Introducing iCoustic Guitars

Press release
Source: Modern Music Publications

The iCoustic system is one of those innovations that prompt one to wonder, “Why didn’t somebody invent that before?”

It’s something iCoustic inventor Ken Preece has wondered himself.

“It seems so obvious now,” says Preece, a musician and former player piano technician. “The idea hit me at the NAMM Show in January 2003. All the guitars and all the player pianos – the idea for the iCoustic just sort of clicked.”

To Preece, the iCoustic system is part of the digital music revolution democratizing the capability for creating, producing, mixing and listening to music. iCoustic’s concept is straightforward – integrate an amplifier and speaker into an acoustic guitar, turning the instrument into a self-amplifying, self-contained, stand-alone music platform.

A novice just learning to play guitar can plug an iPod – or any digital music device -- into his iCoustic and practice to his favorite songs. It’s an entirely different feel to have the music coming directly from your guitar, rather than from outside speakers or headphones.

An accomplished player can plug in any digital music player and presto – accompaniment from an ensemble of virtual band mates.

When combined with the Korg ToneWorks Pandora PXR4, the iCoustic becomes a portable digital recording studio.

Perfect Background to Invent iCoustic
Ken Preece’s background was the perfect training ground to lead him toward invention of the iCoustic. He is an experienced guitar player and musician. Ken Preece possesses a technical expertise acquired from years of not only building guitars, but pianos as well.

“I’ve worked on pianos since I was 12,” says the 42-year old Preece. “I have worked on more than a thousand player pianos – designing them, fixing them, building them from scratch, including seven foot Nickelodeons with xylophones, drums, etc.”

In 1978, a company now known as Pianocorder introduced the first computerized player pianos -- first using cassette tapes, followed by floppy disks during the 1980s. Preece worked for the company, installing hundreds of these computerized systems in player pianos. These systems not only played the piano itself, but also provided musical accompaniment.

“Looking back on the years I spent working on player pianos, the iCoustic makes perfect sense,” says Preece. “What I did was marry the player piano concept to the acoustic guitar in a physically inconspicuous way. Just as a player piano looks like any other piano on the outside, a guitar with an iCoustic system doesn’t look much different from a normal acoustic guitar.”

Distinctive Design
The basic design common to all iCoustic models is a unique soundhole mounted highend woofer system that preserves the guitar’s appearance. The guitar’s own soundboard creates a rich amplified sound, while the built-in battery system eliminates the need for external power sources

The iCoustic can be used with foot pedals or other musical input devices, and linked for simultaneous playback when performing in duet mode. In playback only mode, iCoustic guitars can be used as a stand alone guitar music source without a musician present.

Making the Best Even Better
The iCoustic comes in several different models suited for either the serious player or the serious amateur:

The mini-acoustic guitar is compact and portable. With the installation of the iCoustic
system, the guitarist experiences the vibration and sound of jumbo-size guitar.

The Baby Taylor 305
• Fishman Mini-Q with Sonicore pickup and 9-volt battery
• Includes built-in 4-inch custom aluminum magnesium woofer
• Built-in 9-volt amplifier
• 9-volt power input and adapter
• 1/4 inch input/output jack
• 1/8 inch mini input jack
• Custom set of harness cables for connecting digital devices to the guitar
• Extra Velcro strips for attaching to the digital devices
• Designed to work with digital recording devices, portable MP3 and CD players,
effect pedals, as well as desktop and laptop computers.

Little Martin LXME
• Fishman Mini-Q with Sonicore pickup and 9-volt battery
• Includes built-in 4-inch custom aluminum magnesium woofer
• Built-in 9-volt amplifier
• 9-volt power input and adapter
• 1/4 inch input/output jack
• 1/8 inch mini input jack
• Custom set of harness cables for connecting digital devices to the guitar
• Extra Velcro strips for attaching to the digital devices
• Designed to work with digital recording devices, portable MP3 and CD players,
effect pedals, as well as desktop and laptop computers.

Travel Bass – “Stand-up Volume”
The newest iCoustic model is the Alvarez Travel Bass. This travel acoustic bass can really be heard. Like the travel guitars, the iCoustic Alvarez Travel Bass packs very big sound into a very small instrument. Every bit as powerful as a stand up bass yet is easily portable and can be taken anywhere.

The iCoustic System clearly solves the problem that has long plagued acoustic bass guitarists…the inability to be heard The iCoustic System ensures you can hear the difference as it pounds out the bass line with surprising volume.

Alvarez Travel Bass MSB1
• Fishman Mini-Q with Sonicore pickup and 9-volt battery
• Includes built-in 4-inch custom aluminum magnesium woofer
• Built-in 9-volt amplifier
• 9-volt power input and adapter
• 1/4 inch input/output jack
• 1/8 inch mini input jack
• Custom set of harness cables for connecting digital devices to the guitar
• Extra Velcro strips for attaching to the digital devices
• Designed to work with digital recording devices, portable MP3 and CD players,
effect pedals, as well as desktop and laptop computers.

Custom iCoustics
Guitar enthusiasts interested in having their instruments customized with an iCoustic system can work with iCoustic’s custom shop to determine the best options for custom installation beginning at $149.00.

The iCoustic Custom options may include:
• Fishman Mini-Q with Sonicore pickup and 9-volt battery
• 4 inch woofer
• 9-volt amplifier
• 1/4 inch output jack
• 1/8 inch mini input jack
• 1/4 inch input jack
• Custom set of harness cables for connecting digital devices to the guitar
• Extra Velcro strips for attaching to the digital devices

iCoustic Modes
The iCoustic System was invented to add more power and volume to the acoustic guitar as well as attach to the multitude of new portable digital music devices. The various modes detailed below show you how acoustic guitar players can get bigger sound from their full-size or mini acoustic guitars. Only iCoustic has this patented technology.*

iCoustic Mode:
With the flip of a switch, the player can increase the sound level without sacrificing the natural sound quality of the guitar; rather, the tone is enhanced. The bonus is that the player now has portability with much bigger sound.

MP3 Mode:
The digital revolution enables you to carry 10,000 songs in your pocket. The acoustic guitar can now be the portable speaker system for all of the new portable MP3 players. The player also has the option of playing along.

Pro Mode:
Pro Mode allows the player to connect a Korg ToneWorks PXR4 or similar devices to the acoustic guitar adding the ability to multi-track record and playback using only the guitar.

Effects Pedal Mode:
The player can loop any and all effects pedals without an amp or P.A. system.

Duet Mode:
Almost like playing two instruments at once. Marry iCoustic instruments together via standard guitar cables. Like magic, all instruments can be heard through each instrument simultaneously. This also provides phase boost for bass response.

Piggyback Mode:
This enables a player to connect any electronic instrument to any guitar with an iCoustic system installed, allowing the instrument without the iCoustic system to be amplified.

Songwriting and Performing
Digital music players and recorders are getting smaller, more powerful and less expensive with each passing day. As they proliferate, so does the ability of any musician to literally carry their accompaniment with them in their pocket.

“What is great about the iCoustic is its versatility,” says Preece. “It adds an entirely new dimension to a person’s guitar playing or songwriting experience. Whether you like playing for friends, family, in a coffee house, or writing songs on the tour bus, the iCoustic lets you plug in a single device and play along to the song or accompaniment of
your choice.”

“iCoustic puts the ability to perform, write and record music within reach of virtually anyone.” Songwriters benefit from being able to capture their inspiration on a digital recorder without interrupting their creative process. The writer can add-in or write-to other pre-recorded tracks. This allows songwriters to be much more efficient in their
writing process.

Compatible Music Devices
The iCoustic guitar works with a gamut of devices:
• Korg ToneWorks Pandora PXR4 Digital Recording Studio
• Apple iPod
• Portable home recording studios
• MP3 players
• Minidisc players and recorders
• Portable DVD & CD players
• Portable radios equipped with a headphone jack
• Boom boxes
• Camcorders
• Computers with mini jack input/output, including headphone jack
• Laptops
• Portable keyboards
• Electric guitars
• Sound effect pedals (i.e. chorus, flanger, reverb, wah, etc.)

For more information about iCoustic guitars, please visit www.icoustic.com.

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