QUOTE
Introducing the Powertune Les Paul: Gibson's Revolutionary New Self-Tuning Guitar
09.10.2007
There are certain natural laws that govern the behavior of our world: what goes up must come down; for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction; to play in tune, you have to get yourself in tune. Ever since the invention of the instrument, this third law has been grudgingly accepted by guitar players. No longer. Gibson’s new Powertune System rewrites the laws and frees guitarists from the drudgery of tuning. To play in tune, tell your guitar to tune up for you. Impossible? Not any more.
The Powertune System, available as original equipment only on Gibson guitars, is the first fully functional, performance-ready, and non-obtrusive automated tuning system, and the only self-tuning system practical for use by the professional guitarist. It is operated solely from the guitar, with no external connections or interface from a third-party device, and no need to move your busy fingers from the guitar strings and controls they are already manipulating in the course of your performance. Simply activate your guitar’s Master-Control Knob (MCK), strum the strings lightly, and within seconds the Powertune’s digital brain and Powerhead tuners work together to put you perfectly in tune. Or to achieve any open or alternate tuning, rotate the MCK to the desired preset, strum, and you’re ready to play in Open E, Dropped D, Double Dropped D, DADGAD, Open G, Hendrix Tuning (half-step down), or any of your own custom tunings.
In the time it takes you to say, “Hello, Cleveland—we think you’re gonna like this next one…” you’re back in tune, and ready to rock. No stomping on pedals, staring at the floor, or breaking eye contact with your audience, and your fretting hand doesn’t even have to touch a tuning key to get you there.
09.10.2007
There are certain natural laws that govern the behavior of our world: what goes up must come down; for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction; to play in tune, you have to get yourself in tune. Ever since the invention of the instrument, this third law has been grudgingly accepted by guitar players. No longer. Gibson’s new Powertune System rewrites the laws and frees guitarists from the drudgery of tuning. To play in tune, tell your guitar to tune up for you. Impossible? Not any more.
The Powertune System, available as original equipment only on Gibson guitars, is the first fully functional, performance-ready, and non-obtrusive automated tuning system, and the only self-tuning system practical for use by the professional guitarist. It is operated solely from the guitar, with no external connections or interface from a third-party device, and no need to move your busy fingers from the guitar strings and controls they are already manipulating in the course of your performance. Simply activate your guitar’s Master-Control Knob (MCK), strum the strings lightly, and within seconds the Powertune’s digital brain and Powerhead tuners work together to put you perfectly in tune. Or to achieve any open or alternate tuning, rotate the MCK to the desired preset, strum, and you’re ready to play in Open E, Dropped D, Double Dropped D, DADGAD, Open G, Hendrix Tuning (half-step down), or any of your own custom tunings.
In the time it takes you to say, “Hello, Cleveland—we think you’re gonna like this next one…” you’re back in tune, and ready to rock. No stomping on pedals, staring at the floor, or breaking eye contact with your audience, and your fretting hand doesn’t even have to touch a tuning key to get you there.
linkage
I'd like to see some reviews before I get too excited, but if it truly is an unobtrusive system as advertised I don't think it'll be long before we see these on almost every guitar in their (and the competitors) lineup.
On the downside, learning to tune by ear is IMHO a very valuable skill that'll now be lost. You aren't a true player unless you've snapped scores of strings trying out crazy tunings
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