Gizmotron

[Lerxst]

What is it? I think it's a set of rotating wheels that can brush the strings with individual control in a manner that sounds a lot like an ebow
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http://www.gizmotron.com/

Originally invented in the mid-1970's by Lol Creme and Kevin Godley of 10cc, the Gizmotron® was poised to revolutionize the guitar world with its promise of infinite sustain and the ability to create "authentic sounds of such stringed instruments as violins, violas and cellos".

After years of development and great investment, the company originally licensed to manufacture the commercial version of the Gizmotron released the product to the public in 1979. Poorly engineered, unreliable, and suffering from various manufacturing problems, the Gizmotron did not live up to expectations and became an infamous commercial failure. After bankrupting the company, the Gizmotron disappeared into obscurity. The few remaining Gizmotrons sold to the public either fell into disrepair or were discarded.

 

[jp_nyc]

I like the concept of manipulating individual strings at the bridge. That makes it seem more useful than an eBow or a sustainer pickup. But it doesn’t sound like a guitar, which is the same problem eBows and sustainers have. I want something that gives me sustain that sounds like a controlled amp feedback, not a violin.

 

[tiger roach]

You can hear it (or maybe some kind of prototype) on at least a couple Godley & Creme albums that I know of.

 

[sonik]

Here comes the hurdy gurdy man.

 

[gtrjunior]

I've already got something that lets me brush the strings with individual control.
I call it a guitar pick.

 

[Modern Saint]

Wow - I remember that thing!!!!

Similar to an ebow but with a different coolness. Can emulate more reed instruments.

 

[LeftyTom]

The things we do for love......

 

[Rick 381]

Kind of a neat little idea. It might be fun but not $375 worth of fun.

 

[Knox in Box]

If I had an extra 300 sitting around for an experiment I would tomorrow. That's pretty cool.

 

[Honkridge]

Why do guitar players not want to play guitar?

 

[aliensporebomb]

Well, it's not just $300 for the Gizmo. You then need a dedicated guitar to mount the Gizmo on. I see a lot of guys who are repurposing classic vibes and MIM guitars with it.

Rich guys can do this but guys like me, despite wanting one of these I'd need a dedicated guitar for the gizmo just to do gizmo stuff with and... you see the problem. Rich mans add-on.

 

[aliensporebomb]

Why do guitar players not want to play guitar?

GUITARS ARE EVIL!