Amplifying the history, style, and fun behind Ryan Boase’s handcrafted speakers.
“When you get in your car and turn the radio on, it’s just background noise—but these are so much more fun and interactive,” says Ryan Boase as he transforms a sawed French horn into a lo-fi boom box. “Sure, they certainly don’t compare with a modern speaker, but they are such an enjoyable way to experience music. They become the focal point of the party, with people taking turns DJ-ing using the playlists on their phones.”
Boase, the owner and product designer of ReAcoustic and InstrumentalAudio, doesn’t simply create captivating conversation starters—he gives new life to antique instruments otherwise stored in cases or gathering dust on shelves. His one-of-a-kind speakers span two business product lines: ReAcoustic uses antique and modern phonographs and gramophones to amplify sounds, while InstrumentalAudio repurposes brass instruments. Each speaker is handcrafted and unique, and all are available as acoustic or Bluetooth speakers, either amplifying or replacing smartphone sounds.
“Basically, the bigger [the instrument], the louder [the speaker] gets, but also the fuller the sound,” explains Boase. “The gramophones and phonographs are larger, so they really fill a room, and you have more bass coming through. The brass instruments have a brighter sound, and the smaller ones are great for desktops and countertops.”
Reacoustic Life
Boase played brass instruments in high school, and when he bought his first iPhone in 2011, he wondered what would happen if he held it up to the base of a trumpet. Just like that, the business was born. Boase cut the bell off his trumpet, fashioned a mini-phonograph, and hasn’t looked back since. “I’ve made these out of basically every brass instrument: trumpet, trombone, French horn, baritone, even sousaphones.”
“People don’t believe what they’re hearing at first,” laughs Boase, a self-taught craftsman. “[The design] makes the phone so much louder, and that’s impressive on its own.”
If you’re a fan of vinyl or turn-of-the-century tunes, Boase’s creations are especially ideal for you: “The older you get with the music, the better it sounds,” he reveals. “When you play a song from the ’20s or ’30s, it sounds exactly like it did then. But when you play a modern song through these, [the speaker] gives it a vintage or retro sound.” The explanation is surprisingly simple: current music is far more bass-heavy, and when you strip that away, the treble shines through.
When asked what the future holds for his distinct art form, Boase insists that we’ll see more color and more unexpected finds. “I’ll be making these more visually interesting. Repainting some, doing different metallic colors, more live-edge bases.” Boase also excitedly hints that those interested in antiques will want to watch his Etsy shop: he has unique pieces en route from dealers all over the country.
“People love the story behind these,” reflects Boase. “When people take these home, they’re not spending their money on what they think is a higher-quality speaker. It’s the conversation. The history.”
etsy.com/shop/instrumentalaudio
Photography courtesy of Reacoustic.
