Here is my current machine, the pedals on the left control the
chording, the one on the right controls the strumming.
About the Machine
I invented and built the first Guitar Machine in Tucson in 1994
and since then have built three more versions, each time making it
more playable and more portable (for playing on the street, in
subways, etc...). The machine, often compared to a Rube Goldberg sculpture,
consists of an acoustic guitar, a
bass guitar and a cowbell all suspended in a copper pipe frame.
I play all three instruments by depressing pedals with both of
my feet. There are no computers or anything like that involved, it's all
mechanical. The pedals pull strings that cause several different
movements on the machine, strings get plucked, capo things go up
and down, a golf ball hits the cowbell, the "Pretty Polly" doll
dances, etc...