Magnet Update! Red And Almost Ready For Production
Вставка
- Опубліковано 1 чер 2024
- This is an update for our Magnet Kickstarter backers as we take a look at some new samples, and get ready for the production run. If you've wondered why making the Magnet is so complicated, and has taken so long, this is a detailed technical look at the challenges of injection molding this complicated little device. Intro tune is just a progression we came up with while filming, and a comp of a few takes of figuring out some cool licks to play over it.
Timestamps:
0:00 - intro jam
0:50 - new samples arrive
1:58 - difficulties of injection molding
3:50 - manufacturing improvements
6:40 - cosmetic imperfections
10:00 - mechanical smoothness issue
11:19 - usage demonstration
12:55 - upcoming timeline
14:01 - shipping challenges
The update is greatly appreciated! I personally backed the magnet because I think it's an invaluable tool for teaching and studying. I am 100% okay with waiting until you guys land on a design that functions as well as it possibly can.
HOORAY! So glad I backed this project.
Thanks Dean!
Day one backer here, can't wait to hold one of these in my hands 🔥
Awesome, thank you!
Nice to get some insight into how real product design and manufacturing works.
I backed this because I have faith that you would do it right and not just kick out something quick for a profit. I'm in it for the long haul. I appreciate the update and always look forward to all your videos. 🤘
Ha, if we were in this for the short-term profit, we'd have failed already. Even if this isn't much of money-making opportunity given the small number of units we're likely to sell, we still wanted to do it. It's a thing that has been a game changer in our ability to see what's going on with guitar technique, and we think it should exist.
@Troy Grady I'm happy that we got to help you make it a reality for the whole picking community. 🤘
@@troygrady This is a cool community effort that we all appreciate. I can't wait to get my magnet, all the best Troy!
Love you and the teams work Troy! No one else is as dedicated, and effective at helping guitar players around the world
Excellent work, Troy and team !
Don't stress at all ! You're an absolute polymath and I'd hate to see you discouraged because of all the unforseen challenges. Don't let the pressure of delivering take away from enjoying the process. Least of all deter you from taking on other pursuits outside of your experience. Please keep innovating even if you risk getting some minor things wrong.
I'd rather be grateful and have the magnet exist than worry about timeline.
Thank you for all your work !
Thanks! We're definitely not afraid of getting things wrong. If you're wrong the first time, you're more certain to be right the second time.
I really appreciate the update. Showing us the samples and sharing the challenges is awesome. It's been a long time since I joined the magnet backers and the journey may be way way longer that any of us expected, but video updates like this reinforces the faith big time. However long it takes is how long it takes. I'm with you. Thank you Troy.
Been hoping for one of these for about 2 years now since I saw it the 1st time on your channel
Project backer here. Thank you for taking the time to make this product as good as possible. I can't wait to start using it for teaching 😁
Thanks for backing us!
Can’t wait I pre ordered mine to help the project. Ck.
Thank you for the transparency and I appreciate the attention to detail. I intend to use this for teaching purposes and that means I need it to be functional, consistent, and durable. If these delays means those requirements will be met, then I'll wait however long it takes. Thanks, Troy.
I'll 100% be getting one of these myself to improve my videos. All the best, Troy. 🎸👍🏼 Carlo
Awesome update Troy. Thank you very much. It seems like mass production is just around the corner. Congrats on the progress.
Wow, very impressed Troy with your knowledge of manufacture, sounds like more than a few six sigma scars and design of experiments along the way to solving low yields. Hang in there, I (hopefully not presumptuous to say many of us) know it is worth the wait. Excited to hear this good news!!!! Thanks for the update.
I’m actually enjoying and appreciate the updates..
can’t wait to hold the real thing!!
I appreciate that you're taking the time to get this right. I'd rather only have to buy one! Thanks for everything, Troy.
Really interesting learning about the trial and error process of modern manufacturing
The problem with grippy rubber/plastics is that some of them will liquify after a few years. You see this with a lot of old electronics, where the rubber feet basically melt off. Same with handle grips. I found an old video camera once, and I could tell the reason it was tossed: all the rubber parts were turning into an oily glue which you can almost guarantee were toxic as hell. So yea, be patient with the process, because the correct balance is really important.
Good point. I don't know if the 50-60 durometer we're using is really squishy enough to degrade, but we'll look into its properties.
@@troygrady When you mentioned it sticking enough for the pads to adhere a bit, it made me think of these eventually-melting type rubber/plastic mixes that abounded in our youthful days. I'm sure the folks working on the blend are cognizant of that... hopefully! 😬
To test it, I would stick them together like you did to demonstrate the stickiness, and then put it in a kiln at a high but not too high temperature for a few days and see what happens. That should give an idea what will happen over the course of years for at least some conditions.
Congrats on progress Troy!
Excellent work, it's worth the wait!
Sweet device! I'm gonna need to get one of these
Yes those look better than any so far. The insert molded rubber looks spot on this time. Your comments about mechanism stickiness are also spot on. That could get worse with use if it is caused by galling of the plastic rubbing against plastic. But as you said the solution may be changing cooling times or a little lubricant. As for the sink marks many manufactures reduce that problem by adding texture. If it doesn't reflect light well it almost disappears. But again, as you said, that is really kinda the least of your worries. It is great to see you getting something that looks like it is on the right track now although I am so rusty on the guitar now I am not sure I am up for watching my ineptitude! :)
Looking forward to getting my first GradyMag.
This is pretty good news to wake up to, in addition to feeling on the upswing from a bout of The Rona. I hazard a guess I'm not the only one out here with choice phrases in mind that they're itching to inspect (and hopefully improve) under the gaze of the Magnet.
Thanks for the update. While this is taking a while what I’m liking most is that I backed this to help learn and improve my playing and I’m getting to also learn about the challenges of production. This is really cool! I think there’s great value in how you’re keeping everyone educated about the entire process. More people/companies should do this.
Cool! It's been an education for us as well, albeit an occasionally painful one!
Appreciate the update Troy & the extra effort that you and your manufacturing partner are going to so as to get it right. One question if I may… Have you Guys done any testing on how the magnet’s rubber compound guitar neck/body contact surfaces might react with different finishes - For example: the damage that can be caused by guitar stand rash due to an adverse chemical reaction of a nitro finish in contact with some rubbers/foams used on stands/ hangers over a prolonged period? Thx in advance.
I have never noticed any effect of any kind on a wide variety of guitars, but again, it touches so little of the neck area I'm not sure how I'd even notice. The Magnet attaches above the neck pocket so there isn't really much finish there to interfere with. It mostly grips the side of the fretboard. On acoustic, there really is no neck there at all - it's completely fretboard.
It looks amazing!
Great news!
I'm a backer! Can't wait!
Works very well!
Will people who missed the kickstarter be able to buy one eventually?
We should eventually have them up somewhere. We're focusing on getting this first batch done and then we'll figure out how to sell them.
@@troygrady Is there a list I can join to be informed when it's available? Or even to pre-order one?
Can’t wait for this! I’ve been hoping for a factory produced magnet for many years and would Google for it periodically. Then I BARELY missed discovering the kickstarter before it closed and didn’t get to order. Let me know when and how I will be able to get in line for shipping!
Troy - if you can ask what the black rubber material is, that should be enough to figure out if it's going to react with lacquer finishes.
Just like ABS plastic, there are a million formulations. But the family of polymer will tell you a lot. Their basic makeups don't change.
Congrats to 200k subs
Thanks!
Are these ever going to be available for commercial purchase? Or was it purely a kickstarter thing I missed?
I've heard about selling this product for years, but I couldn't buy it at all. I can't get it because it's a kickstart product and I can't get it because it's out of stock. I looked up used products and sent dm separately, but I couldn't get it. It's very, very frustrating. I don't know if Troy really wants to sell this product.
I am so fuckin' excited for this.
Awesome troy!! Now does that guitar come with it ?🤞
Awesome update Troy! Looking forward to using this and glad to be a part of this project! This will be a wonderful learning and teaching tool. One question... I know this is designed for the picking hand, but would it also help with movement of the left hand by reversing the camera the opposite way?
You can do that, and we've shown a few shots of that in older videos. But mostly because it looks cool. I don't know what you would do with that information from a learning perspective. If there's a use, let us know!
@@troygrady Once I get one in my hands, hopefully soon, I certainly will :-)
Can’t wait for mine! I know it’s a pipe dream but now that MagSafe is a thing it would be cool to do a version that doesn’t have to clamp the phone but just magnetically attaches the phone to the neck clamp
I'm not really sure how much of a problem that would solve. The slot-design of the current iteration works pretty well, and the grippy rubber holds things in place pretty well.
@@troygrady It wouldn't be a revelatory change or improvement over this design or anything haha. Definitely has plenty of its own shortcomings too, it just possibly could be a slightly smaller footprint without a need for the secondary movement. I just replaced my phone clamp tripod mount with a magsafe one which is why I had the thought.
I did have one Magnet related question, does the rubber play nice with nitro finished necks? I assume yes since your fender looks to be nitro but just confirming
Great!
man i wish these were done already
Dude the tone is outstanding... What pickups and amp are you using?
These are Zexcoil humbucker voiced pickups, and the amp is the same as pretty much all our lessons, the Cornford Hellcat.
@@troygrady thanks!
Mr. Grady!
Just wondering if you are using the XL jazz iii in this video? (Red)
I'm actually using a JS Rock III - it's a new Jazz III version with a speed bevel. So it's similar to a worn Jazz III. You can see a shot of it at the end of the Instagram version: instagram.com/p/CZAUohcB-2w/
Yay!
Why not make it rubber like a hardened rubber? Then you wouldn’t need to fuse the rubber to the plastic and it seems it would solve the cosmetic issues. That may be a stupid question but I was wondering if it would actually work with rubber?!?
Is this going to be available to the general public or only to backers?
Just wondering if any of the new materials used in the rubber have also been tested with different guitar finishes. I have heard that guitar finishes can react and be damaged by the material used on a poorly designed guitar hanger or stand. I hope this is not the case, because that would definitively kill it, at least for me.
The rubber grips don't really come into contact with much, if any, guitar finish. The grips only touch the side of the upper part of the fretboard, in the neck pocket area. On an electric, some small amount of neck finish may be visible below the fretboard, rising above the neck pocket, but a * super * tiny amount. Maybe an eighth of an inch or something. On an acoustic there is no neck wood up there at all, only fretboard. On both electric and acoustic, there is no rubber contact with the guitar body at all. I have a wide variety of instruments here, electric and acoustic, guitar to mando, vintage to new. And I haven't noticed anything. But again, the area where you would actually notice anything is so tiny, and your hands never come into contact with that area, even if there was some kind of effect, it would be pretty hard to notice.
Troy, will there be a way for people who missed the kickstarter to purchase one after the fact? I didn't hear about this when it was originally kickstarting.
Eventually yes. When we place the intial order we'll try to include some extra. Not sure how/where we'll have those, but if you get on our mailing list, we'll definitely send a note when we have them available.
Until this thing is up for grabs, my mom has to hold the phone to get the right camera angles. 7 hours a day 😄
Ha!
Next: intelligent software, thats tracks hand movement, classifies technique, diagnose potential problems, and give suggestions to exercies to use with the magnet?
That's the holy grail, eventually. Because ideally you want the feedback while you're playing, in a way that is immediate and intuitive, maybe even haptic, so you can correct. And this often far from obvious given how many moving parts are involved in picking technique, and how many slightly different "right" answers there are.
Is the difficulty in opening a result of the tacky rubber sticking to itself?
It doesn't appear to be. It can sometimes feel sticky in the middle of the sliding, after the rubber has separated and is no longer touching. So it looks more like the tight tolerances, or something to do with the material itself.
Hey Troy where can I buy the Magnet ?
Hi Troy how are you? Where I can buy the magnet and, you sell from Brazil?
We're only doing Kickstarter orders currently, but we're going to try to order extra so we can continue selling them. If you get on our mailing list, we'll send a note when we have them for sale. I think we will be able to sell to Brazil - we would like to! - but we don't really know how that works yet. We'll know more in the coming months.
The minor dimpling I've seen on plenty of products I've purchase in the past from large companies. That is not an issue. The stickiness issue is a result of tight tolerances, you were lucky before with the previous plastic in that the formulation had some lubricant properties built in, but in seems the current formulation does not. Nothing a little silicon grease can't solve. Time to go ahead with this. Maybe later after you sold a hundred thousand you can try some more plastic formulations with natural lubricant properties that will work with your mold but that could take a long time and I think I speak for the majority here, that issue isn't worth a long delay. I would rather have the product ASAP cause I can add a little silicon grease myself.
The tolerances between this version and the previous ones are similar, and actually include a fair amount of play to prevent mechanical jamming. So I don't think that's what it is. It really seems more like the material being more tacky. But we're not going to change the plastic formulation and send us back to the drawing board though. If it can't be done with a small tweak to the cooling times, then maybe some lubricant is the shortest path, as you suggest.
I want this thing. What do I have to do?
Best thing would be to get on our mailing list ( troygrady.com ). We're still working on getting the first batch of these to the Kickstarter backers. Once we have that, we'll figure out some way of getting the remainder up for sale. We'll send a note to the list when we have that.
This is a serious question. How many guitarists on the planet are as technically proficient at as many styles of guitar as Troy Grady is? I honestly can't think of one.
Try not to read too much into tiny snippets in online videos, they can be pretty misleading. I'm no jazz player, no bluegrass player, and not much of an improviser in general. I can do bits of the mechanical techniques, because that's what we teach. And as part of that, you have to know a few of the signature phrases in each style. But in no way could I sit in with a band in all these styles.
@@troygrady Very humble. I didn't imply that you were an expert in every style. Just that you're an unusual technician. Guitar is easily the most underrated instrument, because of the multitude of styles and techniques. No player on earth is great at them all.
... To be honest it looks like some idea Kramer on Seinfeld would come up with..
Always ware y of positive and no bad things said ..like the old saying if you smell a fish ..it's fishy or its just to good X...everway ..could of said it in half time
How do we order one?
It looks like horse shoe. But this video proves there are many production things which made it better.
More efficient. Many variables even simple looking.
How much will this product be?
The Kickstarter price was $50, which to be honest is pricier than we'd like it to be. It's a function of the small batch nature of this. If we were selling tens of thousands of them we could get that a lot lower.
Will it fit an iPhone 13 pro max?
It should. There's no limit as far as the size of the phone itself, since the Magnet is basically slot-loading. It's really just the placement of the camera that matters. The only thing I will say I don't love with the 13s is that they moved the position of the default camera. On the two-camera models, they are diagonal now. So the default camera is more toward the center of the phone. Which means, when you place it in the Magnet, it may be a little higher compared to the fretboard. It may still produce a useful view, we'd have to test. However I'm not sure this affects the three-camera models like the Pro and Pro Max. If the default camera (not the telephoto and not the ultra-wide) is near the edge of the phone, then that's fine, and the same as previous versions.
@@troygrady awesome, thank you. I only ask because I got a new phone since I placed the order.
whats going on with the 7 year development of this piece of chinese plastic?
Troy Grady x Rick Beato metal fusion album
Shut up and take my money!
i havent been following this, are they made in china?
They are. We had of course started out wanting to make them here, and found a really nice factory here in New York that would have been great if only because we could literally drive down and visit. But the costs were triple compared to doing it overseas, and meant that we wouldn't be able to make the Magnet at all at any reasonable consumer price. As another data point, I called them back recently just to get a sense of what the market bears now several years later, thinking maybe the pandemic had made people a little more flexible. This time they wouldn't even consider the job for less than 80,000 units. Which is at least 10-20x the number of Magnets we'll probably even make. The economies of scale for small batch manufacturing don't appear to be there stateside. Hopefully that changes moving forward.
Pin a post on how I can buy in?
You can't yet! We're still working on the initial Kickstarter batch. But when it arrives, we'll try and order some extra so we can sell a few units beyond the backers. We'll send a note to our mailing list when we have them, so stay tuned to that for updates.
just put a name sticker on the dots / problem solved
So this just straps a phone to your guitar neck ?
You can do the same with half a brain and $10 at any hardware store
But you know you can always just hook up go pro with a contraption.
We've done various versions of this, and even used them in our interviews. Headstock mounting is far away, super shaky and required de-shake in post, and the fretting fingers occasionally block the view. Body mounting locations are tricky mechanically. Suction cups? Clamps? Depends on the shape of the guitar body. The neck pocket location of the Magnet provides the closest unobstructed view, the least body shake, and is the simplest to get on and off.
..has about as much true teaching value as those rubber fingertip protectors.
Lol someone has arthritis
This thing is a joke right?