hatetown Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 Dec. 4, 2007, 12:23AM For around $3,500, this guitar better tune itself By YURI KAGEYAMA Associated Press RESOURCES Gibson launches robot guitar TOKYO — 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, Tenn., 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. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/bizarre/5349457.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAR Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 if i played guitar i feel like i would be really hyped over this. but I dont. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatetown Posted December 10, 2007 Author Share Posted December 10, 2007 dude, you have no idea how big this is but i think i will still manually tune my guitar. that and i dont want to pay over $2000 for a guiatar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest R@ndomH3ro Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 Drop C can it tune down to the devils music? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blood fart Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 I guess that is pretty cool. It isn't going to give you the ability to be a crucial shredder though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatetown Posted December 10, 2007 Author Share Posted December 10, 2007 No, but that kind of guitar will be coming out next year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tha Unibomber Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 this sucks real guitars are for old people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blood fart Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 Magic not included. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blood fart Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrbmTWQRqlw&feature=related Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ape Shit Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 wow. fucking pathetic. real musicians can tune by ear. i guess this guitar caters to the obese, lazy, guitar hero generation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blood fart Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 I am the obese, lazy, Guitar Hero generation. I won't be buying this guitar. Because I spend all my money on weed and snacks. And don't even know how to play a guitar. Dude. I am too old to live this life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RHDS Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 You could always just spend a minute tuning the guitar yourself and save 900 bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blood fart Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 But then you wouldn't be able to impress chicks with your super expensive and high tech guitar. Girls really dig dudes that are into robots and high tech devices. It's so metal and sexy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Orenthal Norton Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 this sounds like something out of Skymall.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceLeroy Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 ill stick with my Air Guitar thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Some1 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 one of my friends is buying this guitar as soon as its available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blood fart Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 one of your friends is a nerd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMF Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 austin got like 10 of them. i heard it on the news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blood fart Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Only nerds watch the news. Whiskey & hot tubs....you down, son? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
50mill Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 My first question...Can it tune down to a drop C or D? Answer is yes! http://transperformance.com/news/index.htm But....who the hell is so lazy they can't tune their own guitar? Or learn how to? I guess if you are in a speedmetal band and you go out of tune often...but still... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatetown Posted December 11, 2007 Author Share Posted December 11, 2007 im glad your first post was in my thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest R@ndomH3ro Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 My first question...Can it tune down to a drop C or D? Answer is yes! http://transperformance.com/news/index.htm But....who the hell is so lazy they can't tune their own guitar? Or learn how to? I guess if you are in a speedmetal band and you go out of tune often...but still... Yeah, it would make sense if you in some kind of crazy metal band that tunes for diffrent songs. but then when I used to play in a metal band i would just look down and tune real quick on my tuner....if it was a little flat or sharp fuck it... we came to bring the mosh... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarcasm Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 couple ppl i know in school made a self tuning guitar for a senior project... looked mighty complicated haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decibelrebel Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 if it can take the headache out of a lo-pro edge then gimme one...oh and if R&D are reading this how about a self calibrating truss rod too, maybe hydraulic action and self tuning intonations...and power gloves that take a memory stick with all your favourite songs on so your hands magically dance across the frets and nail every note......yeah power gloves, they'd be sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce_1nR Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fermentor666 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 $3,500? Pfffshht. That's nothing. $20,000 http://www.warriorartgallery.com/mainpages/archangel_g2.htm $100,000 (And it sold) http://www.warriorartgallery.com/portfolios/vault6/crown.htm strings: 6 color: Translucent body: 9-piece combination: Flame Maple, Purple Heart, and vintage Mahogany top: Sculpted Maple neck: 7-piece combination: Figured Mahogany, Maple, and Purple Heart fretboard: Gaboon Ebony inlay: Koa and Flame Maple thorns on fretboard and Jesus with a tear falling from his face sculpted on the body tuners: Warrior Gold with Ebony inlayed buttons hardware: Gold electronics: Hand Wound Rosewood single coil with L.R. Baggs Stereo custom bridge system price: Aquired Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~KRYLON2~ Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 i can make guitars, i know im the shit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deloner Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Port-A-John Enthusiest Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 WTf, yo that is the dopest guitar i've ever seen in my entire life..seriously..so thats fucking so dope.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deloner Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Props me then you fucking prop nazi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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