Gibson: First 100% Digital Guitar

The electric guitar, which has used the same electronic technology for over seventy years, has finally plugged into the digital world, using NetworkSound real time digital solutions over standard Ethernet. Driven by the Ethernet-based technological advances made by NetworkSound in San Jose, CA, in collaboration with Gibson Labs, the Gibson Digital Guitar opens a new era for stringed instrument amplification. The new technology, which Gibson plans to install on all its electric guitars, features Gibson's MaGIC connectivity protocol and a sophisticated new pickup capable of isolating the vibrations of each individual string. In order to prevent loose Ethernet jacks and disconnections, Barani Subbiah, Founder and CEO of NetworkSound, knew he needed to outfit the guitar with Neutrik's ultra-reliable EtherCon RJ-45 connector.

Utilizing the MaGIC protocol developed by Gibson Labs, the guitar company's technology division, NetworkSound was able to send 32 mono channels or 16 stereo channels in each direction over a single CAT-5 cable. "What you could conceivably do with this guitar is quite incredible," states Subbiah. "After running out of the Ethernet port and into the 8-output Breakout Box, you can then use split mode to assign each of the six strings to a different amplifier. However, this technology just wouldn't be practical if you had frequent drops in your connections and cables, so we had to go with the tight-locking and rock-solid Neutrik EtherCon RJ-45. You could jump around on stage all day and not lose your connection."

A genuine Gibson guitar that is 100% compatible with all existing equipment, the world's first digital guitar employs Gibson's patented HEX pickup, which senses up-and-down motions and side-to-side motions, and can detect and isolate the vibrations of each individual string. By combining this revolutionary pickup with the MaGIC protocol and Breakout Box, NetworkSound was able attain a 32-channel throughput without having numerous extra connections and cables on the guitar itself.

The EtherCon Series' rugged RJ-45 style connectors were designed with audio and video stage technology, DMX systems and harsh environments in mind. The EtherCon Series offers both male cable carriers and assembled female receptacles. The cable end offers a robust die-cast shell as a carrier for pre-assembled RJ-45 plugs.

NetworkSound, which produced the electronics, real-time digital audio transport and control solutions for the Gibson Digital Guitar, provides a very cost-effective, high-quality, Ethernet-based audio distribution solution for the pro-audio market. Given the company's advanced technology and the broad range of applications, NetworkSound also uses the EtherCon connectors in mixers, amplifiers, high-end speakers, home theater systems, and stage boxes. "We are also currently working on a mixer with a similar philosophy using the Neutrik EtherCon connectors," continues Subbiah. "It has two ports: Audio-In and Audio-Out. This way we can replace the bulky, cumbersome analog snakes with a single CAT-5 cable. It is amazing to see the back panel of a mixer with no cables attached."

Comments

[roumen]

i wanna have it
you should always try new things
only then can you really decide what you like and most suits you

[rocker]

this guitar will probly be like $3,000 or something like that, there's no way any one is going to be able to afford it except for rock stars. I already have a gibson les paul and im happy with that, i dont need some high tech thing.

[roumen]

no talent ass clowns??
did you even read the article??
i dont understand how this guitar can be easier to play than any other??

[stratstrummer40]

CAN YOU SAY PIECE OF SHIT!!!!

[StreamLine]

you guys are stupid.

this is a new technology... means recording can now be crystal clear and you can have different real time effects on each string... like have the bottom 3 distorted and the top 3 clean...

this is trully something, however costs of equipment for the guitar and the guitar itself will be very high, limiting this guitar to professionals only.

[Pyr0]

in 10 years everything will be digital

[EpitaphMan440]

Its awesome. You can have an amp for ever string, it cuts out alot of the clutter of sounds commin out of a normal 2 way stereo amp. Can't wait to buy one.

[giveitaname87]

Never had a good experience playing a Gibson...or an Epiphone...

[Shortys99887]

cool

[R@fa88offspring]

quote:
first posted by Shorty99887
cool

i second that, no wait, COOL.

[think11270]

Sounds cool, I'll prolly try it out if it ever comes out..

[Rokability]

EPIPHONE SUCKS, MY FRIEND GAVE IT TO ME JUST LIKE THAT HE HAS STACKS OF GUITAR, DAMNIT HE SHOULD GIVE ME YAMAHA OR SOMETHING BETTER ANYWAY

[millencolin182]

it's something new at least

[DeftoneMobster]

epiphone i agree suck but i always did have good stuff with gibson. i also agree that having an individual am for each string would eb cool but VERY PRICEY $$$$$$$

[RockMarshall12]

that will never sell

[ad_lib_oz]

haha streamline u are SUCH a tech geek!

[crzywhiteboy]

i think this is stupide and they should keep guitar like they were invented in the first place and not like change the whole guitar.
and streamline you made a good comment about half distortion and half clean strings that would be cool but i dont think it would be cool to make a guitar like that mabe an effect peddal that does that would be cool.

[PiNGPoNG-DT]

Sounds pretty cool, but only seems useful for effects monkeys. The only good thing I see is probably new guitarists becoming legends in mastering the new gizmos and effects that guitar can pump out. This is considering the fact that there arent that many guitarists becoming associated with parts of the guitar anymore (for example: the whammy bar, etc have all been pretty much worn out in "new-usage-for" wise)

[PiNGPoNG-DT]

I have a new comment...until they digitize wood bodies or necks, i refuse to believe the 100% digital propaganda. It's false advertisement without the asterisk, and the bottom in fine print saying "body and neck wood are not digital"

[ShaDoweR]

All thats digital now is the electronics and the cables....whats wrong with that

[frigginjerk]

i say, if you can't manage with JUST a guitar, a pickup selector and a two-channel amp, you shouldn't be playing guitar in the first place. i can see the artistic benefit of this digital guitar, but

[TGM]

This will be a good one for new sounds and definatly for recording, but I'd rather have a Les Paul or SG.

[roumen]

some people here act like this guitar is ment to replace the old one...
maybe you shouldve stopped fender from making an electric guitar, he shouldve kept it acoustic, not?
i think its great, it could make a guitar lighter too and the sound crystal clear

[Bassman13]

i'll add that thing to the list of thing's I'd get if i was rich, rite next to my mansion, and my 2003 dodge viper srt 10

[nasty_santa409]

hmm....interesting....too
bad I can't afford it...otherwise that would be the second thing I would get after my pontiac firebird...

[loves.squier]

wow... according to alot of idiots on here. new technology is BAD.

those hypocrites better be using a ***ing 386 (if you dont know what it is you're an idiot) and a horse to get around

[short circut]

hey you there

[short circut]

opps diddnt mean to do that , the guitar sounds cool

[Phoenixblade]

Don't even say Epiphone sucks. They're NOT made for professionals- they're more for beginners and people strapped for cash. For what they cost they're pretty damned good guitars. Not to mention that, like ALL guitars, they're fully alterable and upgradeable, meaning you can do pretty much whatever you want with it. I have a G-400 from Epiphone and I enjoy it very much. wThe bridg burstbucker blows, but I'm changing it and I'm very happy with what I have. I'd rather have a gibson, but I don't exactly have the 1000+ to blow on an instrument right now.

[Xeus]

people are getting so workedup about this, but isnt kinda similar to when the first effects pedals were out i guess everyone then were saying it wasnt proper guitar playing

[UseYourBrain]

I have a bad feeling that I won't be able to afford it...

[Pre-Chorus]

Does it come in blue ? :P

[metalbest]

Sound's very COOL.... you doesn't waste any money when you buy this guitar... THAT SURE!

[twiGGYramiREZ]

well first there was acoustic then electric now digital. i think it'll be great, bands playing wiv elec bass n digital cud make a very different n interesting sound. dont complain till u've heard it lol

[blindfire]

i think it will be pretty cool but it will never beat electric.

[Buscubba]

ok cool it would be neat to have one but theres this camel that has all of the money, it keeps outrunning me... piece of shit.....

[craig_chud]

These guys (Gibson) arnt stupid theyve bin in buisness for god knows how long, if it wasnt going to improve playing quality they wouldn't have invested millions, for all you jackasses out there try things or think about what your saying before your doubt anything new.

[deano_strat]

digital... mmmm i could take it or leave it. It seems ok, but its natural for people to get angry when things change...

[Oswald]

Why dos you guys say "shite"???
I hate americans but "shite" is more stupid sounding than calling America the "Free World".....

[pant weasel]

That's a stupid idea. You can't get as good a sound as you can with a normal electric guitar.

[Ian_Milton]

the music MAYBE better-but the skill of playing the guitar really well will be taken out!soon everyone will be playing guitar-which will stop it being so unique!but hey,the instrument could be a revolution and music could be alot better-who knows???

[danc446]

You know... they said the same thing when this thing called a "Compact Disc" came out...

[mick_d009]

its a shame, from reading these comments, half you people dont have a clue about what the hell the article is about, until you have had to soundcheck through a proper desk and used half the things spoken about in this article, you are not in the position to say anything, dont run your mouth about something you dont understand!

[Guitarman14]

It sounds cool but i dont think any one is ready for something like this

[Remmy_214]

I think the prospect of a digital guitar is awesome, but i also feel a little worried that being to digital will out do the skill of the actual guitar playing. With so much time invested in something only to have it threatened like this, can you really blame people for misunderstanding? How do you think the Electric Guitar was received when it first came out? And guitar will never change, there will never be anything more magical than listening to an unplugged acoustic guitar. Just think of this as a new type of electric guitar. One thing that I forsee that may come up is lag, what happens when to much information is going over the cat5 wire and the guitar start to lag... lol i dont even want to think about it.

[Slashpepper]

Oh dear god, did you not read that article? (Not speaking to all of you here) They also said its completely compatible with existing technology. You saw the word "digital" and jumped to conclusions. Its a normal, electric guitar with genuine analogue vibrating strings. The electronics can do amazing things but its still a damn analogue guitar! It just means you get get the signal from different elements of the sound to play with. You may not like it but some people like experimental change. I even read an article I found with people complaining that Jimi Hendrix couldn't play the guitar and was just doing silly things and never learned properly. People so annoy me, there will always be talented guitar players, and they'll always make the most of what they have. Stop complaining. Jeeez.

[pant weasel]

Horrible. Just horrible. Guitars should be wood, metal, and plastic. NOTHING ELSE.

[devcon1]

DUDE WHAT THE HELL.... WHO CARES HOW MUCH CLEARER IT IS... IF YOUR A TRUE GUITARIST YOU CAN DO THAT YOUR SELF WITH THE GOOD OLD FASHION PICK-UPS... THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT

[Happyhell]

ok first off that their make A DIGITAL GUITAR is ***ing awesome instead of having a pedal on the floor you could have it on the guitar, it's amazing ok look at it this way you have a different sound for each fret. if anyone says that?s anything different from awesome your either ignorant old farts or stupid and retarded