Hammer of Thor
The 'Mobius Megatar' is a new type of electric bass and guitar in one instrument. On its wide neck are mounted six bass strings and six higher-pitched melody strings.
A NEW WAY TO PLAY!
By touching or tapping upon these strings with the fingers of both hands, you can play music. This method makes piano-like technique possible -- such as playing a left-hand bassline or chords, and simultaneous right-hand chords or melody.
It is actually easier to learn than either guitar or piano, but if you play guitar or bass or piano, then much of what you already know will directly translate to speed your learning of this fun new way to play music. Three detailed method books (included) show you how to play, and a detailed owner's guide gives full details about tuning, playing position, and how to learn quickly.
CUSTOM "HAMMER OF THOR" MODEL
The Hammer of Thor is available based upon either our Parallel-Frets 'MaxTapper' model, or (as shown here) based upon our fanned-frets ToneWeaver model.
The ToneWeaver is unique among touch-style instruments, because we've licensed the unusual "Fanned-Fret" system patented by world-class luthier Ralph Novak. By making the lowest bass strings longer, they sound lower and better (just as longer basses sound better than shorter ones). And at the same time, by making the highest melody strings shorter, your melody becomes sweeter and more focused. Deeper and darker bass, and clear highs! The entire fretboard becomes one sweet spot of magnificent tone. This instrument has the best tone of any touch-style instrument in the world.
Oddly enough, although the fretboard looks very different to the eye, to your fingers, it feels ... about the same. You will find that the fanned-frets are just as easy to play as conventional parallel-fret instruments!
To enhance the voice of each string, we've installed a separate bridge system for every string -- our "Twelve-Tone" bridge, with the smooth tone of Graph Tech charcoal-colored "StringSaver" saddles.
And to bring out the best of every string, the best pickups in the world. The ToneWeaver "Dual" comes comes with world-famous Bartolini pickups, each with separate volume and tone controls. The mahogany neck and sapele body give a rich and warm tone, the rosewood fretboard provides a comfortable playing surface, and our patented strap (included) provides correct upright positioning.
| DUAL ACTIVE-CIRCUIT BARTOLINI PREAMPS
Bartolini pickups gather all the rich sound present in the vibrating strings as you play, but what happens then? Some of the delicate signal from any magnetic pickup is lost while travelling through the resistance of the cable on the way to your amp!
The solution is dual Bartolini preamps built-in, so this boosted signal effortlessly carries all the rich harmonics that were present to the amp, so that you have no treble loss, even at low volumes, plus you get cavernous deep bass, sparkling chords, and searing solo lines. Background noise is reduced, for less crackle and hiss entering your amp, and all effects work better, giving you smooth sustain and crisp attack. |
DUAL CUSTOM GRAPH-TECH PIEZO 'ACOUSTIPHONIC' SOUND
To the rich and warm sound of the Bartolini magnetic pickups, we have added an additional audio sound source using the sweet and clear piezo sound of Graph Tech piezo saddles.
Strategically embedding custom-engineered piezo crystals into the GraphTech saddles provides a natural compression very similar to an acoustic guitar. You can play as hard as you like and never overload the input channel. (No piezo 'quack' either!)
Using StringSaver saddles gives the added benefit of longer string life, improved sustain, and full-bodied tone. Pickups individually calibrated to get precision balanced output.
THE ACOUSTIPHONIC PREAMP
Captures the natural acoustics of the Megatar, whcih can then be amplified or recorded direct, without zero feedback and no mike placement issues. The tone is warm, full-bodied and according to Gig Magazine, will "fool both the band and the audience."
Includes tone/volume pots for bass and melody, and features an onboard piezo/magnetic mix feature, automatic battery-off sensor, and can be driven off a single 9-volt battery which we'll install in a flip-out battery box on the rear of the body. Battery lasts for months, but can be changed out in five seconds.
| DUAL 13-PIN MIDI-READY OUTJACKS
You're ready for MIDI and you're ready to use the Roland Modellers like the V-Bass and Virtual Guitar systems.
We'll also install dual GraphTech Hexpander preamps, which feature a proprietary damping system, giving you tracking unequalled by any other system on the market, with responsive and accurate triggering. No more dead spots. No need to slow your playing so the system can keep up!
Graph Tech's exclusive Traktion microswitch on the dual-circuit pre-amp, accessible beside the 13-pin output jack, allows you to optimize the output signal for your unique playing style and controller configuration, for unequalled tracking accuracy and performance.
The hex outputs are MIDI and Virtual compatible and with its low-latency design perfectly matches state-of-the-art controllers such as the Roland GR33, Roland VG88 & V-Bass, Roland GI-20, Axon 100 and others. All the colors of the Rainbow! Please note: MIDI brains in general track guitar strings better than tracking bass strings; however, Roland modellers like the VG88 or the V-Bass will track bass strings instantly and perfectly with no glitches ever. |
THREE INSTRUMENTS IN ONE MAGNIFICENT BEAST!
We call it the "Hammer of Thor" because with this instrument you can FLATTEN ANYTHING. Any sonic requirement, any sound, any tone, any response at all is available instantly.
- World-Renowned Bartolini active magnetic pickups provide ultimate rich and warm tone.
- Clear and lovely, "Acoustiphonic" full-frequency output sounds very much like an acoustic guitar.
- All the Sounds of the Rainbow by driving synthesizers and modellers from the 13-pin MIDIready outjacks.
The Hammer of Thor is like three instruments built into one, with a rich professional palatte to give you any sound you need, for any job.
| DUAL "CLEAR CABLE" OUTPUT CABLES INCLUDED
Your bass strings and melody strings have separate outputs, and to reduce battery drain when not playing, we've wired the output jacks so that when you unjack your cables, no battery is used, giving an effective battery life of months and months. And when it does come time to change batteries, to make it easy we've installed a quick-change flip-out box on the rear of the body. (See detail photos on left to see battery quick-change artistry!)
And to provide years of trouble-free service and the clearest possible sound for your music, we include two custom-built 12-foot Mobius ClearCables" made from oxygen-free Japanese Canara cable, with tough German Neutrik plugs.
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AUTOMATIC SWITCHING
Your dual outjacks actually feature automatic switching for mono or stereo applications. Use our provided dual mono Clear-Cables and piezo and magnetic can be selected or blended with the onboard switches and pots. Or you can use a stereo output cable for the bass and another for the melody, and the outjacks automatically switch to give you four output signals: bass magnetic, bass acoustiphonic, melody magnetic, and melody acoustiphonic, for unparalled control at your amps or mixing board.
MOTHER-OF-PEARL FRET-DOT MARKERS
(See photo on the left.) This instrument features mother-of-pearl dot markers, shining lumionous against the dark richness of the wood, for a high-quality appearance, and easy fretboard navigation.
| CUSTOM EDGEDOTS INCLUDED
(See photo to the left.)
On the back edge of this elegant instrument, we've installed custom edge-dot markers in white, to show up strongly against the premium dark wood. Without having to peek over the fretboard, you can instantly see your hand position because edge-dot markers exactly duplicate the fretboard markers. Normally a $90 upgrade, included free!
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SUPERIOR INTONATION PLAYS MORE "IN TUNE"
The string action is low and easy on the fingers, and the patented 'Buzz Feiten Intonation System' is built-in, so that this instrument plays more 'in-tune' than other instruments. The Feiten system has been widely acclaimed world-wide by professional musicians such as Larry Carlton, Adrian Belew, Stu Hamm, Liona Boyd, and Jimmy Haslip.
The Mobius Megatar ToneWeaver is the only instrument in the world constructed with both the tonal enhancement of the Novak Fanned-Fret system and the enhanced "in-tune" sound of the Buzz Feiten Intonation system!
CUSTOM "STRING-SAVER" NUT TO MATCH THE STRING SADDLES
The custom-installed string-saddles and custom nut of Graph Tech's charcoal-colored "StringSaver" material provides breakthrough technology in polymer engineering, so you'll never again have to worry about breaking strings. Go for those wild bends, player harder and more aggressively, just dare that string to break!
DISCOUNT ON CASES
Also included with your purchase is a coupon worth $20 toward the purchase of a custom gigbag or $40 toward the purchase of a Mobius "FliteLite" hardcase from the factory.
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VIEW HUGE PICTURE?
If you would like to see a huge (800K) photograph, with expanded detail, then click on the following link. (Broadband connection recommended.) --
Huge Photograph of ToneWeaver "Hammer of Thor" |
EASY-TO-LEARN "BASS-BOTTOM" TUNING
The bass strings are tuned exactly the same as a normal 6-string bass, from Low-B up in fourths. The melody strings are tuned in straight fourths, and slightly lower than normal 6-string guitar (for best tone). The dual straight-fourths tuning means simplified scale and chord-form layout, and thus less to learn to start playing!
This simple tuning method permits you to place your left hand on the bass strings, and your right hand on melody strings (much like a piano player does), and you can train your hands simultaneously on scales or chord-forms, to make your learning very fast. This simple but powerful method is detailed in the free method book(s) included with the instrument.
| CUSTOM 'BLACKJACK' TRIM
This custom instrument has been upgraded with (a) black Schaller StrapLocks installed on the body and your included "MegStrap", for ultra-secure support if you get to rocking wildly, and with (b) black tuner machines, to match the black pickguards array and the charcoal-colored
GraphTech string saddles. (c) Black nested tone/volume knobs give separate control over bass and melody. It's all black and chrome and beautiful. The Hammer of Thor also has (d) twelve black metal individual bridge plates for each string.
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| ONE-YEAR WARRANTY!
This new factory instrument comes complete with a full one-year warranty covering parts and repairs. The instrument is sold under the Mobius Megatar GUARANTEE OF SATISFACTION: "If less than completely delighted with your Mobius Megatar instrument, return instrument (in same condition) within seven days for immediate refund of your purchase price, exclusive of shipping costs."
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INCLUDED WITH YOUR INSTRUMENT
Your purchase includes everything you need to start playing music.
- (1) the Buzz Feiten Intonation System factory-installed to make the instrument sound more in-tune than normal guitars
- (2) The Mobius patented "MegStrap" which effortlessly holds the instrument in correct upright playing position
- (3) dual oxygen-free 'ClearCable' output cords (3.7 meter length) so you can amplify or effect the bass and melody channels separately if you wish
- (4) One-year discount coupon good for a $20 discount on factory custom gigbag or a $40 discount on factory custom hardcase
- (5) seven-day Universal Guarantee of Satisfaction
- (6) full one-year warranty on parts and repair
- (7) three detailed method books, the first called "Easy Touch-Style Bassics" to show you how easy it is to play music with this new method; the second called "Easy Touch-Style Rhythm" with lots more about playing basslines and rhythmic chords, including how to play Walking Bass using only four simple rules, and Seven Bass Hooks to Rule the World; and the third, "Easy Touch-Style Melody," shows you how easily you can begin to read and play melodies ... with the right method!
- (8) complete Owner's Guide with details on tuning, care, and maintenance. (Method book and Owner's Guide may be provided on CD.)
SHIPPING
If this instrument is available on EBay -- sometimes it is; and sometimes it isn't -- then yur instrument will be shipped within 3 business days in factory container (18 pounds, 50"x12"x4"). Shipping within the Continental United States is via UPS. Shipping outside this area is via FedEx International Economy, where available.
If we are building your Hammer of Thor to your specification, we can customize certain features for you (including parallel frets and the popular Chapman Stick-style tuning). Jobs in the shop queue can vary, but typically the Hammer can be built, tested, and on its way to you in just a few weeks!
| You have QUESTIONS? We have ANSWERS!
If you have a question about this item, we are happy to help you.
** CALL US! Call us at (530) 938-1100. (Most business hours in Pacific Time Zone) ** SEND EMAIL! Use the handy form on our 'Contact Us' page and we'll reply as quickly as we can. We're happy to assist you in learning more about the wonderful world of touch-style play, and this magnificent instrument! |
GOT A QUESTION ABOUT TUNING?
If you have any question about tunings and how they work, about our models, about the learning method, or about the Hammer of Thor ... call us! (530 938 1100 in USA).
MAKING MUSIC HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER!
Your ToneWeaver Hammer of Thor and the Easy Touch-Style Method provides you with many improvements over instruments of earlier design, including tone controls, an improved strap system, straplocks, enhanced tone, tilt-back head for better sustain, dual truss-rods for better action, the 'in tune' sound of the Buzz Feiten Intonation System, a faster-learning way of tuning, and faster-learning method books, all included with this instrument.
SPECIAL NOTE FOR CHAPMAN-STICK PLAYERS ONLY -- If you wish to upgrade to the Hammer of Thor with the features that are not currently available on other instruments, but with the unusual fifths-bass tuning that is favored by the Chapman Stick (TM) company, we can quickly custom-build a Hammer of Thor instrument but with parallel frets so we can install the fifths-tuning that you know. Please contact our factory to discuss your specification. But whichever tuning you prefer, your Hammer of Thor will bring you years of rich-sounding music, the ultimate professional performance instrument, and a new universe of fun!
Want to have some real fun making music, right away, easier than ever before? Get a Mobius Megatar, and start rocking out!
TRADEMARK NOTICES
'Mobius Megatar,' 'The Megatar,' 'ToneBalance Construction,' 'MegStrap,' 'TrueTapper,' and 'Dragon' are trademarks of Mobius Megatar (www.megatar.com). 'Chapman Stick' and 'The Stick' are trademarks of Stick Enterprises. The Mobius Megatar company has no association with Stick Enterprises or The Stick brand of touch-style instrument, other than admiration for the pioneering developments of Emmett Chapman personally.