Guitar Journal: Gibson x Loog 3-String Guitars
Plus, Neural DSP Djent plugin with Misha Mansoor and AI powered OnePedal launch
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This week, we look at the latest Gibson collaboration with Loog Guitar and the new line of three-string Les Paul and SG Juniors. Next, we look at the Archetype: Misha Mansoor X software from Neural DSP, their latest collaboration with Misha Mansoor. Finally, Groundhog Audio’s OnePedal launches on 30 September, and we have their latest video demos.
Guitar Journal
Gibson x Loog Guitars
Loog, the company that makes three-string guitars for kids, has teamed up with Gibson to create child-friendly versions of the classic Les Paul and SG Junior electric guitars.
Loog specialises in making smaller, simpler guitars to help children learn the basics of playing music. This isn’t their first major partnership; in 2023, they worked with Fender to release smaller versions of the Stratocaster and Telecaster.
School of Rock
The new guitars are designed to get future rock stars started on their musical journey. By using just three strings, they teach kids the fundamental concepts of playing in a way that’s easy to understand.
These small guitars are built to help kids smoothly transition to full-sized instruments. They use standard guitar strings and tuning, along with real wood construction, to produce a great sound and give young players a genuine feel for the instrument.
Kids Mini Guitar
Each guitar also comes with an activity book, learning app, and flashcards to make learning fun and interactive. They currently offer a Les Paul and SG in Cardinal Red, Frost Blue, Shell Pink, or TV Yellow finishes. I reckon some kids will relic these finishes pretty quickly or sticker them punk style!
Loog Pricing
They are pretty expensive for a beginner guitar for children, but the concept is sound, and if it encourages children to take up an instrument, then that is always a positive thing in my view.
MSRP – $229 /£179 each
Archetype: Misha Mansoor X
Neural DSP has teamed up with Misha Mansoor of Periphery to create Archetype: Misha Mansoor X, a comprehensive guitar plugin that’s being called their most ambitious yet.
This long-awaited collaboration combines Mansoor’s signature “djent” sound with a wide range of powerful tools, offering a complete solution for modern metal guitarists.
Djent Core Tones
The plugin features three core amplifiers, each designed for a different amp style. The “Clean” amp is based on a classic American design, offering a huge amount of headroom for clear tones that work well with pedals. The “Rhythm” amp is a high-gain monster, perfect for tight, percussive riffs and designed to maintain clarity even with extreme amounts of gain.
Finally, the “Lead” amp, inspired by custom-modded British classics, is built for singing solos with incredible saturation and sustain.
FX Collection
Beyond the amps, the plugin includes a vast collection of effects. It features Mansoor’s own Horizon Devices Compressor and Precision Drive pedals, a dual octaver, and a tape echo emulator.
For those looking to get more creative, there are unique “Special FX” options, such as the Laser, which offers pitch shifting and ring modulation, and Glitch, a granular processor that can chop up your signal to create bizarre textures and sounds.
All of this comes with an extensive CabSim module that includes seven virtual microphones, a virtual room mic, and the ability to load your own Impulse Responses (IRs).
There is a 14-day free trial available, so you can try it out on your own system first. One for any players who want modern Djent tones.
MSRP – €149
OnePedal
The guitar effects landscape is potentially on the cusp of a major transformation with the introduction of OnePedal, a potentially groundbreaking AI-powered device from the startup Groundhog Audio.
One Knob to Rule Them All?
This ambitious product is designed to fundamentally change how guitarists build their tone, moving beyond traditional knob-twiddling and into the future of music technology. It has a very basic control layout, and most of the user interface is smartphone-based.
AI Tone Stealing?
Billed by its creators as a pedal that can “steal its tonal secrets” from any song, the OnePedal aims to be a true game-changer in the world of guitar effects.
Groundhog Audio explains that the device works by syncing with a guitarist’s music library. Once a song is selected, the pedal’s advanced AI goes to work, analyzing and replicating the specific guitar tone found on the recording.
The brainchild of tech expert and founder Max Engle, the OnePedal was conceived to simplify the often tedious process of tone-building.
A New Kid on the Block
Groundhog Audio’s core mission is to empower guitarists to spend more time playing and less time tweaking. This vision could put OnePedal in direct competition with established industry leaders like Line 6 Helix or Neural DSP in the future.
The pedal itself is built with a user-friendly interface, featuring three selectable banks and two footswitches for easy preset navigation.
The central “Groundhog knob” also allows for intuitive scrolling. In theory, this simple design gives players access to a vast library of tones at the press of a button, opening up new creative possibilities and making it easier than ever to get the exact sound you want.
Kickstarter
With a suggested retail price of $399 for the crowdfunding launch and then up to $549 when in full production, OnePedal is scheduled to launch on Kickstarter on September 30.
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