APC40 + Wood Handles = Classy!

[the4thImpulse]

I saw a picture on the internet of someone's DIY wood handles for his APC40, needless to say I fell in love with the idea. With nothing more then two small photos of his project I began mine; lots of sanding, routing, a bit of cutting and now I'm left with a one of a kind APC40!

There was no additional photo editing, I just know how to use a camera (and external flash units)!











If anyone has a APC wants to do this I will gladly tell you how I did it and help you out anyway I can.

[Ed Viper]

Lookin' good!

I also like your gelatin ponies.

[MRPPony]

Lol that and its completely clean in your room. Nicely done =P
Anyway, yeah that looks so awesome. Looks....LOOKS SO PROFESSIONAL! I CAN'T TAKE IT!

[the4thImpulse]

Lookin' good!

I also like your gelatin ponies.

Thanks! I believe everyone needs ponies, in one form or another

Lol that and its completely clean in your room. Nicely done =P
Anyway, yeah that looks so awesome. Looks....LOOKS SO PROFESSIONAL! I CAN'T TAKE IT!

I prefer a clean studio although, and you can't see it, it is fairly messy at the moment, I got a lot of wood and stuff being stored in here for other projects (none that are as cool as the handles above). Yeah, it does look much more professional and serious, no more kids toys here!

[LFP]

That's freakin awesome dude, looks really cool!
The choice of wood really suits the apc.

[the4thImpulse]

That's freakin awesome dude, looks really cool!
The choice of wood really suits the apc.

Well the wood was a carefully selected 'fir' 1x4, which really just looks like your average milled wood; light in color and plain. After I finished the final sanding I stained the wood to match the APC as well as my desk, that's where the good looks come from.

[Acsii]

Have you done this to any other of your equipment?

[the4thImpulse]

Have you done this to any other of your equipment?

No, the APC had a unique design to its original handles. It required them to be fully taken off in order to open the unit up (I don't know why), and the handles had a special way of fitting into the sides which easily allowed replica (or in this case wood) handles to be fitted in. My MS2000 (synth) already had wood handles and none of my other gear was ever designed with handles in mind, if they did I would certainly be looking into doing a similar mod.

I do have an iPad now as part of the live setup and am considering creating some sort of wooden 'box' to hold it at an angle and keep it higher off the table.

[Foxtrot89]

For such a minimalistic change, it sure did come out looking a whole lot more cool. Much more sleek and professional looking.

[XXDarkShadow79XX]

I think I fapped to your studio once.

[the4thImpulse]

I think I fapped to your studio once.

Some things are best left in the TMI thread.. but I'll take that as a compliment I guess

For such a minimalistic change, it sure did come out looking a whole lot more cool. Much more sleek and professional looking.

I have fallen in love with the look, I could never go back to a regular plastic handle APC.

[Thyrai]

Wow, that's actually really awesome. The wood and black plastic really look great together.

Geez, APCs look like a lot of fun. I'll have to consider getting one sometime

[randomblockfilms]

oh man that is SICK!! and it totaly goes well with your table and room!

and since we are on the discussion of APC40, you might have seen this, you might not have, but i believe it is the best APC in the world.



although your's comes in at a close second

[ToOntown]

I'm going to resurrect this thread to give you props. I'm eyeing my APC20 a little differently now. Great mod!

[the4thImpulse]

I'm going to resurrect this thread to give you props. I'm eyeing my APC20 a little differently now. Great mod!

Thanks, I can give you some dimensions if you want to try it out for your APC20.


Funny story: This weekend I played at a local youth conference, around 2000 people showed and I played main stage to pump everyone up for the concerts and stuff. I played 4 hour long sets, lots of fun, and so on.. The lighting guy there saw the APC lying in my bag (he could only see part of the handles and the logo AKAI), he asked if that was an AKAI controller, I said "yes, an APC40", he said "how old is it, I have never seen one with wood handles". Turns out he woks with them himself, with his lighting gear, and was impressed at the look of it.