Gibson Unveils Self Tuning Guitar

[schrute]

I don't know if anyone else other than RP himself plays guitar, but if it actually works this would be very very cool.


rom CNN.com

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


The guitar's technology can recognize pitch and tighten the strings accordingly.

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.

[Jynkxxie]

Yeah that is a cool feature, but for $900 I do not feel it is that tiresome to tune a guitar myself.

[schrute]

I agree about the price, most of my guitars cost less than that. Maybe it'll come down over time though.

[WellAdvised]

Come back to me when it changes the strings too :D

[Aussie George]

Come back to me when it changes the strings too :D

Ever tried changing banjo strings?

Even harder. The damn thing falls apart when the strings aren't holding the pressure on it. Of course no-one told me that when I took them all off instead of replacing them one at a time. :D

[Aussie George]

Yeah that is a cool feature, but for $900 I do not feel it is that tiresome to tune a guitar myself.

$900 - does it for me

$30 - tuner. Do it myself in about two minutes.

i choose tuner

[WellAdvised]

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.

Now that feature could be useful for playing live and changing tunings on the hop. But for $900 you could just have another guitar.

Never played with a banjo, I did twang a g-string once though :p

[schrute]

Now that feature could be useful for playing live and changing tunings on the hop. But for $900 you could just have another guitar.

Never played with a banjo, I did twang a g-string once though :p

Or if you break a string or use a tremolo bar and knock yourself out of tune in the middle of a song. For $200.00 I might actually buy this, but $900 is a little silly. Then again, has Gibson ever made anything that wasn't overpriced?;)