Googly Sound (Looking back!)

I saw these beautiful horns (Indian taxi horns, minus rubber bulb) at the market going for $20, I saw the chance for a new kind of sound from my iPhone!  The horns on this device look a bit like snails eyes on stalks!  If you like this I have created other artefacts which I don't have instructables for but they might give you more ideas.  Click here.

Step 1: The box!

First find yourself a nice box you want to put the electronics in, the box I chose is quite small as you can tell by the phone on it.  Of course there will be plenty of sanding involved and lots of varnishing - I love to use Danish Oil, it takes many more coats to give it a great finish, but it's worth it!  This box soaked up the varnish like a sponge, I ended up using 11 coats!

The covering inside used up most of the space inside so I removed this and will keep for a later project!

Comments

[conmac863]

Very cool. I have about half of one like this completed and then started another 3 project. Thank you for reminding me to go back to it.

One suggestion if I may. They have charging cradles that have a line out so you would not have your cable hanging out the top. You can see the line out port on the picture somewhat. Something like this:

[bricabracwizard]

I bought one online, it only cost AUD $4.00! Thanks again, I may use this in Googly Sound if it's easy enough to swap over.

[faralley]

Hi, first of all, it looks very nice! Great job!

Second, please follow conmac63's advice and swap the cradle.
It will sound way better when you'll use the line out instead of the headphone out.
Because you'll bypass the headphone preamp (which works great when headphones are used, but are not that ripping going to a hifi device)
Compare the two options (headphone out vs connector-line out) and be amazed!
(check out this article: http://beavishifi.com/articles/headphonejack)
Maybe a "LOD" cable can be fitted in the existing cadle so there's little work to be done.
Good luck
cheers !

[bricabracwizard]

Thanks faralley. That was a good link and now I have work to do! Your fault of course! :) ...and thanks for the compliments.

[bricabracwizard]

Thanks I've been wanting to use something like that I'll look into it. Another part of me wants a funky cable sticking out of the top, I'm on the lookout for a brass braid like what is used for desoldering to 'dress up' the cable.

[conmac863]

The braided cable would look really cool. Great idea.
Something like this? Stainless steel ice-maker tubing.

[La_Sweeta_Deeva]

Yeah - this tubing looks great! Super idea!

[bricabracwizard]

That's it, but brass would be better.

[SkizMaroo]

This is a very cool, creative, well thought out and executed, project. The restoration of the box alone is impressive. Danish oil, huh? I'll have to try that on something.

Did you ever try it as a guitar amp? I was thinking there may be some impedance matching problems unless you ran the guitar thru a stomp box, preamp, mixer, or anything that would bring the guitar signal up to preamp/headphone levels. I would be very interested to know how that worked out.

Very nice job!

[bricabracwizard]

Hi SkizMaroo,

Sorry it's taken soooo long to reply, I was hoping to put up a vid demonstrating me playing guitar through the Googly Sound (Just been too flat out busy!) . The volume was good although from mid to the highest volume it was distorted (good for grunge guitar). Through a DI box it sounded great, though you wouldn't use it at a gig.

Thanks for the compliments, I hope you make something like this. I would love to see it.

Cheers,
Bricabracwizard

[Horatius.Steam]

Great! I love it.

Greetings from The North,


Horatius Steam

[bricabracwizard]

Vielen dank. Ich wohnte in Düssledorf für ungefähr 6 Jahre

[Lindie]

Very cool!

[vpurcell]

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THIS!!! You are so clever!!!!!!

[tannerpotts17]

An excellent work. Very well thought out. I congratulate

[La_Sweeta_Deeva]

Super dooper! you create a custom Steampunk cover for the iPhone next?

[bricabracwizard]

That will be my next project to disguise the iPhone etc......lol!

[Winged Fist]

Great Job! Looks absolutely fantastic! As far as covering the cable, you might want to consider using the technique I used for my Steampunk USB cable, maybe using paracord instead of bootlace.

[bricabracwizard]

You've done an excellent job and instructable with your USB cable, I will try this I need to make up a few cables.

[Junophor]

Hi bricabracwizard

I am deeply impressed! Take a bow!
Cheers Aeon Junophor

[bricabracwizard]

Dankeschön!

[canucksgirl]

Great addition of the video. Nice audio quality - even through the video recording. Nice job!!!

[canucksgirl]

btw, rating stars just popped up, so I was able to rate this. (woo hoo). :)

[bricabracwizard]

Thanks and doubly thanks!

[longwinters]

I love your design style, but that mix of old and new short circuts my few remaining brain cells, after a 5 minute pause I figured it out, I sit here and try and think of what I would do differently and keep the great look you have created, this causes the third ambient brain cell which usally does not like to work to join in causing confusion.

Oh rats you gave me an idea, I hate it when that happens.

Good job thanks!

[benq]

Cool. You should ad a video so we can hear what it sounds like.

[bricabracwizard]

I've now put a video on, I hope you enjoy it!

[bricabracwizard]

Thanks, I will have a video on here by Wednesday. Because on the video I will be using background music I will have to use original music written and composed by my partner and her collaborator. They have written some great music and so many songs I'm having a hard job choosing one!

[canucksgirl]

Awesome! It reminds me of Wall-E gone steampunk. Great Job! :D

[bricabracwizard]

I stole it from his bedroom! lol!