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Pitch Perfect

It may be a little embarrassing to admit, but amateur electric guitarists don't always properly tune their instruments. Aha! Gibson just launched the first self-tuning guitar.

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.

From Tronical's website comes the answer to my initial question:

Q: How does it work?

A: Frequency detection by piezo bridge, micro miniaturized motorized machine heads tune the strings automatically within seconds.

Q: How do I install it on my guitar?

A: No milling, no drilling, no extra holes or screws, no additional weight! System can be easily installed and removed traceless at any time. Please consult Assembly Poster (Downloads).

Q: Well, Ok, but unless I own a Fender Standard Stratocaster, Vintage Stratocaster, Stratocaster Plus, or Gibson SG, Les Paul Standard and Custom, or a Flying V, Epiphone Les Paul or an equivalent model, I can't use it, correct?

A: So far, correct.

So I'll still have to tune my Rickenbacker 360 by hand, but I suspect Tronical's working really really hard to change that.

Posted by Linkmeister at December 4, 2007 09:42 AM | TrackBack