Jeri Ellsworth Rocks a Commodore 64 Keytar

Technology
Jeri Ellsworth Rocks a Commodore 64 Keytar

If you’re walking around Maker Faire you may see a woman skating around with a strange looking instrument. That’s maker extraordinaire Jeri Ellsworth with her bass guitar made out of a Commodore 64. And did I mention she’s playing it while on roller skates? That’s talent!

50 thoughts on “Jeri Ellsworth Rocks a Commodore 64 Keytar

  1. Chris says:

    What?!? No FastLoad cartridge?

  2. Chris says:

    Technically not a keytar, but a sweet looking bass with a c64 body, right?

    On the subject: my friend Jordan made an amazing c64 keytar (that uses sid chips no less): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LZUH0p6cXc

    1. Marc de Vinck says:

      It’s a KeyBass! :) I have a quick video interview which I’ll try to post soon.

  3. World’s Strangest | Commodore 64 Guitar says:

    […] Another Photo | Ellsworth’s Twitter Feed | Maker Faire | Photo: Blake Maloof […]

  4. Kris Lee says:

    Go back and take decent pictures! You should be ashamed to come up with such low quality images.

    1. Kris Lee says:

      No, it still does piss me off seriously. You even present this blurry picture on the front page. How much lower can one go?

      Seriously Make, how much lower? Well, I know – when you print it.

      I feel so insulted.

      1. Hebbaz says:

        Get back under the bridge… or run into the sunlight!

  5. Hiram Cook says:

    It reminds me of the one on the Red Green Show.

  6. JDP says:

    It is a keytar. The keyboard can be used to play notes and the F-keys change the wave forms for the keys and strings.

  7. David Holt says:

    I talked to her for a while. Shes a chip designer. Also you used a FPGA to make that work. Now, thats dedication!

  8. Chris says:

    Ah, wow, awesome didn’t realize – so it pitch tracks the bass strings and matches the notes with sid tones?

  9. What Do Chip Designers Do In Their Spare Time? Play With Lava | Gizmodo Australia says:

    […] chip designer — and owner of a Commodore 64-based Keytar that she plays on roller skates (yes, really)… but she also plays with Lava. You know, for […]

  10. Chrome6 says:

    I think we can all agret that Jeri rocks, keytar not withstanding :)

  11. Chrome6 says:

    “Agree”, darn I need some coffee…

  12. Michael Wright says:

    Jeri rocks because she BUILT SOMETHING. Did a interview with her http://www.flickr.com/photos/45676693@N03/7242566258/in/photostream and will post to youtube later. I got a photo with her which was exciting as she was a featured maker (at that time, Jeri didn’t know she was featured on this site).

  13. What Do Chip Designers Do In Their Spare Time? Pick Up Lava With A Shovel | Arcade Classics says:

    […] chip designer — and owner of a Commodore 64-based Keytar that she plays on roller skates (yes, really)… but she also plays with Lava. You know, for fun. var […]

  14. ameyring says:

    What a major mod of a great old computer! I’m assuming the C64 is fortified somehow inside to prevent warping of the keyboard from the strings? Jeri riding roller skates reminds me not many folks do it and it’s excellent exercise and perfect for riding to the store without a car if you don’t want to chance your bike getting stolen.

  15. Commodore 64 Gitarre « Dressed Like Machines says:

    […] Tolle Arbeit von Jeri Ellsworth, die einen Body eines Commodore 64 Computers in eine Gitarre umbaute.  Mehr Info’s hier. […]

  16. Poet says:

    Not being up on fashion. Is the lady in a DIY dress? Looks like one of those classic apron clothing hacks. Sorry if she bought it.

    1. Michael Wright says:

      > Is the lady in a DIY dress?

      People at MakerFaire dress in all sorts of stuff. Jeri’s talents are primarily circuit design, regarding how she dresses, I’d like to see her wear a full skirt dress like what Gina Lollobrigida wore in the movie “Anna of Brooklyn.”

  17. November says:

    I just found my new desktop photo :)

  18. MAKE | Detail’s of C64 Bass Guitar Hack says:

    […] Jeri Ellsworth Rocks a Commodore 64 Keytar […]

  19. Details of C64 Bass Guitar Hack says:

    […] Jeri Ellsworth Rocks a Commodore 64 Keytar […]

  20. La basse C64 | Korben says:

    […] basse C64Par Korben0Sympa la basse keytar à base de Commodore 64 par la talentueuse Jeri Ellsworth !Envie de faire la même chose ?Source Posté le 9 juillet 2012 |Commentaires: 0 | […]

  21. Pinball Wizard, Race Car Driver, Self-Taught Engineer: Jeri Ellsworth | MAKE says:

    […] pinball machines for fun, built and raced her own stock car, enjoys roller skating, hacked her own Commadore 64 keytar, has a huge following for her YouTube Channel and is a frequent and welcome attendee of Maker […]

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I design games for work and for fun. I recently graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design, and am now employed as a designer at Toys for Bob.

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