‘While My Guitar Gently Beeps’

Fed up posing in front of the mirror strumming a tennis racket? Still searching in vain for the lost chord? Help is on hand for all aspiring rock gods thanks to Fender and Intel, who’ve teamed up to create a concept guitar that explores the possibilities and redefines the term ‘music on the move’ – an internet-enabled super guitar. Beginning with the iconic FENDER Telecaster - made famous by legends from Bruce Springsteen to Franz Ferdinand – the ‘surf guitar’ is the world’s first to allow you to download and playback your favourite riffs from the internet without touching the strings, so you can sound like Bo Diddley while doing diddly-squat. Yes folks, if this concept ever makes production, you’ll be able to play, record, email and surf the web from the comfort of your six-string

Incorporating Intel Centrino Mobile technology, the supercharged TELE also means players can, send a quick email in-between songs on stage, scour the web for inspiration or chords they’ve forgotten, practice their guitar solo grimaces via a built in webcam and check their royalties online.

Channelling the combined power of an Intel Centrino mobile technology-based laptop with the distinctive sound and look of the TELECASTER, there’s nothing to stop the touring rock god from recording a guitar riff in the back of the van and emailing it from the guitar to their producer in the studio in LA or to friends and band mates wherever they are in the world, making the world of online jamming just a plectrum stroke away.

The prototype v1.0 guitar is the result of a partnership between Intel and Fender to push the boundaries of music technology and demonstrate the power of Intel Centrino mobile technology that allows internet access on the go.

Built in software means you can access a massive variety of sounds directly from the computer. And for the older guitarist about to embark on the reunion tour, the internet-connected mp3 player means they can download the old hits for a quick refresher before the first night.

Simon Shipley, UK and Ireland Brand Manager said: “Forty years after the first surf guitar sounds came out of California, a new generation of ‘surfing guitars’ have been born.”

“With this guitar, it doesn’t matter if you’re Joe Walsh or Joe Bloggs, you’ll sound just as good once you get this guitar online, download a few of your favourite tracks, and strike a pose in front of the mirror. And if you’re already halfway to becoming a rock legend, this guitar will help you to record, playback and email your music to your agent, your band, or just your mates with the minimum hassle.”

The Intel Concept TELECASTER Guitar incorporates the latest Intel Centrino mobile technology and was developed to provide the ultimate in technology for music on the move. The guitar can be played when you want, wherever you want, allowing you to:

Plug in headphones and listen to your tunes through the built in amp Record demo songs and email them to friends Go online to find the chords to that song someone just requested Stay in touch through email or Instant Messenger – on stage or on the tour bus Conduct webcam interviews with friends or fans Download your favourite tunes and just listen - or play along

The TELECASTER guitar contains a Hewlett Packard TC1100 tablet laptop with 1.25ghz RAM and an Echo Indigo I/O soundcard for maximum fidelity

The laptop uses Intel Centrino mobile technology to access a wireless network, where one is available.

The guitar’s pickups are routed straight into the tablet PC for direct recording

Two _ inch jack sockets allow you to either play the guitar like a normal Telecaster, or listen to the songs you’ve downloaded direct from the guitar. Of course, if you want to travel light you can just run a lead from your guitar to the venues PA system and play live through the computer.