The Planck
The Planck is a 7
stringed instrument played horizontally by tapping fingers
between the frets. The velocity of the finger striking the string causes it to
vibrate. The vibrations are translated
into an electrical signal via an electromagnetic pickup of unusual
construction. The frets are 5/16 inch high off the fretboard. This allows for bending the string by merely
applying more pressure downward. Thus, individual strings may be bent when
playing a chord producing somewhat similar a sound to a pedal steel guitar.
This design also produces sounds similar to a Japanese koto
or even a sitar. The pickup has 400 (appr.) winds of 30 gauge wire wrapped around 7 ferrite pole
pieces. At the bottom of each pole piece is a rare-earth magnet. The strength
of the magnets seems to allow for fewer winds around the pole pieces while providing for
excellent tone. I'm not an electrical engineer but it seems to work and I'll keep doing it until the men
in black suits tell me to stop. The Planck is a
standard 25 and 1/2 inches scale length. The actual length of the
instrument is 36inches . It is made from two layers of
poplar wood. One layer being thick on the bottom
which is where the headstock is carved. The top layer is where the frets, nut,
bridge, and tailpiece are placed. The original concept
of the Planck was designed and built in June of 2002. It was 6 long. Meep! Each form has
gradually gotten smaller until its current length of half that size. email me : craigseven at yahoo dot com All pictures, sounds, and text copyright 2007
