#Gibson minitune change tuning upgrade#

The longest time the tuners took to put the guitar in tune during our testing was about 50 secondsвЂ¦still much shorter than our quickest attempts to do so on a non Min-ETune equipped Les Paul. Reaching the selected tuning averaged around 15 seconds, which certainly is shorter than it would take to retune the guitar manually (the six gears work simultaneously). Each tuner reads the tuning of the string, and then goes to work to retune it to the selected tuning. For example, when the dropped D tuning is selected, the low sixth stringвЂ™s LED still reads вЂњEвЂќ, and cannot be used to determine which tuning is currently being used.ДЄfter a mode is selected and the enter button is hit, a strum of the open strings sets the automatic tuners into action. Regardless of what tuning is selected, the LED corresponding with that string does not change name. The same string-named LEDs also function as bank indictors (by way of color), and mode selector (by way of which single LED is lit). The presets include standard tuning, standard tuning lowered a half step (E flat to E flat), standard tuning lowered a whole step (D to D) and various other open tunings. The unit stores 12 factory presets and 6 user defined tunings. ThereвЂ™s no noticeable added weight added by the system.ДЄfter powering up the unit, a tuning can be selected. On the back of the headstock are the sealed tuners, and placed in between them is the Min-ETuneвЂ™s brain.

#Gibson minitune change tuning upgrade#

We received a Les Paul with the Min-ETune upgrade installed for a quick first look at the unit.ДЇrom the front of headstock, the guitar looks essentially the same.

The next generation Min-ETune is a direct replacement or upgrade for Gibson Les Paul and SG modelвЂ™s tuning gears: thereвЂ™s no other change to the instrument, keeping the tone, integrity and vibe intact. Gibson used a previous version of this technology on their Robot guitars, which also required a different bridge and a significant routing on the back of the guitarвЂ™s body. Watching the tuner engage and turning the keys brings to mind the Transformers movies, Robocop and the old fashion player piano. This is the robotic tuning gears actually turning themselves each to the correct pitch just as you would manually. Now it is a reality: the Gibson Min-ETune robotic tuning gears actually tune the guitar all by its lonesome with a mere push of a button. Probably not realistic but that's just me.This was the dreamвЂ¦a guitar that tuned itself. If they could sell it within $100-150 of a good tuner and a set of quality tuning machines, I'd be much more inclined. I'm actually trolling ebay for one now.ДЄs far as the tronical/new gibson gadget, I don't think it'd be much heavier than the original robot tuners themselves, that is to say in something that's already unbalanced, it may worsen it but on an average guitar, I'd say no problems. She said it was exactly as she'd gotten it from the factory. Pulling the knob mutes the guitar, strum, strum (probably 10 times at first but after that, just once or twice) and you're in tune. I'm still skeptical of all the moving parts that can go south, but as far as function, it was awesome. She didn't want to play so I obliged and played with it. We begged her to bring it in and she did. We've had a new singer sit in with us a few nights now and she casually mentioned last practice that she had a Robot LP that she never plays (got it as a gift from her ex).

I was skeptical of Gibson's robot tech when it came out and while I'd never pay what they were asking for them, I did finally get to play with one at practice last night.