Gadget Freak Case #191: The FaceMelter3000

Joe Groele wanted to create some unique electric guitar sounds. His inspiration was William Duddell’s “singing arc” from the early 1900s. Duddell created sound by varying air pressure through an electric arc. Unlike the plasma loudspeakers that evolved from Duddell’s design -- known for their clarity and purity of tone -- Joe wanted a sound with extreme distortion.