Two particle physicists are sitting at a bar discussing string theory. Two guitarists are sitting close enough to overhear the conversation and one says to the other, “So … What kind of strings do you use?”
Dumb guitarist jokes are going to have to be rewritten now that Gibson is finally going to add an Ethernet connector to some of their guitars. Gibson first mentioned their intentions to build a digital guitar with a built-in Ethernet port two years ago, but it looks like it’s about to become available. The new Les Paul will have a traditional 1/4-inch plug, but also be able to transmit sound via Gibson’s new MaGIC “digital transport technology,” which should work as far as traditional Ethernet would (about 100 meters). Unfortunately, this is a sneak peak of a sneak peak, as the February announcement is preceding a late 2005 launch.
Gibson’s CEO calls this a “whole new platform.” We’ll see. To me, it sounds like Musical instrument manufacturing is now just 10 years behind the times. 
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with AI strategy, implementation and governance, as well as technology, media and marketing. Named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Technology, he is a bestselling author, covers tech and business for Fox 5’s Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN, and writes the popular daily business blog Think About This. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.