By YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer 1 hour, 19 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.
Slash has announced he is to release a series of special personalised guitars.
Three limited and unique models of Gibson and Epiphone Les Paul Standard, designed and produced with the ex-Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver guitarist's help, were simultaneously released at select music outlets around the world.
Slash launched the guitars at the Gibson Guitar Showroom in London yesterday (April 1), on the day it was announced that Scott Weiland had departed Velvet Revolver.
“I have always been a Les Paul player and am very proud to have my own range produced by Gibson and Epiphone, the maker of the world’s greatest guitars. I hope that musicians around the world enjoy them as much as I do,” he said.
Here's my guitar. I didn't take this photo - it was taken by the original owner. I got it off ebay last December for just $150.00 (Australian), and this was the picture the seller had in his listing. I hadn't played for several years. I used to own a '74 Stratocaster, but had to sell it, for a variety of reasons. I wish I still had it. It looked just like the one Ritchie Blackmore played in the California Jam video (before he smashed it, obviously). I missed having a guitar around a lot more than I ever thought I would, so I got this, just to stop me from going mad. I'm by no means a great musician, but I like sitting around, playing it while I watch the TV or whatever. I'm kind of addicted to playing guitar, but never seem to get that much better at it.
Anyway, I'm a fan of....well, virtually any and every guitarist I hear. I like all sorts of music - as long as there are guitars in it, I'll give it a listen.
A few years ago I walked out of a bar and into a Guitar Center, and walked out with two Strats. Barely touched them for five years or so. I gave them both away to a couple of young beginning players - amazingly, both are still playing.
_________________ “Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.” ― Ambrose Bierce.
Brilliant stuff, Tycoon. I'm a huge Jeff Beck fan (as my avatar probably reveals), and that link was a lot of fun!
Kid - that is a beautiful guitar. I love the fact that they're a work of art in themselves, as well as being a versatile, portable and attractive-souding musical intrument. My dream guitar (at the moment), is the Albert Lee signature model from the Music Man company.
Been playing almost 38 years now - long enough that you'd think I'd be good at it!
I used to be a big Gibson Les Paul fan, but my tastes have switched. I'm a big Paul Reed Smith fan - these guitars are just awesome for me. I'm lucky enough that my company and department have done well enough to allow them to grant us bonuses the past few years and that's allowed me to indulge myself a bit. One of my faves is the Mira - introduced last year at Experience PRS (a great event - I have some pics and such at http://www.tignanelli.com/ExperiencePRS.htm). It's a plainer, lower-priced (for PRS) model that just rocks.
There are three special in a sentimental way (and others, depending on the guitar) axes in my collection. My 1981 Les Paul Pro, the first "real" guitar I owned. An incredible deal on a second-hand guitar, a total impulse purchase that I had no inkling about (I'd gone to look at Washburns because of a sale, then was looking at a blue Dean like Elliot Easton played when I spotted the LP). $400.
Second is a white Charvel Model 4, 1986 or 1987. Bought it in Fredericksburg VA after I got my first real job, with the assistance of then-fiance-now-long-suffering-wife.
Third is a Hamer Duo-Tone, previously owned by Mike Keneally, one of the greatest musicians I've ever met. I wasn't sure about buying it because I didn't want to buy it and just stick it in the case and let it sit, but he talked me into it. A very cool guitar at a great price (as it turns out - I didn't know that at the time).
There are times I wish I still had a band, times I'm glad I don't. Now I just record for my pleasure, and to provide my mother with backing tapes so she can play in church. But it keeps me off the street!
_________________ Alan
"This is a true story, except for the parts that didn't happen." - Steven Wright
Brilliant stuff, Tycoon. I'm a huge Jeff Beck fan (as my avatar probably reveals), and that link was a lot of fun!
That was a great interview. I always wanted to see it, and just came across via a Beck fan site. The same site also mentions a Beck career retrospective dvd in the works. Also heard there may be a dvd from his late '07 Ronnie Scott's shows.
_________________ “Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.” ― Ambrose Bierce.
My 1981 Les Paul Pro, the first "real" guitar I owned. An incredible deal on a second-hand guitar, a total impulse purchase that I had no inkling about (I'd gone to look at Washburns because of a sale, then was looking at a blue Dean like Elliot Easton played when I spotted the LP). $400.
Second is a white Charvel Model 4, 1986 or 1987. Bought it in Fredericksburg VA after I got my first real job, with the assistance of then-fiance-now-long-suffering-wife.
Third is a Hamer Duo-Tone, previously owned by Mike Keneally, one of the greatest musicians I've ever met. I wasn't sure about buying it because I didn't want to buy it and just stick it in the case and let it sit, but he talked me into it. A very cool guitar at a great price (as it turns out - I didn't know that at the time).
This is a great story, Alan. I love this kind of stuff - thank you!
My brother has one of those Charvel's (an '86), and he's put some Seymour Duncan pickups in it. They're beautiful guitars. He also has a '72 Les Paul Custom, which is a lovely guitar, but not really my kind of thing. Although I favour bolt-on necks and Fender-style guitars in general, even I like PRS guitars. They have a unique quality to them.
The Guild is a one of the best sounding guitars ever, imo.
The chiquita is the same as what Marty play in the opening sequence of "Back to the Future" only his was yellow. It was designed by Mark Erlewine and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. For a small guitar, it has some balls.
I've decided to just hot-rod my existing guitar (a J&D Luthiers Strat copy...made in China, as all fine guitars are these days ). The one I posted a picture of at the top of the page.
I'm going to put some Fender custom shop '69 single coils in the neck and middle positions, and a Seymour Duncan JB (Jeff Beck, of course!) humbucker in the bridge. I like the guitar a lot, and rather than get something I'm not sure about, I'd rather change the electrical parts on the one I have, which I love playing. Besides, I've owned several Strats over the years, and I really prefer a flat fretboard to the traditional Fender curved one. For years, I'd struggled with Fender necks, and as much as I love their sound, those necks just aren't for me. It only took me eighteen years to figure that out....
I found this site, which has a bunch of links to a variety of different guitar sites. I thought it might be of interest.
One I like a lot is this one - Austin Instruments. I haven't seen them over here in Australia (not in Melbourne, anyway). There are so many different manufacturers over in America, it's mind-boggling to me. Makes me see how small a country this really is. Some of these things look magnificent - and I'd be willing to bet that they're every bit as good as the famous "brand name" axes they're clearly based on. I'd have to play one to find out, obviously, but these things really look like they'd be first class -
Well, I'll still be 'hot-rodding' my Chinese Strat copy with some Seymour Duncans.
When I get my tax return, however, I've discovered the best way of spending it . Squier (I know, I know....) are producing a range called the Classic Vibe series, based on original designs from the 1950's. There's no way on Earth I'll ever be able to afford an original Duo Sonic, but these re-issues look really good. Squier have come a long way in recent years, and although the Bullet and Affinity series are best avoided IMO, the Vintage Modified and Deluxe ranges are decent quality guitars for the price. This one won't be out over here in Australia until a bit later in the year, but I'm seriously considering putting one on lay-by. I'm very taken with it. I wanted something with a maple fretboard and two single coils, and was looking at Tele's, but this thing leapt out at me.
I look forward to hearing how you like the sound after you get those pickups installed.
Since this is used gear, you might want to get some DeoxIT (http://store.caig.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1602 ... tegory=188), or something like it, to clean them before before installing. I had an old 20 watt Marshall amp that I refurbished and gave to my son. DeoxIT turned this scratchy little amp back into the same clean amp that I bought 15 years earlier.
Many thanks, Mike. I'll get some of that for sure. Usually, I just go with whatever pickups a guitar has in it and don't really worry. That's what effects pedals are for. The pickups in this are so thin and weak sounding, however, I just knew the guitar would be so much better with beefier ones. My friend kindly supplied me with some beefier pickups!
I'll report back about the sound when the guitar magician at the local music shop has done his work. I'm a fumble fingers, and don't trust myself to do the job right. I'm going to pay a professional to do it correctly, so it should be a real improvement.
Okay...the guitar has been in the shop for a week as of today. They only just got the graphite nut I'd ordered in today, so I won't get the guitar back until next week. I bought another pedal today, too - a "Chorus Orchestra" pedal by a German company called Behringer.
When I get it back, I'll post some pictures and explain the change in the sound!
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). The one I posted a picture of at the top of the page. 
