Too cool

[Cliff Schecht]

Yeah my first thought was some sort of custom microcontroller (ASIC) with some sort of built in FPGA to handle all of the switching/signal multiplexing. I have no idea really though aside from the micro part.

It's not such a big deal IMO to have a micro in a guitar either, our cars have well over 200 microcontrollers and it's really for the better. If it's done tastefully and implemented properly then it's probably a great system (and MM makes KILLER guitars already).

It's not hard to manage digital switching hash/EMI with good layout technique and proper shielding. I've done dozens of mixed signal boards that had RF, SMPS, analog and digital sections all together on little boards and they didn't have any issues.

[TheGimp]

With 6 pickups you need four switches each for a total of 24 switches.
Two switches on each connection allow each end to be switched to ground or feedthrough, so you can swap phase.

You can get 80 ohm on resistance switches in quad packages, so only 6 packages to do all the switching. CMOS switches have microampere current draw so power is not a big issue.

I doubt they bother with custom parts.

The idea is novel enough to patent.

[vibratoking]

Video part 5 40 seconds in shows what looks like a micro and FPGA. EB doesn't own a board vise? The board holder and tape is pretty funny in that shot.

It is not so much the switching hash that I would worry about. The switching is a very low occurence. It is the continuous clock for the micro that I was thinking of. A good design will not have issues, but the potential for bad things is there. I have experienced quite a lot of audio equipment that had issues that could have been cured with good design, but the good design never happened.

EDIT: Just noticed the following: 3 AA batteries for ~100 hours of live play. Yuck.

[Reeltarded]

I used to have a guitar with a set of Bartolini hex pickups. Each pickup had 3 switches, and a varitone type to select poles, much like that thing, but more solder.

Eccch.. lol

[TheGimp]

44 pin PLCC in the front is probably the micro. The flatpack in the far right looks like it has leads on two ends, so I suspect it is flash EEROM. The array in the center could be the switches.

After thinking about it, I'm not sure what is going on. I haven't used a PLCC in over 10 years. Everytahing is TQFP and smaller.

Having USB is pretty easy now days, as micros are available with the stack built in and development kits make producing HID class devices a cinch. USB would be useful for saving off and transfering configurations.

The surface mouunt connectors on the gottom of the right edge of the circuit board does not make sense either. Even for debugging you would only need a JTAG port and about 5 pins. The pickup interface is only a few pins, same for the ports.

[Cliff Schecht]

Where did you find those pictures Gimp? I'm well versed in modern micro options and could probably say right away if it's a custom piece or not.

[vibratoking]

Cliff, look here - http://gamechanger.music-man.com/videos

Video 5 40 secs in. Look at it in high resolution.

The far end of the board has a crystal and I am sure a micro probably with EEPROM.

The bigger devices in the middle section appear to be polarized caps and resistors.

The 44 pin device is the most likely a big switch matrix that is controlled by the micro. It looks unmarked, but it is out of focus.

[FUCHSAUDIO]

Les Paul once told me "If you need a license to run it, then it's too complex..."

[NEjoe]

I'm looking at that pic and I'm wondering what that little PCB board is doing just sitting on the rest of the board (are those two SOT23s on there?), in front of the TQFP and clock.

Speculation is fun, but they could have easily put a bunch of parts on the backside that we can't see.....like some Quickswitch analog switches....... A " N-channel FET switch controlled by either combinatorial or sequential control logic using CMOS technology. The low ON resistance (typically 5Ω), low
capacitance,high current capacity, and very high OFF resistance,
make the FET switch an ideal element for bus connection." .
They used to be made by a company called Qlogic but I see they've been bought out by Idt.

[Cliff Schecht]

That is a micro at the far end of the picture with a small crystal and I think sitting next to it is a voltage regulator module (little green board sitting on top of the actual board). Next up are a small matrix of transistors that I think may be voltage level translators so that the IC sitting under the tape (the FPGA type IC I mentioned before) can talk to the micro (most FPGA's are 1.8V and below, most micros prefer 3.3V). There is definitely some sort of gate array IC on board (probably an OTP style FPGA), there isn't really another way to get the level of sophistication they have within such a small space.On the side closest to us I see what is probably an FTDI USB controller. The board looks to be AT LEAST four layers, probably closer to 6 or more though with the level of complexity on such a small board.

Consider their board reverse engineered .

[marcoloco961]

That is a micro at the far end of the picture with a small crystal and I think sitting next to it is a voltage regulator module (little green board sitting on top of the actual board). Next up are a small matrix of transistors that I think may be voltage level translators so that the IC sitting under the tape (the FPGA type IC I mentioned before) can talk to the micro (most FPGA's are 1.8V and below, most micros prefer 3.3V). There is definitely some sort of gate array IC on board (probably an OTP style FPGA), there isn't really another way to get the level of sophistication they have within such a small space.On the side closest to us I see what is probably an FTDI USB controller. The board looks to be AT LEAST four layers, probably closer to 6 or more though with the level of complexity on such a small board.

Consider their board reverse engineered .

LOL..........I love this place and the DIY mentality. You guys are already dissecting this thing, and will probably have the Unverified schemo posted by next week. I am anxiously awaiting the gut shots, layout, BOM, and kit.................LOL

[Reeltarded]

LOL! Just thinking the same thing.

BUNCHA GEEKS!

[boldaslove6789]

That is possibly the most interesting "new technology" I've seen for guitar yet. All "new technology" has been so digitilized that guys like me that are hell bent on analog stuff can actually have an extremely versatile piece of gear while maintaining a clear analog signal path. And the ability to use our conventional gear.

[vibratoking]

That is possibly the most interesting "new technology" I've seen for guitar yet. All "new technology" has been so digitilized that guys like me that are hell bent on analog stuff can actually have an extremely versatile piece of gear while maintaining a clear analog signal path. And the ability to use our conventional gear.

It is probably not digitized, but it may not be the clear analog signal path that you think it is. If you are the type that compares the audio merits of different resistor and capacitor types (CC, CF, MF, ceramic, polyester, etc...), then you will have to ask yourself whether passing your signal through a transistor, relay, or whatever is impacting your tone. I suspect that, once this thing comes out, some people will say it has a negative tonal impact. Generally, theses types of things usually appear to be better than they really are, IMO.

[rsalinger]

I suspect that, once this thing comes out, some people will say it has a negative tonal impact. Generally, theses types of things usually appear to be better than they really are, IMO.

...exactly. I mean, how many times must we (attempt to) reinvent the wheel?

Gimme a Strat Plus and a Stangray... and I'm happy.

Rob Salinger