Wyclef Jean -- Roaming NYC with ASSAULT RIFLE GUITAR

Wyclef Jean says he wants to convert weapons into music ... so he made himself a guitar shaped like an AK-47 ASSAULT RIFLE ... and whipped it out on the streets of NYC.

Interesting concept ... but brandishing something that looks like a FIREARM in the middle of the street???

Pretty ballsy move ... especially considering law enforcement in the city is on high alert ever since officials discovered those terrorist brothers were targeting New York.

Check out the video -- 'Clef not only explains the idea behind the musical weaponry ... but actually lets our guy PLAY the assault guitar, while the founding Fugee sings along.