Experimental luthiers are luthiers who take part in alternate stringed instrument manufacturing (such as the guitar, violin) or create original string-instruments altogether. Notable experimental luthiers include Yuri Landman, Bradford Reed, and Hans Reichel.
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Most known example is probably the Chapman Stick which was developed in the early '70s by Emmett Chapman. The Warr Guitar and the Kelstone (from Belgium) are alternate instruments which function on the same playing technique. The Gittler guitar is an experimental designed guitar created by Allan Gittler (1928–2003). Gittler realized that sentimental design references to acoustic guitars are unnecessary in an electronically amplified guitar, and designed his instrument with the objective of reducing the electric guitar to the most minimal functional form possible. He made 60 guitars in New York in the mid 1970s to early 1980s.
In the experimental rock and free jazz scenes many guitar players began modifying their guitars in the tradition of John Cage's prepared piano. Keith Rowe and Fred Frith became most well-known for playing these prepared guitars. The latter also crafted experimental table string instruments. In the early 80s Glenn Branca started building his own electric string instruments, called 'mallet guitars', based on the harmonic canons of Harry Partch. Around the same time Hans Reichel built several 3rd bridge guitars before he invented his daxophone, which is what he's mostly known for. Bradford Reed developed his Pencilina in the mid 80s. The Whamola, based on the Washtub bass was developed in the nineties and became mostly famous because Les Claypool plays on it.
In the 2000s, Canadian luthier Linda Manzer created the Pikasso guitar, a 42-string guitar with three necks. It was popularized by jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, who used it on the song "Into the Dream" and on several albums. Its name is ostensibly derived from its likeness in appearance to the cubist works of Pablo Picasso. In 2003 the Tritare was created by Samuel Gaudet and Claude Gauthier in Canada. In 2006 Yuri Landman built his Moodswinger for the band Liars and afterwards made a large serie of alternate string instruments like the Moonlander for Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo, the Springtime for Blood Red Shoes and the Tafelberg drum guitar for The Dodos and others. Micachu made a few string instruments of which one is called the 'Chu'. One of the strings of the Chu carries a large series of small rings and sounds like a snare drum when it is being plucked.
The bazantar is a five-string double bass with 29 sympathetic and 4 drone strings and has a melodic range of five octaves invented by musician Mark Deutsch, who worked on the design between 1993 and 1997 (US 5883318 issued March 16, 1999). It is designed as a separate housing for sympathetic strings (to deal with the increased string tension) mountable on a double bass or cello, modified to hold drone strings. The Japanese multi-instrumentalist and experimental musical instrument builder Yuichi Onoue developed a two string hurdy gurdy like fretless violin, called the kaisatsuko as well as a deeply scalloped electric guitar for microtonal playing techniques[1].
An example of an original stringed instrument is the creation of composer Ellen Fullman: the long string instrument. The long string instrument is a series of strands stretched over 90 feet that are played by being rubbed with rosin covered hands while the player walks the length of the instrument[2]. Fullman began development of the instrument in 1981[3]. Fullman is not the only person who has built long string instruments. Since 1983, in addition to his work on and about the violin, Jon Rose has been bowing and recording the music of fences worldwide[4]. Paul Panhuysen made large sound installations with groups of long strings[5]. Also Yuri Landman built a portable 25 meter long string instrument called the Landmine[6].
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