Your opinion on digital guitars

[MERRYKISSMASS2U]

With guitars like Gibson's HD.6X-Pro Les Paul, Parker's piezo/hex utilizing guitars, and Line 6's Variax 700 model, what do you guys think about the digital guitars?


I personally think that they open up some cool doors, but they are very redundant.

HD LP --> Digital feed to Breakout Box --> Analog feed to computer ---> Converted into digital for recording onto PC.


Conventional guitar --> Analog stream to preamp/mixing box (I am going to start using the M-Audio Black Box) --> Digital


So, it just does not make a whole lot of sense. Plus, Gibson's MaGiC technology might be a bust.

What's your opinion? I know the rotharmy is full of experts, and it would be cool if you guys could weigh in.

Also, I think that these guitars aren't as reliable as the current magnetic pickup units. These things run on batteries/electricity, because they have computers on board. If any of you run Windows, you know your computer is not always 100% reliable. What happens when you're on the road and YOUR GUITAR(!!!) busts a CPU or circuit... you can't just take it to a music shop, you'd have to go to a Gibson/Line 6/Parker computer geek. However, if you were shredding on a Jackson, or whatever, you'd just replace a faulty pickup and be on your way.

That's just my take. I hope guitars don't go all digital... PLEASE GOD.


Can't one thing in our lives not be a freaking computer?


Look at the pricetags, too... I know this is temporary, as the prices go down, but it's Gibson, so maybe not :D

[BrownSound1]

These things are the anti-Christ. I'm all for technology, but how hard is it to just plug in and play a regular guitar?

[Don Corleone]

Never played one, never had any desire to play one and I doubt I ever will.

[jhale667]

Originally posted by BrownSound1
These things are the anti-Christ. I'm all for technology, but how hard is it to just plug in and play a regular guitar?

What he said. I'd rather use one of my favorite conventional guitars through an interface.
Haven't checked out an modeling software lately, but last demo I did I ended up re-tracking all the guitars with my REAL amp. The emulations were just lifeless....

[MERRYKISSMASS2U]

Here's a strat that "emulates" different sounds... pure rubbish.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StratVGM3SB/

[kentuckyklira]

Originally posted by jhale667
What he said. I'd rather use one of my favorite conventional guitars through an interface.
Haven't checked out an modeling software lately, but last demo I did I ended up re-tracking all the guitars with my REAL amp. The emulations were just lifeless....

I´ve been fooling around with my new audio interface a lot lately. Of course, since it´s just for fun, I use as much freeware as I can get. I´ve found some amp sims that get you a decent clean or light crunch sound. Any attempts at getting a decent overdrive sound with any mentionable amount of gain failed. The high end will turn scratchy and fizzy, unless you dial it out so far that everything turns into mud. The compressors do not work well. Same kind of problem, dialed in lightly they were ok, some really hard core compression for high speed shredding et. al., no way.

Although, I spent an afternoon at a friend´s place who has guitar rig (actually paid for it) and the same is true for it.

I got some useable tone by using the overdrive from a Korg pedal before going into the computer and using a "tube amp" emulater and a few effects aqnd filters on it. The rythm guitar tone is actually ok IMHO. The lead is still missing something, it just ain´t "singing" if you know what I mean! Read my thread about it!

[MERRYKISSMASS2U]

Yeah, the emulations are "alright", but going through a pedal, then an interface is best.

However, Garageband, and I assume Logic Pro, do a very good job.


The cool thing about these digital guitars is that you can send each individual string to a different amp.

[kentuckyklira]

Originally posted by MERRYKISSMASS2U

The cool thing about these digital guitars is that you can send each individual string to a different amp.

Nothing you couldn´t do with the help of a midi pick up and a guitar synth!

[MERRYKISSMASS2U]

What exactly is the benefit of these guitars then, LOL.


A good way to waste money?

[MERRYKISSMASS2U]

Oh, I can't play that effect, let me update my guitar's firmware...

[kentuckyklira]

Originally posted by MERRYKISSMASS2U
What exactly is the benefit of these guitars then, LOL.


A good way to waste money?

You just summed up Gibson´s company motto in just 6 words!

[MERRYKISSMASS2U]

Originally posted by kentuckyklira
You just summed up Gibson´s company motto in just 6 words!

They make nice guitars, but JEEEEEZ on the price.

I love your guitar collection.... and they obviously sound great.

[indeedido]

The idea is there, like the Pod, but it is just a fad. I think it will go away, just can't be organic

[Coyote]

Got no use for a digital guitar...

I'm still trying to figure out the analog one.

[Don Corleone]

Like Indeedido said everything always goes around in cycles.

A few years back in the 90's everyone was using Midi stuff and had a nice big rack of digi effects. Then the fad switched back to real amps and pedals again. Now the trendy bit of kit to have is the POD (yes I own one as well)

This is just Gibson dipping it's toe into the water to see if theres a market for this sort of thing. Yes some session player will buy one - but I don't think they'll see many sales.