magic instruments x ammunition digitize the guitar to let anyone play
image courtesy of ammunition 

 

 

 

when it comes to playing a  guitar, there are no real shortcuts to becoming a master musician. startup magic instruments with the help of design firm ammunition, wanted to change that with the ‘MI guitar’. the new kind of instrument lets anyone be musically expressive and play their favorite songs with little to no training. 

 


video courtesy of magic instruments

 

 

 

a modern spin on a classic guitar silhouette, the ‘MI guitar’ incorporates software to simplify the playing process with an easy-to-use button-based fingerboard. ammunition’s challenge was to take this new interface and create a design that reflects the experience and feeling of playing a traditional guitar, while still conveying the digital vitality of the device. 

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image courtesy of magic instruments 

 

 

the strings on the ‘MI guitar’ don’t need tuning, so their was no need to implement a bridge or tuning pegs. the design team highlighted this by making the bridge almost invisible, creating the illusion that the strings disappear into the guitar body. the neck of the guitar continues into the bridge, creating a single connection point for strumming and changing chords. the only front face, aluminum knobs give the ‘MI guitar’ to match a similar experience to a piece of modern technology rather than a classic musical instrument. together with y combinator and highway1, magic instruments created an indiegogo campaign to help fund manufacturing with plans to ship by early 2017. 

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image courtesy of ammunition 

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image courtesy of ammunition 

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image courtesy of magic instruments

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image courtesy of magic instruments

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image courtesy of ammunition 

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image courtesy of ammunition