Custom Godin xtSA Electric Guitar, AXON Guitar to MIDI Controller/Synthesizer

Description

Custom Godin xtSA Electric Guitar, AXON Guitar to MIDI Controller/Synthesizer on metal stand, AB200 footswitch bundle
Shipping to the continental USA only.
The bundle features the Godin xtSA guitar connected through a dedicated Roland 13-pin cable to the AXON AX 100MKII MIDI Controller/Synthesizer. The AXON is mounted on a height and angle adjustable metal stand, and hosts a powered dual AB200 footswitch. In this configuration the guitar sends Synth tracking signals to the Controller that in turn generates MIDI notes or effect/control instructions to be further executed by a DAW/external synthesizer and/or its own internal Synth/Sound board. This way the guitar becomes a multi-sound instrument that can generate several voices/effects simultaneously.
According to the manufacturers, this is a combination of the best in the industry: Godin maintains that "the third voice on the xtSA comes in the form of its synth tracking, which simply put, is the best in the business", while Terratec congratulates one for owning "the  world's  fastest  and  most  powerful  guitar-to-MIDI  converter available on the market".
As Godin puts it, the xtSA is "a jack-of-all-trades, and master of all of them", being used as an electric and/or acoustic guitar and/or synth controller, through its 3 separate outputs. It is built with two humbuckers, one single coil pickup and a set of bridge piezo transducers with EQ. When the guitar is connected to the AXON unit, an onboard momentary switch can be assigned to access the tuner, wah pedal, or to select sounds (patches) on the synth. The guitar has a wide and thick leather strap; it is luxurious, soft (foam padded) and very comfortable. The guitar comes customized with NY artisan-cast pickup frames, switch ring, top neck plate and custom gold leaf and gloss sealant on pickups.
The AXON AX 100MKII is a fast MIDI converter, able to determine the pitch and amplitude of a note the instance the guitar string is picked. Even estimating the point where the string was picked is possible thanks to the neural network processes implemented by the hardware's Digital Signal Processor. This enables the player to divide the guitar strings in 3 zones and assign them different layered instruments, while controlling the sound modulation with the pick position. The unit supports both electrical and acoustic sources, and will ask for a decently "clean" play to generate the expected MIDI or Synth results. The system also features a powerful arpeggiator with which one can virtually self-accompany, a sound board with 500 complex voices, 10 drum kits and a drum sequencer.
Since it features a repeater - Guitar Out analog jack, the
AXON
can be inserted in the analog sound path without affecting the original guitar sound, allowing for further signal processing.
A very limited demonstration of how the guitar could use the local AXON Sound board is given by the manufacturer at http://terratec.ultron.info/AXON/AXON_AX_100_MKII/Sounddemo/AXON_AX_100_MKII_SoundDemos.zip however, the real power of the AX100 shows when its MIDI out stream is routed to computer/software-driven Synths. An inexpensive MIDI to USB interface cable is required to run the optional PC AXON Editor software.
Components of the bundle:
Custom Godin xtSA Electric Guitar in Transparent Black - very good to excellent condition
Levy's Leathers M17T03-TAN Leather Guitar Strap, Tan, tooled with kokopelli pattern - like new
Godin Electric Guitar "Gig Bag"
1x TRS/TRS cable for Soundboard Stereo Output (AXON) - 15 ft professional MusicMover cable, gold plated connectors
1x TRS/TRS cable for Guitar Output (AXON) - 21 ft professional Dayton Pro cable, nickel plated connectors
1x 13pin DIN cable for the synth control output (xtSA) - Roland GR-55 GK 15ft
AXON AX100 MKII Guitar to MIDI Controller/Synthesizer by TerraTec Germany, rack mounted - like new
Height and angle adjustable Metal Stand with cable routing and rack mounting brackets
TerraTec power supply
1x MIDI (out) DIN cable - 4ft
1x TRS/TRS (mono) cable for expression pedals - 8ft CoreX2 cable
2x TRS/TRS (mono) cable for chain/hold switch pedals - 6ft ultraflexible
Dual switch AB200 for chain/hold control (latch/non-latch) with power supply
3x Electro-Harmonix nickel wound string sets (one of them just mounted)
G7th Performance Capo
Brass Ring Slide - Peaceland
Brass Slide - Dunlop 231
AX100 MKII original manual, software DVD, demo DVD
Godin tag with factory quality checks/signatures
Headphones for illustration purpose only - not included
Godin Guitar and AXON MIDI controller
Video will open in a new window
Using the eBay App? Paste link into a browser window:
[isdntekvideo]
From the GODIN manufacturer, features at a glance:
Body - Silverleaf maple center with poplar wings
Ebony fingerboard, Mahogany neck
Scale - 25"
Electronics - 2x humbuckers, 1x single-coil pickup, tremolo bridge with RMC transducers, custom pre-amp with 3-band EQ for acoustic sound
Three outputs - electric, acoustic/mix, 13-pin for Roland GR synths & most other 13-pin devices
The Godin xtSA is a multi-voiced guitar. Its sound power begins with three distinct voices: electric guitar, acoustic guitar and synth controller. The xtSA delivers big time electric sounds via the Godin humbucker-single-humbucker pickup configuration. Thanks to a special 5-way switch setup, extra meaty humbucker tones co-exist with glassy split-coil sounds in the second and fourth positions.
Turn down the electric output and raise the volume on the RMC transducer saddles and the xtSA sounds like an authentic acoustic guitar. The acoustic voice of the xtSA is enhanced by an onboard preamp with a three-way graphic EQ. The two outputs are set up so that the electric and acoustic voices can be blended in the guitar using a single patch cord or at the amp/mixer using both outputs.
The icing on the xtSA cake comes in the form of its synth tracking. As with all Godin synth-ready instruments, a built-in 13-pin connector provides direct access to all Roland GR-Series synths as well as most other 13-pin devices.
All of this sound power would be a lot less interesting if the guitar didn't feel great. Thanks to the same 25" scale mahogany neck used on the Godin flagship LGX-SA guitar, this is a very comfortable guitar to play. The ebony fingerboard is shaped with Godin's ergocut technique and equipped with medium jumbo frets. The body is made from a silverleaf maple center with poplar wings and decorated with a figured maple veneer on top. Transparent Black Godin xtSA guitars have a flamed top.
From the TerraTec manufacturer:
AXON  AX  100  MKII is the  world's  fastest  and  most  powerful  guitar-to-MIDI  converter available on the market. The AXON AX 100 MKII is an enhanced development of the NGC 77, which had set standards  for  innovative  technology  and  had  become  standard  equipment  for  many  professional  guitarists,  including  John  McLaughlin.
Thanks  to  its  neural  network,  the  AXON  AX  100  MKII  is  able  to  determine  the  precise pitch of a note the instant it is picked, whereas other devices require several oscillations of the string for analysis. The early recognition of transients lets the AXON simultaneously determine pitch, amplitude, and even  the  location  at  which  the  string  was  picked—an  unparalleled  ability  to  date.  This  is  due  to  the  AXON's  unusual  splitting  options.  For  example,  you  can  use  a  string  split  to  divide  the  strings  of  your  guitar  into  two zones, each with its own sound properties. Or use a fret split to divide the fingerboard of your guitar into two separate  playing  zones.  Pick  splits  let  you  divide  the  picking  area  of  the  guitar  into  up  to  three  independent sound zones that you can select instantly by changing your picking position. You can achieve impressive effects with the pick control function, which lets you control modulation effects and others with your picking position.
Special effects such as COMMON (bypass), SEPARATE (hold), LAYER (ensemble/doubling) and others can  be  applied  with  the  multi-programmable  hold  switch.  The  implementation  of  a  full-featured  arpeggiator  provides users further options to add expression to their playing with striking variations. Splits and effects can be  combined,  stored  in  up  to  128  complex  presets  and  recalled  as  needed.
Another  unique  feature  of  the  AXON  AX  100  MKII  is  its  unrestricted  support  for  both  acoustic  guitars  and  basses  with  piezo  hex  pickups.
This  opens  the  MIDI  world  to  bass  players  and  classical  guitarists  that  are  looking  for  new,  contemporary forms of expression. The internal soundboard upgrades the AXON AX 100 MKII to a professional guitar synthesizer  for  live  use  supporting  ambitious  musicians  with  over  500  excellent  sounds,  including  10  drum  kits.
The AXON AX 100 MKII system is fully MIDI compatible, and also features an editable drum sequencer.
Please see full description of the product and more technical information at:
http://godinguitars.com/xtsa.pdf
http://terratec.ultron.info/AXON/AXON_AX_100_MKII/Manuals/AXON_AX_100_MKII_Manual_EN_2.0.pdf
http://terratec.ultron.info/AXON/AXON_AX_100_MKII/Sounddemo/
http://terratec.ultron.info/AXON/AXON_AX_100_MKII/Update/
http://terratec.ultron.info/AXON/AXON_AX_100_MKII/FAQ/AXON_AX_100_mkII_FAQ_GB.htm