[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.

 

[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.

 

[violation]

$899.99 USD... http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/Gibson-Les-Paul-Standard-Powertune-Kit?full_sku=360658.375

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=360658.375

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=360659.081

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/Gibson-Flying-V-Powertune-Kit?full_sku=360663.375

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