Hey there guitar players, we found this on yankodesign.com, another great Tyson Leslie design.  We couldn’t better summarize it than Yanko Design.

The REAL, I said. The REAL one. This is the one where you learn a real, actual, applicable beyond the game skill. Habeeb it! The designer of this project had the idea stop upon his mind-grapes while he was watching friends jam upon Guitar Hero and Rock Band all day long. He thought hey, they’re so good at this, but they can’t play a real guitar at all! Well wouldn’t you know it, he was (and is!) an industrial designer so he pumped up his muscles and got to work creating what he calls “Vision.”

Vision is a self-teaching electric guitar. It’s an LED-lit neck and body working in unison with guitar learning software. Tune is always tune, reducing the time a student uses on this elementary task. Vision teaches through games involving visual and audio feedback. Chords, percussion, and popular music are played alongside the student to provide easy assistance, allowing the student to become familiar with the instrument in an environment they’re basically already used to.

Connect to a computer with Bluetooth, plug in an amp, or go unplugged with battery. Gameplay is very similar to popular guitar games out now where students complete levels, difficulties, and unlock challenges.

Connecting to an amp allows the student to play uninhibited. The guitar has regular tone and volume knobs as well as a built-in effects system.

Unplugged works on rechargeable batteries, LED lit fretboard and rear-mounted speaker allow the student to practice or play portably.

The guitar comes standard with several interchangeable bodies to appease any weirdly shaped person.

Here’s what the designer’s website has to say at tysonleslie.com:

Videogames only allow the player to experience their fantasy in game. Vision gives the player real life knowledge, true talent, and the ability to become a rock star all while playing a game and having fun.

The idea for Vision came to me while watching friends spend day after day playing videogames like Guitar Hero and Rock Star. I began to think that if they devoted the same amount of time into something more tangible they would develop a real skill. So I used my experience as a guitar teacher/player and videogame fanatic to create Vision - the self-teaching electric guitar.

An LED-lit neck and body work in unison with learning software. A self tuning gear system means Vision will always be in tune; for young students this is the most common reason for not practicing.

Vision interactively assists the 'student' through games involving visual and audio feedback. It plays chords, percussion, and popular music along with the player to provide rhythmic assistance and allows them to familiarize themselves with beat and tempo.

Vision can be used in three main ways: Bluetooth connected to a computer, connected to an amp, or 'unplugged' using battery power.

Connected to a computer Vision uses software similar to Guitar Hero to entice the 'student' to play more. The software advances with the student, gives points and unlockable achievements, and allows them to view their progress step by step; the better they play the more they unlock and the more they learn.

Connected to an amp Vision plays just like a normal electric guitar with tone and volume knobs as well as a unique built in effects system. This remove the need to buy pricey effects pedals.

Unplugged, Vision's rechargeable battery can still power basic electronics. The LED lit fretboard and rear mounted speaker provide the student with portable lessons or simply the ability to play on the go.

Interchangeable sides allow the student to customize ergonomics and aesthetics to individual needs and styles.

The side control panel has the tone and volume control, an LED panel, a multifunctional control knob, and power and sync buttons.

The LED panel displays song information, allows the user to navigate through lessons, and can be used as a metronome (among many other programmed uses).

Vision won the Nova Award at the 2009 Rocket Show for best model.

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