Guitar build
About the Guitar build PCB
Guitar build is an open source NXP PCB design by oo-eric, published on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board measuring 82 × 156 mm, with 48 components from 17 distinct parts.
Its main chip is the Teensy, from the NXP family. Other key parts include the MCP6002. By type, the board carries 20 resistors, 18 capacitors, 7 connectors and 3 ICs.
It belongs with the audio and sensors designs in this gallery.
From the project
A DIY guitar that doubles as a polyphonic MIDI controller. Six individual single-string pickups feed a Teensy 4.0, which converts each string's vibration into MIDI in real time — pitch, note on/off, and per-string pitch bend — using the MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) standard s
A DIY guitar that doubles as a polyphonic MIDI controller. Six individual single-string pickups feed a Teensy 4.0, which converts each string's vibration into MIDI in real time — pitch, note on/off, and per-string pitch bend — using the MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) standard so every string lives on its own channel and bends independently.
It's a hybrid instrument: alongside the six hex pickups there's one standard magnetic pickup, so it still plays and sounds like a normal guitar through an amp while the digital side drives synths.
Main components on the Guitar build
Guitar build bill of materials (BOM)
48 components, 17 distinct parts.
| Qty | Part | Footprint | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | MCP6002 | DIP-8_W7.62mm | U1, U2, U3 |
| 1 | Pickup E2 | PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J1 |
| 1 | Pickup A2 | PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J2 |
| 1 | Pickup D3 | PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J3 |
| 1 | Pickup G3 | PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J4 |
| 1 | Pickup B3 | PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J5 |
| 1 | Pickup E4 | PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J6 |
| 1 | Teensy | PinHeader_1x08_P2.54mm_Vertical | J7 |
| 6 | 100n | C_Rect_L7.0mm_W2.5mm_P5.00mm | C1, C3, C5, C7, C9, C11 |
| 6 | 330p | C_Disc_D5.0mm_W2.5mm_P5.00mm | C2, C4, C6, C8, C10, C12 |
| 1 | 100u | CP_Radial_D6.3mm_P2.50mm | C13 |
| 4 | 100n | C_Disc_D5.0mm_W2.5mm_P5.00mm | C14, C15, C16, C17 |
| 1 | 10u | CP_Radial_D6.3mm_P2.50mm | C18 |
| 6 | 1M | R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal | R1, R4, R7, R10, R13, R16 |
| 6 | 100k | R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal | R2, R5, R8, R11, R14, R17 |
| 6 | 2k2 | R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal | R3, R6, R9, R12, R15, R18 |
| 2 | 10k | R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal | R19, R20 |
Guitar build design files
The KiCad project lives in the oo-eric/guitar-build repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.
Guitar build: common questions
What microcontroller does the Guitar build use?
The Guitar build is built around the Teensy, from the NXP family.
How big is the Guitar build PCB?
The Guitar build measures 82 × 156 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.
How many components are on the Guitar build?
48 components, from 17 distinct parts. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.
Where can I download the Guitar build design files?
From the oo-eric/guitar-build repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout and the schematic; the links under Design files point to each one.
Can I use the Guitar build design in my own project?
The repository has no license, so all rights stay with oo-eric. Use it as a reference, and ask the author before reusing the design.
Can I test firmware for the Guitar build without the hardware?
Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug NXP firmware against it before you order a PCB.
Similar boards
NXP32Bit shift register
MaltWhiskey
100 × 54 mm56 parts4LNo license763
NXPMega-Cube-Board
200 × 54 mm100 parts4LNo license763
NXPMCL64
MicroCoreLabs
39.3 × 61.8 mm9 parts4LNo license532
NXPROM Emulator
21.5 × 37.1 mm5 parts2LNo license532
NXPMCLZ8
37.1 × 61.5 mm6 parts4LNo license532
NXPXTMAX
81 × 46 mm14 parts4LNo license532