The quick glance: This book is chock-full of new and exciting instrument plans. The homemade microphone (plastic cup + piezo disk + Slinky toy) blew my mind. Buy this for a teenager instead of a video game. Cigar box guitar builders will love this.
The full review:
David Erik Nelson is back with his latest geeky projects book…and this one’s a winner. Junkyard Jam Band features sixteen different musical instrument projects and each one is thoughtfully presented in a very easy-to-follow writing style. Here’s the official trailer for the book:
Let me first say that I own a LOT of how-to books for musical instruments. I devour them and love to get inspired. Nelson’s book is different than most, though because he’s making the ‘geeky’ type of instruments… circuit bent toys, ‘glitch’ instruments and even a “Scratchbox’ that’s made from old tape decks. It’s wonderfully bizarre stuff.
My biggest thrill about this book is how Nelson makes electronics so understandable to luddites like myself. He wants everyone to be able to wield a soldering iron like a pro and he’s gonna take the necessary steps to show us how. This book inspired me to go out and purchase a nicer Radio Shack soldering iron and really get into making my own circuits. I never thought I’d be doing this…but here I am.
Oh…before I forget: this is an awesome book to buy for a teenager. Nelson is a former teacher who knows how to explain the physics behind each project without boring us.
Highly recommended. 4 stars.
Junkyard Jam Band by David Erik Nelson (2015 No Starch Press) $24.99