Draft:Casio DG-20
Digital guitar and guitar synthesizer by Casio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Casio DG-20 was a guitar synthesizer and MIDI controller manufactured by Casio.[1][2] It was a relatively low-cost MIDI instrument that gave guitarists access to electronic sounds from a fretboard-based controller.[2][3] The instrument combined built-in preset tones, PCM rhythm patterns, an onboard speaker and MIDI output with a guitar-like playing action, although contemporary reviewers noted that it did not behave like a conventional guitar.[1]
 | Review waiting, please be patient.
This may take 2 months or more, since drafts are reviewed in no specific order. There are 4,288 pending submissions waiting for review.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Reviewer tools
|
Design and features
The DG-20 uses six equal-gauge nylon strings and a rubberized fretboard membrane with switches behind each fret. String movement acts as the trigger for note generation, while pitch is determined by the selected fret position rather than by string tension.[2][3][1] Contemporary reviews said that this design eliminated the tracking delay associated with many early guitar-based MIDI systems, but also made note bending impossible.[2][3] Reviewers nevertheless found that techniques such as hammer-ons, pull-offs and glides could be used, albeit with compromises in feel and accuracy.[2][3]
The DG-20 provides 20 preset tones, including acoustic and electric guitar variations as well as non-guitar sounds such as glocken, harp, shamisen, jazz organ, trumpet, mandolin, flute and clarinet.[1] The instrument also includes 12 PCM-based rhythm patterns and four onboard drum pads plus controls for transposing.[1]
The instrument includes a 2-watt speaker, line and headphone outputs, a footswitch jack for rhythm control and a 9 V power input. It can operate from six D-size batteries or an optional AC adaptor.[1]
Reception and legacy
In Making Music, Jerry Uwins wrote that the DG-20 offered a "commendably professional" way to access keyboard and MIDI sounds from a fretboard. He praised its "instantaneous triggering" and value, but said that it could not function as a "real guitar" and noted the unfamiliar feel of its nylon strings and membrane controls.[2]
A 1988 review in ETI Guide to Making Music described the DG-20 as Casio's cheapest MIDI guitar offering. The reviewer praised its expressiveness and versatility, but criticized its plastic construction, lack of touch sensitivity and the compromises it required in playing technique, concluding that it was "an exceptionally clever instrument" for the price.[3]
The instrument received renewed online attention in 2022 when Japanese guitar virtuoso Ichika Nito demonstrated a DG-20 in video performances.[4]
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Polyphony | 6-note polyphony; monophonic in solo mode[1] |
| Preset tones | 20 tones: acoustic guitar 1–4, electric guitar 1–2, flanger, glocken, harp, shamisen, jazz organ, trumpet, chorus, distortion, crystal, funky clavi, mandolin, organ, flute and clarinet[1] |
| Rhythms | 12 PCM-based auto-rhythm patterns: rock, 16 beat, pops, reggae, country, enka, swing, blues, bossa nova, slow rock, waltz and tango[1] |
| Drum pads | 4 onboard pads: snare drum, high tom, low tom and cymbal[1] |
| Effects and performance controls | Tune, transpose, mute and solo selectors[1] |
| MIDI | MIDI Out; mode I (poly) and mode II (mono); note on/off, start/stop, timing clock, program change and portamento transmission[1] |
| Audio and control connections | Headphone jack, line output, footswitch jack, AC adaptor input[1] |
| Speaker | 12 cm speaker, rated at 2.0 W[1] |
| Power | Six D-size batteries; optional AD-5 AC adaptor; optional CA-5 car adaptor; automatic power-off after approximately 6 minutes[1] |
| Dimensions | 995 × 340 × 95 mm[1] |
| Weight | 3.5 kg including batteries[1] |
| Contemporary UK price | £279 in Making Music (September 1987); £249 in ETI Guide to Making Music (1988)[2][3] |