Looking for a MIDI guitar with a built-in NES-style chiptune synth? You might want to give Love Hultén a call
The crazy Swedish craftsman has surpassed himself
We’ve seen plenty of synths from Love Hultén, the man for whom customising existing hardware is a way of life, but for his latest trick, he’s created a MIDI-equipped guitar. As you’d expect, though, that’s only a small part of the story.
Built around the YouRock MIDI guitar, this as-yet-unnamed creation was crafted for musician Catbeats, and it’s got a spec sheet we’re pretty sure you won’t find anywhere else.
As well as being able to output MIDI, the guitar (which has a removable neck to make it easy to transport) also contains a built-in NESpoly synth, meaning that it’s capable of creating its own chiptune-style sounds as well. There are various tone-shaping controls, plus a detachable dome so that the cat avatar beneath can be replaced as and when required. An essential feature, we think you’ll agree.
Throw in “a custom strap made from extraterrestrial skin” and you’ve got something that’s possibly bonkers but also strangely alluring, particularly after you’ve heard it being played. If you fancy one, you can drop Love Hultén a line via his website.
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I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.