Gibson Sues Makers Of Guitar Hero And Rock Band For Patent Infringment:
Gibson is suing Activision, Harmonix, Electronic Arts, and MTV over alleged patent infringement over the companies' involvement in Rock Band and the Guitar Hero series. The lawsuit is not over Guitar Hero's use of the iconic Les Paul, SG, and Explorer guitars as controllers, but for violation of a decade-old patent for....drumroll please... "a method for simulating a live performance using a musical instrument, a 3D headset with stereo speakers, and a pre-recorded concert."
I knew there must be a reason, other than the price, why I've never owned anything made by Gibson - I must have been able to sense their heart of pure evil.
ha ha. I used to have a black Les Paul custom – beautiful machine, but so heavy! You’d need a lower back made of steel to stand there all night holding that puppy. :) I’ve also had a few Epiphone copies, which were pretty damn good IMHO.
Anyway, I sold the Les Paul and bought a Rickenbacker. I paid £700 for it in 1999 and the same guitar is now worth over £1400. For some reason, the price of Rickies has shot up the last year or so.
I do like the SG though. A nice wine red one would be neat. I’ve always fancied the idea of a Telecaster too but have never managed to pick one up and try it (had a decent Strat copy once and hated it).
Now I have 2 guitars – the Rick and my beloved Crafter acoustic. Boring story for ya – I re-strung my acoustic over Christmas, but was getting cramp and muscle pains in my hand after playing it for half an hour or so. Got very worried that it was middle age creeping up on me. Then my uncle said ‘the strings are too heavy’ – and sure enough, I’d put 12 gauge strings on. I re-strung it with 10 gaugers and problem solved! Amazing the difference the string gauge can make eh?
i recently came into possession of a Martin D-28 acoustic. it’s a great guitar, but i’m so nervous of it, since it cost (somebody) nearly 2x the price of all my other guitars combined.
Friend had a Takamine once. Gulp. Amazing sound, but same problem – too scared to play it, less he scratched the bloody thing. Ended up and a very expensive ornament.
Did you know there was a dispute between Robert Fripp and Fred Frith about who invented tuning the guitar in fifths? It was called the ‘Frith/Fripp Fifth Froth’. ha ha.
“Frith/Fripp Fifth Froth”
that’s horribly awesome.
Cleek, I got no ‘pinions bout Gibsons, but wanted to let you know that there is some sort of Obamafest/voter reg. at City Market this evening. Cheers.