Electronicless Amplifier

[Zarathustra]

Yeah, this is basically totally batshit crazy, but I'll explain it anyways...

At a band session a few weeks ago, my friend was fooling around with his J Bass, unplugged, and sat down in a wooden chair. He had the back of the bass against the arm rests, and noticed that the sound was louder than when normally unplugged (though still fairly quiet), and moved the back of his guitar off from the arm rests. Quieter. Against it, louder. Natural amplification.

I know the basic principles behind it, sound traveling through the guitar's body and through the chair, and that sound moves easier through solid objects being louder than through air (like putting your ear against a door).

Now, I've messed around with putting my guitar neck against boxes, etc. I've gotten some sound, but nothing extraordinary. I'm curious if anyone wants to really investigate this. I'm considering starting a contest, to see how well it can be done/if it can be done, particularly without ridiculously large "amplifiers".

Am I insane?

 

[Track Rat]

In a galaxy far far away, long ago, there were no amplifiers. So for the last 4000 years or so, it's been done about every way you could think of.

 

[Zarathustra]

I know

It's basically like having an external resonating chamber for your guitar, but I think it could be pretty cool to try.

I mean, you could atleast freak people out by showing up to a show with cardboard boxes instead of amps.

 

[Lt. Bob]

Take the headstock of your guitar or bass and let it rest against a wall. You'll be amazed at how loud it'll get depending on the wall material/.
Better yet if you have a sliding glass door pull up a chair by it and let the headstock rest against that ........ surprisingly loud.
Nothing unusual going on .... the wall or glass basically functions like a soundboard in a piano or the top of an acoustic. The vibrations are tinybut because the surface area is so large it can move enough air to be heard.

 

[Zarathustra]

Arr. I'd like to experiment someday with making some kind of weird portable resonating box like this stuff.

I have almost no knowledge of physics, though. I'm interesed in getting a sort of pseudo distorted guitar tone out of just like, a cardboard box and maybe some stuff inside it.

It kind of solves my really illogical dislike of guitars without any resonating chambers (solid body electrics).

 

[Track Rat]

Resonator guitars were an attempt to "amplify" passively so a guitar could keep up with a band.

 

[cusebassman]

Definitely a cool thing to toy with - I like to do it when Im playin acoustic on the can - the sink is right next to the toilet, set into a cabinet - open the doors of the cabinet, butt the bottom front of the guitar against its side, and you get a very nice boost

 

[pikingrin]

Definitely a cool thing to toy with - I like to do it when Im playin acoustic on the can - the sink is right next to the toilet, set into a cabinet - open the doors of the cabinet, butt the bottom front of the guitar against its side, and you get a very nice boost

Amen brother!! I've never tried opening the doors though... Well, I'll be back, got me some experimenting to do!

 

[danny.guitar]

Hm, I just tried it and it didn't work. So now I feel like an idiot.

Mom walks in and sees me playing acoustic in an awkward position with it up against the wall. I didn't really know how to explain what I was trying to do.

 

[travelin travis]

an acoustic guitar is exactly what you're describing: a guitar with a chamber acting as an amplifier. if you want a separate device, get a stethoscope.

 

[Zarathustra]

Well

I know, but the idea of being able to use electric guitars after the eventual nuclear apocalypse and end of electricity has a certain appeal to me.

 

[Dani Pace]

To get an idea of the physics involved, study how very early record players worked. I mean very early, the wind up, needle to megaphone type. In theory the same concept should work to pick up the viberations from a guitar and somewhat amplify them. You wont get any tone control (maybe different materals for the megaphone would vary tone) but the idea should work to amplify volume, without the use of electricity. I'll leave figuring out how to attach it to the guitar up to you.

 

[cusebassman]

I'll leave figuring out how to attach it to the guitar up to you.

I was going to say, I've never seen a line input on an Ediphone before

Perhaps you could just have a guitar attached stationary to the top of the wax cylinder recorder, and the metal horn could be mounted to the back of the guitar, attached to the diaphragm and needle on the other end. booya.

That's about as "Direct Input" as you're going to get on those things

 

[cusebassman]

btw, what's the best rap horn for Ediphone cylinder recording?

 

[oretez]

essentially same principles behind the solid body electrics (Les Paul's designs rejected by several guitar manufacturers until Leo Fender arrived on the scene)

and has been pointed out pushed back one step it's also the principal behind all guitars . . . you increase sustain by mass of bridge and nut

 

[Lomas]

I know, but the idea of being able to use electric guitars after the eventual nuclear apocalypse and end of electricity has a certain appeal to me.

You'd think that just being ALIVE then would be more important!