Hardware for Neck and Head
Use the following hardware to secure the neck case to the head case.
- 2x M3 x 10mm long screw
- 2x M3 hex nuts
Bring the parts together and line up the mounting holes. Hold the parts together while inserting the M3 screw through the mounting holes. Use hex nuts to secure the parts together.
Hardware for Speaker
Use the following hardare to secure the speaker to the cover.
- 4x M3 x 10mm long screws
- 4x M3 hex nuts
Orient the speaker with the cover so the cable is in the proper location.
Secure Speaker
Place the speaker over the cover and line up the mounting holes.
Insert the M3 screws through the cover and speaker mounting holes. Use the speaker using the M3 hex nuts.
Install Speaker Cover
Orient the speaker cover with the head case so the parts match.
Firmly press the speaker cover into the head case.
Install NeoKeys to Neck
Orient the two NeoKey PCBS with the neck assembly.
Use the following hardware to secure the NeoKeys.
- 8x M2.5 x 8mm long screws
Place the speaker cable in between the built-in standoffs and exiting the end of the neck.
Secure NeoKeys
Place the two NeoKey PCBs into the built-in standoffs on the neck case.
Insert and fasten the M2.5 screws to secure the NeoKey PCBs.
Installed NeoKeys
Ensure the speaker cable and STEMMA QT cable are going through the notch on the end of the neck.
Top Body Overlays (Optional)
Attach the overlay panels to the top half of the guitar body using double-sided sticky tape or glue.
Install Neck to Body
Use the following hardware to secure the neck to the top half of the guitar body.
- 2x M3 x 10mm long screws
- 2x M3 hex nuts
Secure Neck to Body
Insert the M3 screws through the mounting tabs on the top half of the guitar body.
Use the M3 hex nuts to secure the neck to the body.
Battery Cover
Orient the 3x AA battery holder with the battery cover.
Attach the 3x AA battery holder to the battery cover using the clear adhesive squares.
Connect Speaker Wires to DPDT Switch
Solder the two wires from the speaker to the remaining terminals on the DPDT switch.
Panel Mount DPDT Switch
Fit the DPDT switch through the corresponding mounting hole in the top half of the guitar body.
Use the included hex nut and washer to secure the switch.
Connect Rotary Encoders
Orient the three rotary encoders in the correct order and connect them together using the short STEMMA QT cables.
Connect the STEMMA QT cable from the NeoKeys to the corresponding rotary encoder.
Connect the longer STEMMA QT cable to the corresponding rotary encoder.
Panel Mount Rotary Encoders
Insert the three rotary encoders to the corresponding mounting holes in the top half of the guitar body.
Use the included hex nuts to secure the rotary encoders.
Install SPST Switch
Get the SPST toggle switch ready to panel mount into the top half of the guitar body.
Secure SPST Switch
Use the included hex nut and washer to secure the SPST switch to the top half of the guitar body.
Connect SPST Switch Ground Wire
Solder the ground wire from the SPST switch to the ground pin on one of the rotary encoder PCBs.
Secure NeoPixel Stick
Place the NeoPixel stick onto the mount and line up the mounting holes.
Secure the 8x NeoPixel stick to the NeoPixel mount using two M2 x 8mm long screws.
NeoPixel Mount Hardware
Use the following hardware to secure the NeoPixel mount to the bottom half of the guitar body.
- 2x M3 x 10mm long screws
- 2x M3 hex nuts
Secure NeoPixel Mount
Fasten the two M3 screws through the corresponding mounting holes on the bottom half of the guitar body.
Orient the mounting holes on the NeoPixel mount with the M3 screws.
Secure the mount using the hex nuts.
Micro Switch Hardware
Use the following hardware to secure the micro switches to the switch mounts.
- 4x M3 x 16mm long screws
- 4x M3 hex nuts
Micro Switch Mounts
Place the micro switch onto the mount with the mounting holes lined up.
Use the hex nuts to secure the micro switch.
Repeat this process for the second micro switch.
Strum Hinge Hardware
Use the following hardware to secure the two hinges to the strum plate.
- 4x M3 x 10mm long screws
- 4x M3 hex nuts
Secure Hinges to Strum Plate
Insert an M3 screw through the countersunk standoffs and place the hinge over the screw. Use the hex nut to secure the hinge in place.
Repeat this process for the second hinge.
Install Pegs to Strum Pick
Insert a peg through the side hole on the strum pick. Use a glue adhesive to permanently bond the peg.
Repeat this process for the second peg.
Install Hardware for Strum Plate
Fasten the four M3 x 10mm through the mounting holes for the strum plate on the bottom half of the guitar body.
Installing Strum Plate
Place the strum plate assembly over the M3 screws so they are fitted through the mounting holes.
Place the two micro switch mounts over the strum plate so the M3 screws are fitted through the mounting holes.
Install Strum Pick
Slightly flex the hinges apart so that the pegs of the strum pick can be fitted into the hinges.
Secure Strum Assembly
Insert and fasten the four M3 hex nuts onto the M3 screws to secure the strum assembly to the bottom half of the guitar body.
Disable LiPo Charge on Feather
Locate the LiPo charge trace on the back of the RP2040 PropMaker Feather.
Use a hobby knife to cut the trace to disable LiPo charging.
Feather Mount Setup
Use 2x M2.5 x 6mm long screws to secure the Feather PCB to the feather mount.
Place the Feather onto the mount. Insert and fasten the screws to secure the feather.
On/Off Button Hardware
Get the on/off button, hex nut and 3D printed washer.
Fit the 3D printed washer onto the on/off button.
Secure On/Off Button
Insert the On/Off button into the corresponding mounting holes onto the top half of the guitar body.
Use the hex nut to secure the On/Off button.
Checkpoint
Take a moment to ensure the various components are tightly secured in the top half of the guitar body.
Secure Feather Mount
Use 2x M3 x 10mm long screws and hex nuts to secure the Feather mount.
Place the Feather mount onto bottom half of the guitar body with the mounting lined up.
Insert the M3 screws through the guitar body and Feather mount.
Fasten the M3 hex nuts to secure the Feather mount.
Secured Feather Mount
Check the Feather mount has been properly secured to the bottom half of the guitar body.
Secure TRRS Breakout
Place the TRRS breakout over the corresponding mounting holes on the bottom half of the guitar body.
Insert and fasten 2x M2 x 6mm long screws to secure the TRRS breakout.
Cable for Rotary Encoders
Use the 3-pin picoBlade cable and solder each wire to the interrupt pins (INT) on the three rotary encoder breakouts.
- A1 Encoder to Yellow Wire
- A0 Encoder to Black Wire
- 3rd Encoder to Red Wire
Rotary Encoder Cable for Feather
Solder the wires from the matching 3-pin picoBlade cable to the D5, D6 and D9 pins on the Feather respectively.
- Red wire to D5
- Black wire to D6
- Yellow Wire to D9
Solder SPST Switch Signal Wire to Feather
Grab the signal wire from the SPST switch and solder it to pin D12 on the Feather.
Connect STEMMA QT to Feather
Grab the long STEMMA QT cable from the rotary encoder and plug it into the STEMMA QT port on the Feather.
Solder Micro Switch Ground Wire
Grab the ground wire from the two micro switches and solder it to one of the available ground pins on the rotary encoder breakout.
Connect Strum Switches To Feather
Grab the signal wire from the micro switches and insert it into the corresponding screw block terminal on the Feather.
Use a flat head screw driver to secure the wire.
Connect NeoPixel to Feather
Grab the cable from the NeoPixel stick and insert them into the corresponding terminals on the Feather.
Use a flat head screw driver to secure the wires.
Connect TRRS to Feather
Grab the remaining wires from the TRRS breakout and insert them into the corresponding terminals on the Feather.
use a flat head screw driver to secure the wires.
Install Battery Cover
Fit the battery cover into the corresponding opening on the bottom half of the guitar with the mounting tabs lined up with the mounting holes.
Use 2x M3 x 6mm long screws to secure the battery cover to the body of the guitar.
Closing Body Halves
Carefully begin to close the two halves of the guitar.
Move and adjust the various cables so they aren't being pinched or kinked.
Ensure the wires are clear from the strum mechanism.
Test the strum pick to make sure it can be actuated.
Secure Body Halves
Use 8x M3 x 10mm long screws to secure the two halfs of the guitar together.
Insert M3 screws through the countersunk standoffs on the bottom half of the guitar.
Fasten screws until they're tight.
Install Neck Cover
Orient the neck cover with the neck case and firmly press together to snap fit them closed.
Install Key Switches
Orient key switches so pins are matching the sockets on the NeoKey PCBs.
Carefully press fit each key switch into the neck cover.
Repeat installation process for each key switch.
Final Build
Congratulations on your Synth Guitar build! Use the on/off button to it on power.
Use the strum mode toggle to switch between modes.
Use the audio mode toggle to switch between the speaker and TRRS jack.
Use the middle rotary encoder to change the rate of the LFO.
Use the 1st rotary encoder to change the octave of the notes.
Use the 3rd rotary encoder to adjust the volume.
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