Making a Guitar Pickup Using Lasers

In this video Ogar Plinkelton details the process of designing, manufacturing, and testing a prototype Guitar Pickup that uses Lasers and a Solar Cell to transfer sound from a guitar to an amplifier.
Ogar Plinkelton, the reclusive writer, scientist/professor has started to create videos for KZbin audiences. Produced at his home, whose location is unknown, Plinkelton has transferred them to me and has asked me to post them on KZbin. The videos demonstrate many interesting and fun physics phenomena. These are the first public appearances that Plinkelton has made in over thirty years.
-BDM, Attorney At Law

[@joshuahenry7482]

A man named Ogar Plinkelton should absolutely look like this.

[@VSPhotfries]

All the gearheads who swear they can hear the sound of each individual winding in their humbucker and pray to the alter of Klon are going to have a fit.

[@karelmensik2698]

Tried with optical gates, that part that is in all printers instead of end switch. Sounded very good. Look also for Hoag K-max, that guy made a working product.

[@radiojet1429]

Very, very cool sir - thanks so much!

[@daniellambert726]

I have another idea for a guitar pickup: install a typical electromagnetic pickup of an electric guitar, but instead of using the signal at the terminals of the pickup coil, use the signal from the voltage variation at each end of the string (at the nut and the bridge). Theoretically, there is supposed to be a signal since the string is a conductor moving in a magnetic field

[@Ma_X64]

Should work. But there will be some technical troubles. 1) Strings are different so signals will be inconsistent between themselves. 2) Steel isn't a good mateial for any coil so signals will rather be weak. 3) You need a step-up transformers for each string to match the impeedance.

[@daniellambert726]

@@Ma_X64 Thanks for replying! :)

[@iblesbosuok]

You should use non-metal frets. You should anticipate humming noise. You'll need a very high gain amplifier.

[@Ma_X64]

​@@iblesbosuokyou don't need non-metal frets actually. As far as frets are perpendicular to strings, each of them is on the equipotential line so current won't go. But next notes are correct.

[@iblesbosuok]

@@Ma_X64 I also withdraw the last argument. Guitar strings generate low voltages low impedance. A transformer can convert it to a higher voltage with a higher impedance.

[@nobodynoone2500]

Neat. Thought about doing something similar with mouse sensors.

[@codelicious6590]

Awesome idea and super cool looking, unfortunately without some type of unique tone or incredible increase in functionality it is probably overly complicated and much too cumbersome a device since one can attain the same sounds with a magnet and some copper coils. I bet it looks super cool and sci-fi in the dark though!

[@Ma_X64]

Cool pickup. It requires a ton of power though. *And definitely needs some tone corrections.

[@limitlends6388]

Naturally, I’m gonna have to try this at home

[@djack285]

really neat idea. i have been looking into this type of thing. was surprised you decided to use 1 photocell instead of 6. seems to be background static though, could you cancel that somhow? thanks for video!

[@existentialphysicswithogar1180]

Glad it was helpful!

[@robinhellier7436]

Interesting project. Wouldn't it be easier (and perhaps less bulky) to use one laser split into six beams by fibre optic cables?

[@existentialphysicswithogar1180]

Hi Robin, thanks for your comment. I think there are a number of different ways to do this. Yours is a very interesting method.