Kelstone pictures

[Kelstone]

Hi there

Check out these pics of our new & improved Kelstone, for sale since this June 2008!


http://www.kelstone.be/images/photos/foto-1.jpg http://www.kelstone.be/images/photos/foto-2.jpg http://www.kelstone.be/images/photos/foto-10.jpg http://www.kelstone.be/images/photos/foto-4.jpg http://www.kelstone.be/images/photos/foto-18.jpg

Thanks and enjoy!

Kelstone

[GaryOpenhill]

Thats a hot looking tapper, no doubt about that.

What i don't understand is the foamy dampener material on the bridge side. Looks to me that it touches the top of the strings, doesn't it?

[Kelstone]

Hi Gary

It only touches the strings when you press the attached pedal. The spring that prevents the muter to touch the strings in open position, is not visible on the pics.

Thanks for your comment!

Kelstone

[rjgoos]

It looks like the design has evolved significantly from the models you played at E-Tap a few years ago. Very sleek. Way cool. I am jealous. Best of luck with your new venture.

What is the scale length?

[GaryOpenhill]

Originally posted by Kelstone
Hi Gary

It only touches the strings when you press the attached pedal. The spring that prevents the muter to touch the strings in open position, is not visible on the pics.

Thanks for your comment!

Kelstone

Aha!!!!

[PhoBucket]

Kelstone,

Welcome aboard. It's clear alot of thought went into your design, and I like the customer 1 pole per string pickups.

Are the poles that support the fingerboard and pickups adjustable? Also, why did you decide to make the pickups exposed instead of in a body?

Best,
Ben

[secondfiddle]

Just when I thought my savings account was safe. The Kelstone looks like a lot of fun to play!

[grozeil]

Is it a wooden neck or kind of graphite???

[Kelstone]

Originally posted by PhoBucket
Kelstone,

Welcome aboard. It's clear alot of thought went into your design, and I like the customer 1 pole per string pickups.

Are the poles that support the fingerboard and pickups adjustable? Also, why did you decide to make the pickups exposed instead of in a body?

Best,
Ben


Hi Ben

It's my pleasure. :)
The poles supporting the pickups are adjustable, the ones supporting the fretboard aren't. The bridge has adjustable saddles if you want to change the action.
The exposed pickups are a matter of design. :)

Greetings

Kelstone

[Kelstone]

Originally posted by grozeil
Is it a wooden neck or kind of graphite???

The neck is made of 'volkern'. This is a kind of pressed wood that is often used in hospital furniture, because it doesn't absord any fluids, and is a very solid and reliable material.

[matrix]

Is it possible to play the Kelstone using a Strap ?

I would be interested in a model that I could play without the stand.

Regards.

[Kelstone]

Hello Matrix,
It might sound contradictory, but if you would use the Kelstone with a strap, you would loose a lot of freedom.
The freedom to move, dance, get into the music, the freedom to move your finger anywhere you want, the freedom of visibility, freedom of bending, sliding, strumming, fingerpicking alternating with hammering, etc.
On normal stringed instruments like the guitar, banjo, cello, the left hand has the function of taking the notes AND stabilizing the instrument.
If you want to put the energy in a string by tapping and the instrument is not stable, you loose an awful lot of expressivity.
Compare it with the keyboard that hangs around your body (I think Herbie Hancock played it at one time).
You play the keys with one hand and the other hand hold the end to stabilise it.
Imagine that it hang around your neck and you play with both hands, it would wobble alot and you wouldn't be able to see the keys and/or your public.
Another reason why the Kelstone is on a stand is that when you hammer, the energy you put into the string is in harmony with gravity and does not have to come out of your wrist.
Well thanks for your question and you can find more information on www.kelstone.be
Kind regards
Jan Van Kelst

[CraigPriceUK]

Wow what a fantastic instrument! Its kinda like the Harpejji but a fraction of the cost and it sounds amazing!

Im very interested in a trial,also how much would this instrument be in pounds?

Ive checked out your myspace and website ad im very impressed.How many have you sold? They seem a great price for alot of instrument.Does it come with the stand?

I love the way the instrument sits tilted away from the player,thats a fantastic idea it must be so comfortable to play!

[Kelstone]

Hello Craig,
thanks for your reaction.
We've sold a couple already and are negociating with some big names.
The stand is attached to the instrument and is included in the price.
There is a special introduction action till the end of september: if you order and pay before that period, you get the case and the dynamic muting pedal for free.
The price is 1323€ excl VAT and transport.
This is for the single Kelstone which is a complete different instrument than the double Kelstone.
On the single Kelstone both hands manipulate the same strings and you can constantly change from guitar techniques such as strumming, fingerpicking to the (piano-like) technque of hammering.
It is a very natural interface because the hand lies on top of the strings.
After three weeks on the Kelstone I was freer in my expression and harmony than after 15 years on the tapguitar that I was playing.
I had a quick look at the Harpejji and is seems that the area on your finger with which you hit a note is quite small as on most tapguitars.
On the Kelstone, because of the angle the hand make with the instrument, you have the whole of your first index.
So you can play quite rough.
On the Harpejji your hand is in the same direction as the string.
This I think makes it very hard to do bendings.
On the Kelstone you can bend (and manipulate the note after it's been hit in the same way as on a Koto) even the biggest strings easily up to a fourth or fifth.
Thanks again and hope to hear from you.
All the best
Jan Van Kelst

[harpejji]

Dear Mr. Kelst,

Great job in designing a fine instrument! The kelstone and harpejji seem to be close cousins in the family of tapping instruments. Different approaches for different customers perhaps. Welcome to tappistry, and let's help each other spread tapping throughout the world!

Peace,
Tim

[Kelstone]

Hello Tim,
Thank you for your reaction.
As Wilbert Harrison used to say 'Let's work together'.
Congratulations with your design and idea in general.
I agree that the Harpejji and the Kelstone will reach a different customer/kind of musician.
I think you could use the term 'tap&strum' for the single Kelstone while the double Kelstone and the Harpejji is more 'tappin' with two hands' and then there is 'two-hand-tappin' like Van Halen, Satriani and Vai.
All the best.
Jan Van Kelst