I should warn you that I was this close to writing “Axe-clusive.” But I just couldn’t pull the trigger.

Anyway, I wasn’t able to make it to the Consumer Electronics Show this year, which means I didn’t get to see firsthand any of the wacky music and game peripherals being showed. But my friend Brad Linder, of Liliputing fame, had the incredible kindness to take a few minutes out of his ridiculous schedule and check some of them out for me.

But Brad didn’t just do a drive-by; he shot video of the demo he got of the You Rock Guitar, wherein a spectacularly coiffed company rep shows off a little in-game playing and a lot of random fingerpickin’. (Which, if you don’t play guitar, is actually a very illuminating demo of an electronic faux-guitar, since there’s a lot of movement between strings and frets.) Let’s take a look at the demo, shall we?

My favorite part? That the guitar will range in price from $179-$199…depending on where you buy it.

In all seriousness, though, after seeing this thing up close and in action I’m even more intrigued than I was previously. It seems like a legitimately powerful tool for playing games, practicing real guitar, and recording. And I don’t appear to be the only one who thinks so; the You Rock got reasonably positive writeups in USA Today, Ars Technica, Engadget, Gadget Review, and The Money Times. But here’s what really surprised me: This wasn’t the only MIDI-equipped guitar/controller hybrid being shown at CES. 

A company called GamBridge is building a very similar product — well, similar in terms of function, but very different in terms of design:

GamBridge Z-1

GamBridge Baby Z

Info on these puppies isn’t as easy to come by, but it appears that the Z-1 uses strings for strumming like the You Rock does, while the “Baby Z” uses string-like ridges instead. Both are said to be playable in-game and out, with onboard sounds and MIDI connectivity, but the GamBridge units are expected to release much later in the year (September, as opposed to You Rock’s expected February launch), and for about $20 more. Also, the GamBridge guitars appear to interface only with the PS3 at this point, and only via wired USB.

Oh, and GamBridge also seems to be making an electronic sitar. No, I’m not kidding:

Really.

You can read more about the GamBridge units at Engadget, Technologizer, and Pocket- Lint, should the mood strike you.

Now, listen: I know there’s a lot of “just get a real guitar already!” sentiment out there. But unless and until someone comes up with a device that allows a real guitar to interface with game systems, these things fill a legitimate niche. As a “real” guitarist, I love the idea of being able to play Rock Band with a real pick on real(ish) strings. The strum bar has always been a bit of a pet peeve for me, and I’m excited about the possibility of ditching it for good. And the fact that I can use something like the You Rock for casual practice and messing around with MIDI recording is a pretty significant bonus. On top of that, it breaks down to a very portable size, meaning I can easily bring it on trips to the in-laws’ or whatnot. That’s some delicious gravy right there.

So I’m telling you as a guitarist, songwriter, and amateur studio engineer: If these things work as advertised, they will be a useful addition to a guitarist’s arsenal — even with a stable of real guitars in the house.

Now I just need to get my hands on one for myself.

[thanks once again to Brad for the video, photos, and info]