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Music

Video: The all-in-one Fusion Guitar

By Loz Blain
October 27, 2015
Video: The all-in-one Fusion Guitar
Designer Dave Auld plays the Fusion Guitar
Designer Dave Auld plays the Fusion Guitar
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The Fusion Guitar has two hot rail humbucking pickups
1/5
The Fusion Guitar has two hot rail humbucking pickups
The guitar has two 30 W Tymphany Pearless full range speakers and an upfiring high/midrange driver that acts kind of like a stage monitor
2/5
The guitar has two 30 W Tymphany Pearless full range speakers and an upfiring high/midrange driver that acts kind of like a stage monitor
Designer Dave Auld plays the Fusion Guitar
3/5
Designer Dave Auld plays the Fusion Guitar
The Fusion Guitar boasts interchangeable docks, making it currently compatible with iPhone 5 and 5s, and 6 and 6s, as well as the fifth generation iPod touch,
4/5
The Fusion Guitar boasts interchangeable docks, making it currently compatible with iPhone 5 and 5s, and 6 and 6s, as well as the fifth generation iPod touch,
The instrument features its own iOS guitar interface that converts the analog signals from the instrument's hot rail pickups into digital at a resolution of 24-bit/48 kHz
5/5
The instrument features its own iOS guitar interface that converts the analog signals from the instrument's hot rail pickups into digital at a resolution of 24-bit/48 kHz
View gallery - 5 images

The Fusion Guitar takes an iPhone dock, amplifier, battery and speakers and rolls them into one compact, completely self-contained noodling package. We caught up with one of the inventors, designer and guitarist Dave Auld, for a closer look at this world first take on the electric guitar.

When we first came across the Fusion Guitar earlier this month we were most intrigued, so we headed along to Outerspace Design in Melbourne, Australia, to see (and hear) this all-in-one axe in action.

Fusion Guitar

View gallery - 5 images

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MusicGuitarVideoGuitar Effects
3 comments
Loz Blain
Loz Blain
Loz leads the New Atlas team as Editorial Director, after nearly two decades as one of our most versatile writers. He's also proven himself as a photographer, videographer, presenter, producer and podcast engineer. A graduate in Psychology, former business analyst and touring musician, he's covered just about everything for New Atlas, concentrating lately on clean energy, AI, humanoid robotics, next-gen aircraft, and the odd bit of music, motorcycles and automotive.

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3 comments
A2Z-Mike
This looks pretty cool. It would indeed be nice to have my amp, effects, and guitar all in one compact mobile package. Wonder if they will add a Tremelo? Their prototype had one, and being a rock musician, I use that feature quite a bit. Won't buy a guitar with out one. On another note, they said they made this "So that everybody can experience the joy of playing guitar", and that by making this product they've overcome the challenge of learning to play guitar being expensive. I have to disagree on these points. At $800 for the guitar, plus another $550 for the iPhone to run it, you're looking at about $1450 for this system. Not everybody can experience that joy, and the challenge of expense has not been overcome. Still, a great concept, but a lack of features and affordability will keep many from considering this option I think.
Kim
Was there a reason the speaker is on top of the guitar? Wouldn't it be better on the bottom so your hand won't get in the way, essentially muffling some of the sound?
BullyBeef
Hmmm... same idea as our $400 (when new) Fernandes Nomad* from the last century, surely? Guitar + DSP + amp/speaker...
Looks like a Steinberger bridge/tuners there... good choice!
But A2Z-Mike is right, it's not a value proposition at those prices. And what about that fiddly-widdly mini-screen 'phone interface? OK in the bedroom, but on stage?
Still good to see see someone having a go in Melbourne.
*See: http://www.fernandesguitars.com/nomad.html