Gibson Darkfire

[JohnH]

So what do we think of this?

www2.gibson.com/Products/DarkFire.aspx

Seems they have some nutz over there at Gibbo.

It appears to be a Robot mk2, with some kind of coil switching options and blending with piezo sound, plus lots of output and interface options.

I don't want it, but I'd love to take one to bits!

(Piezo and mag blending - theres a thought!....already dunnit!)

cheers

John

[ChrisK]

I'm not sure that it's all that coil switching and "Nutz" stuff that we find so compulsive.

The digital guitar is something that they've been working on for several years. It uses a deterministic Ethernet-like approach to multiplexing the individual 6 strings as well as the overall audio output to a distribution box as well as an audio channel back into the guitar. I saw this demo'd back in 2003 at the consumer electronics show in Las Vegas and couldn't see why anyone cared at that point (few did).

It would appear that a better user interface (UI) is now built into the "knob" that controls stuff. Combine this with the technology of the robot guitar and you have the new thing.

It looks like you can set the pickups and coils selected as part of each tuning setup, so when you change the tuning (or setup) everything follows along. If so, the LP three-way switch is merely a "suggestion" to the electronics.

It attaches to an external elextronics box.

[andy]

I think its quite a nice looking guitar. It puts me in mind of the kind of appearance of things mid '90's, just before the 'vintage' craze set off in full (though it wouldn't have had a p-90, of course!) The flat metal surfaces on the bridge and tail-piece are quite classy.

As for all that 'technology', it doesn't seem to be catching on with guitars as much as it did with amp sims, and I think this is more of a brand marketing move than anything. Perhaps, in a few years someone famous will start using one (or get famous using one) and things will kick off, but I think part of the appeal of the guitar is it's raw, blues and rock'n'roll sound, made from mis-matched electronics and old school technology. Price is another factor, I guess, and once these become do-able on a budget we'll start seeing them on stages 'near you', and when the 80's we are the future attitude comes back round into music, these kind of instruments may start to fit the vibe of the collective guitarists consciousness a bit better.

I am also a bit sceptical of these as I tried a Line 6 modelling acoustic a while back, and with the immediate, real sound on the one hand, and the digital sound through the headphones, the latency was quite apparent. I occasionally notice it to a minute degree with my POD too (barely, but still noticable if I'm in the right mood), and while I'm sure these things will be improving all the time, it just shows that digital re-working of what you play to such a high degree takes you out of touch with the sounds you produce. Fine for sounds which would take 10 efects to create anyway, but for just wailing the blues? It's that being 'in touch' that is our favourite thing about playing the guitar isn't it?

However, like my POD, it's one clever bit of kit, and would come in very handy as a 'go anywhere' instrument. With cool metal bits.

[newey]

For the money they want, I would have thought the pickups would be covered with actual carbon fiber (or, "fibre" for those across the river), rather than, as stated, "carbon-fiber look" material.

Kinda like buying a Mercedes with vinyl seats . . .