Gadget Freak Case #191: The FaceMelter3000 30262

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.

First, he built a prototype circuit using a 555-timer chip to test a driver circuit to create an arc -- using an automotive ignition coil. Next, he added an audio amplifier using a LM386 chip, which amplifies the signal from a guitar into a square wave. The sound frequency generated by the electric arc corresponds to the note being played on the guitar. Joe named his amplifier the FaceMelter3000.

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