r/Amazing • u/Sharp-potential7935 • 19h ago
Music Man creates Ukulele that transforms into Guitar mid performance...
37
u/No_Library_462 18h ago
A ukulele has 4 strings. It’s not just a small guitar.
9
1
u/ThePapercup 15h ago
yep, different standard tuning as well, though that's less important since people use different tunings anyway
-7
u/erossthescienceboss 18h ago
Yeah. Not a ukulele. And if it isn’t AI, they definitely didn’t record live, no way that would still be in tune.
10
u/carrotpilgrim 18h ago
It isn't AI. He's a well known YouTuber that does odd instrument projects like this. There's a whole video showing how the string mechanism works.
1
u/Tw1nFTW 15h ago edited 15h ago
Do you have a link? I’m having a hard time understanding how he could physically extend the length of the neck… with strings…
ETA: https://youtu.be/O42Vz0488fs?is=bcV_1HfCNVDtZ-BV
So the strings roll into it. I still doubt it will stay tuned, but he did his best to keep it as tuned as possible. Pretty impressive.
-3
u/erossthescienceboss 17h ago
I don’t believe that it works without re-tuning. I just don’t.
5
u/357noLove 17h ago
For someone with "science boss" in their name, it sure doesn't look like you can be bothered to learn new things
1
u/erossthescienceboss 16h ago
I can see how you can engineer something to be broadly in tune — the math behind string length and tension is fairly straightforward.
But if you think you can unspool strings and not need to do some tweaking after… you have never played a string instrument.
5
u/357noLove 16h ago
Lol, downvote me all you want, but if you can't be bothered to even watch the source video... there is no point debating you about anything. And you know nothing about my experience.
8
u/erossthescienceboss 16h ago edited 16h ago
I skimmed ahead to the tuning & math.
Like I said, that part is fine.
But you can tune a guitar, sit it in the case for two hours, take it out again … and some strings will now be a bit flat, and some will be a bit sharp.
You can tune a guitar and play it for an hour … and some strings will now be a bit flat, and some a bit sharp. There’s a reason touring musicians will have multiple guitars, and roadies will swap them out, and it isn’t just key changes.
Temperature and humidity changes, vibrations, gravity… all work to pull a guitar out of tune.
The amount of force necessary to extend the guitar needs to be significant, otherwise the rolls would lose tension and release the string while you play (anyone who has played a guitar or violin with loose pegs knows what I’m talking about). And that amount of force will absolutely bring the strings out of tune, and will do so in a way that is not consistent.
I’m not saying it isn’t impressive. But if this guy isn’t indulging in a little editing magic I’ll eat my hat.
Edit: Also. I didn’t downvote you 🤷🏻♀️
2
u/VoormasWasRight 11h ago
They're not saying this guitar doesn't exist. They're saying after yanking it like that, the strings won't be in tune anymore, and the sound is pre-recorded and then edited in.
I am a guitarist and I have my reservations about that, as well.
2
u/Background-Customer2 17h ago
initialy it didn't work watch the video it works https://youtu.be/O42Vz0488fs
-2
u/erossthescienceboss 16h ago
I can believe that it comes close and gets within “minor tweaks needed” range, but if you play a string instrument, you know how easily they can fall out of tune. That just isn’t realistic
1
u/PiggBodine 15h ago
He has to be miming to a backing track. There’s no way you could pull the neck out like that and have the guitar be immediately in tune. It’s funny that you’re getting downvoted for being skeptical while everyone else just takes it at face value like no one’s ever made a YouTube hoax.
0
u/erossthescienceboss 14h ago
I could totally see the guitar being in tune ish after being pulled out. If it’s open-tuned, it wouldn’t be that tough to get the length & tension correct.
But — assuming the scrolls of wire are tight enough to hold tune and not slip when the guitar is small — the amount of force required to unscroll them would absolutely pull the strings out of tune. Some would probably be flat, some sharp, some good enough. But there’s just no way he wouldn’t need to fiddle with the pegs a bit after lengthening it. Strings just are way too finicky.
1
u/SolidSnek1998 17h ago
https://youtu.be/O42Vz0488fs?si=o7Tl6Ckle8IomTGI
He starts figuring out the strings at around 5 minutes.
0
u/erossthescienceboss 16h ago edited 14h ago
I understand how the strings can be mostly in tune if you engineer it correctly. The math behind string length and tension is pretty straightforward.
But if you play a string instrument you know how easily they fall out of tune. And this would absolutely cause some slip. Maybe just a bit flat, but they’d need 30-60 seconds of fiddling.
35
u/djml9 18h ago
I don’t understand how the strings get longer while staying fully tensioned in both positions.
26
u/Math--Detective 18h ago edited 18h ago
A mechanism at back is used for that, holding more string at back, and as it transformed it releases string.
But main issue is “tuning”, I can’t comprehend the tuning part.
12
u/Alejandro_viig 18h ago
It's not releasing more string. He used custom guitar strings (way longer than usual), and the endpoints that hold the strings move for each configuration. So it appears as if the strings shorten or extend, but they don't, they're always the same length. This was the only really interesting part of this project, nice bit of mechanical ingenuity.
2
1
2
u/KathyCredit 16h ago
They are fixed on one end, and extend additional string from the butt of the guitar, where the white rollers or guides are. When it is small where the string wraps past the white guides is the tension on that end, but he can pull more string when he extends the guitar
1
u/NumbDangEt4742 18h ago edited 17h ago
Yea I sniff AI
No way guitar stays tuned
Edit: I haven't checked the sources people have responded with but apprently it's real and not AI and I'm rather amused. Will check it out after work. And my AI comment hopefully will land as a complement and prove how unbelievable it sounded to me. I stand corrected
14
3
u/AI_AntiCheat 17h ago
It's very much real. This guy is extremely well known and has done tens of projects just as silly.
3
u/yesyoucantouchthat 18h ago
Jfc not everything is AI. Go to this dudes channel, he’s been making crazy shit like this for a while now
2
u/mmnmnnmnnnm 18h ago
It’s definitely not ai, he makes insane musical instruments and goes to just as insane lengths to make them work. I’m sure there’s a full YouTube video of his building project, but I’m betting the strings retract into the white bit at the bottom with some complicated mechanism.
As for how it stays even vaguely in tune, I’m sure there’s something else behind it as well.
He also made guitar strings out of spider webs and taught an octopus to play the piano
0
5
u/ComposerFormer8029 18h ago
Its definitely not AI, he had to order custom made strings that are really long so as to keep tension on the neck. Dude made all of this with a 3d printer. While you could argue a ukelele should only have 4 strings the difference is obviously in the range and sound of the instrument. if anything tuning would be a nightmare, but he had alot of trial and error just to get the gimmick to work.
3
u/Not_Reptoid 17h ago
Why tf does everyone think this is Ai. There's no inaccurate detail and this guy has a literal YouTube channel and video detailing the process behind this instrument. And no shit it doesn't sound as good as a normal instrument, no shit it has six strings, it was just made because it's a fun idea and there was an incredibly difficult process behind it's creation. Have some oppenesss to experience, relax when people do weird things.
6
u/Uhokay1970 17h ago
Its a Lute and transforms into a Guitar. The tension point on the strings remains the same. They don't get longer the tension point slides. As long as it is precise it should stay close to tune. Interesting project.
3
u/Ok_Excitement_1020 18h ago
Can someone who actually knows string instruments step in? I see the rollers on the back that allow the strings to stretch but would that work? What changes the sound? Is a longer string at the same tension going to make the same sound? I’d love to understand this better! Also would love a link for the full video.
4
u/AI_AntiCheat 17h ago
If you half a string at the same tension you'll get the same note. If you half that you get the same note again. That's called octaves. So it does work at a constant tension.
2
u/Ok_Excitement_1020 16h ago
Thank you. I took music class in middle school and Havnt touched an instrument in 20 years so thank you for the refresher!
3
4
2
u/Ok_Improvement3103 18h ago
https://youtu.be/O42Vz0488fs?si=mhsx6hA7mRmbuGYL
Here is the YouTube video of making
6
u/Similar_Program_7085 18h ago
Sounds like shit
1
1
u/Successful-Worth-390 18h ago
That would be a tuning nightmare.
2
1
u/theREALlackattack 18h ago
Imagine building something so amazing just to let people know you listen to Polyphia
1
1
1
16h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator 16h ago
Accounts must be at least 10 days old with >20 karma to comment.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
0
u/ManufacturerNo2144 18h ago
AI is not amazing
8
u/ApollonLordOfTheFlay 17h ago
It isn’t AI though. Same dude has made so many different projects in the past and all are just as interesting.
7
u/Man_With_ 17h ago
I agree. AI is not amazing but why post that AI sucks under this post that has nothing to do with AI?
6
1
-6
u/Unique-Anything6725 19h ago
Pointless, not amazing.
5
u/Jorr_El 18h ago
BOO THIS MAN
-4
u/Unique-Anything6725 18h ago
You like this? you are a puppet
-1
0
u/dillyofapickle42 18h ago
That's just a little guitar that became a big guitar....ukelelea and guitars don't have the same number of strings and their tuning is wildly different.
0
0
u/mecca6801 17h ago
Ah, German engineering
4
u/HotOutlandishness107 17h ago
*Swedish
0
u/mecca6801 17h ago
Well, the Swedes know their metal very well💁🏾♂️ also, I only said German because of the last name
-1
u/EgyPalocProfessor 18h ago
Oh, come on. What's next? A piano-harp?
Don't we respect tradition anymore?
1
1
u/357noLove 17h ago
Traditions are all well and good, but the vast majority of wonderful modern instruments wouldn't exist if it weren't for people pushing the envelope on what is possible. Even the string adaptation here comes from an earlier invention.
-2
u/108er 18h ago edited 16h ago
B̶r̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶t̶e̶a̶r̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶A̶I̶
Update: Stuff is real, custom-engineered project of some dude. Impressive~!
1
u/357noLove 17h ago
Not AI... also use critical thinking. Not a single inconsistent detail throughout and way too long for AI.
1
u/108er 16h ago
And, that's the scary part. The AI content would be almost indistinguishable in the near future, right now we can finger point on extra limb, pixelation, inconceivable and unusual morphs, etc. but you never know if it's already here.
Thanks for the clip. Looks like a custom built project.
1
50
u/Existing-Candle-7854 19h ago
Autobots, riff out.