Gibson auto tuners??

[dojo]

Are these now standard?? They are really doing my head in - I played a couple of guitars with them fitted and I just don't get it??

Surely if you're spending £800+ on a guitar you would hope you can tune a guitar. Also most 'gigging' guitarists will use a floor tuner so making the auto tuner pointless, if you're a bedroom player then buy a £5 clip tuner. I haven't had the mis fortune to try an SG with these on yet but considering the fact they are so head heavy I can't see this doing any favours for it.

Also if you twist the the tuner it feels horrible, like gears grinding but I've found that the thing doesn't get the guitar in tune so have no choice....

I could see the point if it stayed on and after a series of heavy bends the G goes flat (quite common on some Gibsons) and it readjusts it for you, but it doesn't so whats the point??? I just stand there after a song turn in on and then strum all my string like a tt and wait for the guitar to work its magic and de-tune my guitar?!!??

Rant over!!!

(ps Love the guitars - just think this is a silly gimmick)

[Lotus 50]

Indeed, it just feels like a cheap plastic piece of poo that will break and go wrong at the worst moment. And I hate the unreadability of the LEDs when you're standing up... I guess the problem with it being able to re-tune on the fly (i.e. to re-tune flat g strings after note bends) is that it would probably start trying to re-tune while you're bending the notes etc.

Spotted this the other day, made I larf!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB0wi5-5wNU

Edited by Lotus 50 on Friday 13th February 10:58

[Mastodon2]

IIRC, I saw a NAMM 2015 video where a Gibson rep said all the Les Paul Standards for 2015 were getting the robotic tuner thing as standard. As others have said, it looks like it will break at the worst moment and if it can't even get it tuned spot on then that is worrying. A sad indictment of the management at Gibson (reputed to be absolutely dreadful if their former employees are anything to go by) if they think that this is really what the market wants.

[Kuroblack350]

I think most of the range has the G Force now (was min-e-tune previously I believe) it's one of a number of changes that have got the Gibson hardcore-types in a bit of a twist. I quite like it, it's flexible and allows you to instantly tune to any number of standard and user defined pre-sets - what's not to like?

The only think I don't quite get is why it's on the Les Paul Traditional - surely that's missing the point?

Having said that, it's not the only oddity of the new Gibson line up, for example why on earth does the SG have the 'Les Paul 100' logo..???

[dojo]

Kuroblack350 said:

I quite like it, it's flexible and allows you to instantly tune to any number of standard and user defined pre-sets - what's not to like?

Ok I understand that if you're using a lot of open tuning it Could be handy but on the other hand it takes seconds with a decent floor tuner (or clip) and if you're playing on your own just use your ear!

I can see a benefit if you're using a guitar with a floating bridge and you snap a string live, if it then makes adjustments to keep other strings in then they would be cool (same with the flat G/B I mentioned earlier) but it's not always on so that's moot... But then as lotus said if retunes you as you bend could be hilarious and disastrous in equal measures... But handy if you can't bend in tune! lol.

Plus how easy is it to change string?? Locking tuners you can have a string fully changed, stretched in and be ready to go in under a minute (prob even 30sec) even the fiddly vintage fender ones can be done pretty quick I don't know but I reckon this could be a pain in the arse!?!

So my issue is I think it's a totally unnecessary gimmick that in real life situations causes more problems that it solves, it would put me off buying a guitar with one fitted, in fact if I had to buy one first thing I'd do would be to remove it and fit a decent set of klusons.

@ Lotus great video = too funny ??

Edited by dojo on Saturday 14th February 07:19

[davepoth]

Kuroblack350 said:

Having said that, it's not the only oddity of the new Gibson line up, for example why on earth does the SG have the 'Les Paul 100' logo..???

This is a 1961 Les Paul Custom.

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/1961_Gibson_...

[davepoth]

Mastodon2 said:

IIRC, I saw a NAMM 2015 video where a Gibson rep said all the Les Paul Standards for 2015 were getting the robotic tuner thing as standard. As others have said, it looks like it will break at the worst moment and if it can't even get it tuned spot on then that is worrying. A sad indictment of the management at Gibson (reputed to be absolutely dreadful if their former employees are anything to go by) if they think that this is really what the market wants.

What is the market though? When was the last time you saw a young professional musician go into a shop and pony up £2k for a brand new LP? They're going to play whatever guitar they can afford.

The market is rich amateurs who promised themselves a proper LP when they "made it". They've been working hard as an orthodontist for the last 25 years, finally paid off the mortgage and put their kids through college, and now they get to buy themselves nice things. That's the person who is targeted, and for them, auto-tuning is great because it means that they sound a bit less bad than they otherwise would.

[otolith]

If you had a system which kept strings in tune on the fly, I think it would have to restrict itself to detecting and tuning open strings.

I guess there would be more appeal if you could change tunings with a pedal - otherwise it's just a labour saving gimmick.

[anonymous-user]

I don't know about that. I think it's an incredible system myself. Part of the problem seems to be the poor PUPs on the Gibsons it tends to be fitted to. I played a Les Paul with this set up and some Bare Knuckles. It was brilliant. I'd buy one if I had any spare cash. I use a LOT of open timings and you can save your own. Marvellous. I noticed no technical issues of any kind on that guitar. It's voodoo! I always use a 1988 ESP 800 on stage and in the studio. One of these could replace it though.