It helps having a 'good relationship' with ...an enthusiastic and dedicated luthier!

Hi Jon,

Many thanks for this feature article. Great to see a MUSE-related topic, as I really enjoy ...Matt Bellamy's adventures in 'sonic science'! ;-)

Some months ago, I dug through many guitar-modding articles whilst contemplating adding a KAOSS Pad to one of my guitars, ala Bellamy & Manson Guitars: http://www.korg.com/Product.aspx?pd=269. The following articleL is the best KAOSS Pad mod overview I found. Where the author added it to a black Epiphone solid-body LP. I certainly found that gave me some sound perspective and consideration for the potential shortcomings if it failed: http://www.unmaintained.com/forums/ShowThread.asp...
...and it left me a little daunted by the prospect.

Adding to that ...Matt uses built-in 'Fuzz Factory' effects in all his guitars with the controls right on the guitar body. My final tempered consideration is you really need a good 'luthier' (or an experienced mentor) with a machine-controlled router ...to control the tolerance OR a big budget ...for when there's a stuff-up!

I've enjoyed hearing this Pad used to great effect by Matt Bellamy with MUSE 'in-concert', as it allows an individual to control many sound parameters to achieve a much fuller sound than just a 'standard' guitar and it's modified overtones.

Kind regards,
;-R

Tx ...Jon! :-R

Hi Jon,

Beautiful. I presume that they sound as good? Really nice worksmanship from a location in the heart of Germany: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langewiesen.
Tx for posting it I'll see if we can dig up some more info ...from some contacts in DE.

Regards,
:-R

Hi Jon,

'Tis truly an amazing feat, ...but I like 'melodic' Death Metal by comparison.

I do note that GUITAR WORLD have special DVD featuring him, too:
http://secure.nps1.net/guitarworld/index.php?main...

'Trusting that you're all having ...a great Easter!

Kind regards,
;-R

Cool stuff Jon, looks very promising! The fact that they've added an expression pedal to the 'Silvertop' means that they're a very committed manufacturer. if they can add value and keep the price down ...well done! But their presence at the Musikmesse is evidence the market has to be global to survive these days. Been to the Frankfurt Messe ...it's huge! :-R

Cool post, Jon, Tx!

I think Guitar (UK) & Guitar Techniques did in-depth articles [mid-2008] and had CD and Videos to match.

Regards,
;-R

Cool guitars... Jon! The silver reflective bling is even in Gretsch's Silver Jet range (http://www.gretschguitars.com/gear/index.php?prod... so there must be a market for it? The 'Voodoo' would be my choice but the 'Revolver' Pop-Art looks, are just like it just stepped out of a Robert Rauschenberg or a Roy Lichetenstein painting...
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2105/2400393109_c7... Sunning stuff from Quebec! Regards, :-R

Nah, I think that 'every bloke' was ...thinking the same thing!. :-R

Question...is the slot at the top for a 'pull grab'? [I can't tell from the photos?] Regards, :-R