Revolutionizing the Guitar: Mattias krantz’s floating String Marvel
YouTuber Mattias Krantz has crafted an extraordinary guitar featuring strings that float in mid-air, resembling a concept straight out of a futuristic film.
The Evolution of electric Guitars
The electric guitar has been a staple in music for over seven decades. Since the introduction of iconic models like the Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul, the fundamental design has remained relatively stable. While advancements such as locking tuners and varied fretboard radii have emerged, Krantz aims to transform the way strings are positioned and how musicians engage with their instruments.
A Bold Experiment Begins
“The journey began when I attached small magnets to the ends of each guitar string,” Krantz explains in a video detailing his innovative creation. “Though, when I attempted to play it, there was no sound.”
while the strings floated beautifully, they were so loose that a gentle breeze could send them flying.The solution? “The strongest magnets available to consumers,” he decided.
Challenges and breakthroughs
These powerful magnets came with their own set of challenges. One video clip shows Krantz’s fingers caught between two magnets as they collided with force. Yet, this was a crucial step forward.
Next, he affixed a bulky plastic bridge to a raw guitar body and positioned the strings. This time, they remained in place, but still produced no sound. “The concept worked, but the forces required were much greater than anticipated,” he notes. “The magnets were inefficient due to the gap between them, resulting in a significant power loss.”
to address this, Krantz sourced magnets that were five times stronger. However, their power was so intense that they shattered the wooden shield protecting the bridge during testing. “It was like a scene from a martial arts movie,” he quipped.
Finding the Right Magnet
As he continued to refine his design, Krantz realized that individual magnets were counteracting each other. He then shifted to a single magnet that would serve all strings. “It was a bit alarming to receive it packaged like a grenade,” he remarked, carefully extracting it from it’s box.
This magnet proved to be a game-changer. “For the first time, the strings could be positioned closely without colliding,” Krantz shared. “But it was a bit nerve-wracking knowing that only four thin strings were preventing these magnets from crashing into each other.”
Tuning Troubles
Though, floating strings presented another issue: tuning one string affected the pitch of all the others. To solve this, Krantz designed a custom bridge that allowed for individual string length adjustments via small screws, similar to the fine tuners found on a Floyd Rose system. Even with this innovation, tuning took an entire day, showcasing his remarkable patience.
“I was astonished to find myself playing a guitar where the strings weren’t anchored to anything,” he expressed in awe.
The Final Product
The completed guitar features a robust metal frame designed to endure the tension from both the strings and magnets. It also boasts unique characteristics,such as a floating bridge that can be manipulated like a whammy bar to bend notes or pushed toward the neck pickup to amplify sound.
while it truly seems improbable that major guitar manufacturers like Fender will adopt this concept anytime soon-largely due to the numerous safety warnings it would necessitate-Krantz’s journey is a captivating exploration of innovation.It serves as a reminder that reimagining electric guitar design is no simple task; it requires meticulous planning and execution.
