So you're trying to figure out what the difference is between the various Fretlight Guitars made throught the last 16 years? No Problem, read on and don't forget to check out the Fretlight Back Lot, Optek's ebay outlet store for great deals on a Fretlight Guitar.

1990 - 1992. The Fretlight FG-100 was born.

The FG-100 was the initial release of Fretlight. The FG-100 was made at the Godin factory in Canada and had an on-board selection system for choosing chords and scales. It was powered by an external wal-wart 9V power supply. There were three knobs on the guitar body. The first one was used for choosing chords, scales, notes, or off (to turn the lights off). The second knob chose the key (A through G#) and the third knob choose one of twelve modes (for either chords or scales depending on what the first knob chose). The FG-100 had a "round belly" headstock design and a white Canadian Maple leaf decal signifying its origin of manufacture. The neck was a bit thick as the LED's were still the tall "bulb" style. Clear glue was used to fill the holes in the fretboard.

The FG-100 had the "pregnant whale" headstock design - like the name sounds, not flattering at all. However, it worked well and took the industry by storm. Very few of these models were made - approx 120 units.

1992 - 1996. The FG-200 gets some playability modifications.

The FG-200 was made in the Godin factory in 1992, the production shifted to Korea at the Samick factory. The FG-200 utilized new surface mount LED's so the neck was much thinner than the FG-100, allowing it to play really well. The FG-200 sported Optek's current headstock design and looked much better asthetically. For the most part, except for some minor chip changes, the selection system and electronics remained the same. The holes in the fretboard were now filled with clear plastic disks, which made for brighter viewing of the lights and better manufacturability and repair. The FG-200 played great as a guitar and the neck consistently got thinner over the 4 years it was in production in Korea. Many colors and models were made with the FG-200 electronics and neck design.

Thousnads of these guitars were made and in 1995 Optek unleashed the FG-200 PRO - a stage ready, record ready Fretlight with Seymour Duncan pickups and gold upgraded hardware. Neal Schon played a Fretlight in the Optek booth at Winter Namm 1993.

1996 - 2000. The FG-300 SmartLIGHT pioneers the way.

Windows 95 changed the PC world and Optek jumped in early - maybe too early. The FG-300, designated SmartLIGHT, connected to a PC's serial port via a connection box called the SmartPORT 1. The FG-300 did away with the selection knobs and in 1996, software called "Guitar Magic" powered the guitar. Though the world was adopting PC's and Windows 95, guitar players were slow to get on board. Hearing a backlash from customers desiring and on-board system, Optek made another connection box in 1997 called the "Fretlight PLUS conection kit". This box utilized the original FG-200 circuit board and selection knobs and allowed customers to turn their FG-300 guitar into an FG-200. The "PLUS" feature allowed the additional selection of diagonal scales and the choice of LEFTY chords, scales, and notes.

By this point in production, the Fretlight neck played like butter and the guitars were indeed very good instruments. Optek's choice to make the FG-300 in primarily a telecaster style guitar would be seen as a blunder as strat style instruments sell approximately 6 to 1 over telecaster style instruments.

In 1998, customers still demanded more from the stand-alone box and so in response Optek made another connection box called the SmartPORT 2. Only a few hundred of the SmartPORT 2 boxes were made and sold. The SmartPORT 2 had an LCD display with 4 touch pad buttons. The SmartPORT 2 broke out chords and scales into their various "box" positions which helped the beginner/intermediate player immensley. The SmartPORT 2 also allowed a footswitch to connect to it and the user could select or create progressions and step through them. The SmartPORT 2 box also acted like the SmartPORT 1 and allowed the computer interaction.

The FG-300 system was fairly expensive at the time and required users to install software serial port drivers. Those customers that had a familiarity with computers really loved the SmartLIGHT. The guitar was also a great playing instrument and all FG-300's had Piezo and magnetic pickups.

2004 - Present. A new era begins with the FG-400.

After nearly 4 years of re-design and re-engineering, the USB plug-and-play Fretlight FG-400 was released. There were two major changes to the guitar - the elimination of holes drilled in a rosewood fretboard and the connection to the computer via USB. Of course, having the world adopt computers, with e-mail and the internet being a part of nearly everyone's daily life probably helped Fretlight the most.

TheFG-400's Patented Polymer fretboard utilizes a solid surface which when machined and fretted looks, feels, sounds, and plays the same as any other "normal" guitar. Optek wanted to achieve better manufacturability and asthetics while absolutely requiring the necessary elements of sound, feel, and look for their new fretboard. The current FG-400 neck is thin, very straight, and very playable. It can also be adjusted via the two-way truss rod for any setup desired.

USB has opened the door for countless products and the FG-400 is no exception. The ability to have one cable between the guitar and the PC was very desirous. The FG-400 gets its power and data from the USB port.

Multiple software programs now power the FG-400 and a user can light the same chord or scales that the FG-100 lit up along with thousands more. Software can now light songs, solos, progressions, lessons, you name it! The Fretlight FG-400 is the culmination of years of research, customer feedback, and technological advancement.

2008 and beyond...

Optek is continually innovating its tried and true Fretlight system with advancements and additional patents. Not willing to settle for just what is "standard", Rusty Shaffer, Optek's CEO and inventor of the Fretlight, is constantly pushing the innovation envelope in order to develop new and exciting ways to connect Fretlight to the vast world of potential and exisitng players. Future innovations may include wireless connectivity, video capability, Fretlight educational tools desinged specifically for guitar teachers, entire Fretlight curriculums and certifications for exisitng and new teachers, Apple iPhone and iPod connectivity, and much more...

See Optek's ebay store, Fretlight Back Lot, today to purchase a guitar.

Optek Music Systems, Inc.
800-575-6511
Copyright 2006-2008