Conference napalm::guitar

673.0. "The Guitorgan as MIDI Controller" by AQUA::ROST (Lizard King or Bozo Dionysius?) Mon Jun 13 1988 22:04

    
    The new GP (July??? with Garcia on the cover) discusses the infamous
    GUITORGAN guitar/organ hybrid in the "Off the Wall" column.
    
    The nifty thing is that the company is still in business and will
    modify your *existing* guitar (preferably hollowbody for organ sound
    *plus* MIDI for a mere $1200.
    
    The kicker is that they used a wired fret system so there's no
    pitch-voltage conversion.  You can't use open strings though, since
    the string isn't fretted (but capos will work).
    
    Each fret is also split into six pieces making string bends difficult.
    
    What's most interesting is how low-key these guys are...I didn't
    know they were in business, let alone making MIDI controllers.
    
    If you should happen to already *own* a Guitorgan, the MIDI retrofit
    is $500 or so.
    
    

    
    	I've heard that string contact to the fret keys the notes "on"
    on that instrument; has nothing to do with strumming...Yecch!
    
    	Joe Jas
    

    May not be able to strum it, but it sounds like it might be wild
    for finger tapping.....
    
    Kevin
    

Re .0
> You can't use open strings though, since the string isn't fretted (but capos
> will work). 
    
Wonder why they didn't 'wire up' the nut and just ignore the lower note if
there's a fretted note on the same string ?

    Probably no way, given that it doesn't use string vibrations, just the
    string to fret contact, to figure out if it was really intended to
    sound or not.  Not many folks want to drone a A11 chord all the time
    they're not fingering notes :-)
    
    Greg

> Not many folks want to drone a A11 chord all the time they're not fingering
> notes :-) 
    
Well... you never know... :�)

Forget I even said it.

Please ?

Ross