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| Aeroband Guitar |
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| Casio DG-1 |
In the 1980’s Casio introduced a series of guitar shaped products labeled as DG, digital guitars. These started with the DG-1 and progressed to the DG-20. These plastic instruments had an elongated body, and a thin neck.
When the user pressed the appropriate “string” on the fretboard position a note would sound. The six strings consisted of nylon lines. each of the similar size that gave the allusion of guitar strings.
The sounds emitted were similar to those on the Casio keyboards that proliferated stores in the 1980’s. This also had a built-in drum machine with 12 patterns. The Casio DG was unique for its time, but it could hardly be called a guitar. It was more of a toy.
Lately I have been seeing advertisements for some guitar-like instruments. Are they guitars, or are they toys?
The Aeroband guitar is quite unique. It sells online for $429. For an additional $40 you can get a package with a soft case. The neck is detachable. There are 6 steel strings on the body, but they just give the feel of strumming or picking. These seldom break, but Aeroband sells new sets.
The instrument's neck has soft silicone “strings” that are permanently fixed to the neck. These give a feel of guitar strings. All of the sounds are built into the program. And it offers 9 built in tones.
These include a variety of electric guitars, acoustic guitar, classical guitar, bass guitar, banjo, piano, clavinet. Drum loops are included. This instrument is always in tune.
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| Aeroband APP |
The neck has a built-in capo feature that allows the user to change the pitch of the strings up or down. This feature is found on the buttons on the instruments headstock.
The Aeroband guitar is fully MIDI compatible and works with major DAW’s on Window and macOS via a USB connector.
I like this instrument since the user plays actual guitar chords and can play notes. Though you cannot bend strings, it does allow pull-offs, and hammer-ons. The user must have some basic knowledge of playing guitar.
It does not allow for string vibrato, and cannot achieve harmonics. The sounds are sampled, but the acoustic and classical guitar sounds are quite realistic.
The APP feature is amazing. The guitar has two built-in speakers, but it can be plugged into an amplifier.
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| Aeroband Microphone |
All effects are done via the software, so you cannot use pedals.
I believe this product would be useful for a novice player that has some experience or a person with a disability where actual guitar strings might be painful.
Is it a toy? No, This is a well thought-out and designed product. It is doubtful that anyone would use it in a professional capacity but prove me wrong. It is designed for fun. It is not a replacement for a real guitar, nor is it a teaching tool.
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| Lava Genie |
Lava guitars have come up with some very interesting carbon fiber guitars. Some have built-in effects and amplification. Their product that is like the Aeroband is The Lava Genie, which is a Smart sampler instrument designed for someone that wants to play guitar but has little or no training.
The instrument is reminiscent of the guitar controllers for Play Station’s Guitar Hero game.
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| Lava Genie Controls |
There is also a section near the base of the neck arpeggios. The neck features soft touch sensing pads that function as chord selectors.
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| Lava Genie LED Neck |
To trigger a chord, press the desired section on the neck and press the tap pad on the guitar’s body with the right hand. This triggers the auto chording feature.
Tapping on the bottom section of the neck starts the instruments rhythm section. This same section also has a tap-tempo feature to change the speed of the drum patterns.
This instrument has two speakers so there is no need for an amplifier, though there is a port to connect a cable to an external amplifier.
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| Side of Lava Genie Neck |
The app also contains hundreds of preset tone combinations. Five presets at a time can be loaded into the instrument. The Lava Genie comes with a creative mode that turns off the backing and preset strumming so the user can have it function like a basic guitar.
The instrument is foldable, the neck detachable, and it comes with a travel case. The price is $399 direct from the manufacturer.
On the positive side, it is simple to play. The user presses buttons. There are no strings. Knowledge of basic theory is required, but the user does not play chord patterns, they simply press the corresponding fret/section.
There is no need to understand chord shapes.
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| Lava Genie |
The Lava Genie looks fun, but I would rather spend $400 on a real guitar.
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| LiberLive C1 Stringless Guitar Sampler |
The Liberlive C1 is another stringless guitar sampler has similar features to the Lava Genie, i.e.. The touch sensitive neck pad section, the strum bars, and the free apps.
Instead of the "shelf" with buttons that come on the Lava Genie, the LiberLive has two "levers" that control the strumming and functions.
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| LiberLive C1 |
If a song is downloaded from the app the appropriate chord is displayed by a light on the side of the neck.
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| LiberLive C1 with bag |
The neck is foldable as is the body. The instrument comes with a small gig bag and retails for $419. Much like the Lava Genie, this instrument is a sampler that allows the user to accompany singing, so no individual notes, or runs. It may be a fun instrument for some folks, but it is definitely not a guitar. It is an expensive toy. One word of caution.
All of these instrument manufacturers are funded by Kickstarters. All are guitar samplers. They are designed for the user to have fun making music. In my opinion get a real guitar, learn to play, and share your music with others.
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