Rocking Out With A Linux Guitar

by Sam Dean - May. 14, 2010Comments (3)

While it may look at first glance like an electric guitar or one of the stringless guitars from Guitar Hero, Misa Digital is billing its new creation as a "digital guitar." And get this: It's Linux-based. According to Handle With Linux, the "Misa guitar runs Gentoo Linux on an AMD Geode processor and it has MIDI and Ethernet ports for connectivity." Where there would be pickups on a normal electric guitar, Misa's offers a touchpad LCD screen.

By working the LCD screen with one hand and pressing down on virtual strings on the neck of the instrument, you can create synthesized sounds. For guitar geeks, this looks like a great gift, but there isn't any price cited yet.

You can see how the touchpad LCD screen is the primary input source in the photo below, and there are many more on Misa's site:

Working with the touchpad also modifies an amplifier's tone control, as shown here. This looks like an interesting take on what happens when guitar, synthesizer technology, and Linux collide. Even though the price isn't set yet, if you're interested in getting one of these guitars, you can send an email to purchase@misadigital.com and request to be on a waiting list. You can also send an email to michael@misadigital.com with questions.