Silver Musical Instruments Design · 2019
Black Hole Multifunctional Guitar
by Shaheen Pouladvar and Shahram Pouladvar
- A' Design Award 2019 Silver Winner in Musical Instruments Design
- Awarded April 15, 2019
- CLIENT: Pouladvar Design Group
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 58,860
- Verification code D7B8D5EBA2 · Verify this award
About Black Hole Multifunctional Guitar
The black hole is a multi functional guitar based on hard rock and metal music styles. The body shape gives the guitar players feeling of comfort. It's equipped with a liquid crystal display on the fretboard to generate visual effects and learning programs. Braille signs behind the guitar's neck, can help people who are blind or have low vision to play guitar.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Design of the body is based on the hard rock and metal music, which is also include science of ergonomics. The presence of a liquid crystal display on the fretboard, which adds to Black hole's functionality. Fret markers behind the guitar neck with braille signs, can help people who are blind or have low vision, to find frets. This function even makes professionals to play guitar easier. Existence of a controller on guitar’s body, allows the player to instantly change the monitor's images.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 1118mm height x 423mm width x 93mm depth
- Tags
- Guitar, Electric Guitar, LCD Fretboard, Black hole, Guitars, Visualization Riffs Solos
- Production Technology
- We started with sketching on paper and implementation thoughts with digital sketching and got a basic look. By doing several reforms and trying to optimize the final design, we use catia software to make sure Black hole was producible. After rendering with keyshot software, we got to the final look. We created the video with final cut pro software and compose a song especially for this project.
- Design Challenge
- Broader research to optimize early ideas is always a hard way. Of course, it is acceptable that there is always need greater hardness and effort to be optimized and matured.
- Project Duration
- This project started in November 2018 until March 2019, in Tehran Iran
- Operation Flow
- The idea of the display on the fretboard has several modes:
Learning, Practicing, Performing,
In learning mode, musician can learn guitar lessons that especially designed for the Black hole. They can save data in guitar's memory and learn it from the display. In practice mode, musician can practice guitar patterns. In performing mode, Imagine when the music riffs & solos playing on stage, the guitar displays images, associated with music sensation and shows the excitement inside it on display. - Research
- The design of the guitar has hitherto been more limited to simple geometric volumes and fixed graphics on its body. While we thought that the appearance of the guitar would not be limited to the silent face no more. Considering the technology of the day, the smaller and lighter electrical parts that use in mobile phones as you see. We decided to integrate the technology of the day with a unique design of 80s music styles based on our experiences.
- Inspiration
- Our two-person design team, which has 10 years of product design experience and 19 years of electric guitar playing, composed and performed in rock and metal styles, has gained experience in finding the appropriate reasons for combining these experiences. In Black hole, we have inspired hard rock and heavy metal & thrash metal styles, especially those like motorhead, metallica and slayer, and guitars such as jackson kelly jackson randy rhodes and gibson explorer and james hetfield’s guitar signatures.
- Image Credits
- image#1 : Creator shaheen pouladvar, shahram pouladvar, Black hole, 2019
image#2 : Creator shaheen pouladvar, shahram pouladvar, Black hole, 2019
image#3 : Creator shaheen pouladvar, Black hole sketches, 2019
image#4 : Creator shaheen pouladvar, shahram pouladvar, Black hole, 2019
image#5 : Creator shaheen pouladvar, shahram pouladvar, Black hole , 2019
Video Credits : shahram pouladvar, music by shahram pouladvar (song name : time), 2019
Music Performer : shahram pouladvar
Colors of Black Hole Multifunctional Guitar
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G0E3 ShopDesign Interview about Black Hole Multifunctional Guitar
The unique design of the body is based on the hard rock and metal music, which is also include very smart science of ergonomics.The presence of an LCD on the fretboard, which adds to BlackHole's particular functionality.Fret markers behind the guitar neck with braille signs, can help people who are blind or have low vision, to find frets. This function even makes professionals to play guitar easier. Existence of a controller on guitar’s body, allows the player to instantly change the monitor's images.In Black Hole, we have inspired especially those like motorhead, metallica and slayer, and guitars such as jackson kelly jackson randy rhodes and gibson explorer and james hetfield’s signatures.
Integration of design based on rock and metal music of the 80's and 90's with technology of the day.
To finalize this project.
Due to experiences in composing music and playing music instrumentals, as well as the many years of product design, we have been able to following our inspiration.
Our preference is to sell or lease the production rights.
Experiences in composing music and playing music instrumentals, as well as the many years of product design experiences.
Guitar designs such as jackson kelly, jackson randy rhodes and gibson explorer and james hetfield’s signatures.
Guitar manufacturers or Use as a guitar signature for an specific guitarist.
The unique design which is also include smart science of ergonomics. LCD on the fretboard, which adds to BlackHole's particular functionality. Fret markers behind the guitar neck with braille signs, can help people who are blind or have low vision, to find frets.
The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass can deform spacetime to form a black hole. In our view, a black hole can represent a philosophy for evolution in order to pass the time and space limitations. This multifunctional guitar can explain the philosophy of music in a new way. A connection between today's facilities and the music history, can be a movement towards the development of this music instrument.
Softwares : sketchbook pro, adobe photoshop, rhinoceros, dassault system catia, final cat pro x, cubase Elements
Hardwares : imac pro, i7 computers, wacom cintiq, music instruments
Hardwares : imac pro, i7 computers, wacom cintiq, music instruments
Unique design and performance.
Mostly electrical engineering and computer science, have important rule in this project.
Musical research has been based on the musical experience of the group.
Our main challenge is the time.
Our team is always try to explore new ideas in various fields. For this particular design, we decide to integrate product design and music experiences, together.
Grand Interview about Black Hole Multifunctional Guitar
Learning: One of the challenges in the learning phase is reading notes and guitar tabs from a computer or a piece of paper while also finding the correct position of each note on the guitar's fretboard. To address this, an LCD screen integrated into the fretboard can help learners locate the notes as fast as possible.Additionally, learners can become familiar with various rhythms during their practice through visual effects that highlight kick downbeats or hi-hat backbeats, thus aiding them in maintaining correct timing, just like a metronome does.Practicing: One of the outstanding features of this guitar is that it allows musicians to save time spent on practice. They can arrange their practice sessions in any order they prefer.Guitarists can not only save and reorganize their sessions, but they can also store rhythms, cues, and pieces of music. This includes different visual effects tailored to their needs and enhancing their coordination during rehearsals.Performing: In performing mode, the LCD on the fretboard displays visual effects based on the emotion conveyed by music notes. We illustrated this in our video. [Video link: https://youtube.com/shorts/gldticrLzDs?si=u_LJJqU7xhVtRcUU]Imagine a lively performance with music riffs and solos being played on stage, simultaneously, the display on the guitar's fretboard shows images and videos that reflect the sensations and emotions of each performer through these visual effects.Syncing different instruments during a performance allows musicians to exchange cues seamlessly. For instance, if a drummer wants to signal the band to start playing a practiced piece or to switch to improvisation, the LCD changes color or lights up with a specific effect, providing a clue that a change is about to occur. This feature promotes coordination among band members, enhancing the overall performance.
With over 20 years of experience and extensive research in the design industry, especially in the automotive category, our team has developed innovative designs. We have successfully used our experience to create a modern guitar design, drawing on our collective expertise.Traditionally, guitar designs have been limited to simple geometric shapes and graphics on their bodies. However, we believe that the appearance of a guitar can transcend vintage surfaces. We recognized a gap between traditional guitar designs in the hard rock and metal genres and modern industrial designs.As a team, we have owned and analyzed many original guitar designs. Our experience includes over 100 performances on various stages, including the 1st Persian metal festival, as well as theatrical compositions in different plays and art projects. Our passion for technology and ongoing developments in this field have significantly influenced our industrial design approach, which has inspired the concept of this guitar.
Based on our research, we believe those who are visually impaired or have no vision can significantly enhance their other senses, particularly their hearing.One of the biggest challenges for guitar players is locating the fret numbers on the fretboard. This challenge is solved for sighted people with graphic signs on the guitar neck, but there is no solution for blind people.To address this issue, we proposed adding braille marks on the back of the guitar neck.This addition would help blind players overcome their difficulties in identifying fret positions. Additionally, sighted individuals would also benefit from the tactile nature of these markings, allowing them to find the correct finger positions more quickly.
Encompassing the modes of learning, practicing, and performing is one of the most prominent aspects of our guitar design, which suits beginner to professional guitar players. It serves the needs of beginners learning to play the guitar and familiarizing themselves with notes and rhythms, as well as professional guitarists who perform on stage and seek to convey their emotions, whether they are following a strict arrangement or improvising.We envision this instrument being able to connect to a computer via Wi-Fi, enabling users to control their guitar with specially designed software. This software allows users to select and customize all modes to suit their preferences. In addition to the fretboard's LCD control via the controller, users can also transfer data to a footswitch.This feature would allow musicians to apply changes using their feet, enhancing their performance flexibility.
In light of our team’s research and development efforts in design, engineering, production, and technology, we have decided to use modern and complex designs in Catia software to achieve our goals and bring our desired sketches to life.In the production aspect, we are considering utilizing wood and CNC technology to enhance the build quality. We are focusing on slim LCDs to ensure that sound quality is not compromised.Additionally, we are exploring the idea of creating a standalone box filled with pickups, specifically designed for different musical genres and unique sounds. From a marketing perspective, we could customize these boxes in collaboration with well-known musicians and sell them in the market.
Design Challenges: The electric guitar's classic designs have not been optimally improved despite advancements in technology and design. This presents significant challenges for our team to implement effective changes to the instrument design, which has a strong history in the musicians' community.As a modern instrument, the electric guitar requires an enhanced design that aligns with current technological trends while still retaining the classical essence of the instrument. The electric guitar has profoundly influenced modern music and continues to shape the music we enjoy today. This unique instrument holds a crucial role in the future of music. To maintain its relevance in a "hi-tech" world, the electric guitar must evolve through innovative improvements and successfully penetrate a broader market.Technical Challenges: Making structural changes in the guitar's fretboard can diminish the sustain of the notes. This presents a significant technical challenge. However, by using advanced LCD technology while preserving the original fretboard design, we successfully overcame this issue.Modifying the electric guitar’s pickups can also be complicated. Our team developed a solution that involves a pickup box to connect through a port. This innovation allows musicians to alter their instrument's sound more easily than before.Even amateur guitarists can change their electric guitar's tone by swapping out the pickup box, when changing strings, or by loosening the strings.
Electric guitar players gain the ability to change the knobs on their guitars, foot switches, and effect pedals while performing. To enhance their performance, we can add a controller, such as a button or a touch LCD, to the body of the guitar.Personalizing these design features can create a unique experience for musicians and also make it more exciting for the audience.Through our research on musicians' backgrounds, we have discovered that the design and graphics of their guitars held significant importance for their style and fashion.
Winning an award from A'Design for our idea and design is a seal of approval that shows the impactful nature of our design concept in shaping and enhancing the future of electric guitar design and production.It also contributes to learning this instrument more effectively and motivates those with visual impairment or no vision to learn guitar easily.With the presence of an LCD on the fretboard, the player and the audience can experience more excitement compared to the traditional designs.Thanks to the ergonomic design of our guitar body, it doesn't matter if the musician sits, stands, or uses a special playing position for rhythm or solo performances; it works effectively.The Pickup box also gives musicians the ability to change their guitar pickups more easily than before, to achieve their desired tones. At this, this task is currently a major challenge for guitarists.And finally, we have improved the form of the instrument by using calculated 3D surfaces.
The visual effects on the guitar's fretboard consist of the lights and illustrations. Thus, it can effectively show the feelings and emotions of the music to its audience at the same time.By controlling these visuals, the guitar players can express their feelings alongside the notes they are playing.Furthermore, we can say that the performer can be a director of both the visuals and the notes of their music, to connect with the audience's emotions more deeply than before.In the submitted video, we tried to demonstrate how a performer during a solo performance can sync the LCD screen on the fretboard with the beats and notes they are playing.
By not overdoing it in any direction. We believe that the design of musical instruments is sensitive, so we tried to adhere to this sensitivity.