Spark: A Sustainable and Transformative 3D Printed Travel Guitar

Revolutionizing Guitar Making with Maxwell Brazo's Innovative Design

Brazo's inspiration for Spark came from a desire to make guitar-making more accessible and experiential. Drawing inspiration from vintage Fender, Steinberger, La Baye 2x4, and lap steel guitars, he envisioned a transformative guitar that could be printed and assembled at home.

What sets Spark apart from other guitars is its innovative use of computer-aided design software and at-home manufacturing. The entire guitar body, neck, and fretboard are fully printed using alternatives to hardwoods. Recycled plastic and wood fiber composites are used, which can be finished and assembled using simple and standard methods. Additionally, all electrical and mechanical components are domestically sourced and widely available.

The realization of Spark is made possible through the use of Computer-Aided Design and Fused Filament Fabrication technologies. The guitar is finished using traditional methods such as sanding, seating frets, binding, and a nitrocellulose lacquer finish. The result is a high-quality, playable instrument that showcases the potential of 3D printing in the world of music.

Spark's technical specifications include a width of 133.35mm (5.25in), a depth of 57.15mm (2.25in), and a height of 768.35mm (30.25in). It features a 25.5in scale length, a 9.5 fretboard radius, and a modern C neck profile. The guitar is equipped with single coil and humbucker passive pickups, a headless fixed bridge, and a double-ball end combo headpiece. Other notable features include an angled switch tele titanium control plate, a bolt-on style neck plate, an electrosocket jack mount, a low profile truss rod, and stainless-steel hardware and threaded inserts. The solderless wiring system adds to the guitar's ease of assembly and maintenance.

Interaction with Spark is both printable and playable, offering an innovative solution for cost-effectively producing and assembling your own guitar using recyclable materials. The compact full-scale travel silhouette makes it a convenient option for musicians on the go.

The Spark project has been in design and development since its inception at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Prototyping was done in 2021, and the final working model and process book are set to be completed in 2022. Maxwell Brazo, the designer, is based out of Litchfield, Connecticut.

Extensive research into the fundamentals of electric guitar construction and the history of high-end models informed the design of Spark. The use of standardized dimensions and popular components ensures a familiar aesthetic and a framework that musicians can easily work within. The concept of compact modularity, the right to repair, and the future of at-home manufacturing were also influential factors.

Overcoming the challenges of using bio-composite filaments for structural support was a key hurdle in the development of Spark. Through research and testing, Brazo identified materials with more effective mechanical properties, including creep resistance, tensile strength, elongation at break, density, and ease of printing.

Spark represents a new era in guitar design, solving the portability issues of everyday instruments and providing a transformative experience for users. By pushing the boundaries of traditional materials and methods, Brazo has created a guitar that is not only sustainable but also customizable to individual expression. With its use of computer-aided design applications, fused filament fabrication, and recycled bio-composite filaments, Spark is a testament to the future of guitar making.

Image Credits: Image #1-5: Maxwell Brazo, 2022

Awards and Accolades: Spark was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Musical Instruments Design category in 2022. This prestigious award recognizes designs that demonstrate creativity, resourcefulness, and technical excellence, contributing to improvements in quality of life and making the world a better place.