2026 Gear Abstinence Thread

[Mrbigstuff]

1 hour ago, bass_dinger said:

 

Welcome to the thread, and well done for spotting that it is about encouraging us to improve musical skills. 

 

I was impressed at how quickly you went from buying "a keyboard stand this year so I can learn to use the keyboard I bought years ago" to "new digital piano, synth and guitar incoming!" - both posts are timestamped "8 hours ago" on my system!

 

It is always good to see that sort of reckless abandon from new players, because it distracts Chief Referee @neepheid from any infractions that I and others might be about to commit.... Keep it up, @brickers!

 

 

Who told you about my impending infractions 

7 minutes ago, bass_dinger said:

I have this morning ordered a Raspberry Pi kit, 

 https://kitronik.co.uk/products/5325-the-kitronik-discovery-kit-for-raspberry-pi-pico-included along with other bits (add-ons, jumper cables, break-out kits, expansion boxes). 

 

So far, not a fail.

 

However, my plan is to learn how to use the Raspberry Pi architecture and develop a device that can detect 13 different switches. 

 

I will then combine it with a 13-note organ-style pedal board (purchased in 2025) and a kit that uses a Raspberry Pi Pico to generate MIDI note signals. https://midimuso.co.uk/index.php/pico-midi/

 

I will then plug it into a EMU Classic Keys synth rack unit, via MIDI, and pretend that I have a Moog Taurus.

 

However, I will have made the instrument myself, out of bits that are not primarily musical gear (apart from 4 MIDI connectors, and the EMU)

 

So, is a DIY instrument a fail?  Is this the same as a luthier making a bass guitar out of some bits of timber? Or the equivalent of making a Bitsa bass, and pretending that none of the bits are fails...

 

In summary, I purchased a non-midi pedalboard, and some electronics, with the intention of creating and then having a midi pedalboard in 2026. 

 

Have I failed Tier 2, or will it only be a fail once it works?

 

 

I wouldn’t even class MIDI as an instrument and tbh it sounds like hard work 😂

[Richard R]

It's a T2 fail.  I went out last year on the bits for a Raspberry Pi MiniDexed:

 

https://magazine.raspberrypi.com/articles/mini-dexed

 

I built the synth on a breadboard and have made the case and started to solder it up, but that stalled completely.  My plan is also to make a cheap Taurus, but actually I need to practice playing my normal bass.

 

[bass_dinger]

10 hours ago, Richard R said:

It's a T2 fail.  I went out last year on the bits for a Raspberry Pi MiniDexed:

 

https://magazine.raspberrypi.com/articles/mini-dexed

 

I built the synth on a breadboard and have made the case and started to solder it up, but that stalled completely.  My plan is also to make a cheap Taurus, but actually I need to practice playing my normal bass.

 

That's boss-level help from @Richard R - first tells me that I have a T2 fail by precedent (fair enough).  And then shares a link to an excellent magazine on Raspberry Pi project, with an article on building a Yamaha DX7 clone based on a Raspberry Pi ("Fail again, fail better...").

 

My package from Kitronik arrives between 9:17 and 10:17 today.  Until then (and until @neepheid arrives to pronounce my failure), I consider myself innocent....

[tauzero]

15 hours ago, bass_dinger said:

I will then combine it with a 13-note organ-style pedal board (purchased in 2025) and a kit that uses a Raspberry Pi Pico to generate MIDI note signals. https://midimuso.co.uk/index.php/pico-midi/

 

I've made one of these. I'm still not sure exactly why, haven't decided on a use for it yet.

 

To decode the keypresses, I'd use a MM74C922 encoder which will generate a 4-bit number depending on which of 16 buttons is pressed so you don't have to try to connect 13 switches to the Pico. Then you need to connect the switches between the X and Y connections like so:

 

     X     1     2      3      4
Y
1           C    C#    D     D#

2          E     F       F#   G

3          G#   A      A#   B

4          C     Fn1   Fn2  Fn3
 

 That gives you 0 for C, 1 for C#, etc.

 

As far as the challenge goes, it's difficult to say. Strict observation would give a Tier 2 fail on purchase of the MidiMuso kit, as that's where the intent to create a MIDI controller manifests itself in a purchase. Up till then you could have just been building a Mandelbrot display https://www.instructables.com/Mandelbrot-Set-on-Pi-Pico-ILI9341/. 

 

 

Edited Friday at 10:53 by tauzero
Improve table formatting

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, tauzero said:

To decode the keypresses, I'd use a MM74C922 encoder which will generate a 4-bit number depending on which of 16 buttons is pressed so you don't have to try to connect 13 switches to the Pico. Then you need to connect the switches between the X and Y connections like so:

 

Or use a resistor ladder and just one pin set to a2d mode.

[TrevorR]

Well this is nice, I get to report a new bass acquisition without fear of Tier 1 infraction. This Sandberg California TT4 SuperLight arrived today and is LOVELY!!! Great active Jazz sound and only weights 2.8kg / 6.2lbs too. I ordered it back at the end of August so I understand that means it’s not in scope for this year’s challenge. Yay!!!

 

[neepheid]

11 hours ago, TrevorR said:

Well this is nice, I get to report a new bass acquisition without fear of Tier 1 infraction. This Sandberg California TT4 SuperLight arrived today and is LOVELY!!! Great active Jazz sound and only weights 2.8kg / 6.2lbs too. I ordered it back at the end of August so I understand that means it’s not in scope for this year’s challenge. Yay!!!

 

 

Nah, you're absolutely fine - completion of last year's orders is allowed.  Enjoy!