MIDI-guitar (was: Touch Switches/TS instruments )

[Theo]

Sounds like it, maybe my memory is a little fuzzy.
Must have been somthing like 10 years ago.
tried one with no stings on the fret board I'am quite sure about that.
There was a vibrato handle and it had midi.
Remember it fun to play with, even for someone as lousy on the string as me.
Almost like a toy seems a bit like a understatement to me...

Cheers Theo.

----- Original Message -----
From: Peter Snow <psnow at magma.ca>
To: Theo <t.hogers at home.nl>
Cc: <matti at devo.com>; <synth-diy at node12b53.a2000.nl>
Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2000 5:54 AM
Subject: Re: MIDI-guitar (was: Touch Switches/TS instruments )


> Theo,
>
> Perhaps you are thinking of the Casio DG-10. It has the nylon strings
> that trigger the sounds.  Also has the rubber fingerboard that detects
> which note you are fingering. The strings run the whole length of the
> neck back to the "bridge", just like a real guitar but they play no part
> in the note generation, they just act as triggers. No dynamics either,
> i.e. it doesn't matter how hard you hit the string, it plays the note at
> the same volume.
>
> Six note polyphonic, very limited number of preset sounds built-in. Also
> has rhythm section and built-in Speaker. It's almost like a toy.
>
> It is an interesting little beast to play, but takes a bit of getting
> used to.  You cannot bend stings or do vibrato, though it can do
> hammer-ons and pull-offs quite nicely. Only sound I found useful was the
> jazz organ.  And no CV or trigger out, so no interfacing with other
> synths, at least until you modify it!!
>
> I believe the Casio DG-20 is the MIDI model. I have never seen one so
> maybe that is the one with the "ribs" instead of strings?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Peter
>
> Theo wrote:
> >
> > Lasers? Good havens you sure like it the hard way.
> > Chances are that the lasers will play like shit, because you won't be
able
> > to feel them.
> > What about short strings;
> > 1) simple approach, non velo: connect short string to a micro switch,
> > 2) elegant approach, velo sens: measrue the string movement and
translate
> > that into a triger pulse.
> > The srting may be stif pices of metal, like on the Digitar.
> >
> > If you only want CV control the whole thing could analog, no midi
needed.
> >
> > When midi output is no problem you may want to check out the Casio midi
> > guitar (the japanece Casio from the wimpy keyboards).
> > Not sure if they still make them.
> > It has a rubber fret board with no strings and rubber ribs as string
> > triggers, althoug I saw a model that used 5inch "real" strings as
triggers
> > once.
> >
> > Cheers Theo
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <matti at devo.com>
> > To: <synth-diy at node12b53.a2000.nl>
> > Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2000 1:00 AM
> > Subject: MIDI-guitar (was: Touch Switches/TS instruments )
> >
> > > Okay, this is even more off the topic, but casio's post brought
something
> > up:
> > > have you ever considered using a MIDI-guitar (not sure of the real
name)?
> > It's
> > > (those that I've seen, anyway) as follows: laser beams are emitted
from
> > the
> > > bridge, and picked up just before the neckboard; if one of the beams
is
> > blocked,
> > > an output is sent via MIDI, indicating that a note has been hit. Note
> > control is
> > > done via four sets of keys replacing the frets on the neckboard. Now,
> > assuming
> > > that you've equipped your modular with a MIDI->CV (or are using a
modular
> > > emulator on your computer), this has a certain amount of potential.
> > >
> > > ONly problem here, is that they are moderately expensive. Which brings
me
> > to a
> > > more relevant point -------> does anybody know of any schematics for
such
> > a
> > > device? I've looked myself, and not found any (the lasers may be a
> > problem.....)
> > >
> > >