Computer-Controlled Guitars, Anyone?

[Guest Blooz1]

Ever hear of a computer controlled, self-tuning guitar?

 

There IS such a thing, and it really works! The system was invented and is being sold by a company called Transperformance. (Transperformance Site)

 

Players such as Jimmy Page and Joe Perry are starting to use this system and love it! It allows you to change tunings in the middle of a song, retune during a song, or instantaneously compensate for a busted string! (lots of other endorsements at their site!)

 

Not cheap though - they had a 2005 Les Paul on Ebay, and bidding was up to $4550 when the auction elapsed. The guitar was withdrawn as "reserve wasn't met"!

 

Check it out, interesting stuff. The computer controls individual servomotors for each string. It'll hold hundreds of tunings, eliminating having to haul multiple guitars around to gigs!

 

BTW, there's an interesting little interview with Jimmy Page to listen to at the site, along with lots of examples of playing.

[PC1X1]

Its very kewl, and possibly a future add on to guitars, but to me at least to pricey to make it worth it. To much $$$ for mainstream

[TorreyIsLDS]

It certainly seems like a very viable alternative to manual guitar tuners, but at the moment, like PC1X1 said, it's too pricey for most of us to even consider it.

 

I like the concept though.

[Guest Blooz1]

Oh, for sure it's geared towards professionals, not your average hobby musician.

 

But for someone on tour, or doing recording sessions, this system would pay for itself many times over in very short order! Many guitarists today use a different tuning for each song, which requires multiple guitars - especially for people who play slide guitar! (Ever see guys swapping guitars around like mad dogs in between songs at a gig?)

 

In the interview with Page, he talks about just SOME of the different tunings he plays in on different songs. He also says he would have loved to have had this in the Zeppelin days, and will definitely be using it a lot from now on!