Cartridge guitar? wtf fender...

YuriK · Post by **YuriK** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:31 pm

http://www.fender.com/en-CA/series/amer ... -sunburst/
the solderless wiring sounds like a good idea, but "personality cards." What is this?

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:40 pm

Coming soon to a Stratocaster near you!

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:40 pm

Electra had a few models out in the 70s with effect plug in modules.

Also some of the dan armstrong plexiglass guitars and basses had pickups that could be interchanged by just sliding the pickup out from under the strings.

Fender's just late to the party.

YuriK · Post by **YuriK** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:41 pm

HNB wrote:Coming soon to a Stratocaster near you!

hahahaha
I hope they don't start doing this in other guitars...

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:01 pm

It's Fender's way of taking a not entirely stupid idea and making it all lame and lifestyle-y. This is certainly more attractive than those strats you see with a dozen mini toggles to eek out every tedious phase/parallel/series combination.

theshadowofseattle · Post by **theshadowofseattle** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:09 pm

timhulio wrote:This is certainly more attractive than those strats you see with a dozen mini toggles to eek out every tedious phase/parallel/series combination.

NO IT'S NOT. More switches = always better.

YuriK · Post by **YuriK** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:18 pm

theshadowofseattle wrote:
timhulio wrote:This is certainly more attractive than those strats you see with a dozen mini toggles to eek out every tedious phase/parallel/series combination.
NO IT'S NOT. More switches = always better.

I second shad's statement

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 1:30 am

Does the card actually change how the pots are connected, or just simulate it? Either way, it seems like it would be in the wrong place.

I could see using a loaded pickguard that could swap out the real parts. It would need clips instead of screws. The cards only appeal to me if they could function as power-free effects.

YuriK · Post by **YuriK** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 1:46 am

DGNR8 wrote:The cards only appeal to me if they could function as power-free effects.

That actually sounds like a really cool idea

aen · Post by **aen** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 4:43 am

BILT has it right with powering their built in effects. Stereo cable from power supply on the floor sends power to your FX and audio out to your other shit.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:37 am

Is that how they do it? That's how I envisaged powering onboard effects if I ever get round to making a Fredric guitar. I wonder if noise is an issue. Perhaps xlr leads would be better. Seen inside a Bilt recently? Are the guts any prettier?

aen · Post by **aen** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 1:55 pm

I have a Revelator prototype. It's like fucking NASA in there. I only played it in it's original state briefly, but I don't recall any noise issues.

brainfur · Post by **brainfur** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 2:08 pm

fuck cartriges, i kinda like that 3 tone sparkleburst tho

bradzeera · Post by **bradzeera** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 2:23 pm

DGNR8 wrote:Does the card actually change how the pots are connected, or just simulate it? Either way, it seems like it would be in the wrong place.

I could see using a loaded pickguard that could swap out the real parts. It would need clips instead of screws. The cards only appeal to me if they could function as power-free effects.

Yep, the system is all analog. Haven't seen the guts but I'd bet everything onboard is wired to the card port and the card itself routes the signal into the alternate (and standard) wiring. It's a cool idea until Fender decides to charge waaay too much for those cards.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 2:24 pm

brainfur wrote:i kinda like that 3 tone sparkleburst tho

Me too. Ooh, it's mystic! Makes a nice change from all these haunted guitars.

YuriK · Post by **YuriK** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 2:28 pm

timhulio wrote:
brainfur wrote:i kinda like that 3 tone sparkleburst tho
Me too. Ooh, it's mystic! Makes a nice change from all these haunted guitars.

I like it in picture, but I feel like it would look cheap irl