For years, musicians composing music on their guitars had to pause after creating a new riff, remember the notes, and then write them down on sheet music. That process can now be streamlined, thanks to the merger of new technology with a classical guitar.
The innovative concept began brewing about five years ago when Rick Hall, Ovation Guitars product manager and others at the Bloomfield-based company, discussed the possibility of developing a guitar that could record itself with MP3 technology.
“It was a fundamental need that wasn’t being fulfilled,” Hall said. “I mean, you could record on a keyboard forever; why couldn’t you do so with a guitar?”
As the concept floated around and the technology became a reality, Hall said he simply thought to himself, “Why hadn’t anyone thought of this before?”
Hall and his team answered that question by developing the Ovation iDea guitar, a patent-protected product that will have an MP3 player and recorder that can be inserted into Ovation’s electric acoustic guitars. It will give guitar players the ability to record themselves, download online lessons and play back music that they recorded, songs they want to play along with or to back tracks.
New Owners
The launch of Ovation iDEA comes about a year after the 42-year-old Kaman Music Corp. was sold by its parent, Kaman Corp., to Fender Musical Instruments for a reported $117 million.
Kaman Corp. sold its music division, established in 1966 when the company’s founder, Charlie Kaman, developed the Ovation guitar, to better focus on its aerospace and industrial markets. (For more on Kaman Corp., see “Back to Basics” on page 1).
The acquisition did not interrupt the development of the Ovation MP3 devise. In fact, Fender retained Kaman Music Corp.’s executive management following its acquisition, and the work that Hall spearheaded moved forward.
A key element of that work was the development of an MP3 device that had the ability to record music and connect to a computer, Hall said.
Ovation partnered with Massachusetts-based Workshop Live! to develop the technology that would allow customers to download thousands of guitar lessons onto their instrument’s MP3 recorder.
“The success of the product is going to come on the back end,” Hall said. “It’s going to depend on what we can provide in terms of downloads and compatibility with other devices to play music and back tracks.”
Wide Appeal
Another reason Ovation officials are optimistic about their new product is that they feel it appeals to a broad range of guitar enthusiasts, from novice players to professional musicians.
However, its primary target market will be singer-songwriters who want to use the iDea to record riffs and melodies they come up with instantly.
“In the past, if you were playing and came up with something you liked, you’d have to put down the guitar and go find a way to record what you’re playing,” Hall explained. “With the iDea, you just have to press a button. It’s really cool. It’s a way for us to take advantage of expanding technology.”
The Ovation iDea was revealed to the media in mid-September, although the official product launch will be Nov. 1 to capture the holiday sales.
Bloggers, along with writers for music and technology sites, discussed the guitar, posted pictures and videos of it. The consensus was positive.
One enthusiastic MusicGadgets.net blogger wrote: “This is probably one of the most beautiful guitars I’ve seen lately and will probably be one of the most desired for the next few months.”
The suggested price of the Ovation iDea guitar is $599. The iDea preamp, which can be inserted into older Ovation guitars that allow for the devise to be added, costs $299.
Dick Provost, chairman of the classical guitar program for the Hartt School, said the product sounds like a good idea.
“It’s probably going to be very appealing to teenagers and other amateur players,” Provost said. “I know that a lot of my students are walking around with various MP3 players; this would simplify things for them.”
He compared it to using an iPhone, which he uses because it reduces his need to also carry a computer or a Palm Pilot.
“Do I really need an iPhone? Probably not,” Provost said. “But it allows me to do more by carrying less and I think this product will work in much the same way.”
Provost also added that the suggested price is a “good pricing” and he anticipated that the product will do “some serious damage” in the market.
