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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault

@acearsenault.bsky.social
7.2K followers 1.2K following 871 posts

Open Thoughts, Electrical Engineering, Computer Programming, Music & Oldskool Technology. I design audio gear, compose music and build experimental musical instruments.

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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Been working on a commissioned design for a client. There is no labeling or silk screening on it yet, so right now it's a "mysterious black box". Audio goes in, audio comes out, two glowing buttons and a knob. What does it do? ; } #electronics #audioprocessing #diy #pedals
Black box with two (2) large glowing buttons, one (1) control knob and three (3) cables connected.
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Slide bass prototype Been working on a new design for a slide bass guitar. : } It's like a lap steel, but for bass. Early prototype, but sounds amazing! #music #woodworking #art
Slide bass guitar instrument made from local unfinished wood, laying in the grass.
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
New studio cable management Just made a wall rack to store extra cables and instrument cases. No longer will these be hiding in random corners. #music #audio #recording
Recording studio wall with cable rack and instrument hard case storage bay.
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Just completed an update to the key matrix design, got some nice dynamics and velocity working. Check it out! : } #music #electronics #engineering
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Last night I installed some low voltage ambient lighting in the piano. Does it look good? : } #music #piano #studio
Fully restored 1984 Kimball upright piano, with ambient back lighting installed.
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
I've been working on a prototype for an instrument that fits an entire keyboard in a compact space. This is tuned in 4ths like a bass guitar, if only it had 12 strings and a really wide neck. #music #instruments #electronics #wip
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
My trusty old piano has seen a lot. It's time for a deep clean and restoration. This instrument originally was my grandmother's and four generations of little hands have pressed keys on it. #piano #music #carpentry
Piano being restored and rebuilt with action removedClose up of part of the piano actionwide photo shot of piano hammers and mutes
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 20/12/2025
Time to spend the holiday weekend soldering together some new sensor boards. Happy holidays! : } #tinyparts
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Recently I've been working with analog magnetic sensors for reading keyboard position, velocity and aftertouch. Wrote a quick FM-synthesis engine for some sweet 1980s synth bells. Then took the prototype keyboard for a test drive on one of them free jam-tracks. : } #music #synthesizer #electronics
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Radio.Active An old Geiger-Müller counter joins in to play some spontaneous percussion while my optical tremolo broadcasts over shortwave radio to provide the texture. #entropy #shortwave #music #ambient #art
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
PianoGuitar Prototype Soldering together a neat experiment for a keyboard instrument. Think as if a Guitar and a Piano had a child. : } Row Tuning: (B, E, A, D, G) #music #instruments #piano #guitar #midi
7x5 matrix of square piano style keys.
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
Cassette Jazz Dropping them 【FLUTE VIBES】 from cassette. 天気ジャズ! (⌐◪_◪) --ACE
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Harp/Zither Pickup Design Random diagrams from my design journal. Been working on a pickup system for an experimental electric Harp. #journal #music #workshop #electronics #art
Diagram of electronic piezo pickups for a harp.
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
So I've been building a 100% analog polyphonic synthesizer with an unique twist. To use only vacuum tube era technology from the 1930s. Over 300 neon gas diodes create the sound you hear. Pretty awesome for technology from 100 years ago. Still a work-in-progress.
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
Flute Demonstration - Low D Here is a flute I built. Plays down to a low D4 (293Hz) in about the same range as a tenor recorder. Please enjoy! : ] #art #music #workshop #instruments
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Here is a Flute that I made. It is designed much like a Native American flute. Made from northern white pine which I harvested from an old tree and black leather binding. : ] #music #art #flute #woodworking #crafts
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
I took the [Bell Piano] out into the snow. Stay warm everyone! : } #music #snow #winter #instruments #piano
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Fretless Lute - Demonstration Here is an instrument I built a while back. It's a 6 string fretless lute. You play it with a feather (old appalachian dulcimer trick). Tuned A,C,D,G,D,A Enjoy the jam! #art #music #lute #workshop #instruments
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Just some of my own handmade rosewood xylophone bars. They look pretty good and sound even better! : } #woodworking #music #instruments #xylophone #workshop
Custom made xylophone bars
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
Fretless Lute Lately I've been practicing on my 6-string fretless lute. I built this instrument many years ago, but I still play it from time to time. : } #music #workshop #guitar #art #lute
Handmade fretless lute instrument
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
Taking the time-out to fine tune some Bell Piano tines. : } #music #instruments #art #audio
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
Here is an instrument I invented, play and write for. It's a Bamboo stalk with 8 strings spiraling around it. Played with a bow it sounds something like Cello with a more harmonic rich tone. It's pretty tall, about 6 and a half feet in height. Enjoy! : ] #art #music #workshop #instruments
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Making good progress on a vacuum tube bass synthesizer. Got the four neon diode oscillators done and tuned up together. Plus it glows in the dark. : } #synthesizers #analog #music #neon
Bakelite and metal frame with electronic parts mounted inside.Neon gas discharge glow of small vintage neon diodes
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 09/11/2024
Electric hand percussion I needed some sort of amplified hand percussion for an upcoming show. So I made a sunflower theme electric sand filled shaker. : } #electronics #music #diy #woodworking #myphoto
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 09/11/2024
Taking some time off to play around in the studio with no real aim or goals. Here's a fun little Electric Shaker and Bell Piano jam. #music #audio #art #sunday #jamming
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 09/09/2024
Just built a power supply for a custom vacuum tube synthesizer. I think it looks pretty good. : } #electronics #diy #music #synthesizers
Custom vacuum tube power supply built on a bakelite board.
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 07/09/2024
Just put some new strings on my old faithful acoustic. (E modal tuning) I paid $25 second hand for this guitar some 20 years ago. It's been my travel buddy ever since. : }
Guitar with new strings.
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Andrew "Ace" Arsenault @acearsenault.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
Cleaning and polishing the old keys. They shine nice afterwards! #art #woodworking #myphoto #piano #music
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