even if it didn't keep bending.

[TheKinkyWalrus]

i was just looking at one of these on craigslist to bend lol, it will be my first bend. Got any tips?

[CircuitSideshow]

Thanks & great job btw

[CircuitSideshow]

I just finished the same guitar. I however did not find the looping fx you got, so looks like mine is not "finished" at all. I'll be cracking it back open to find the loop for sure!

Brickhill

Fall River, MA

[ascrane]

@wewanttoseeninjas You should sign up for an account on SoundCloud, it's a free service specifically for hosting music. It's a good way to get your material out there!

[ascrane]

Agreed, your music is rad. It's got a bit of a Buckethead sound to it.