I really wonder why those folks who automate guitars and banjos
resorted to such complicated devices to strum the strings.  Has anybody
thought of using some harpsichord jacks for that purpose?  I have toyed
with the idea, and it would require the back of the instrument to be
inlet, but that shouldn't effect the tone much.

Larry Mayo

 [ In MMDigest 981125 Ed Gaida reported that Ken Caulkins (Ragtime
 [ Automatic Music) uses a something like the star-wheel device on
 [ a disc music box, to pluck the strings of a guitar.  The harp-
 [ sichord jack is a good device, and I think it's used in the
 [ "Player Zither".  See
 [
 [ ftp://mmd.foxtail.com/pub/mechanical-music/misc/Chordephon/
 [
 [ -- Robbie