This project started because I wanted to make guitar effects more accessible to players. With pedalboards, adjusting effects requires reaching down to turn a knob, playing to hear the difference, and repeating the process until you find the sound you're looking for. I wanted to circumvent that process by building the effects interface into the guitar instead.

Instead of treating the instrument and the pedal as separate pieces of equipment, I wanted them to function as one. My goal was to make adjusting effects feel like a natural part of playing, keeping the controls within reach so players could focus on the music rather than the equipment.

The biggest challenge was redesigning how the effects system is laid out. Unlike a regular pedal, this onboard system has to fit inside a guitar alongside the instrument's existing electronics, controls, and wiring. In order for the system to work, I had to consider how the circuit would interact with the guitar's signal path, and how guitarists could actually use it while playing.

Another important consideration was retaining the flexibility that makes pedalboards so great. I didn't want integrating effects into the guitar to limit the ability to adjust settings and experiment with different sounds.

In addition, I explored how to make the system adaptable. This concept and design for modular onboard effects would work for any type of pedal, and with enough designing you could put a whole pedalboard in your guitar.

The Concept

The Design

Future Ideas

This project allowed me to discover a new approach to instrument design: effects don't have to be separate pieces of equipment. They can become part of the instrument itself, allowing musicians to have more collaborative musical interfaces.

The concept of integrating effects could extend well beyond this particular project. I want to explore different effects, control layouts, and circuit designs adapted to different instruments and playing styles.

What interests me most in this project is the opportunity to rethink and redesign traditional instruments. Rather than accepting the boundaries instruments inherently have, I want to explore how they can be pushed further to make the musical experience more inspiring for performers.

What I Learned