An input device for operating a musical instrument having musical behavior of string instruments, which comprises a key plate unit containing a set of input keys to be pressed by a player, in order to generate a first set of electric input signals, which emulate a combination of pressed keys of a musical instrument or a combination of pressed strings; a stick unit with variable tension of displacement including a stick to be moved by the player between predetermined discrete positions, which emulate a combination of strummed strings of a musical instrument.

An input device for operating a musical instrument having musical behavior of string instruments, which comprises a key plate unit containing a set of input keys to be pressed by a player, in order to generate a first set of electric input signals, which emulate a combination of pressed keys of a musical instrument or a combination of pressed strings; a stick unit with variable tension of displacement including a stick to be moved by the player between predetermined discrete positions, which emulate a combination of strummed strings of a musical instrument.

Effects units are disclosed which can modify the electrical signals of an instrument like a guitar. These effects units can include an internal effects device, which can modify the instrument's electrical signals by imparting sound effects thereupon, such as those found in conventional effects units, as well as an effects loop where an external device like a preamplifier can be plugged into. An effects unit can have a number of configurations a user can select which produce different signal processing results, such as the electrical signals from the instrument being modified by just the external device, just the internal effects device, first the internal effects device and then the external device, first by the external device and then the internal effects device, and, most uniquely, parallel processing through both the external device and the internal effects device. The resulting output signals can be received and amplified by a power amplifier.