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[mdlbear]

Gibson launching self-tuning guitars, rockers rejoice - Engadget

Gibson's Powertune system has been in the works for quite awhile, and although there are other axes out there that claim to tune themselves, only a Gibson will do for some. Reportedly, the firm is readying a "new line of instruments" that are equipped with the system, which includes "an additional set of pickups mounted underneath the strings that are used specifically for the tuning process." By using all sorts of digital electronics and fancy algorithms, the equipment is able to automatically tune the strings, but it only activates when users pull out the Master Control Knob. Purportedly, the system can have have all six strings back in tune "within a few seconds," and you can even utilize a number of pre-programmed alternate tunings if that's your bag. 'Course, it's certainly debatable whether the hands-off approach to tuning is worth the extra $899 or so, but it's sure sweet to have the opion. Click on for more pictures.

The hardware itself is actually Powertune, from tronical, and it only works with a smallish set of electric guitars. Still, it would be convenient to be able to change tunings effortlessly in the middle of a set.

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Oh, jeez. Yaknow, you can get a drop-D capo... and if you want a guitar you don't have to futz with otherwise, you can get a carbon fiber. Pricey, but only about double the electronic tuning system above, and you can also use it as a clue-by-heavy, *and* you can put it in your checked luggage without having to worry about the Samsonite gorilla. (OTOH, what with some TSA agents' sticky fingers...

Hmmmm. I wonder how you could social-engineer the contents of the guitar case without running afoul of other restrictions... Hmmm.

[mdlbear]

Capos press on the strings; you have to re-adjust the tuning after adding one (unless you're not too picky). And there are some interesting and useful tunings (like open-chord tunings and DADGAD) that you can't get with a capo. (For that matter, the "drop D" you get with a capo isn't the same as the drop D you get by tuning down the E string: all the other chord fingerings stay the same. Which isn't always usually what you want.

[mdlbear]

There are other things I can put in my checked luggage, or even carry on. I've been tempted to make a hard-shell case for the travel guitar to go into a rolling duffel, but I'd still have to worry about sticky fingers. Easier to carry it on.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

I've been tempted to make a hard-shell case for the travel guitar to go into a rolling duffel

Yaknow, *that* would work. A hard shell case, cushioned by Con t-shirts and socks and such, inside a rolling duffel that looks innocuous enough.... that and they aren't nearly as apt to go after something funky-looking like Plink as they are something obviously carbon-fiber and ergo expensive...

YMMV and all that...

[mdlbear]

A 36" rolling duffel would be large, clumsy, and all too easy to overload. But it's tempting.