Sizing up the Moog guitar

Posted on by Jason Sandford

Asheville-based Moog Music unveiled its new guitar last week, and the reviews are just starting to come in. The guitar had its first public demonstration at the National Association of Music Merchants’ annual convention in Nashville. It’s a significant new invention for Moog Music, a company known for its synthesizers.

Here’s a look around and some of the reactions:

Guitar Jam Daily had this:

In your hands, the Moog Guitar feels very much like a high quality guitar, with a few extra controls. It sports a swamp ash body, maple top, and ebony fingerboard. It looks beautiful, feels smooth, and plays great. The neck feels most similar to a high-end Ibanez — sleek, flat, and fast. After playing the instrument for only a few minutes, it is easy to see how much fun this instrument can be. Players who think outside the box — WAY outside the box — can definitely be inspired by this instrument, which will take them in new directions.
We’re not quite convinced that this instrument will change the face of guitar playing. With the current price point of $6000+ for the initial, Paul Vo Collector Edition, its hard to imagine anyone but those leaning toward synth-type guitars purchasing them. However, if Moog was somehow able to get this instrument into the $2000 range, it is definitely something that a lot of people would put in their arsenal, if only for a few songs.

GearWire has a slick video of the guitar being shown off at the NAMM convention.

The Wire to the Ear blog weighs in with this:

The Moog Guitar. Some people are scratching their heads on this one. A Guitar from Moog? Would Bob approve? According to Moog (the company) this was being planned when Bob was still with us. Personally, I have no problem with the idea. My main gripe so far is that all the video demos I’ve seen of the M.G. in action are not too impressive. The first of the Moog Guitars available is the The Paul Vo Collector Edition which will cost you $6,495.00.

— Jason Sandford, multimedia editor

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2 thoughts on “Sizing up the Moog guitar”

  2. arratik

    Better yet, Moog should think about producing a kit that one could install on their own guitar. They already sell theremin kits; this would be a natural extension of that idea, and people would be all over that.

    In the meantime, I’ll stick with a cheap guitar, an eBow, and a Boss DD6 pedal.

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