Electric Kalimba
I wanted to build a Kalimba that I could play through guitar effects pedals.
I have always loved the sound of these instruments. Connecting one to different combinations of audio effects has been extremely satisfying.
The blue pedal is a simple input selector I built to switch between guitar and Kalimba without having to unplug cables.
In this video, the audio is passed through my suitcase.
Lessons Learned
Grounding for 60hz
Just like the strings of an electric guitar, the keys of this instrument create a lot of noise if left ungrounded. It was easy to wire the bridge to ground after the fact, but I will incorporate a proper grounding into future builds.
Prototypes are prototypes
This was the first version I built, and not everything fit together perfectly on the first try. Instead of fussing over the appearance of my next prototypes, I will use them to test functionality and develop processes.
Craig rules
My brother Craig kindly lent his CNC skills (and some beautiful cherry wood) to this project. I really appreciate it.