Across the Sierra (Nevada)

Just back from a few days in sunny California spent with the incredible Ross Shafer. I brought along electronic hardware, software and various 3D printed assemblies. Ross provided the beautifully finished cabinets, machined parts (pedals, endplates, bridges, keyless nut and tuners), and some 3D printed parts. The goal was to put together at least one of two Beta Prototype OnePSGs.

We knew we were going to have to fiddle some: locations of parts, possible redesign of parts, etc.

First, Ross machined the holes for the four endplate connectors (power, on off switch, 1/4” jack, USB port). I soldered up the wires to them.

Then, we decided on the positions for the pedals. We used Ross’s existing pedal bar design with some added physical stops (so as to not rely on the stops built into the 3D printed sensor assemblies. Attached the pedal sensor assemblies.

Cut a hole in the neck and top of the guitar for the pickup PCB cable to run through.

With that and the touchscreen in place, we roughly located the main PCB, connected up various cables: touchscreen, pickup PCB, sensor cables (for the pedals and levers).

Mounting the knee levers was the most “interesting”. Ross had 3D printed modules to hold the five levers and we attached them to not interfere with the touchscreen electronics.

We mounted the Control PCB and connected the pedal and lever sensors to it. Last but not least, we strung up the guitar. When we finally fired up the steel. The screen lit up with Welcome to OnePSG.

I showed Ross the basics of the UI: switching copedents, “virtual re-rodding” (editing pedal/lever changes), capoing, virtual compensators, and more.

This being a prototype, we expected to have it point us towards a bunch of ideas about improving the design of mechanical parts. And we certainly have some ideas.

I left the prototype with Ross and returned home. Over the next weeks, I’ll be working on software and UI improvements while Ross will put his design brain to a better design for how the levers and pedals interact with the sensors that feed the Control software.