It’s not often that we can say that we've seen something truly original. But the Eigenharp certainly fits that bill. It's loaded with technology that takes the best of synthesizers and mixes it with the best of traditional instruments. It's been a good 60 years since we've had a game-changing musical instrument. To paraphrase The Strokes, Is This It?
What it is A mix between a MIDI-sample-powered synth and a responsive, tangible instrument, it’s completely portable and (smartly) comes at two price points – a super-expensive one (the Alpha, which looks like a mix between a Chapman Stick and a hookah) for the musical nerds and the pros, and a cheaper one (the Pico) priced within the reach of normal people.
Post-guitar? The electric guitar, in the grand scheme, has held its status as the most influential instrument for about 60 years. Others have tried, but electric guitars had just have the right mix of portability and shape that make them make sense in thousands of settings. That’s what intrigues us about the idea of the Eigenharp: It has the same appeal the electric guitar did.
A reference pointYears ago, we used to live in Milwaukee. We knew this guy named Jim Bartz, who had an interesting artistic outlet in the form of the Stringstation, a musical instrument with 40 strings meant to convey a huge sonic experience. In a lot of ways, this reminds us a lot of that. It’s got that wild, out-of-nowhere experimental tinge to it that Bartz’ instrument does. source
He was arrested on weapons charges on a three-wheel hog. You thought we were joking with that headline, weren’t you? Delonte West, currently a starting shooting guard with the Cleveland Cavaliers, was arrested in Prince George’s County, Md. last night after he a.) cut off a police officer on his three-wheeled motorcycle on I-95, b.) admitted to carrying one weapon, and c.) was found to have two others, including one in a guitar case slung on his back. Dude! Dude. source
The guitar shines in modern music. … In the ’50s and before the ’50s, the guitar was amplified, but it was just louder. In other words, it still sounded just like an acoustic guitar, but you could turn it up. What Les did was turn it into a whole new instrument.
Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz • Describing the Les Paul guitar’s role in musical history, and how the guitar became a musical icon. Paul’s influence has helped the company in numerous ways – he convinced Gibson to start selling cheaper models of the namesake model, helping the guitar fly off the shelves and putting it in the hands of the average person. And to think, they laughed at “The Log!” • source
1941 Paul, a jazz musician, decided to get more sound out of his guitar by putting a log in the middle. In the process, he invented the solid-body guitar.
1946 Paul experiments with a tape recorder in his garage. He layers his guitar’s tone on one song, “Lover,” and invents multi-track recording.
1949 Paul divorces his first wife and marries Mary Ford, his music partner. The two spend much of the early 1950s as major musical stars, notching hits until 1955.
1952 Gibson asks Paul to promote its new solid-body guitar; Paul influenced the guitar’s design only a little, but the guitar’s name helped build Paul’s legend.
later Paul never gave up his craft and continued to be a musical icon late in life, playing NYC clubs well into his 90s. Paul died Thursday at 94. His legacy is insane.
source
In our continuing effort to try new things, here’s our latest: Band coverage! This time, Hopewell (whose new album, “Good Good Desperation,” is worth the listen)
brings us waves of dreamy guitar soundscapes (and some fun answers). Want to see your band here? E-mail us or bug us on Twitter!
Listen to them
Q1: In 15 words or less, describe your sound:
Swept river manger up from strangers from the you. Swept river rolled hellfire wires.* * – Since this question is any credible musician’s worst nightmare, I put the lyrics to one of our songs into the “cut up machine” and generated a lyrical montage a la William Burroughs. That should do the trick.
Q2: Name three influences that inspire you, with three words each on why they’re awesome: Lou Reed: genius now ornery Brooklyn, NY: Such modern history Vincent Gallo: Style over substance
Guy named Dave Carroll rides an airplane with his band. Dude checks his $3,500 guitar. United’s baggage-handling staff manhandles said guitar, and a number of people on board see them do it. Guitar is broken. United, despite breaking it, won’t pay for the damages. Guy writes song about it and puts video on YouTube, giving him instant good (and United instant bad) exposure. Who’s really the loser here?
source
,” is worth the listen)
brings us waves of dreamy guitar soundscapes (and some fun answers). Want to see your band here? 
