Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University’s civil engineering program is rocking on with its newest creation – a concrete electric guitar.

WKU student Parker Sloan built the guitar after making an oral presentation in one of Matthew Dettman’s classes. “It was only a theoretical presentation, but once he was done, I told him that I think we should do it for real,” said Dettman, the Scott Professor of Civil Engineering.

Sloan, a senior from Shawnee Mission, Kan., worked on the guitar during the summer and into the fall semester. The guitar’s body is made completely from concrete.

Sloan and Dettman recently demonstrated the guitar for WKU President Gary Ransdell.

To build the guitar, Sloan cast a mold of the original body by using a liquid rubber compound that sets up once exposed to air. He poured the liquid around the original guitar body and let it set up to create a void exactly the shape of the guitar body.  He then used the rubber mold and experimented with different types of concrete until he had a concrete body that was light enough and strong enough to use. He then inserted all the electronics into the concrete body and bolted the guitar neck onto it, then strung it, plugged it in, and it worked. 

“The project took a lot of creativity and engineering skill, as well as musical knowledge,” Dettman said. “Parker’s work is just another example of the impressive ability of our engineering students at WKU. I advised him during the process, but most of the ideas were his and all of the labor was his so he should be proud of this unique accomplishment.”

Dettman said more guitars will be built because the mold is reuseable. Sloan also plans to create a unique body shape for a one-of-a-kind concrete electric guitar.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Matthew Dettman at (270) 745-2462.

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