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TheMoog Guitar is anelectric guitar developed in 2008 by Paul Vo (official name Paul Ierymenko[1]) that controls the level of energy within the strings of the guitar to modify the capabilities of the guitar. The guitar can send energy into strings to allow for infinite note sustain or the guitar can pull energy from the strings to create a short, staccato sound. The guitar also possesses harmonic blend control, allowing for new types ofguitar harmonics to come out of the instrument. Unlike other technologies that help a guitar sustain notes, the Moog Guitar is unique as it is able to sustain notes on all six strings at once. All Moog Guitars except the custom shop ones built by Paul Vo, were Korean made guitars with Moog electronics.[2][3]
Paul Vo's inspiration came from the futuristic soundsJimi Hendrix created by exploring the guitar's acoustic properties. Since its release at the summerNAMM Show in 2008, the guitar has been used byJoey Santiago,Lou Reed,Daft Punk,Trent Reznor,[3]Kaki King,[1] andFareed Haque. It continues to turn up on various recordings such as thePaul Simon'sSo Beautiful or So What (2011) andBrian Eno'sLux (2012).
In 2013 Vo launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to sell theVo-96,[4] a guitar electronics kit intended to offer what he called an "'inventor's version'" of the Moog Guitar technology. According to Vo nearly 100 Vo-96 systems of various kinds were sold through the campaign.[5] Vo then turned his attention to theWond and the EMPick (or Wond II), handheld magnetic string vibrators roughly similar to theEBow.[6]
This feature allows the guitar to infinitely sustain notes at any volume, at any string, and at any fret position.
Contrary to full sustain mode, this feature removes the sustain from every note to create a unique staccato sound.
This feature combines both full sustain mode and mute mode to sustain the notes being played and mute the strings that are not being played.
This feature involves using a foot pedal to shift between full sustain mode and mute mode, allowing for the playing of unique harmonic sounds that would otherwise not be possible with the conventional techniques of creating natural or artificial harmonics.
This feature allows the frequency of the guitar's outputs to be toggled to create additional unique sounds.[7]
The variety of the Moog Guitar's features are a product of its on-board circuitry. The guitar is outfitted with two custom Moog pickups. In addition, the guitar features piezo saddles in the bridge that usepiezoelectric sensors to pick up sounds acoustically and with less feedback than conventional pickups. The Moog pickups hold the guitar's ability to control the levels of energy within each string. Within these pickups are six separate transducers that feed energy back into the strings magnetically. Although standard strings work with the guitar, Moog provides strings with a different magnetic make-up to facilitate the guitar's ability to control string energy levels.[8]
The guitar features five knobs and three switches. The Vo Power knob controls the intensity of sustain and mute while the harmonic balance knob controls the balance of sustain and mute between the bridge and the neck. Additionally, the guitar offers a knob for piezo blend that combines the piezo bridge pick-up signal into the guitar's output signal. The last two knobs are conventional volume and tone knobs. The mode selector switch switches between full sustain, mute, and controlled sustain mode while the filter toggle switch controls the articulation of the Moog Filter. Last of all, the guitar features a conventional five position pick-up selector.[7]
You'll quickly see that these patents belong to a "Paul Ierymenko" whereas most of you know me as "Paul Vo." Paul Ierymenko is my legal name. When I came to Asheville and began working with Moog Music, I decided I needed a simpler alias. I adopted "Paul Vo."
In 2013 we introduced the Vo-96 via a Kickstarter campaign. We sold almost 100 Vo-96 systems, ranging in price from $1000 for a minimal kit to $4800 for a custom Wes Lambe acoustic with a Vo-96 pre-installed.
Media related toMoog Guitar at Wikimedia Commons
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