Introducing the Powertune Les Paul: Gibson's Revolutionary New Self-Tuning Guitar

[Tarbender]

Anyone seen this yet... Looks like it could be a nice thing to have, but I don't see a price tag anywhere:

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/Introducing%20Powertune_%20Gibson_/

[ssdeluxe]

that looks really inovative ! very cool !

I also like those new "clip to the headstock" tuners, those are great...just love the no "pluging in necessary" advantage of these.

[GuitarsCanada]

Interesting concept. Another battery to keep charged though.

[NB-SK]

If only they made guitars that paid themselves.

[Milkman]

Seems like a great idea and one that would overcome the shortcomings of non locking guitars quite well.

Anybody find a video clip?

[Stratin2traynor]

Very cool. A device that actually mechanically tunes the guitar for you. Why didn't I think of that! I'd like to see it in action.

[david henman]

...sacrilege! especially for those of us who love to play out of tune!

:rockon2:

-dh

[Milkman]

There was a device discussed here and elswhere months back that basically did the same, but it was a big massive bridge with motorized gadgets for each string.

The video was amazing, but I suspect many people were put off by the cost and appearance. It was mounted on a Les Paul as well.

Ideas like this have been a long time coming and I see hem as a major step forward.

Keyboardists haven't had to worry about this crap (tuning) for decades. Guitarists of course are much more resistant to change and evolution.

[Paul]

Keyboardists haven't had to worry about this crap (tuning) for decades.

You haven't run a B3 with a generator for a while, have you? In order to be "in tune", a tonewheel organ relies on the 60 cycle freq. of the mains power supply. Generators are not quite as frequency stable as Ontario Power Generation. The sound of a freq. unstable B3 is best described as "moo-ing".

There are solutions out there, but it's always fun to hear/see someone experience the problem for the first time. They blame the guitarist first.

And yes, I am fully aware that Hammond made the last B3 in 1974-ish!!!!!!

[Robboman]

There was a device discussed here and elswhere months back that basically did the same, but it was a big massive bridge with motorized gadgets for each string.


I think that one has been around for years, I read about Joe Perry using it..

http://transperformance.com/perform/index2.htm

..But this looks like a big improvement.

[suttree]

the original is/was called the trilogy. csny were using it, it weighed almost 7 lbs, and required gutting out 50% or more of the guitar's body. worked like the dickens though. i was under the impression a few years back that gibson invested in the idea, this might be the end result (gibson had better not be stealing ideas, what with their long history of litigiousness). this looks like a very cool development, i'm looking forward to playing one.

[Milkman]

You haven't run a B3 with a generator for a while, have you? In order to be "in tune", a tonewheel organ relies on the 60 cycle freq. of the mains power supply. Generators are not quite as frequency stable as Ontario Power Generation. The sound of a freq. unstable B3 is best described as "moo-ing".

There are solutions out there, but it's always fun to hear/see someone experience the problem for the first time. They blame the guitarist first.

And yes, I am fully aware that Hammond made the last B3 in 1974-ish!!!!!!

How many keyboardists do you see dragging a B3 around? Compare that to how many guitarists you see using old Gibbies, Fenders and playing through tube amps.

[Paul]

How many keyboardists do you see dragging a B3 around? Compare that to how many guitarists you see using old Gibbies, Fenders and playing through tube amps.


Nobody on the "bar circuit" that's for sure. :smile:

You'll see/hear 'em at festivals on occaision.

I think some of the old analog synths had issues with the oscillators needing to be tuned every five minutes, or until somebody opens a door.

I know that classical harp players have frequent tuning issues too. There are a lot of strings in that frame.

[violation]

$899.99 USD... http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/Gibson-Les-Paul-Standard-Powertune-Kit?full_sku=360658%2e375

Pass!

Personally I don't need or use that many tunings and for that price I could get 2 decent guitars... takes care of 2 different tunings. Plus I'll have 2 more guitars, lol!

I'll stick to the traditional guitar --> pedals --> tube amp.

[Milkman]

$899.99 USD... http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/Gibson-Les-Paul-Standard-Powertune-Kit?full_sku=360658%2e375

Pass!

Personally I don't need or use that many tunings and for that price I could get 2 decent guitars... takes care of 2 different tunings. Plus I'll have 2 more guitars, lol!

I'll stick to the traditional guitar --> pedals --> tube amp.

Personally I think the merit is not in being able to change tunings quickly, although that can't be discounted, but in the ability to keep a guitar in tune.

I know EVERYbody here will say they have no trouble keeping a non locking guitar in tune, and yet, go to any club or even some concerts and listen carefully.

Not many seem to be in tune all that well.

To me, being able to focus on playing and performing as opposed to getting in and staying in tune is easily worth $900.

[Hamm Guitars]

Does anyone remember the little tuner with the built in motorized string winder that came out back in the early nineties? It was basically a guitar tuner that you held on your tunning pegs and it would tune your guitar for you.

I remember it being praised by the company that was selling them, but in reality how hard is it to turn the tunning pegs on your guitar?

I haven't seen one of those tuners in years, and this pretty much looks like a more evolved version of that...

[violation]

Personally I think the merit is not in being able to change tunings quickly, although that can't be discounted, but in the ability to keep a guitar in tune.

I know EVERYbody here will say they have no trouble keeping a non locking guitar in tune, and yet, go to any club or even some concerts and listen carefully.

Not many seem to be in tune all that well.

To me, being able to focus on playing and performing as opposed to getting in and staying in tune is easily worth $900.
Personally I just get close to pitch on the tuner, pull out some octave shapes and use my ear to get the strings synched up right with each other so the vibrating is gone... then I'm done. As long as the strings are stretched the guitar will usually stay in tune pretty well.

I will agree about a lot of people not being in tune... I'd say atleast 70% of the local bands I've seen have been out of tune. But in their defense some of them had guitars with floating tremolos... so if they didn't tune in the same position that they were playing then yeah, it's gonna be out of tune. Maybe they don't know that... who knows hah. But guys with guitars with fixed bridges... ugh... I don't know what's up.

I suppose it has it's benefits but I for one am gonna' stick with my ears and multiple guitars lol.

[Rumble_b]

I think it's pretty damn cool!! The staying in tune part isn't the big thing for me. I have no problem with that at all now. I just like all the different tunings with out really having to do anything. The price isn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. I wont be running out to buy one, but maybe one day.

[Milkman]

Personally I just get close to pitch on the tuner, pull out some octave shapes and use my ear to get the strings synched up right with each other so the vibrating is gone... then I'm done. As long as the strings are stretched the guitar will usually stay in tune pretty well.

I will agree about a lot of people not being in tune... I'd say atleast 70% of the local bands I've seen have been out of tune. But in their defense some of them had guitars with floating tremolos... so if they didn't tune in the same position that they were playing then yeah, it's gonna be out of tune. Maybe they don't know that... who knows hah. But guys with guitars with fixed bridges... ugh... I don't know what's up.

I suppose it has it's benefits but I for one am gonna' stick with my ears and multiple guitars lol.

Ears are great but using them to tune on stage is a non starter.

Silent tuning is absolutely necessary.

[Tarbender]

I think that link from Musicians Friend is giving people the wrong idea. From what I read on the Gibson site, you can only get this on the Les Paul as an option on certain models. You CANNOT buy the unit alone. And as far as I know Gibson hasn't disclosed how much they are selling this particular model of the Les Paul for. If you know different please correct me.

[Milkman]

This is the link.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Les-Paul-Standard-Powertune-Kit?sku=360658

It seems likely that they consulted with Gibson prior to advertising the retrofit for sale.

[violation]

Ears are great but using them to tune on stage is a non starter.

Silent tuning is absolutely necessary.
Tune all the guitars before you go to the gig, I keep a guitar for every tuning I use lol.




There's also a PowerTune system for the SG and a Flying V.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/Gibson-SG-Powertune-Kit?full_sku=360659%2e081

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/Gibson-Flying-V-Powertune-Kit?full_sku=360663%2e375

So I'd say you can buy the unit seperate, lol.

[Milkman]

Tune all the guitars before you go to the gig, I keep a guitar for every tuning I use lol.







No offence, but this is a joke right? If it is, please disregard the following:

Before your GO to the gig?

Yeah I guess. I change the strings on all my guitars the day before the gig and tune them before putting them back in their cases.

AT the gig I tune an hour before the show and then again about fifteen minutes before the show. If for some strange reason one of my guitars still goes out, I tune silently with the tuner built into my Tonelab.

Between sets I tweak the tuning on my main guitar (again silently) and tune a hardtail to whatever tuning I need next.

I learned to tune very accurately by ear a long time ago but for obvious practical reasons I don't do it live and rarely bother in the studio.

When you play with other musicians it's kind of critical that you all tune to a standard.

[Tarbender]

I stand corrrected - I should read before I write :smile:

Gettin off on Gary Moore right now... an album I haven't listened to in years... Gary Moore - The Best of the Blues ... I don't think he needs any gimmics to sound good. Sorry getting off topic...

[violation]

No offence, but this is a joke right? If it is, please disregard the following:

Before your GO to the gig?

Yeah I guess. I change the strings on all my guitars the day before the gig and tune them before putting them back in their cases.

AT the gig I tune an hour before the show and then again about fifteen minutes before the show. If for some strange reason one of my guitars still goes out, I tune silently with the tuner built into my Tonelab.

Between sets I tweak the tuning on my main guitar (again silently) and tune a hardtail to whatever tuning I need next.

I learned to tune very accurately by ear a long time ago but for obvious practical reasons I don't do it live and rarely bother in the studio.

When you play with other musicians it's kind of critical that you all tune to a standard.
Hah, well I've only played a few gigs.

I always just kept the strings I already had on. The last few times I had to fill in a for a small gig... had to bring 3 guitars for 3 different tunings. Tuned the LP, RG then Jackson and put them into the cases and hit the road. When I got there and plugged into a headphone amp everything was still in tune. I was basically forced into plugging into someone elses rig the last 3 times (which was TERRIBLE... never doing that shit again) so silent tuning wasn't even an option if I needed to haha.

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

[Milkman]

Hah, well I've only played a few gigs.

I always just kept the strings I already had on. The last few times I had to fill in a for a small gig... had to bring 3 guitars for 3 different tunings. Tuned the LP, RG then Jackson and put them into the cases and hit the road. When I got there and plugged into a headphone amp everything was still in tune. I was basically forced into plugging into someone elses rig the last 3 times (which was TERRIBLE... never doing that shit again) so silent tuning wasn't even an option if I needed to haha.

Different strokes for different folks I guess.


If you start playing gigs with any regularity I suspect you'll have a pedal tuner on the board.

Tune at home at 70deg F and go into a bar that may be 85 deg F.

Check your tuning after an hour. Guess what? You're flat. It's not a matter of opinion. It's a matter of physics. Just because you're in tune to yourself, doesn't mean you're in tune with the other players.



I realize you know how to tune by ear. So do I. So do most players.

It's not practical IMO to tune be ear and come off as a pro. It can be done, but there are reasons 99% of pros use tuners live.

[Robboman]

If you start playing gigs with any regularity I suspect you'll have a pedal tuner on the board.

Tune at home at 70deg F and go into a bar that may be 85 deg F.

Check your tuning after an hour. Guess what? You're flat. It's not a matter of opinion. It's a matter of physics. Just because you're in tune to yourself, doesn't mean you're in tune with the other players.

I realize you know how to tune by ear. So do I. So do most players.

It's not practical IMO to tune be ear and come off as a pro. It can be done, but there are reasons 99% of pros use tuners live.

I fully quoted the above to reinforce it as a public service to the young'uns just starting to gig. Use a pedal tuner, mute and tune silently on stage. It's a must.

Carry on...

[Milkman]

Well thanks guys.

I'm sorry to come off as a know it all (I is what I is) but this is just the voice of experience and I'm only trying to help others avoid common pitfalls.

[Paul]

Well thanks guys.

I'm sorry to come off as a know it all (I is what I is) but this is just the voice of experience and I'm only trying to help others avoid common pitfalls.


As a good friend of mine used to say..."Between me and Paul, we know everything. Paul knows everything except that he's an @$$h*!e, and I know that!"

It's good to have friends.:smile:

[Milkman]

As a good friend of mine used to say..."Between me and Paul, we know everything. Paul knows everything except that he's an @$$h*!e, and I know that!"

It's good to have friends.:smile:



Oh Lord it's hard to be humble, LOL.


Yup with friends like that who needs enemas?

[violation]

If you start playing gigs with any regularity I suspect you'll have a pedal tuner on the board.

Tune at home at 70deg F and go into a bar that may be 85 deg F.

Check your tuning after an hour. Guess what? You're flat. It's not a matter of opinion. It's a matter of physics. Just because you're in tune to yourself, doesn't mean you're in tune with the other players.



I realize you know how to tune by ear. So do I. So do most players.

It's not practical IMO to tune be ear and come off as a pro. It can be done, but there are reasons 99% of pros use tuners live.
Thanks for the tips/info, I getcha' now... I probably didn't notice a difference because I've never played a gig longer then 30 minutes... hell, probably not even close to 30 minutes haha.

So when I do get giggin' I should actually bring/use my Boss TU-2? Found a used one for a really good price awhile back so I grabbed it.

[Milkman]

Thanks for the tips/info, I getcha' now... I probably didn't notice a difference because I've never played a gig longer then 30 minutes... hell, probably not even close to 30 minutes haha.

So when I do get giggin' I should actually bring/use my Boss TU-2? Found a used one for a really good price awhile back so I grabbed it.


You're quite welcome and yes, having a tuner on line or in your effects loop is a big asset.

You can silently tweak between songs and just come off much better.

Nice to be able to focus on playing with one less worry.

:food-smiley-004:

[gtrguy]

I'm curious how this thing will affect the balance and tone/sustain of a Les Paul. The added mass at the headstock is certainly going to affect things.

gtrguy