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Digital Rocks - Not
Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 3:36 pm
by admin
Patrick Barkham
Monday May 3, 2004
The Guardian
It may not exactly be music to the ears of the great axemen of rock'n'roll.
Hold the riffs and the distortion: the guitar is going digital.
Nearly 40 years after Dylan caused a storm of protest by plugging in his
instrument, the launch of the first digital guitar may equally ruffle the
rock aristocracy.
Billed as a traditional electric guitar "on steroids", the US instrument
maker Gibson is launching its new model promising to cut out unwanted
distortion.
Rather like the spoof rock group Spinal Tap inventing an amplifier with a
volume con trol that went up to 11, Gibson claims its digital guitar will
enable the gods of rock to reach a new level of licks.
"It opens a whole new palette of possibilities," said Henry Juszkiewicz, the
chief executive of Gibson.
For 70 years, guitarists have used their electric instruments to translate
string vibrations into a noisy electrical signal fed to an amplifier. The
new digital guitar uses an in-built microprocessor to clean up the signal.
Analog sounds from each of the six strings are converted into a digital file
and transmitted from the guitar.
Players will be able to control the sound of each string, giving low strings
the crunch of heavy metal or ensuring high strings transmit a clean sound.
Some in the notoriously finicky world of rock are already converted. "You'll
be able to record all these different sounds and textures," said Dave
Cleveland, a Nashville session guitarist. "It's going to revolutionise the
whole recording part of guitar playing."
But many rock purists greet the digital machine with all the derision Dylan
experienced when he went electric. "I don't see it taking over the world,"
said George Gruhn, of US-based Gruhn Guitars. "People want an electric
guitar for soul."
Mr Juszkiewicz hopes the guitar will be accepted into the rock family tree
alongside the iPod. But teenagers may have to wait a while before they can
lay their hands on one: only the aristocrats of rock - and Tony Blair - will
be able to afford the $2,800 (£1,580) price tag
Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 7:09 am
by rob
Isn't this similar to what Peavey did years ago with the Midi-Controled Cyber-Bass?
Or am I thinking of something totally different?
Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 8:32 am
by shamustwin
So, instead of experimentation imagination and experience, just flick a switch and get a pro sound? Gibson, how much did you get for your soul?
Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 9:21 am
by beatlefan
I can't wait till the "no-touch" guitar comes out....you know, the one where you just THINK about the note and the waves from your thought goes directly into a microprocessor and out comes a note.....
Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 4:40 pm
by rictified
I think the pods and amps with preprogrammed "sounds" in it are just as bad, I had to work and play for years to get the sound I like and also lug an SVT everywhere I go, now you can get these sounds out of a box. Those things are just as souless as a digital guitar, what's the difference between a digital guitar and a digital amp? To me, there is no difference, it's not the sounds your hands are making, it's a sound you selected by pushing a button. Give me a noisy analog single coil bass and a good old analog tube amp anyday.
Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 5:35 pm
by loendmaestro
Nicely stated Bob.
I almost went with a Pod & my girlfriend said "Why would you get that? It doesn't sound like you - you're more of a purist."
I got a new tube head instead.
Then again, I still play ALBUMS too.
Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 8:36 am
by rob
I still have a few 78 RPM's and a few 8-tracks that haven't self-destructed yet.
Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 10:48 am
by rictified
Rob, do you have something to play the 78's on? My brother-in-law loves 8 track players, haha! That shoots my argument right down doesn't it?
Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 8:02 am
by rob
Not right now. My dad gave away his old stereo with the 78 RPM feature years ago, but kept all his records. I took them all, but can't find record players with 78 RPM anymore. (Go figure.)
I do have an 8 track player, which cost me 5 bucks and still in great shape.
I wish they would still put those things back in cars. The old broken tapes serve as great coffee holders!
Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 9:09 am
by loendmaestro
I have a 1930's era Brunswick Victrola that I can play 78's on.
Not only do I have Gear Acquisition Syndrome...I also collect music on dead formats!
Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 10:14 am
by rictified
I loved how 8 tracks used to switch right in the middle of songs, haha!
I collect old tube radios, none with FM of course so there's not much to listen to except shortwave on them now. Back in the 60's though when FM was all orchestral music I used to listen to The Beatles stuff, everything on old console radios, I loved them because they usually had 12" speakers. I still remember the first time I heard 96 tears on one, wow, what bass! haha!
Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 5:45 pm
by loendmaestro
If ya want, go to Bjorn's site
www.rickbeat.com & you can see pix of all 3 of my Ricks in front of the Victrola. Go to the gallery & look under 'Chris Poteat'.
I can never get those damn pictures small enough for this site...
Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 12:08 pm
by rictified
Nice Victrola Chris, I'll have to take some photos in front of my 1938 RCA 811K radio.
I also have a 1947 RCA TV with a small picture tube and a giant heavy chassis that needs some serious work.
Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 2:29 pm
by loendmaestro
G.A.S. applies to many different facets of life, eh Bob?!
Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 1:21 pm
by jamesvwaal
Chris, your photos are small enough (less than 20k) and should upload just fine. Here is your 4003.
