OK, guitarists, what do you think?


Gibson Unveils Self-tuning Guitar

TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Musicians of the world are getting a new kind of artistic freedom with technology that eliminates the challenging chore of tuning.

Robotics technology developed by German company Tronical Gmbh in partnership with Gibson Guitar Corp. enables Gibson's newest Les Paul model to tune itself in about two seconds.

For users who purchase the add-on technology, the guitar recognizes pitch. Then, its processor directs motors on its six tuning pegs to tighten or loosen the strings accordingly. Tronical has offered its "Powertune System" online and through retailers in Germany since March, according to the company's Web site.

The Gibson Les Paul guitar model with Blue Silverburst finish goes on sale globally this Friday.

Nashville, Tennessee, guitar maker Gibson and Tronical said Powertune is the world's first self-tuning technology, and Gibson says it is particularly useful for beginners, who tend to find tuning a headache.

Musician Ichiro Tanaka, who tuned and played a sample guitar at Gibson's Tokyo office Monday, said the technology is handy for professionals too. If they use special tuning for just part of a concert, as he often does, it means they don't have to lug around an extra guitar with the second tuning ready.

"It's more than just convenience," said Tanaka, of Japan. "It's a feature I really appreciate."

The Les Paul Silverburst model is to cost about $2,780 in Japan and $2,499 in the U.S., with self-tuning offered for $900 extra.

Powertune is also listed online for about $800, and Tronical says it can be installed on many different models of electric guitars without leaving a mark.

Gibson guitars with the technology come preset with six types of tuning to play different kinds of music. They also can remember a player's additional original tuning styles, by listening with a microphone to the sounds of the strings.

To set the instrument to a particular tuning, the user pulls a knob, turns it to the desired style, indicated with a blue light, and then pushes the knob back in. An electric signal travels up the strings to the motors on the tuning pegs. The system is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

Gibson hopes to sell 4,000 of the first limited-edition "robot guitars" worldwide, with 10 percent of those sales expected in Japan, said Yasuhiko Iwanade, president of Gibson Guitar Corp. Japan.

"Robots are very popular in Japan. So this is something that matches the developments here these days. It's a technology that Japanese can understand," he said.

Gibson has a history of innovating with guitars that fits well with robotics technology, Iwanade said.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

One of the most annoying things in life, the sound of an out-of-tune instrument.



...Interesting technology but it makes you wonder how greats like Charlie Christian, Johnny Smith, Wes Montgomery and others were able to survive without it.


The stock alternate tunings are...
Regular Tuning: EADGBE
E Major Tuning: EBEG#BE
DADGAD Tuning: DADGAD
Dropped D Tuning: DADGBE
Delta Blues Tuning: DGDGBD
Eb Tuning (also known as Hendrix Tuning): EbAbDbGbBbEb
Double Drop D Tuning: DADGBD


I guess a future option might be...



...an actual ROBOT to play it for you.



tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Man, I already felt that the actual requisite for the precision within the levels performance levels of something like a common technique on a guitar "JUST" so it can sound and feel right was already hard enough.

But, worrying about whether or not it was tuned, "STILL" not getting past the mastering of the instrument from the tuning point of where it is already set so that I can maybe see how it feels to tune a different way.

I have yet to pull off a fucking scale of two-to-three fret pattern pairings in a comfortable and great sounding fashion/manner. I have yet to be able to play smoothly. I have to yet to be able play without getting retardedly chaotic and sounding like a fucking baby banging at a piano and a set of drums, loosely!

So, as far as I am concerned, I fucking hate the guitar and vehemently/morbidly envy those that play the damn thing while looking at me with a blank stare as if I am handicapped (I had been playing for a total of maybe a few months out of the two-to-three years of which I had been having the damn thing in my possession. I put the damn thing down.

Let it sit wherever the hell it had set for however long it had set there. And, three-to-four months later, I tried to see if I would have the Eric Clapton Luck, but to no avail.). I'm done with performance of music, "PERIOD!!!!" So, I don't even understand the complaint of the whack-assed guitar instruments (Or any other instrument, for that matter. They all suck ass, to me!) becoming more convenient!!?! Guitars could be in extinct junk, for all I care.
[Edited 12/5/07 13:51pm]

Nashville's Gibson store had them on display yesterday. The blue sunburst finish is something to see in person. It's gorgeous. I was scoping out a natural-finish 335, but I paused to check out the robot. It's impressive, but the tuners seem to move slowly. I think it's the sort of thing that would be most helpful to the cat who has multiple tunings during a set.

But, for the average joe (a la myself), I'll get by fine with my trusty guitar and the occasional, between-song tuning.

Besides, Strats rule.

FarrahMoan said:

I understand, amigo. Hang in there.

FarrahMoan said:

popgodazipa said:

One for all and all for one, my friend. Never knew a mere object could be so damn cerebral, but the guitar and every other existing instrument is just that. Bless the child that was once a prodigy but then got fucked over later in life. I laugh at that, personally.

Merry Xmas to me im not a Gibson fan... im a Fender man but hey..

ThreadBare said: