可能是經濟不景氣，這次的 NAMM 樂器展上並沒有太多有趣的音樂產品。比較特別的則是 Line 6 開發的數位吉他，號稱可以摹擬各種實心、半空心甚至木吉他等音色。雖然此吉他的外觀看來有點廉價，但目前的產業往數位發展是很明顯的。 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> Line 6 Unveils World's First Modeling Guitar More than two-dozen guitars modeled in one instrument Line 6 announced at NAMM Summer Session the release of the world's first digital modeling guitar, Variax. Variax enables consumers to access the sounds of more than two-dozen of the most desirable electric and acoustic guitars for recording and performing. Variax combines Line 6's patent-pending digital modeling technology with a custom-crafted solid-body guitar to reproduce the sounds of a variety of well-known vintage electric and acoustic guitars, in addition to other guitar-related instruments, such as a resonator, banjo, and electric sitar. Modeled variations include solid-body, semi hollowbody, and hollow-body electrics with single-coil and humbucking pickups, as well as, several six- and twelve-string acoustics. Included with Variax is an A/B footswitch enabling guitarists to switch from playing through a guitar amplifier to a PA system hookup. This feature enables the modeling guitar's flat top acoustic tones to be better reproduced live. All of the sounds are accessible from a simple user interface. The characteristic tone and volume control responses of each electric model are also accurately replicated, creating instant familiarity for guitarists. "Line 6 is pleased to present our customers with their #1 requested product, a modeling guitar," said Mike Muench, chief executive officer and president, Line 6. "With a strong development team and artist involvement, an entire guitar collection has been assembled into one easy-to-play instrument." At first glance, Variax appears similar to any conventional electric guitar. However, closer inspection reveals its lack of traditional magnetic pickups under the strings. Its string vibrations are captured through a hexaphonic bridge pickup and are converted directly into digital signals. These signals flow through software algorithms that have captured the interaction of each modeled guitar's pickups, their placement, tone controls, and details of the instrument's physical structure to accurately produce the sonic signature of the original modeled instrument. The signal is then converted back to analog, enabling Variax to be plugged directly into any electric guitar amplifier. "Variax is the first guitar to break the physical barriers to great tone by digitally modeling, in software, the specific characteristics of magnetic pickup types, tone circuits, different body resonances, string decay, and more," said Marcus Ryle, co-founder and vice president of product development, Line 6. "With just the turn of a knob, the instrument can change instantly from a classic single-coil solid-body electric to a richly detailed acoustic 12-string, opening up many new creative possibilities for musicians playing live or in the studio." Variax will be available Autumn 2002, with a choice of black, sunburst, and candy-apple red finishes. For more information, visit their web site at www.line6.com. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
剛好自Summer NAMM回來也花了點時間在Line 6的攤位了解Variax這把吉他。以下資訊可以供有興趣的同好參考： 結構： Alder琴身、Bolt-on結構、楓木琴頸+玫瑰木指板、22格midium profile frets (約同Gibson Les Paul)、25-1/2"弦長、string-through-body/hardtail bridge。 電子裝置： 一個音量旋鈕、一個音質旋鈕、一個push/pull模擬音色選擇+設定旋鈕、active piezo transducer + 電路板(聲音產生的來源)、6個AA電池(可連續用12小時)及1個9V電池(可連續用2小時)盒。 配件： 1條立體輸出導線(訊號輸出加上電源供應)、ABY Box(含吉他電源供應) 模擬音色： Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster, Fender Telecaster Custom, Gibson ES-175, Epiphone Casino, Gibson ES-335, Gibson Firebird VII, Gibson J-200, Gibson L5, Gibson Les Paul Custom, Gibson Les Paul Special, Gibson Les Paul Standard, Gibson Mastertone Banjo, Gretsch 6120, Gretsch Duo-Jet, Guild F212, Martin 0-18, Martin D-12-28, Martin D-28, National Tricone, Rickenbacker 360, Rickenbacker 360-12, Coral/Dano Electric Sitar, Danelectro 3021, Dobro Number 32 初拿到此吉他時感覺重量適中，不太輕也不太重。琴頸比美製的Fender稍厚。據Line 6的人員表示琴頸背後的弧度為參考'66年Telecaster與Gibson Les Paul所決定的。這把琴不是美國製，很有可能為韓製的代工琴。 模擬音色選擇鈕為push/pull。最為人稱道的是其五段開關的每一段音色皆可設定。例如第一段為Strat、第二段為Martin D28，以此類推。只要將選擇鈕先轉至Custom後再壓一下旋鈕即彈上來，然後選定段位、選好育模擬的音色後再壓一下，該音色便記憶在那一個段位上。 就音色方面而言，乍聽之下各模擬的音色皆蠻相近的。不過正如其POD一樣，追求純粹音色的人是不會滿足於他模擬出來的音色。超過美金1000元的定價似乎也偏高。再加上吉他手一般不大容易相信有所謂d o-it-all的琴，即使有大概也很少人能夠從一而終。所以其市場性仍有待觀察與評估。不過就勇於創新而言，Line 6的勇氣與企圖心仍是值得肯定的。 謹供大家參考。