Plucky Guitar Tunes Itself

Next up: guitar that plays itself
By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 7, 2007 12:35 PM CST
Plucky Guitar Tunes Itself
Reporters checks Gibson's new product "Robot Guitar" at Gibson Tokyo office Monday, Dec. 3, 2007. A new electric guitar from Gibson comes with robotics technology that allows the instrument to tune itself in a matter of seconds. The technology, developed in partnership with German company Tronical,...   (Associated Press)

Gibson's new guitar can't quite play itself, but it offers musicians the next best thing—it tunes itself. The legendary guitar maker is introducing a robotic tuner on a high-end version of its classic Les Paul instrument. Start strumming, and the device tunes to one of six presets in 10 seconds. “It's a cool idea," says one musician. "Nobody likes tuning."

Guitar sales shrank for the first time in 10 years in 2006, reports Newsweek, and this device may help the instrument rebound. The “Robot Guitar” isn’t aimed at the tone-deaf so much as the busy pro or perfectionist amateur who can afford its $2,200-$2,500 sticker price. The rest of us will have to settle for Guitar Hero. (More guitar stories.)

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