Wilcox Atlantis With LightWave Optical Pickups – Summer NAMM 2015

Willcox Guitars introduces “Atlantis” acoustic-electric guitar, featuring innovative LightWave optical pickups.

Wilcox Atlantis

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Instead of using conventional magnetic pickups, mics and piezo electronics, this special pickup system utilizes infrared light technology to capture guitar tone. It will be put to the test and will be on display at the upcoming Summer NAMM Show 2015 in Nashville, TN.

Wilcox Guitars have been developing this guitar and optical pickup technology for years now, its latest incarnation is now ready to take the spotlight and be inspected by curious industry people and participants at the coming 2015 Summer NAMM Show, which will be held from July 9 to July 11, 2015.

Their proprietary pickup design is interesting because it can sense string vibration via infrared technology, utilizing the resulting shadow to detect movements of the strings, and transforming these movements into acoustic guitar tone. The company says that this results in a “rich, natural amplified acoustic guitar sound, rich in harmonic content – without the feedback of mics or the harshness of piezo pickups.”

Another important distinction that the LightWave Optical Pickup brings is its enhanced sensitivity and wide dynamic range. This allows the pickup to capture subtle nuances and attack articulation, something that piezo pickups are known to have trouble with.

Wilcox Atlantis features a slim and lightweight chambered mahogany body, more similar to a thinline electric guitar than an acoustic – but it is still considered as an acoustic-electric guitar because of the amplified acoustic tone. The guitar’s AAA flamed maple or European spruce top ensures that the guitar resonates and sounds like an acoustic even with its thin profile. The body shape is designed to be comfortable for players of different ages, and its single cutaway design allows for easy upper fret access.

The guitar’s 25.5″ scale neck is crafted from mahogany, while the 21-fret fingerboard is built using rosewood. It has modern TUSQ for the saddle and nut, and it comes bundled with a ProTec gig bag.

Other features include a distinct “Slash” soundhole, master volume that can be pulled up for adjusting tone, virtually noiseless electronics and operation, Switchcraft output jack and it comes with a NiMH rechargeable battery pack that allows up to 12 hours of playing per 2 hour of charging.

There are currently three variations of the Wilcox Atlantis with a price range that starts from $1910 to $2331. For more information and other details, head over to Wilcox Guitars, or better yet, visit their booth at the upcoming 2015 Summer NAMM.

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