Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Trends, I.C.E.
Striking a chord: Panasonic and Fender planning branded car audio system
Fender guitars rock. Even the cheapies are easy to play and sound good in the right hands. Panasonic and Fender are teaming up to create an audio system that will be offered to auto manufacturers. Nigel and Slash have already been snagged by Volkswagen with their First Act package deal (buy a VW, they throw in the guitar that plugs into the car's audio system). We're guessing that the pitch for the Fender/Panasonic system will be along the same lines, though; and aimed at the younger demographic. The working partnership of Fender and Panasonic even trotted out Dick Dale at the NAIAS to promote their idea. Hey, in the right car, this could be magic. You could turn all that traffic-jam time into productive practice! Campers would no longer have to settle for singing "Blowin' In The Wind." With a guitar-enabled audio system, you could, as Bob Dylan told his band at Newport, "play f***ing loud."
[Source: Edmunds]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
The Duke 8:23PM (1/17/2007)
Panasonic already make a car stereo with a tube amp, Panasonic CQ-TX5500D , so this may work out just fine. You need a Buddy Guy, Robert Cray for this add. Maybe something with the late great SRV or Hendrix would be cool too.
Reply
John P. 9:42PM (1/17/2007)
If they can somehow capture Fender's Legendary Tube Amp sound, that alone would be enough go take a look at this.
Reply
Oz 10:22PM (1/17/2007)
I have a new Acura RDX with the ELS stereo by
Panasonic and it ROCKS,just amazing for a car.
I would expect the Fender version to be
just as good.
Here is a review of the ELS in the
RDX
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=116773/pageId=102045
Reply
bathtub gin 10:42PM (1/17/2007)
How about the late great Albert Collins and his 100' long guitar cable? I saw him live a year or two before his death and found out what the "icepick tone" he got out of that Fender Twin was all about. It really did get you in the spine.
Helluva a good idea. Maybe Marshall will get on board next.
Reply
V 4:02AM (1/18/2007)
Nah, Dick Dale is a great choice. He's been playing iconic music on Fenders since... well, forever. He's close to the company. Not to mention, he's alive.
Reply
kent 5:17AM (1/18/2007)
Ummm. How are you supposed to play a guitar in a car? Sure, there may be room in your hummer, but in a regular (even regular American) sized car, trying to play in such a cramped space is hardly going to inspire greatness is it?
Reply
bathtub gin 2:41PM (1/18/2007)
Good point, V. If you are going to have a celebrity endorsement, a living celebrity is helpful. I just meant that as an example of what Fender could bring to the table, sound-wise.
Reply