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Electronics are serviced by PCB replacement; field adjustments are not provided.
Components are delicate; avoid accidental damage and ensure no conductive debris is present.
Handle saddles with care; they are delicate piezo-electric sensors requiring specific adjustment procedures.
Adjust saddle height/position with strings de-tensioned; ensure set screws contact the platform.
Use static protection; break circuit board from frame using pliers to twist away tabs.
Check piezo output and adjust bridge tension to balance springs and strings for parallel alignment.
Measure string clearance at 12th fret and use truss rod to adjust neck curvature for proper relief.
Set overall saddle heights to mimic neck contour, aiming for 4/64" clearance and adjusting for buzz.
The Moog Guitar is a unique musical instrument that integrates advanced electronics with traditional guitar design to offer a novel playing experience. It is the first commercially available guitar to feature a true, closed-loop vibration-control system, which allows for unprecedented control over string sustain and feedback. This innovative system is powered by complex, miniaturized, and delicate analog circuitry, meticulously designed to work in harmony with the physical instrument. The goal of this integration is to create an instrument capable of supporting true virtuosity, where the electronics enhance rather than detract from the guitarist's performance.
At its core, the Moog Guitar functions as an electric guitar, producing sound through pickups that convert string vibrations into electrical signals. However, its distinguishing feature is the active vibration-control system. This system continuously monitors string vibrations and applies controlled electromagnetic forces to the strings, allowing for infinite sustain, controlled feedback, and other unique sonic textures not possible with conventional guitars. The guitar's behavioral module, entirely analog, manages these intricate interactions, creating a dynamic and responsive instrument. The pickups, in conjunction with the vibration-control system, play a crucial role in both sensing and influencing string movement, offering a broad spectrum of expressive possibilities.
The Moog Guitar is designed for guitarists seeking expanded creative potential beyond the capabilities of standard electric guitars. Its vibration-control system allows players to achieve sustained notes that would otherwise fade, enabling new melodic and harmonic approaches. The instrument's responsiveness to playing dynamics is a key feature, as the closed-loop system reacts in real-time to the player's input. While the manual doesn't detail specific controls for the vibration system, the presence of various pot assemblies and switch assemblies suggests a range of user-adjustable parameters for shaping the guitar's unique sonic characteristics. The careful design of the pickups and their adjustability ensures that players can fine-tune the instrument's response to their individual playing style. The integration of GraphTech Ghost saddles, while requiring careful handling during adjustment, contributes to the guitar's advanced functionality, likely providing enhanced intonation and possibly additional sonic outputs. The overall design aims to provide a seamless playing experience where the advanced technology serves to amplify the player's musical expression.
Maintaining the Moog Guitar requires a blend of traditional guitar care and specific attention to its advanced electronic components. Basic guitar maintenance procedures, such as truss rod adjustment, intonation, and fret dressing, are all applicable and necessary to ensure optimal playability. However, the instrument introduces several critical considerations due to its integrated electronics.
The electronics in the Moog Guitar are not intended for field service beyond PCB replacement. The internal circuitry is described as "very complex, miniaturized and delicate," making "experimental" trim adjustments strongly discouraged without direct guidance from a Moog factory technician. Attempting such adjustments "by ear" is deemed "pretty much impossible to get back to proper adjustment." The components on the PCB are highly sensitive to physical damage; even a light drag of pliers can cause significant harm. Therefore, extreme caution is advised to prevent any small conductive "bits" (like string sections or wire fragments) from shorting out components on the PCB.
When replacing a PCB, careful attention to wire color codes and ordering is paramount, as proper re-soldering is essential. The PCB is designed to "float" within its cavity, secured by soft foam pads, which should be pressed down gently to ensure a light fit. It is normal for the PCB and parts of the cavity cover to become warm during play, but the internal temperature is electronically limited to a safe value.
The saddles on the Moog Guitar are delicate piezo-electric sensors, requiring more than usual care during intonation adjustments. Excessive stress and strain can damage them. Before adjusting saddle position or height, all string tension must be removed, and the center-saddle locking screw must be released. Adjusting saddles under string tension is strictly prohibited. For optimal string tone, both saddle height adjustment set screws must be in solid contact with the bridge saddle platform, firmly supporting each corner of the saddle. Saddles should never be tilted. After any height or position adjustment, the string should be tightened almost fully before re-tightening the center-saddle locking screw, allowing the saddle to settle into its "natural" position. This screw should not be over-tightened to avoid bending or breaking the saddle body. Generally, raising the entire bridge platform is preferred over adjusting individual saddles for overall string action, after checking neck bias. Saddle height adjustment set screws should not be over-extended, keeping the saddle body relatively low to the bridge platform. This advice applies to all GraphTech Ghost saddle installations.
If pickup height has been altered, readjustment may be necessary. The pickup screws are nylon, so forceful turning beyond their intended range can strip the threads. Screws should turn easily with light force within the adjustment range. The strength of the vibration control system is significantly affected by pickup height. High-E ends should be as close as possible to the high-E string (without buzzing) when fretted at the top fret. The low-E string should be approximately 0.15 inches above the neck pickup on the low-E side, with the bridge pickup potentially slightly closer to the low E string. Lowering pickups generally reduces control quality and strength. For side-to-side adjustment, the pickup's horizontal surface should be parallel to the strings, maintaining a constant distance between each string and the pickup surface.
Adjusting the internal hex nuts is crucial for balancing the tension between the springs and the strings when the guitar is in tune. Changes to one tension require adjusting the other to maintain balance, ensuring the bridge sits parallel to the guitar's surface. The tremolo arm should be used to stretch the springs in both directions, observing the bridge's adjustment until it consistently returns to the parallel position after whammy bar use, indicating the springs are fully broken in. After this, a small amount of "loc-tight" adhesive should be applied to each hanger bolt behind the hex nut to prevent self-adjustment. This bond will need to be broken for future readjustments, requiring caution to prevent hanger bolts from turning with hex nuts and reapplication of loc-tight.
To set neck relief, tune the guitar to pitch. Hold a string at the first and last fret; the distance between the string and the 12th fret should be slightly more than the width of a couple sheets of paper. If neck bow or cupping causes an incorrect distance, the truss rod should be adjusted in minor turns (1/8 to 1/4 turn at a time) with continuous checking to achieve the perfect relief.
Overall saddle heights should mimic the neck contour. At the 12th fret, low E and A strings should measure 4/64 inches from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string, a measurement that should be consistent across all strings. This should result in a buzz-free guitar. If buzzing persists, saddle heights can be increased in half 64th increments, up to a total of 1/64 inch, though buzzing may still occur at higher settings. Once buzz-free, pickups should be raised to appropriate heights and rechecked for buzz, potentially requiring slight increases in string height. Final action with pickups in place should not exceed 5/64 inches on the low end and 4/64 inches on the high end.
The intonation procedure is similar to other guitars, with the only variation being the amount each saddle needs to be adjusted for accurate intonation, particularly on lower strings. Caution is advised to prevent crimping or cutting piezo wires during saddle movements.
This comprehensive approach to maintenance ensures the Moog Guitar remains in optimal playing condition, preserving its unique sonic capabilities and delicate electronic integrity.
General| Type | Electric Guitar |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Moog |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Scale Length | 24.75 inches |
| Bridge | Tune-o-matic |
| Controls | Volume, Tone, Sustain Control |
| Weight | Approximately 8 lbs |
| Tuners | Grover |
