[sdiy] Synth Keybards and Number of Keys

[Edward King]

Comments added below


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Quixotic Nixotic" <nixotic1 at blueyonder.co.uk>
To: "Synth-DIY" <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 9:31 PM
Subject: Re: [sdiy] Synth Keybards and Number of Keys


>
> On 1 Mar 2007, at 17:12, Edward King wrote:
>
>> I disagree.
>>
>> Having just gone down the road of custom-building my own keyboard,  I 
>> took
>> several years to investigate all the options.
>
> All the options?
>
> OK, but an option you didn't mention is casting an octave set of  existing 
> keys and moulding them in GRP. Or make your own octave set  in 
> wood/acrylic/styrene/polycarbonate/whatever and cast those.

Firstly, welcome on your first post.

Yes, I looked into this. I build my own GRP and carbon fibre panels, kit and 
sailplanes and experimentation led me to the conclusion that I didnt much 
like how they felt.
The closest I came was using a technique I am currently using for sailplane 
and replica sports car projects, which is carbon fibre + plascore (carbon 
fibre and kevlar honeycombe) + carbon fibre sandwich. Its very strong, very 
light and doesnt have the usual "hollow" sound to it, but is expensive, 
messy and very time consuming.

For the record, I also experimented with aluminium, steel, several types of 
wood (including MDF!!) and a range of other plastics

I guess its just down to personal preference, wood was my eventual choice.

Im not saying that there arent other methods and by not mentioning them Im 
not suggesting that they dont exist, just that I didnt choose them and my 
point remains the same; custom building your own keyboard neednt be 
expensive, can be much cheaper than a commercial product and is - IMHO - 
nowhere near the most expensive part of a synth.

The GRP / carbon fibre method would work well though for those who want to 
build their own plastic type keyboards.
Perhaps you should create a tutorial for those who arent au fait with GRP 
and carbon fibre techniques and put it on your (or someone elses) website. I 
would bet a fair amount of money that others would jump at the chance to 
roll their own using your method.

>
> I have a lot of experience in this field. A cheap bag of plaster of  paris 
> (though 'herculite' is better), a tub of vaseline and a cheap  car repair 
> kit from Halfords and I would be well away. A tin of  'Plastic Padding' or 
> 'Decorfill' 2 part filler to rectify any small  defects.
>
> For good measure spray with some durable paint. I recommend the high- 
> quality sprays from Graphotism if you are in the UK. The stuff is  great, 
> in big tins and around 2.50 pounds a can. Fantastic range of  colours too.

>
> http://www.graphotism.com/shopDetailList.asp?sid=202
>

> Don't like paint? Then add colour to the clear resin when you cast  it. 
> Alec Tiranti's do it in small jars that will last you forever,  you don't 
> need much:
>
> http://www.tiranti.co.uk/
>
> This url will probably break, so search for polyester pigments.
> <http://www.tiranti.co.uk/data/ASP/showsubdivision.asp? 
> SubDivisionID=216&SubDivision=Polyester+Pigments+%2D+Opaque>
>
> I have long wanted to make a curved keyboard - 360 degrees would be  fun. 
> Hang it off your shoulders and play all around yourself. Or  perhaps a 
> larger set that you can sit down inside and play on a  swivel chair. Or a 
> spiral, go around twice. Why not?

Now those are great ideas.
Heres one...

One of my friends is a doctor and he makes skeletons for a hobby (and 
supplies them to universities and other doctors).
He and I have discussed the possibility of him making a few sets of finger 
bones for me so that I can make my very own "skull and crossbones" keyboard 
a la "the goonies".
Crazy? perhaps but imagine how it would look!

>
> Maybe I should do a proof of concept here... time as always.
>
> My first post,
>
> John
>
>
> 


	
	
		
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