Casio DG-20

standard Casio DG-20 Digital guitar with onboard synth. plastic body, built in amp and speaker, Bakelite neck. Rubber fretboard w/ sensors. Nylon strings. string tension ajustments on headstock. sounds built in are ok but better results through midi into a synth. that is the best feature about these guitars, DIRECT MIDI OUT. no stupid 13-pin into a pedal, just good old direct midi out. i personally connect it to the midi in of a Terratec Producer SINE MB33 analog bass synth and it sounds fantastic! iwould give it a ten if it felt a bit more like a normal guitar (i.e. strings different thicknesses)

my style is sort of techno-rock but lots of bands have recorded with it in my studio from all different styles of music. onboard sounds not that impressive, good for the time though ('88 i think). nothing by todays standards but seriously improves through midi. exactly the same onboard synth as the casio HT 700 synth keyboard from exactly the same year. sounds better through an external amp but is nice to have a speaker inside the guitar. i use it midi'd up into a terratec producer SINE Mb33 synth, then through a Zoom 606 pedal and into an apple laptop with lots of sooftware effects. once ive done all this it sounds fantastic, but on its own i give it about a 7.

feels remarkably like a normal guitar unlike some other midi guitars. better treacking than things like roland GK pickups. and feels much more like a guitar than thngs such as Yamaha EZ-EG and harvey starr Ztar midi guitars which have buttons on fretboard instead of strings. grey and black and silver finish. feels so much like a normal guitar that i sumtimes pick it up and play it without turning it on, forgetting that it wont make any sounds without power. also looks the business onstage. looks like some sort of alien weapon! cool!

* Will this guitar withstand live playing? Yes - i speak from experience
* Does the hardware seem like it will last? Yes - tough polyresin plastic
* Is the finish good enough to last, or does it seem thin and easy to wear off with lots of playing? good enough to last, as it is in the plastic.
* Are the strap buttons solid? yes, i sucsessfully managed to swing it around my nack, over my shoulder and back to playing position with no trouble!
* Can you depend on it? Always
* Would you use it on a gig without a backup? Absolutely

never had to use it as ive never had any problems. the casio website does not mantion it at all though but i doubt it well ever need to be fixed as it is so rock solid

A fantastic piece of equipment. great on stage, in the studio, or even for a young guitarist to mess around on, this is a sturdy and reliable piece of guitar history that you can get a bunch of great and unusual sounds out of. i strongly advise everyone to get one! even if you dont play the guitar! its just so great!

I think this was made in the late 80s. It sure sounds like it. Mine is black plastic. Looks like the bastard offspring of the Casio keyboard I had as a child and my electric guitar. It's heavy as hell with the 6 D batteries.

The sounds are pretty dark. I like the organ sounds because theyre kind of spooky. The sound are definitly not your usual synth sounds but I like them. The speaker isnt bad, but it sounds a hell of lot better thru an amplifier or a pair of headphones.

I've had a little trouble getting notes to play sometimes. But seeing as I bought this at Value Village its probably more a sign of use than manufacture

I think this instrument would be fine for a gig. As for a backup, I doubt I'll trip over another (and have 60 bucks in my pocket at the same time)

no idea... this suckers used and it was an as is kinda deal

I think this is an interesting instrument that is good for adding a little variety to a recording project.

This is different than other midi guitars that use normal guitars retrofitted with special pickups. The frets actually have little sensors under them to tell where you are fretting and the strings are each attached to a trigger in the bridge. If you're a guitarist this will be a little odd. String bends and vibrato and other techniques simply dont work. Pull-offs and hammer-ons work great though. One reviewer said you could not pluck individual notes, this is totally on true, I run through scales and play solos quite easily with this. You can indeed do much more than strum this thing. I give it an 8 due to lack of expressivness (bends, vibrato, velocity).

The sounds are totally wack by todays standards, so be sure you get the DG-20, NOT the DG-10! As the DG-10 has no MIDI out. I run this trough various software synths and my Alesis ION, it works great, and is loads of fun to play with and hear your favorite guitar riffs through a synth(without all the work of figuring it out on the keyboard). Again, I really wish it allowed for more expressivness, but considering how old it is I guess we can't ask for much more. I use a Behringer floor board midi controler with two expression pedals to circumvent this shortcoming, but it's still awkward being a guitarist try to play without bends and vibrato. I give it a five, but this is not a bad thing, no one expecting to use this seriously cared about the built in sounds anyway.

It played surprisingly better than I expected. Strings action is nice, I do have to pluck slightly hard to trigger the notes, but I think I may just need to tighten the strings up. If you know anything about how it should be properly set up please contact me. I don't know how tight the strings should be, I would hate to get them too tight and damage this gem of an instrument. I have a manual but it does not suggest anything for string tension.

Seems reliable, but it is plastic, and old, so you need to treat it well. Obviously it is pretty reliable since it was made in the late 80's and I just got a used one that is practically like new.

don't know... havent dealt with them, and I am sure they would laugh at me when I call for support on a product from the 80's.

This is a great peice of gear, I love it because, being a guitarist, I can more naturally lay dowm synth tracks, and it's just fun to play. Maybe some day I will upgrade to one of those nifty Roland MIDI guitar kits, but I can't see paying 2 grand for it right now (the new roland midi stuff is just under a grand, and don't even think of trying to set that up on a cheap guitar). If your a guitarist whos into synths and looking for a way to come up with some fresh stuff say get a DG-20. I also wouldn't be surprised if these are VERY sought after in a few years, posibly selling for over a grand.

What year was it made? 1987-ish!
Which controls are given? Volume, Tone, Various voice buttons.
Finish Silver, plastic body case.
Body Style, early 80's futuristic/sci-fi
Any included accessories? Essential power supply and strap

How does it suit your music style (and what is that style)?
It suited me down to the ground and I wish I'd never sold it.
I was a New Romantic and Goth artist and now compose and perform, D'n'B backed rock and Cyber-Goth. This machine looks the part and sounds the part. But it's really only at it's best when MIDI'd up to a nice meaty synth.

Likes and dislikes?

I loved the visual style, (wouldn't look out of place in a Rammstein/Sigue Sigue Sputnik style band).
Built in sounds were un-impressive. You've GOT to MIDI it up.
It's a heavy beast.
You can't pick, pluck, dab or scratch the strings, only strum, but me being more of a keyboardist, dj and programmer than a guitarist I tend to strum anyway :"> Lot's of power chords, through a distorted analog synth, triggered a la DG-20! :P

This DG-20 could with stand my Rammstein/Evanesence-esque power chord thrashing and went to many city centre venues with me and survived. That says it all!

It was under a 1 year warrenty and lasted 8 years without extending the warrenty.
Only needed 'repaired' once. (Fried power supply was replaced)

I loved my DG-20. I only wish some-one would come up with a way to incoporate string dabbing and scratching into synth/digital guitars.

What year was it made? 80'z
Where was is made? Japan
How many frets? 20 frets
Body style: Cute
Bridge style: 2 Cute

How does it suit your music style (and what is that style)? cutely
What amps and effects are you using it with? music man hd120+boss gt3
What kind of sounds can the guitar make? casiotone and midi
Likes and dislikes? when i get sick of the casiotone electroclash i midi it up, either way i distort the phuk out of it and it rules

the strings on it are way flimsie.. i wanna find someone who successfully changed the strings cuz i broke the E. i kinda jimmied it back on... but now its WAY flimsie and im afraid of breaking it again... HELP!

Will this guitar withstand live playing? MAYBE if im real mellow
Does the hardware seem like it will last? the thought of loosing this gem makes me paranoid ... so i don't know if its my fear of loosing it or if its REALLY a piece of shite that will break any minute. i need therepy.
STRAP BUTTONS... yeah... i used wood screws and they have held for about 5 years now

take a time machine back to the future and let me know

i've been baby-ing this for about 8 years now
i don't use it ALOT anymore cuz i broke that string and almost hadda CUT someone
if it were stolen, it would end my carrer in show biz.

Made in 87-88 its specifications are as told in the other review. It is in quite ok state. With its unique body shape. With nylon strings.

It totally matches my music.It even helped me evolve into another phase(Wow!) I mostly use it with other keyboards and sound modules (i have a Farfisa 7X) And its own sounds are all 80s standard Casio keyboards offer.It has a strong nice sounds. Variety of sounds are limitless with its MIDI. And its own sounds are as told in other review. I like it alot. I am 'very' glad to have discovered it in shop waiting in dust.

Action was quite ok but i had to change a few strings and adjust a little. It is second hand so it has some verry small flaws.

In my honest opinion it was built to stand. Still solid as Rock in all cases.I am using it in gigs (I dont think i can find a backup for it (yet) )

None whatsoever. Even Casio will almost deny its presence. (I came across a rumour on net that it was banned by Pentagon due to unknown reasons) (if you believe :) )

I have been playing guitar for about 9 years and about 3 years in keyboard too. I own a Casio AT-1 keyboard, a Farfisa 7X module ,a fender copy guitar amplifier,a Washburn MG40 and a Zoom 3030. If it were stolen i would kill the bastard with my own hands. It is unique in every way.Shape,function,price,etc.Just think of other options of 1000s of dollars . This is a bargain .I loveee it.

My DG20 was produced in Japan in 1986/87. It has a 20 frets but with the ability to transpose up about 8-10 times it seems endless. Its body is made of a grey plastic and the neck is black plastic. It is solidly built with a rubberised facing on the fret board under which are the electronic tones. It has white markers at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th and 17th frets as well as inlaid markers on the side of the neck which are very useful.

The shape is totally futuristic with a speaker at the back end. There are control knobs for guitar volume and drum/percussion volume as well as on/off buttons for muting the sound. The sound choices for guitar or percussion are located in a neat futuristic panel along the top edge of the guitar and are very easy to select and are very positive. The back edge of the guitar houses the guitar lead/patchcord jack and there's another socket for feeding into a recording deck. Also has a MIDI feature which gives you and endless variety of tones to play and experiemnt with.

I had been playing guitar in a church group and soon after I introduced the Casio and it's been with me there ever since. So that's 60+ services a year for over 15 years as well as some outside gigs and recording studio work. It has never let me down.

Using it as a battery-operated instrument only the volume is quite loud especially in a church setting but if you run it through an amp it blasts off into the stratosphere.

Once you've learned that it's unlike any other guitar you've played (different feel, etc.) you can find out what it does best and use the multiple sounds to add richness to accompany the other musicians. I've only ever used it as an accompanying instrument using sustain totally because it can have a mind of its own if you're not careful. For example, a twitch of a muscle in one finger while holding down a D chord might change it to a Dsus unwittingly. Usually, if that happens I've found it's because the batteries are getting low. There are so many sounds at one's disposal but in the church setting I generally use either church organ (great on songs like "Amazing Grace" etc.) or jazz organ (great when adding the suspended note to a major G chord)or the beautiful, almost haunting sound of the glockenspiel on Christmas carols, and the chorus sound on some slow, gentle hymns. Also the effect of glissando, sliding your chord up or down the strings, gives it an interesting sound.

The dislikes include the one mentioned above when the guitar does its own thing and the inability to successfully play open chords. One tends to always play barre chords so you can hold down the requisite strings and notes that make up each chord.

I got it out of the box 15 years ago and set it up in minutes. I've never done anything to it since and have played it over a 1000 times without a problem.

As I've stated above, I've been playing my DG20 for over 15 years mostly in church and outside concerts where it's performed admirably. Nothing's ever broken on it and I'd be heartbroken if it failed me because I think I'd have trouble getting it repaired or replaced. The rubber covering on the fretboard has become flimsy over the years although it doesn't affect the sound or the playability of the instrument.

The strap buttons are solid and well placed and make it a comfortable guitar to hold and play. It's not an instrument that I find is right for playing without back-up but a more accomplished player using the multiple percussion sounds could easily put on a professional show. A friend of mine who's a really excellent jazz/funk/blues guitarist played it for a half hour recently and didn't want to put it down and it sounded great.

I sent letters and e-mails some years ago to Casio without a response so I don't bother anymore. I doubt if they'd have any repair facilities for this instrument. I don't think there was a warranty.

I still have the original paperwork if anyone needs a copy of it.

I've been playing guitar for 47 years. I started playing in London, England during the skiffle craze in the mid-50's(Lonnie Donegan etc.)and have never really stopped.

At present I play a Guild 12-string as well as a Guild 6-string dreadnought and own a Parker NiteFly and a 6-string banjo. I play in a couple of different bands as well as the regular church group. I play 50's-80's rock 'n roll, I started a new skiffle group in 2000, and also do some work with a folk-style trio. I've also played in dance bands at times.

If I lost my Casio I'd be devastated. In fact, our house was burgled in 1996 and a jumbo Ovation was taken along with another solid electric guitar and two amplifiers. The burglars opened the Casio case and decided to leave the guitar for whatever reason. That was the first thing I asked the police when they checked the house out. "Is the odd-looking guitar still there?" When they said it was I almost cried with relief. I am now looking around to see if I can find another DG20 as a back-up just in case so if anyone out there wants to part with there one I'm interested. Of course, after this glowing review nobody will or the price will skyrocket!

I love all the features it has and, of course, it cannot be compared to any other guitar because it's in a class of its own. Maybe if it had a tremolo arm but then I use the volume control as a trmeolo (a la Roy Buchanan, Jeff Beck) so it's not necessary. Maybe a couple of piano sounds would vary the tones a bit but it has so much.

Thank you Mr. Casio and your team for such a fun toy!