| 3rd December 2007 03:53 PM |
|
|
| Martha |
WORD!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gibson shows new self-tuning guitar
By YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer
1 hour, 55 minutes ago
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 899 euros, about $600, 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.
___
On the Net:
Tronical: http://www.tronical.com/home
Gibson: http://www.gibson.com/DigitalGuitarNew/gibsonDigital.html
Email StoryIM StoryPrintable View
|
| 3rd December 2007 04:00 PM |
|
|
| voodoopug |
I wonder if you can program this computer to adjust to different tunings (open G, Open D, Standard, etc). This sounds like an excellent advancement in guitar tech! |
| 3rd December 2007 06:52 PM |
|
|
| open-g |
quote:
voodoopug wrote:
I wonder if you can program this computer to adjust to different tunings (open G, Open D, Standard, etc). This sounds like an excellent advancement in guitar tech!
Yes, you can. those mentioned tunings are preset on the chip but you can teach and store others aswell, when the pitch is different than 440 Hz.
there's an interesting video from the manufacturer on the right.
http://www.tronical.com/products
|
| 4th December 2007 09:45 AM |
|
|
| Mr Jurkka |
Ain't this old news? I've seen this before.. WORD! |
| 4th December 2007 09:57 AM |
|
|
| open-g |
quote:
Mr Jurkka wrote:
Ain't this old news? I've seen this before.. WORD!
Yep, it's been in the news before, but Gibson starts selling these RoboGuitars on 7th December - good promo if it's back in the news. |
| 4th December 2007 10:15 AM |
|
|
| mrhipfl |
lame. Tuning a guitar is easy and it's a necessary skill imo. It also really helps with ear training. |
| 4th December 2007 10:36 AM |
|
|
| voodoopug |
quote:
mrhipfl wrote:
lame. Tuning a guitar is easy and it's a necessary skill imo. It also really helps with ear training.
true, but in a live setting, it can kill momentum if you have to stop and tune. |
| 4th December 2007 10:47 AM |
|
|
| mrhipfl |
quote:
voodoopug wrote:
true, but in a live setting, it can kill momentum if you have to stop and tune.
very good point. I'd say it wouldn't make a good guitar for a beginner, but for an advanced player it would be alright. Gibsons are too expensive for novices anyways. |
| 4th December 2007 11:45 AM |
|
|
| voodoopug |
quote:
mrhipfl wrote:
very good point. I'd say it wouldn't make a good guitar for a beginner, but for an advanced player it would be alright. Gibsons are too expensive for novices anyways.
agreed, although we do live in an era where many parents will just hand over thousands of dollars worth of gifts to ungrateful children!
As far as learning guitar goes, tuning a guitar should be the FIRST thing learned. |
| 4th December 2007 07:29 PM |
|
|
| Ten Thousand Motels |
quote:
voodoopug wrote:
As far as learning guitar goes, tuning a guitar should be the FIRST thing learned.
Good point. I got my first guitar when I was 12, for Christmas in 1965. And I still have a hard time tuning one.
|
| 5th December 2007 09:38 AM |
|
|
| voodoopug |
quote:
Ten Thousand Motels wrote:
Good point. I got my first guitar when I was 12, for Christmas in 1965. And I still have a hard time tuning one.
it took me a good 5 years before I was able to tune a guitar by ear....its actually tougher than many think....anyone can tune using an electric tuner, but it takes some time to be able to quickly adjust a string if you are in the middle of a song and are not near the pedal board! |
| 5th December 2007 06:51 PM |
|
|
| gotdablouse |
Well standard tuning is one thing, but having a one button access to open tuning, wow that's nice ! |
| 5th December 2007 08:14 PM |
|
|
| Mel Belli |
quote:
gotdablouse wrote:
Well standard tuning is one thing, but having a one button access to open tuning, wow that's nice !
Looked at one today. The alternate-tuning capability is really quite a thing. I was imagining playing CHYMK live and being able to transition through the open-G and Mick Taylor parts without switching guitars. Pretty cool. |
| 5th December 2007 09:15 PM |
|
|
| stonedinaustralia |
hi mel belli
rocks off member
happy altamont day!! |
| 6th December 2007 07:19 AM |
|
|
| guitarman53 |
http://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:4528.842097106/rid:75833692352027a162c0a92af71ba100
email : Webview
Another Web link on this.
[Edited by guitarman53] |
| 6th December 2007 07:42 AM |
|
|
| Mel Belli |
quote:
stonedinaustralia wrote:
hi mel belli
rocks off member
happy altamont day!!
Forgot about that. Just before Pearl Harbor! |
