3D printers and guitars.

[ohdamnitsdevin]

I know 3D printers are nothing new at this point but, there have been so many breakthroughs with the technology as of late, its hard to see it not effecting every industry.

What are your guys' feelings on the matter? I know these guitars would obviously not be made out of traditional materials such as wood(*false) but do you think this technology will become so advanced to where people will have the option to completely build a guitar exact to their specs and then just print it out?

How do you guys feel about the future of guitars/everything else?

Heres a great TED talk on the matter:

Avi Reichental: What


*Edit: They can actually print with wood filament so printing with wood is a possibility.

source:

Would this material be resonant enough for a guitar you think? Wouldn't the tone be horrible?

*NINJA EDIT: After further researchI've come to discover that 3D printed guitars are very, very real. Although the ones I've seen look like toys I'd like to see a company take the possibilities of what that technology can bring to the table and bring some class and quality to it. Heres looking at you MM!

Imagine it. The perfect flamed top every time if you wanted or have something bizarre like: having your bands name integrated beautifully with a flame or quilt. I don't know.. The possibilities are pretty endless.

I understand there will always be the debate on human touch and the passion behind craftsmanship. I'm not saying theres no value in that, I'd personally prefer a hand made custom guitar from a luthier I got to know and trusted over one printed. I'm just saying if printing product was a viable option for companies and it actually helps cut costs that would in turn translate into savings for the consumer alongside some very interesting possibilities well... Why not?

 

[canuck6string]

I saw a video of a person playing a cement block with a guitar neck. Didn't sound bad.

Nostalgia will still drive the industry, though.

 

[Sweat]

Yawn! Next please

 

[ohdamnitsdevin]

I know there are some who are not going to be on board for a lot of these technological breakthroughs but, they're here and they're here to stay. These new methods of production bring down cost and minimize waste if not removing it all together. Big business wins and the people win, as does the earth. Granted you're going to see roughly an 80% decrease in human labor due to these technologies.

i.e: 3D printing, computer learning, self driving cars etc.

 

[canuck6string]

I rethought my previous comment.

Demand will drive the industry. Demand for different sounds, demand for what the musical heroes/influences/flavour-of-the-month has in their hands on screen or stage, demand by those who recall a simpler time.

 

[kimonostereo]

The biggest thing 3D printing has going against it is the amount of time it takes to create whatever it's supposed to be making.

IMO, EBMM is way ahead of the game already. The ability to digitally scan, to use with the CNC machine back in the early 90's was revolutionary. The real winners TODAY are the folks that know CAD and can program these machines. The same will be true for 3D printing. We have 4 3D printers where I work. 3 are brand new, "state of the art" printers, but they are slow. Without the skills, knowledge and talent to create in CAD or 3D modeling software, a 3D printer is just like any other printer. If you're just printing stuff out that other people made, that doesn't do much for your business. EBMM already do this stuff. CNC machines are way faster than any 3D printer (although speed is getting faster).

Combine CNC's with laser cutting/etching, and I'd say that EBMM is leading the way again. To me, it's not about the tools you use to make stuff, it's about the talent behind the tools and the creativity they use to bring new ideas to life. When 3D printing catches up in speed and price (which it will) I can see some uses for it to manufacture guitars/parts. Until that time comes, I think it will be cost effective to stay with existing technology and train/hire talent to learn 3D modeling.

 

[dibart77]

To me, it's not about the tools you use to make stuff, it's about the talent behind the tools and the creativity they use to bring new ideas to life.

RIGHT ON. This. ^^^^

It's all about Dudley, and Sterling, and Tomas, and Drew, and the rest of the folks who make these things happen.

​

 

[atoff]

I actually have a 3D printer. I don't want a 3D printed guitar. Woodfill filament isn't real wood, it's plastic with wood fibers, and it's not great. With current technology you might be able to eek out a plastic guitar body, but neck, fretboard, etc? Forget it, it won't be playable. I appreciate the craftsmanship put into my guitars. I love the flame, quilt, etc tops. I like the natural woods, and the contrast of the different woods. Kind of why I find those acrylic guitars tacky.

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

Boooooo! Hand made craftsmanship, not some star trek machine that churns out a piece of bunk.

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

We already have cnc doing most of the work, and the parts that arent are needed to be done by skilled people who know their trade, although its a novel idea Devin, i see where your goin but to me i like it just how it is.

 

[ohdamnitsdevin]

We already have cnc doing most of the work, and the parts that arent are needed to be done by skilled people who know their trade, although its a novel idea Devin, i see where your goin but to me i like it just how it is.

It's not really where I'm going, It's just how things are changing with time. 3D printing definitely will revolutionize every industry or at least heavily influence it.

Like I said, I'd prefer a hand made guitar over one thats 3D printed, for numerous reasons but, the possibilities of being able to be the designer of my own guitar and print one out is still a cool idea for me. Granted, I know there are companies out there who offer complete custom shop guitars, I still feel that making a 3D printed one would be a much more intimate experience in comparison to placing an order online somewhere for it to be built to my exact specs. (hand crafted or not)

If I'm being honest with myself, I know I would never try and take on the task of ACTUALLY building a guitar by hand. I don't think I have it in me to do something like that. Using a computer to design one however, is a very, very enticing thought because I already own a pretty powerful computer and if you think about it, the number of younger creators who are more comfortable in a wood shop, factory or warehouse is diminishing drastically! (Most public school system lack funding in those electives.) You'll find most behind a computer somewhere in an office. Although I would love to acquire the skill set(s)it takes to handcraft an instrument, I just don't see how I could responsibly choose that route as it would entail a great number of things (primarily having to pay to attend a brick and mortar trade school) where its just much easier for me to learn a program on the internet completely free on my own time at my own pace.

I really feel that a lot of my peers are migrating toward this approach in not only learning but, use of resources and just overall design in systems/functions of all kinds.

 

[ohdamnitsdevin]

When 3D printing catches up in speed and price (which it will) I can see some uses for it to manufacture guitars/parts. Until that time comes, I think it will be cost effective to stay with existing technology and train/hire talent to learn 3D modeling.

It will be here before you know it. If you're familiar with computer learning you'll know that with this recent breakthrough with A.I. pretty much everything will be experiencing exponential growth unlike the world has ever seen. Even the industrial revolution will have nothing on this.

If you don't know anything about computer learning I highly recommend you watch this:

Jeremy Howard: The wonderful and terrifying implications of computers that can learn | Talk Video | TED.com

 

[Razzle]

I think it's inevitable. I'm not saying composite materials will ever resonate like wood, but they may one day. And I'm not saying EBMM would be a candidate any time soon to add something in their product line, or that something like a 3D printed body is comparable to the EBMM craftsmanship. But just think of the possibilities in design. The guitar is a product that is HIGHLY subject to aesthetics and design considerations. I do think you will see these guitars in the marketplace in years to come.

 

[PaoloGilberto]

there is a new and successful company in Europe making guitars with only the fretboard being wood
the rest is "Arium" Arium | Aristides
As far as I know they are not using 3D printers but I think we are about to see soon enough 3D home printed guitars ...so wood is not the problem for sure

 

[Jamie M]

I think the old ways are still the best, compared to years ago master craftsmen, engineers and specialist skills are pretty rare now.

All the younger generation just want to sit behind a laptop and become rich. I suppose its the way of the world, times change and all that. For me though I am not into all the technology that the world has to offer.

 

[JayDawg]

If I remember correctly, wasn't the Bongo bass originally going to be the first bass not made from wood? Obviously it didn't work out but it may have been the first step in the process along with the eventual technology of 3-D printers making guitars in the future. I just started working for a guitar company that builds everything by hand. If production to get big enough we will go to CNC machines but seeing everything hand crafted is really amazing to see the talent that goes in to making a guitar and also see how few of people truly know how to do it right. It is almost becoming a lost art. I just hope with the advancement of all of these machines, it doesn't go away completely.

 

[jazzyitalian]

In Pro Baseball, they stick with wooden bats. I'm like the old school guys. It's wood for me. But, they can 3D a plastic Gnome for my front yard anytime.