Moog Guitar: synth legend unveils an axe with auto-mute, infinite sustain

Bob Moog, one of the original morphogenetic inventors of the synthesizer, has unveiled the "Moog Guitar," a new instrument with pick-ups that allow for "infinite sustain" and special auto-muted plucking. It was invented by engineer Paul Vo and will sell for $6,500.

FULL SUSTAIN MODE - like no other sustainer; infinite sustain on every string, at every fret position and at any volume. You may have heard sustain before but not with this power (we call it "Vo Power") and clarity.

CONTROLLED SUSTAIN MODE - allows you to play sustained single or polyphonic lines without muting technique. The Moog Guitar sustains the notes you are playing while actively muting the strings you are not playing.

MUTE MODE - removes energy from the strings, resulting in a variety of staccato articulations. The mute mode has never been heard on any other guitar; the Vo Power stops the strings with the same intensity that it sustains them. You feel the instrument transform in your hands.

HARMONIC BLENDS – use the included foot pedal to shift the positive energy of Vo Power in Sustain mode and the subtractive force of Vo Power in Mute mode between the bridge and neck pick-ups to pull both subtle and dramatic harmonics from the strings.

MOOG FILTER - control the frequency of the built-in, resonant Moog ladder filter using the foot pedal or a CV Input

While a lot of these effects can be duplicated with effects processing and the like, there's no MIDI coming out of the Moog Guitar — it's all real mechanical sound.

Moog Unveils Badass Guitar with Infinite Sustain [Listening Post]

[#1 posted by bazzargh , June 10, 2008 7:18 AM]

The most surprising part of this announcement would be Bob Moog unveiling anything - since he sadly passed away in 2005. Its Paul Vo, at Moog's old company, thats doing this.

[#2 posted by g.park , June 10, 2008 7:55 AM]

There's a lot of neat things going on here, but that's a lot of money for what I consider to be a dressed up Sustainiac or Fernandes Sustainer system.

Moog really needs to prove their mettle in making the actual guitar, as well. I'd actually be probably more willing to bite if they just built the electronics, as a partnership with a more established and trusted guitar builder. Moog's proven their ability to make electronics, but I'm not sure if I trust them with strings and wood yet.

For an extra $1000, I'd rather go with Parker's Adrian Belew signature, which has the sustainer pickup, plus MIDI, piezo, and Variax functionality.

[#3 posted by g.park , June 10, 2008 7:57 AM]

There's a lot of neat things going on here, but that's a lot of money for what I consider to be a dressed up Sustainiac or Fernandes Sustainer system.

Moog really needs to prove their mettle in making the actual guitar, as well. I'd actually be probably more willing to bite if they just built the electronics, as a partnership with a more established and trusted guitar builder. Moog's proven their ability to make electronics, but I'm not sure if I trust them with strings and wood yet.

For an extra $1000, I'd rather go with Parker's Adrian Belew signature, which has the sustainer pickup, plus MIDI, piezo, and Variax functionality.

[#4 posted by maxoid , June 10, 2008 8:32 AM]

i think the koto/banjo mode (active muting) is the coolest thing about it. not too crazy about its looks, but then i am in the gibson 335 school of aesthetics. i actually think it would be cooler with the design aesthetic of the mini moog, all 1940's bomber radio lookin' with patch cables sheathed in gum-rubber, toggle switches, etc. etc.

[#5 posted by Smurf , June 10, 2008 9:37 AM]

The thing does more magic (cf. Clarke's Law) than just sustain.

Also there's a lot to be said for emphasizing harmonics right at the strings, instead of post-processing the hell out of your guitar's sound.

In fact, this is one of the times when I really wish I'd have time for stuff like guitar lessons.

[#6 posted by pantsravaganza , June 10, 2008 9:45 AM]

Sadly, Bob Moog (rhymes with rogue) has indeed passed on. There's a nice documentary out about him and his instruments, called "Moog." It has a lot of him talking about the history and disgn of the instruments. That said, the music featured in it is a somewhat questionable representation of synth playing. Both Bernie Worrell (Parliament/Funkadelic) and Stereolab managed to sound off. There is some good theramin playing in it though. Moog built a lot of expensive (but nice) theramins, though he didn't invent those, as he did with the whole synthesizer craze. He is electronic music's daddy, along with the Dave Smiths and Roger Linns of the world.

[#7 posted by Evil Jim , June 11, 2008 12:46 AM]

This is really an awesome instrument. I had a chance to play around with it during Moog's Ethermusic Fest in Asheville, NC back in April. Right now tho', I'm still learnin' the theremin.

[#8 posted by MaximusNYC , June 11, 2008 7:06 AM]

As if naming their newest synth "Little Phatty" a wasn't proof enough, this seals it: Bob Moog's company has been taken over by hippies.

[#9 posted by rjohnson439 , June 27, 2008 5:23 AM]

The feedback guitar lets you choose a nonlinear function to use for nonlinear muting!! Who ever heard of that?! And playing a guitar to make flute sounds?! wow..... I'm __dying__ to get one of those!

http://ccrma.stanford.edu/~eberdahl/Projects/FBGuitar/