The Light-Up Electric Guitar
The Fretlight FG-421sells for around 500 bucks. This guitar is pretty sweet. Software provides pre-recorded lessons for beginners, as well as downloads for songs for the more experienced player. The frets light up as you are supposed to play them, making it simple and easy to learn a new song. Not only that, but once you have the hang of it, it is still a pretty decent sounding electric guitar.
As a self-taught guitar player myself, I can say that I really would have benefited from one of these. While they are a little more expensive than their non-light up counterparts, the benefit of a simple and easy way to work through the nuts and bolts would be worth the extra money. Not to mention what one might save in lesson costs.
My current method to learn songs involves finding free user-submitted tabs on the web, which are inevitably missing parts, missing details, or downright wrong. I would not mind shelling out a little money (think iTunes) for the convenience and accuracy of learning a song at my own pace, and knowing I sound exactly like Hendrix while I'm doing it.
A good idea, a good device, and a good model for repeat earnings after the sale.
-Gavin
