I've got the greatest guitar of them all!

[Help!I'maRock!]

For those getting interested in cool-tech guitars this one I just saw on the web. It's Casio EG-5, another product-fail (of the 1980s). {why does that happen to the good stuff and not all that copy of _hero-x__ junk}.

Of coarse this one like all the rest has been compromised to toy-ish characteristics but I like the MIDI-usb concept. Even better would be 802.11 so that I could use that for both effects adn transmitter.

http://guitarz.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html:

it happens that way because they were awful guitars. Yeah, the tech was cool, but it was a POS. It's not like Casio couldn't have made a quality instrument with those electronics. But for some reason thy made a toy instead. Nobody wants to play a toy.

 

[jrockbridge]

because i want a guitar that's a guitar and an amplifier that's an amplifier. i don't need the added weight around my neck. also, your guitar is no longer an acoustic guitar. it is an electric guitar. hollowbody electric guitars feedback. in some cases, badly. putting the speaker inside the body doesn't solve this problem, especially with distortion. go play any of the other amp in body guitars posted in this thread. they're terrible. they're a solution searching for a problem with poor execution.

Are you sure you wouldn't want an amplifier that's a guitar? What if it was a full stack?

 

[reitze]

Why? They kind of look kludged together and messy. It's cool that you like your chop job guitars (different strokes for different folks), but why do you keep on pushing them on us, by resurrecting this thread, when everybody has basically said "meh"? Like my Schecter Omen Extreme 7, 7-string guitar (which among my 3 guitars, sees serious playing time), at best, your guitars are niche instruments. Take it from me (us 7 & 8-string guitar players are considered to be the mavericks of the guitar world), it doesn't pay to constantly preach about a niche instrument like your franken-ghetto blaster guitars? It's just annoying. So is declaring in your original post with video, that they're the greatest guitars around, because you either believe that we should feel that way (take it from an occasional semi-pro lead guitarist who's been playing for 31 years, that's very much open for debate), or you're trolling, which is not cool either.

Don't you think you've done enough posting about your boom box guitars?

Hi ellengtrgrl - re-reading your quote I like it again because 1. it's a true perspective from the negative-side of the guitars and 2 it identifies key distinctions over my motives here that I/we can use.

On the boom box amp - yea it’s a small amp but there's a big difference having it in a guitar while the combined total size and weight is less than an average acoustic with similarly only 1 object (the guitar), and especially that it vibrates the whole guitar if you turn it up that loud. So like an acoustic has a feel-of-the-sound, Power Guitars have even more of that. It's like working with an acoustic on a loud stage and making due – in those situations guitarist most often work against that effect for the benefit of having the acoustic-ness. With Power Guitars, the that effect is fully in control and can be used to the extent desired like any of the rest in that boom-box-amp.

Regarding motives, pushing the paradigm IS a primary motive, though still to be seen if it's remotely realistic. Other "primary" include having the guitars I always wanted (1st primary), and another would be sharing build stories (giving 1 back - or a little bragging on my own among friends (point here, photobucket, youtube...)).

The paradigm push is more difficult that I imagined. I've worked in a few engineering domains with that sort of support for over 20 years. Pushing paradigms within their engineering domains is sometimes challenging too but much more open to engineering improvement than it appears the guitarist community. I do believe these are the greatest ever yet built - but only because of the available technology components (street amps, Dean V-coustics). Therefore I greatly appreciate your supporting comment that suggesting the idea of paradigm shifting is "open for debate". That appears the biggest opening yet in the blog world – and represents some encouragement! Thank you!

Trollin? No thanks, at least not any more. Being that there are open ebay items there is a readily perceived a motive to troll. But as we all know that down-side (like a child punching) the only up-side appears to be the publicity angle from counter-punch-mode (as typical rules usually tolerate such as reply with truth about listed items). However, that means the only “good trollin” is in reply to flames (flamers are the ones stretching rules in such cases - but sellers take those blames) and meanwhile the stress of the abuses and so-on (gets old especially w/o big sales).

 

[reitze]

Are you sure you wouldn't want an amplifier that's a guitar? What if it was a full stack?
...{/video}

That's awsome! The amp he's using is about the size of the Fender HOT amp I picked up used for $40 at the gtr ctr. I had considered ideas like cutting a notch into the back of it and adding a board so that it could double as a guilar-case-amp. But seeing this - now I want to hear/see more! Thanks for sharing!

 

[reitze]

That's awsome! The amp he's using is about the size of the Fender HOT amp I picked up used for $40 at the gtr ctr. I had considered ideas like cutting a notch into the back of it and adding a board so that it could double as a guilar-case-amp. But seeing this - now I want to hear/see more! Thanks for sharing!

I've been searching for more of that guitar anywhere. Hard to find. Here's what I did find at http://www.spinaltapfan.com/articles/guitarworld3.html:

Probably the most eye-catching piece in the guitarist's arsenal is the custom-made Marshall stack 6-string pictured on the cover of this issue. Also inspired by Nigel, it was designed by Marshall's Mike Doyle and executed by Jackson Guitars. It features a maple neck-through-body design with bass wood sides (and extension cabinet), ebony fretboard, 22 frets clear, and one Seymour Duncan humbucker. All other parts — cabinet corners, brass rivets, logos, control knobs, white piping, and front and back control panels — are made by Marshall. The "NT" is the only one of its kind — serial number JMOO1. As Doyle points out, "It can be played in either half-stack or full-stack configurations." What does the added extension cabinet do? "What any extension cabinet does," shrugs Nigel. "It makes it harder to pick up."

 

[reitze]

Best commercial product appears to be the Line 6 Variax

it happens that way because they were awful guitars. Yeah, the tech was cool, but it was a POS. It's not like Casio couldn't have made a quality instrument with those electronics. But for some reason thy made a toy instead. Nobody wants to play a toy.

Yea I see that toooooo often. Good concepts applied to toys so both the concept and the toy receive the abuse rather than appreciation. The other way things seem to happen is via the high-end expensive stuff. Good if you have $ but leaves people like me into hack-jobs. Maybe I can afford one of these some day.

In the high-end stuff this is the best I've seen, and thanks to Mike Poss for giving it such a nice demo here:

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

Yea I see that toooooo often. Good concepts applied to toys so both the concept and the toy receive the abuse rather than appreciation. The other way things seem to happen is via the high-end expensive stuff. Good if you have $ but leaves people like me into hack-jobs. Maybe I can afford one of these some day.

In the high-end stuff this is the best I've seen, and thanks to Mike Poss for giving it such a nice demo here:

the variax is yet another solution searching for a problem. guitars feel different, and that's why we play differently on them. it's about the connection between the instrument and the player, not the wiring and software.

 

[reitze]

the variax is yet another solution searching for a problem. guitars feel different, and that's why we play differently on them. it's about the connection between the instrument and the player, not the wiring and software.

That's well said. Tech for tech-sake = solution in search of problem. But there are problems out there to be solved, even for guitars. For me the key is to consider what's wanted first and then apply technology effectively if there's a solution path there. That's how I get to SMALL amps in guitars. It solves the lacking electric capability in the acoustic-bring-along-guitar for the park/church/beach. It also solves competing with boom boxes in beach or park settings. I always found that frustrating at camp grounds and beaches - and that was another amp-in-guitar motive for me to want one bad enough to hack-job-the-technical-solution-for-myself.

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

That's well said. Tech for tech-sake = solution in search of problem. But there are problems out there to be solved, even for guitars. For me the key is to consider what's wanted first and then apply technology effectively if there's a solution path there. That's how I get to SMALL amps in guitars. It solves the lacking electric capability in the acoustic-bring-along-guitar for the park/church/beach. It also solves competing with boom boxes in beach or park settings. I always found that frustrating at camp grounds and beaches - and that was another amp-in-guitar motive for me to want one bad enough to hack-job-the-technical-solution-for-myself.

no, it doesn't. it just hacks up a crappy guitar with a crappy amp. and any guitar you're bringing to the beach (there's no beaches in Rochester that i know of) is going to be one that you don't care much about anyway. beaches are hell on guitars.

also, they have these things. they're called mini amps. you can keep them on your belt loop. plug in your electric and the mini amp will be plenty loud.

 

[reitze]

Power Guitar Quality - components, Feedback limit

I was just playin the ML and noticed I can get a little more clean-power out of it than from the blond and proto. That suggests the feedback-mode is probably still vibration-oriented through the pickup (but surly not completely). I suspect the primary difference to be the extra wood-bracing in the construction of the ML. It also again suggests the ideal body for Power Guitars would probably be the John Watt semi-solid. But then it would need more power to take advantage of that benefit. It's sort of like the transmission being size'd for the motor in a car. The Roland MC is right-sized for the Dean V's.

I am figuring on putting the transmitter into the ML and in the process straightening out that tail piece a little. The down side for me with the ML as it's now shaped is that it still not as chair-comfortable as the blond and proto. It's close. The reason for the extended top-v-part was the amp didn't fit as far forward as the Vs.

So notionally my next build sould be based on either another ML-acousitc or that BC rich warlock with the Spider micro (5W w/ mic channel) amp and a mic. I'm also inclined to more fully cut, open, and add bracing before amp-mounting.

 

[paulskirocks]

reitze, I just figured you out! You are one of the funniest guys out here, and are getting the last laugh every time someone even comments on your thread! OF COURSE you know that your abominations are not even close to being fair, let alone great... Of course you know they look like a genetic mutation that should have been aborted... Of course you are trolling... Why do I know this? Because nobody could be that delusional... I know damn good and well that you are simply amusing yourself, and when it is all said and done, all you have done is had some fun with a crappy guitar and amp, so no harm was done...

I look forward to seeing what kind of mess you can make of the next project! May the farce be with you..

 

[reitze]

no, it doesn't. it just hacks up a crappy guitar with a crappy amp. and any guitar you're bringing to the beach (there's no beaches in Rochester that i know of) is going to be one that you don't care much about anyway. beaches are hell on guitars.

also, they have these things. they're called mini amps. you can keep them on your belt loop. plug in your electric and the mini amp will be plenty loud.

The mini-amp getting stuffed into the black dean v-coustic was how my amp-in-guitars projects began - cause I didn't want to carry that thing on my belt and the cord. There's still a logistics challenge for ANY external amp that's beach-bound (more to carry).

And sure beaches are harsh on guitars but it's actually the guitars I would take there that I care most about. The fancy Alvarez I have lives in its case and never goes anywhere (maybe it would if i had a church gig). So in contrast to the Alvarez, the Power Guitars are intended to be USED in harsh conditions wherever I go/am. Now depending on whether I care most about my investments or what I get to play where ... I'm currently favoring the ones I can play. If in contrast I had invested $100K in some special guitar I may be more interested in SHOWING it to people than playing anything. That's not saying investing isn't valuable. But for PLAYING I'm building what I want because I couldn't buy it.

 

[reitze]

I Modify My Stuff

reitze, I just figured you out! You are one of the funniest guys out here, and are getting the last laugh every time someone even comments on your thread! OF COURSE you know that your abominations are not even close to being fair, let alone great... Of course you know they look like a genetic mutation that should have been aborted... Of course you are trolling... Why do I know this? Because nobody could be that delusional... I know damn good and well that you are simply amusing yourself, and when it is all said and done, all you have done is had some fun with a crappy guitar and amp, so no harm was done...

I look forward to seeing what kind of mess you can make of the next project! May the farce be with you..

Thanks paulskirocks. For common perceptions that's fine but I honestly modifying many things that I buy is just part of who/what I am - so I can have WHAT I WANT. My first computer and I will have to go take a pic of my garden tractor just for you'all here. It's the tractor I like for mowing my grass while staying in the shade. Will edit/update this message with the pic later (need do mow now anyway).

Update: still haven't mowed or taken mower pic but here's a truck rack on a camaro I made for a friend on his way to Tx from Md:

Update 2:
OK so here's the garden tractor:

Notice it' has a permanently welded mulch plate. That was my solution and choice for 100% mulching to overcome the corporate decision that they only sold that 1 tractor with that 46" deck and never did sell a mulch-plate atachment for it.

The rack primarily keeps me in the shade but also doubles as a scaffold and winter shelter. The platform on the rear folds up/down and can hold 500lbs. The hitch if for moving my utility trailer (took a yard of stone dust to bend it). In the winter I put a plow blade chains and 4 feet of railroad track for weight too. A clear shower-curtain keeps me warm instead of blown at 5am in below-0F.

So as you can see I commonly modify my stuff to have what I want rather than corporations think I should be satisfied with (eg: seat-safety gone, etc.).

 

[paulskirocks]

reitze, you are still my MWGL hero! I can't wait to see what you 'manipulate' next! Maybe you could make a guitar out of the entire refrigerator, and not just the handle...

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

The mini-amp getting stuffed into the black dean v-coustic was how my amp-in-guitars projects began - cause I didn't want to carry that thing on my belt and the cord. There's still a logistics challenge for ANY external amp that's beach-bound (more to carry).

And sure beaches are harsh on guitars but it's actually the guitars I would take there that I care most about. The fancy Alvarez I have lives in its case and never goes anywhere (maybe it would if i had a church gig). So in contrast to the Alvarez, the Power Guitars are intended to be USED in harsh conditions wherever I go/am. Now depending on whether I care most about my investments or what I get to play where ... I'm currently favoring the ones I can play. If in contrast I had invested $100K in some special guitar I may be more interested in SHOWING it to people than playing anything. That's not saying investing isn't valuable. But for PLAYING I'm building what I want because I couldn't buy it.

that's great for you. but you're still trying to sell these things to us. your entire mini amp issue could have been solved with a 3 foot cable.

 

[reitze]

reitze, you are still my MWGL hero! I can't wait to see what you 'manipulate' next! Maybe you could make a guitar out of the entire refrigerator, and not just the handle...

Gosh thanks paulskirocks. Sorry but the fridge think didn't work too well (nearly lost matou over that one).

 

[reitze]

that's great for you. but you're still trying to sell these things to us. your entire mini amp issue could have been solved with a 3 foot cable.

I'm not trying to sell anything - if someone buys fine. But pushing doesn't sell - at least not to me. I do desire to "push the concepts/ideas" so that someday maybe I can buy such a thing. If I had started with a technology built-project promote the concept idea I might not have built 3 and thus wouldn't have had anything for sale. That would have been much easier in blog-world due to spamish-aspects. But I've never been motivated to blog/troll for the sake of selling even though it's well know that controversy sells (hard for others to discern w/o knowing me better and thus complicates blog-abilities esp in harsh-ones).

And BTW no-way does a cable solve what I want. For example, I can run line between 2 Power Guitars and choose which amp is live. The in-guitar amp is 1000x more satisfying to play because of the vibrations in the guitar that make it feel like it's coming alive (unless I wanted max-power then the external is better).

Funny though that it is sort of analogous to that old cell-phone-redial joke in that you can get enough vibration in the guitar and it is right in your lap - could be applied to genitals... but that's not why I like them and there are a lot of better appliances (or a wife) for genitals anyway.

With externals there's the yuck cord, yuck carrying more stuff... I want an amp it in the guitar, can't buy one and technology is available... that's why to make one. And since starting with the micro-amp in the first one, this project has answered a lot of questions for me about how that can be done well. And the blogs have encouraged me to do more with it than just play/enjoy it too so there's been unexpected values in many ways too.

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

you tried to sell these guitars on at least 3 different forums. so don't bother with the "i'm not trying to sell anything" line. the only reason you're not trying to sell anything now is because nobody bought them months ago when you started this thread.

have fun with your guitars. but please, for the love of god, stop posting here. just like you stopped posting on The Gear Page.

 

[reitze]

Good Head

reitze, you are still my MWGL hero! I can't wait to see what you 'manipulate' next! Maybe you could make a guitar out of the entire refrigerator, and not just the handle...

you tried to sell these guitars on at least 3 different forums. so don't bother with the "i'm not trying to sell anything" line. the only reason you're not trying to sell anything now is because nobody bought them months ago when you started this thread.

have fun with your guitars. but please, for the love of god, stop posting here. just like you stopped posting on The Gear Page.

+1 -1 = 0 :-\ so I guess I'm worthless here without something to contribute other than spam/troll discussion. And yea TGP crashes and burns on these type threads cause there's more haters there. Since everyone's nice here there's more value in just about all the threads. Enjoyed the one on the V&T knobs recently. In balance of annoyance that I still can't figure out how anyone is annoyed by a known thread ant apparent few who might appreciate - and more likely someone later... I'm intending to minimize posting to when I've got something such as this one.

Good Head:

 

[Jake S.]