TECHNOLOGY

For Those About to Rock, We Will Tune You

Gibson introduces its first self-tuning guitar. Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto.

By Brian Braiker | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Dec 6, 2007 | Updated: 6:27  p.m. ET Dec 6, 2007

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  • Posted By: Norm Mowry @ 12/10/2007 1:02:16 PM

    When I play, I want total control of my guitar. If one is too lazy to tune their guitar, perhaps they shouldn't play the instrument.

    I have Schaller tuners on one guitar, and Gotoh tuners on my Dobro. One demand I make is the must have have zero slop in their posts. I've found locking tuners unnecessary. A minimal understanding of guitars includes knowing how to string the tuner so that the string locks on itself.

    Besides this, any guitarist will tell you that the tuners are just one of several components that needs to be addressed in order to have a guitar that is in tuned with correct intonation.

    Automated tuners? No thanks. It's wiser to see that extra $1000 going towards build quality, better woods, a finer finish and an excruciatingly thorough set-up.

  • Posted By: Graylodge @ 12/08/2007 9:43:27 AM

    Dude... do your research. Fender (with some help from Roland) did all this -and more - with the VG Strat over a year ago. I prefer Gibsons... haven't had a Fender guitar since I was 17... but Fender got there first this time.

    • Posted By: gregparke @ 12/08/2007 11:10:39 AM

      C'mon Dude, do YOUR reasearch!!! The VG Strat is a MIDI guitar........totaly different animal. The "tuning" is done to the digital signal going to the sound module. The Gibson is actually tuning the strings, thereby effecting the actual guitar sound. The VG Strat will sound just like any other guitar when played strictly as a guitar in tune or not, and no amount of digital midi tweaking will change that. BTW, I like Gibsons too, and Fender, Ibanez, Martin, Guild ,Taylor, Epiphone, custom built MIDI.....own and play them all

      • Posted By: Graylodge @ 12/08/2007 3:45:03 PM

        I have a Guild classical older than I am (54 years) and a Kamouraska Etude that is easily its equal. For steel string accoustic I have Oscar Schmidtt (heavily modified by a good luthier), an old (early 60s) Gibson Hummingbird and a late 60s Martin D12-45. For electric I have only Gibsons (a 76 SG Std. , a 59 Les Paul and a late 60s Byrdland archtop). I have played others I liked - including my first electric, a mid 60s Tele - but there are only so many hours in a day (and only so much money in the bank for what is, after all, only a hobby) and I always liked the sound of the Gibsons best. On the other hand, I've never had a guitar amp I liked better - even for Gibson guitars - than the 64 Super Reverb (Fender) I got with the Tele. The Tele is long gone, but I'll keep that amp forever - even if I do have to keep replacing the damn tubes...

  • Posted By: mintygoodness @ 12/08/2007 12:28:14 PM

    pretty cool writing either way

  • Posted By: mintygoodness @ 12/08/2007 12:26:43 PM

    as someone who doesn't own or play a guitar, i wanted to tell the author this is pretty cool writing, and that alone should sell some robot guitars

  • Posted By: dmaness70 @ 12/08/2007 12:25:28 PM

    gahhhhhhh I can't stand this story any more. Google Transperformance Self-Tuning Guitar. Welcome to 1988, Gibson. Also listen to Dave Beegle playing Kara Kum for a great performance with a self-tuner.

    Big corporations suck.

  • Posted By: Graylodge @ 12/08/2007 9:41:20 AM

    Look... I am, and always have been, a Gibson guy. I haven't owned a Fender guitar since I was 17. But Fender (with help from Roland) did all this - and more - with the VG Stratocaster over a year ago. Do your research guys...

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