Rock band
The Klaxons will use 3D printed guitars for an international tour, which began
earlier this month.
The band announced in June that they would set off on the “world’s first ever 3D printed
tour”.
Though the comments were then treated as tongue in cheek (and a jab at the media hype around the technology) and their tour will not exclusively
use musical instruments created by additive manufacturing, the band are playing 3D bass and electric guitars additively manufactured by Customuse.
“3D printed [guitars] are about as magical as it gets” said the band’s guitarist,
Simon Taylor-Davies.
The start-up company Customuse was founded by three University of
Sheffield graduates.
Phys Org reports that the University’s 3D printers were
used to pitch guitars to potential investors.
“When the Klaxons announced their tour
would be 3D printed, they didn’t seem to really believe it could happen, but
for guitars at least it’s a very achievable goal,” said the University’s
Professor Neil Hopkinson.
“3D printing is the ideal technology to
create personalised instruments of this kind, as it allows you to have an
intricate design with a lightweight body while retaining the necessary strength
to ensure the guitar will work well.”
The company is set to launch a crowdfunding
campaign in December, and the Klaxons will be on what they are calling their “last
headline tour” until January 31.
Customuse’s instruments are not the first
3D printed guitars ever created. Mechatronics Professor Olaf Diegel from Auckland’s
Massey University has been selling custom 3D printed guitars since June 2012 through ODD Guitars, Fairfax and others reported that year.
Image: https://www.facebook.com/Customuse