Internal Combustion Guitar - gnarly guitar tone at a polite volume

By adding a signal chain to the classic electric axe, the Internal Combustion Guitar takes the tone generated by a small amp and sends it on back to the guitar, where something called a "coupling mechanism" feeds the sound back to your strings -- much the same way that standing in front of an amp will cause the guitar to feedback into its pickups. Use the throttle to control how much righteous color comes through, or use the (optional) MIDI pickup to rock out virtually. Prices start at a cool $2,450 -- including medium gauge strings and an Extreme Gig Bag. Not convinced? Catch Woody B after the break.

[Via Music Radar]

[Don Corleone @ Sep 26th 2008 2:15PM]

More playing, less talking in the demo plz.

Looks dorky, but interesting idea, tho nothing beats a wall of Marshalls cranked to 11 though.

[OneLove @ Sep 26th 2008 2:50PM]

I used to smoke crack with Woody B.

[Gofthick @ Sep 26th 2008 2:16PM]

Now you can achieve that horrible sound you crave to avoid, in your guitar!

[Mycroft @ Sep 26th 2008 2:26PM]

Since I cannot comment on the Switched On articles, I will post here and suffer the slings and arrows...

Any rumors regarding when the Sprint Android phone will be released? Is Wimax to much to ask? And by quick show of hands, who many are working to port Android onto, oh, say, the HTC Touch Pro?

[Artie Lange @ Sep 26th 2008 2:41PM]

Why is he dressed like Marlon Brando in "Apocalypse Now"? In real life he looks to be a far site heavier than he does in that totally Roadhouse-tastic, thrill-billy-on-a-steel-horse picture he features on his website.

[jack @ Sep 26th 2008 2:28PM]

great guitar player....public speaker? perhaps not

[LarryLarryLarry @ Sep 26th 2008 8:02PM]

What the hell is he talking about with "pre-modulating" the sound? I'm not a conservationist but $2500 worth of snake oil cannot be good for the snake population.

The first sustain pickup was the Sustainiac:

http://www.sustainiac.com/

It's been around for at least 25 years.

[Rob @ Sep 26th 2008 2:28PM]

Hippies. Why do they love to hear themselves talking so much???
Eric Cartman would have a great time with Woody here.

Back to the guitar, it sounds interesting. But, I don't see a lot of value for my $$$ here. And what is that red sitting right next to the amp? Is that a Pod?

[Zadillo @ Sep 26th 2008 3:02PM]

Looks like it might be one of those new PocketPods (doesn't seem big enough to be one of the full-sized PODs (PODxt, POD X3, etc.): http://line6.com/pocketpod/

[StrangeBum @ Sep 26th 2008 3:51PM]

As for you question about why hippies like to talk so damn much, it's a pretty simply answer, marijuana.

To quote the Prince of Pot (loosely) "After smoking marijuana, the smoker's explanations become more expansive and longer" so pretty much, it's just the weed.

/stay off drugs kids
//weed is NOT a drug
///alcohol still is though :)

[Alexandre Emond @ Sep 26th 2008 2:36PM]

Sounds good but doesn't some 200$ pedals could do the same effect on final sound?

[StrangeBum @ Sep 26th 2008 3:54PM]

Better believe there is, though they may not technically get quite the same sound. But just for comparison check out this pedal, which is even more expensive than most of them. You can walk into a guitar shop and pick one up for about $60-70 if you really wanted to.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Pigtronix-Attack-Sustain-Guitar-Effects-Pedal?sku=152004

[Brazell @ Sep 26th 2008 2:49PM]

Looks stupid, sounds okay I guess... I'm not as impressed as Lenny Bruce is. Goffthick's comment wins... the only people who want this sound to come out of their instruments, with feed back, are people who can't play and shouldn't be spending $3000 on a guitar.

[ham @ Sep 26th 2008 3:02PM]

nice cardboard amps in the background to really push his point.

[paranoid_android @ Sep 26th 2008 3:06PM]

Fernandes Sustainer Kit anyone?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WzRVwwUJgKk

Seems to do about the same thing. I saw a guitar with this system in it for $300 at a local music shop once.

[Mike Cornett @ Sep 26th 2008 3:16PM]

No one wants HD for the guitar...The guitar isn't a hifi instrument.

Leave this work to the amps...You don't need a dumble (after all, carlos created the early tones w/ Boogies). Give yourself some overwound, hot pickups, play with a live amp, crank the mids, and you'll have yourself the 'internal combustion guitar'.

[baboalex @ Sep 26th 2008 3:51PM]

Haruko nods approvingly...
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fe/FLCL_image.jpg/230px-FLCL_image.jpg

[Jeff @ Sep 26th 2008 5:32PM]

Haruko played bass... and a Rick... I highly doubt she (even as a fictional character) would have much to say about this.

[Jeff @ Sep 26th 2008 5:40PM]

This strikes me as an idea like those guitars with amps built in. Good idea, I guess, if you're a beginner or you just don't feel like doing things properly.

But $2,450? No way. It has to be a good guitar first before you can even think about charging a premium like that. Just looking at it, I see an ugly finish, a thin body with an uncomfortable looking bulge on the back that you don't see here, and tons of weird hardware and electronics that are going to color the clean sound.

I also love how the web site described the "industrial paint" used for the finish as the "ultimate in retro" - yeah, right! The earliest electric guitars all used nitro-based paint and clearcoats - it was completely glossy. There's nothing wrong with doing something different, but don't call it retro! And I personally think it's just ugly.

[wonkydonkydotnet @ Sep 26th 2008 5:44PM]

Erm, nope.
Not taking $2450 out of my Mesa DualRec/Diezel Herbert fund.

Give that thing to Tom Morello to vid-demo and you might sell a few; otherwise it'll go the same way as the Moog guitar, meaning only Lou Reed will own one, and by Lou Reed owning a guitar I mean putting the ChickenF****r from South Park in charge of Mental Health Day at public schools.

[wonkydonkydotnet @ Sep 26th 2008 5:45PM]

The little red thing is a PocketPod, I believe.

[OneEyeOneLung @ Sep 26th 2008 7:48PM]

Dead set you can make one of similar characteristics for around $20
that is if you have the time & inclination

[Wodheila @ Sep 26th 2008 8:04PM]

The "deco" look is a Dan Electro rip off.

[Mike @ Sep 26th 2008 9:43PM]

Ok, and how much would it cost to mod a stock electronic Axe to do the same? Radio Shack and I guess $150 on the outset.

It sure is nice though...

[jak @ Sep 27th 2008 1:13AM]

that 'demonstration' told me nothing and showed me nothing.

[Telemark @ Sep 27th 2008 1:33AM]

He would be infinitely better off spending $2,500.00 on guitar lessons than pushing the crap he deems the "God Almighty Guitar". My 9 year old can play a better riff than Marlon Brando on the video can.....

[tb @ Sep 27th 2008 6:00PM]

how is this a news item?
there is the sustainer/sustainiac that does the same silently, and guitar with built in speakers/amps are around for 20 years or so

[jigzat @ Sep 28th 2008 2:32PM]

The guitar is not about how it sounds but how it feels. It's great to feel that resonance in the body and the strings. If you don't care about it just let it go and read the next engadget article. I would love to have one of those in my collection.

[W@@dy B @ Sep 30th 2008 11:06PM]

Hi guys Have to say your comments are all over the map.Even a quick look at the ICG should tell you its not just a sustainer guitar .But it does sustain until the cows come home .IT is very cool to feel your notes as you play However the ICG is about TONE COLOR and VIBE Lets test your tonal knowledge Question? why did SRV put 13s on his guitar?? TONE FAT TONE more resonate energy means more ?????...some of you might not like my body size or my riffs but Id like give you a free ride on the ICG to watch your jaw drop like every one else when they first try it. I do appreciate the comments about our demos and we hope to feature some hot players doing things only the ICG will do on upcoming videos.Until then save your ideas and let us respectfully know what you think.W@@Dy B alias MARLON BRANDO