No, this robot will not make Elroy his lunch, nor will it iron Judy's shirt. It won't even mess around with your wife Jane while you take happy snaps. You see, what we have here is a robot guitar. That's right, Gibson has created the first guitar with robotic technology: The Gibson Les Paul Robot.
What's that mean in a nutshell?
1) Automated tuning.
2) Alternate tunings become a matter of simply adjusting a knob and strumming. Play Open E, Dropped D, DADGAD, Open G, Hendrix Tuning, Double Dropped D, or any of your own custom tunings that you program into the system. When the song is through, twist the MCK knob, strum, and you're back in standard tuning for the next number.
3) A unique intonation function, which guides you through the simple steps of achieving perfect intonation.
Put simply (remembering I learned science through MythBusters), two CPUs coordinate with the strings to make these features reality. Yeah I know… watch the video:
Gibson says that since the dawn of the instrument, musicians have come to accept the guitar's imperfections and lack of tonal precision as necessary evils
“For as long as the guitar has existed, guitar lovers have had two choices—live with a temperamental and out-of-tune instrument or make frequent trips to the shop for setups. Not anymore” they boast on their website. “Introducing the Gibson Robot Guitar. All you have to do is play it.”
Each limited edition, first run Les Paul Robot will feature a gorgeous Blue Silverburst nitrocellulose finish, created especially for this limited run. I love it and Gibson assure us it will never be used on any other Gibson guitar.
Other limited edition extras include:
– Certificate of authenticity
– Power adaptor for the system's rechargeable lithium battery
– Limited edition first run case with silver tolex and a plush silver interior
– The serial number will also be sequentially exact, beginning with “RG0001,” and continuing through the end of the limited run.
Available in limited quantities (10 per select store) Friday December 7, 2007. Regular model run starts late 2008. Find participating dealers here.
Full details, gallery and videos available at http://www.gibson.com/robotguitar/
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Gibson Min-ETune – Automatic Tuner
I really like this Guiter from my musical life Oh………….God Please make me
able to play this Guiter ………………i really desire for this God please provide me thie if you want……………
i wanna play this for sing your glory among the mass…………..of people………
i need this God………………..
I like mine also. I’ve had it about a year.
The battery recharges through a guitar code and included AC adaptor. They are supposed to stay charged for 200 tunings, but mine (bought used) doesn’t stay charged fully for that long. Recharge takes an hour or less.
I have two minor complaints that hopefully have been addressed in subsequent issues:
The A string lags in tuning behind the other 5.
Most guitar stands seem to mar the nitrocellulose finish.
I love my robot guitar, it lets me change the tuning in seconds during songs opening up many creative possibilities… and means our lead has to spend less time chatting while I swap tunings between songs.
I dig this a lot. It all depends on your style of playing. I use open tunings quite often at home but bring several guitars, each tuned to a setting, when I play out. If I can bring 1 guitar to a gig, that would be awesome and something I would use.
they need to make a blue silverburst SG.
Dear Mr Gibson after more than half a century of creative genius you have lost the plot, let me guess… the finance department came up with this.
Let me guess the limited batch is to see if there are enough silly bu=ggars on the planet to warrant mass production. Does it change the strings ? if not this should be your end goal and a worthy addition to the next “C3PO” version.
If this is where Gibson is going, shut the doors and get into Hamburgers or Hairdressing or anything else…
HAL 9000
I just like it,it’s wonderfull!!!
All this fanfare for a “robotic” guitar, and all it does is stay in tune ? Really ? I thought I was the laziest s.o.b. I knew, but even I can work up the gumption to tune my guitar once or twice a day. But wait, it does alternate tunings ! I’ve been sweatin’ my way through all that for 30 years, and it hasn’t killed me yet. Unless I can program Robo-Paul to know which groupies I like and have them backstage after the show, I’ll stick with my old Black Beauty.
I can imagine this appealing to a tone deaf 12 year old. I think musicians will give it a miss. Come on Gibson, give your head a shake.
I never thought it would happen but I have actually lived long enough to have seen it all!
Sounds like an awesome idea. I wonder how long the battery lasts or if u can just run it of AC.
Love the blue silverburst.
Looks nice.