http://www2.gibson.com/Products/DarkFire.aspx?gclid=CM7lmZTR65YCFQRkswodwVdrrA (http://www2.gibson.com/Products/DarkFire.aspx?gclid=CM7lmZTR65YCFQRkswodwVdrrA)
So I'm totally torn on this one. I don't know how well their last run of Robot guitars sold, but I think musicians will either fall madly in love or want to go office space on it. On one hand, it truly is a very very very nice guitar, even if you get rid of all the computerized bullshit. You've got solid pickups, solid hardware, and overall good construction. It's a Gibson (I don't want to get into a Gibson vs. other guitars argument) so it's gonna play nice. I can definitely see the merit in the whole Robot system. It tunes the guitar every couple of minutes. It can emulate almost any tone. Hell, it even has individual Piezo pickups for each string in their saddles, which when combined with the semi hollow body could give a pretty rich acoustic tinge to the output. This thing could truly be a monster if used properly.
On the other hand.......all I need are six strings, the bridge pickup, and an output. There's beauty in simplicity (he says to a board full of Monster owners). I own an Epi Les Paul and an Epi SG and I don't think I'd trade my Les Paul for the world. Even with slightly above average pickups and a weight that will drag you down after a couple hours of playing, it's still my basis for comparison whenever I pick any other guitar up, even if it's a $2k American Strat.
Obviously the Dark Fire isn't a beginners guitar (dunno what this one costs, but the older versions started at around $5k and up I think) but at the same time I feel like the player would loose something when he or she has everything done for them. You can download already produced custom tones. You don't have to tune anymore (I think I'm still one of the only people who tunes by ear). I've always loved music that goes against the robotic, pop escence of all the tripe they play on the radio these days and this guitar seems to reinforce that bland view towards music. Then again, you put anything in the hands of Angus Young and it's gonna sound good. I will NEVER own one of these (I'm just a hobbyist), but I'm curious to see what this kind of guitar will do over the next decade.
All that being said, I wouldn't turn down the chance to fiddle with one ;D
WTF, I thought I accidentally stumbled onto TGP or HC for a sec.
Quote from: Jarvicious on November 10, 2008, 02:49:48 PM
It's a Gibson (I don't want to get into a Gibson vs. other guitars argument) so it's gonna play nice.
You can probably guess who won that argument at my house. [laugh]
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/Gibsonchild/musicroom.jpg)
Seriously though, I love LP's. I've had several and loved all but one of them. Only reason I have so many Fenders is because I get them at cost. I sold the LP in the pic (and the empty spot next to it was an SG that I also sold), but I plan on getting another one or two next year sometime.
As far as the Dark Star goes, just gimme a nice guitar, and a nice amp....
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/Gibsonchild/P1000752.jpg)
and maybe a few pedals..... [laugh]
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/Gibsonchild/1795664442_bc46d400a9-1.jpg)
Don't need all that high tech fancy shit.
And BTW, your avatar cracks me up. Crank is bad, mmmkay?
Quote from: Timmy Tucker on November 10, 2008, 03:48:42 PM
And BTW, your avatar cracks me up. Crank is bad, mmmkay?
[laugh] [laugh] I always meant to bring that up. [laugh] [laugh]
Kinda reminds me of my Line 6 Variax. Only prettier.
Yeah, it's definitely very Line 6 but I'll take a Gibson over a Liney any day. Though you could buy like 3 Line 6s for the price of this guy.
I agree though Timmy. 6 strings and an amp are all I need. The pedal collection is slow coming, but I don't play that often either. If I ever did get a Fender it would be the '69 Tele Thinline reissue. I'd really like to see someone utilize the Dark Fire to its full potential though.
Quote from: Jarvicious on November 10, 2008, 05:27:54 PM
Yeah, it's definitely very Line 6 but I'll take a Gibson over a Liney any day. Though you could buy like 3 Line 6s for the price of this guy.
Granted.
I snagged a Variax and a POD XT Live about a year and a half ago. The Variax and the software it comes with is like having a guitar store at your disposal. One of my favorite features is the ability to assign different tunings to the different pickup selector positions.
Another nifty feature is that if you've got the two together you can set it up so that when you switch to a slot on the POD, the POD will tell the Variax which guitar model and pickup selector position it should be in.
On the other hand, you can just plug the Variax into a regular amp and select a type of guitar from the presets and play it as-is and the sounds are spot-on.
Its also got a better plugged-in acoustic guitar sound than my Taylor, and does it without the feedback. It sounds
like an acoustic guitar, not like an acoustic guitar with a piezo pickup.
But yeah, that Gibson's purdy.