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On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Monocoque Flight 6

Modulus
Steve Miller

ca. 1983

Not on view

This experimental headless guitar, owned and played by Steve Miller, features a “monocoque” body and neck made from a hollow one-piece carbon-fiber and graphite shell. Modulus founder Geoff Gould, inspired by his background in aerospace engineering, designed this instrument, of which only about twenty were produced in guitar (Flight 6) and bass (Flight 4) versions. Gould also adapted carbon fiber and graphite to more conventional instruments, building basses and guitars with carbon-fiber-reinforced necks for artists like Flea.

Technical Description:
Hollow one-piece carbon fiber and graphite body and neck; 25 in. scale; graphite grey; headless integral neck with mother-of-pearl dot inlays; two humbucking Seymour Duncan pickups, three-way selector switch, volume and tone controls, adjustable brass bridge with tuners mounted on lower body, Modulus Graphite logo decal on lower treble bout

Monocoque Flight 6, Modulus, Carbon fiber, graphite, brass, metal, plastic — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Monocoque Flight 6, Modulus, Carbon fiber, graphite, brass, metal, plastic

Monocoque Flight 6, Modulus, Carbon fiber, graphite, brass, metal, plastic

Monocoque Flight 6, Modulus, Carbon fiber, graphite, brass, metal, plastic

Monocoque Flight 6, Modulus, Carbon fiber, graphite, brass, metal, plastic

Monocoque Flight 6, Modulus, Carbon fiber, graphite, brass, metal, plastic

Monocoque Flight 6, Modulus, Carbon fiber, graphite, brass, metal, plastic

Monocoque Flight 6, Modulus, Carbon fiber, graphite, brass, metal, plastic

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This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Courtesy of Steve Miller

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Courtesy of Steve Miller

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Courtesy of Steve Miller

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Courtesy of Steve Miller

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Courtesy of Steve Miller

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Courtesy of Steve Miller

Title: Monocoque Flight 6

Artist: Modulus

Artist: Steve Miller

Date: ca. 1983

Medium: Carbon fiber, graphite, brass, metal, plastic

Dimensions: Length: ~32 in. (81.3 cm)
Width: ~7-8 in. (17.8-20.3 cm)
Depth: ~1 1/2 (3.8 cm)
Weight: 4-6 lbs.

Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted

Credit Line: Courtesy of Steve Miller

The Met

Musical Instruments at The Met

The Museum's collection of musical instruments includes approximately 5,000 examples from six continents and the Pacific Islands, dating from about 300 B.C. to the present.