Bob Moog, famous for his eponymous synthesizers, can now add "guitar god" to his credentials. Moog's new creation? A guitar with infinite sustain.
For non-musicians, sustain is a musical effect that prolongs a note's resonance. Previously, musicians were only able to get infinite sustain from special amp and pedal effects. Now, they can produce the effect right on the Moog Guitar Paul Vo Edition. The best part is that this is not a MIDI guitar: It's a real, fully functional electric guitar. (It looks similar to a Fender Stratocaster, a guitar well loved by musicians of all skill levels.
Moog's new guitar has other modes beyond Infinite Sustain: Muted mode, for example, allows players to add the sound of their fingers holding down the strings loosely and then taking them away from the strings right away after the strum, for a banjo-type sound. And Harmonic Blends allows you to use the included foot pedal to combine both Mute and Sustain modes for really technical effects.These effects operate separately on each pickup (which is what gives an electric guitar it's sound), giving players a wide range of sonic options.
According to Wired, the secret to the different modes is "strings that have 'a specific metallurgy designed to work with the Moog pickups.'"
Unfortunately, what that may mean is that musicians will have to buy specific strings made only by Moog to get the special effects on the guitar. If you're looking to spend the I-have-no-money-for-rent price of $6,495, then you're also going to have kiss those well-loved Ernie Ball strings goodbye.
Rhythms, beats and riffs just seem to be recycled over and over again. But now, musicians have a new way of developing music. As a musician, I think this is a huge leap in music technology.
The guitars are scheduled to ship in September, in a wide assortment of colors.
It is unfortunate, but Robert Moog can't add anything to his name as he died August, 2 years ago.
Posted by:
t-spoon June 10, 2008 11:20 PM
Buh? Only through special amp and pedal effects? Fernandes has been doing the 9v-powered Sustainer for years, which basically just induces a feedback loop through the strings. Standard strings, too... no trading in beloved Ernie Balls or GHS Boomers.
And then there's the ebow, albeit more cumbersome to use...
Posted by:
Amos June 17, 2008 3:21 PM
I think folks are getting too hung up on the "metallurgy" buzzword... all this means is that the real secret behind the Moog Guitar's sustain is that the pickups are physically pushing and pulling on the strings using electromagnetism... so if you use strings with a higher ferrous-metal content, it makes them easier to move electromagnetically. So the strings aren't the heart of the system and you're not a prisoner to their mythical metallurgy - you'll just get stronger sustain/mute action with quicker response using the Moog strings. See? Not a big deal...
I suspect it would sound pretty cool with one's beloved Ernie Ball or GHS strings as well. Perhaps players will discover that their favorite string-maker has a certain variety of string that also works better-than-average with the Moog pickups.
new generation of guitars??Have you seen the ICG guitar the internal combustion guitar ??Its the real thing like moog in some ways but with real grit and vibe check out our web site www.internalcombustionguitar.com
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June 10, 2008 4:33 PM
It is unfortunate, but Robert Moog can't add anything to his name as he died August, 2 years ago.
June 10, 2008 11:20 PM
Buh? Only through special amp and pedal effects? Fernandes has been doing the 9v-powered Sustainer for years, which basically just induces a feedback loop through the strings. Standard strings, too... no trading in beloved Ernie Balls or GHS Boomers.
http://www.fernandesguitars.com/sustainer.html
And then there's the ebow, albeit more cumbersome to use...
June 17, 2008 3:21 PM
I think folks are getting too hung up on the "metallurgy" buzzword... all this means is that the real secret behind the Moog Guitar's sustain is that the pickups are physically pushing and pulling on the strings using electromagnetism... so if you use strings with a higher ferrous-metal content, it makes them easier to move electromagnetically. So the strings aren't the heart of the system and you're not a prisoner to their mythical metallurgy - you'll just get stronger sustain/mute action with quicker response using the Moog strings. See? Not a big deal...
I suspect it would sound pretty cool with one's beloved Ernie Ball or GHS strings as well. Perhaps players will discover that their favorite string-maker has a certain variety of string that also works better-than-average with the Moog pickups.
September 14, 2008 6:59 PM
new generation of guitars??Have you seen the ICG guitar the internal combustion guitar ??Its the real thing like moog in some ways but with real grit and vibe check out our web site www.internalcombustionguitar.com