Community Quality: 5
(5=Most community) How much of a community is there around the kit? Are there builder groups, online forums, circles, and meetups? Is the kit used in class- rooms or after-school programs? Do the kit makers or builders have a presence at events like Maker Faire?
Tenor Wolfelele Ukulele
It took me about 45 minutes (not including glue drying time) to put together a service-able ukulele from Wolfelele’s precut wooden components. The well-designed parts fit together in a way that ensured it didn’t end up crooked, and the triangular instrument sounds better than any other $100 ukulele I’ve played. The kit has everything you […]
TriTrix MTM Speakers
Speaker design master Curt Campbell has created several dream kits for the audiophile, including the TriTrix. Featuring two 5.25″ Dayton Audio woofers and a single tweeter in MTM format, the final product has an easy, 8Ω load that can be used for audio or home theater systems. The transmission line kit includes precision-cut MDF for making the cabinets, […]
Nebulophone
Another small synth from Bleep Labs, the Nebulophone is more robust than the Pico Paso. It packs three potentiometer knobs, two buttons, an LED/light sensor combo that serves as an analog low-pass filter, and a unique piano-like series of pads on the PCB that you can control with an alligator clip. It has a programmable […]
Pico Paso
This tiny, handheld synth features two light sensors, two pots, and two buttons. It’s an easy build, even for newbies, soldering together very quickly with no difficult steps. I love how snug the little guy is, but this compactness comes at a price: no enclosure and no speaker. To hear the Pico Paso, you’ll need […]
Thingamagoop 2
Analog voltage-controlled oscillators (AVOs) make a variety of intriguing hums, beeps, buzzes, and loops, controlled by buttons, knobs, and sensors. These are fantastic group projects because once the soldering irons are all put down, you get an excellent payoff: you can have an impromptu concert. Bleep Labs, run by Austin, Texas, circuit bender and kit […]
XS-402 Little Wonder Crystal Radio Kit
Make Kit Reviews
Xtal Set Society, Inc.
XS-402 Little Wonder Crystal Radio Kit
$19
Reviewed: November 1st, 2011
Make Kit Reviews
Xtal Set Society, Inc.
XS-402 Little Wonder Crystal Radio Kit
$19
Reviewed: November 1st, 2011
Many middle-aged DIY enthusiasts have constructed a crystal radio set; it’s such a joy to pull radio signals out of the ether using only the radio signal itself for power. Unlike traditional crystal sets, the XS-402 uses a molded, high frequency choke, eliminating the frustrating coil-winding process, and features large solder pads, great for learning to […]
