String Sizzler

CURRENT:

I finally posted a song with String Sizzler played on it (along with Instant Steel Drum) Hear it here.

HISTORY:

While experimenting with different things on the strings of an electric guitar, I found a pen with a particular pattern on it which vibrated the guitar strings when stroked across them.

Through a reverb it sounded like voices. I could make the voices mournful or joyful, and change their pitch by sliding the pen along the strings. This was more than an invention. This was a new dimension of expression.

I kept losing the pen, and decided to make a spare and improve upon it. This led to the STRING SIZZLER.

IMPROVEMENTS

A finely-threaded rod would have been cheaper. But fine wire coiled tightly around a rod is the perfect surface to contact the strings.

The pattern area is longer than on the pen. The device is heavier for better sustain like a lap steel guitar 'steel.' Plastic on the ends of the bar make it firm to hold.

STRING SIZZLER DIRECTIONS:

STRING SIZZLER is a slide and a violin bow wrapped in one.

Move the STRING SIZZLER across the strings to get the voices going. Then slide up and down the strings to change the pitch. The strings slide better on the wires, and the the slide doesn't slip sideways. Feels like it's riding on rails.

You can put STRNG SIZZLER on the back of your hand with a rubber band, and pick with your fingers. You can do hammer-ons and vibratos to get a whole new sound. With the signal through any DSP or effects, you can get infinite sound possibilities. You can make STRING SIZZLER sound like a choir or a choir of screamin' banshees.

A sample of sound made with this device (played on Epiphone 6-string with reverb 49 on Alesis Midiverb II), is here.

A sample of the sound 'dry' --with no reverb or any effects on the same guitar is here.

ENDORSEMENTS

These are from from people who are starting to use STRING SIZZLER. Their identities are concealed to hide their addiction. Soon there may be a group of them making entirely new music causing a shift in world consciousness --but I digress. Here are some comments:

"Awesome item, just as described!! This is really cool!! A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+ "

"AAA+++GREAT PRODUCT VERY COOL"

"works great ,just as said if only blind joe death could've been here to have 1 "

"From US/UK to Australia! Gold medal for Communication and Delivery!! Cheers."

I include this last endorsement to show that a String Sizzler has made its way half way round the world, and will be doing its work on impressionable minds over there.