Gibson launch self-tuning guitar

A self-tuning guitar said to be the first which uses robotic technology launches this week.

The £1,400 Gibson Robot self-tunes to a standard setting. It has six tuning presets which musicians can switch to by pushing a button as they play.

The guitar automatically retunes itself within seconds after string changes. Its purpose is to make the instrument quicker and easier to tune than by doing so manually.

Gibson said the automatically tuning version of its Les Paul model would reduce tuning problems for both novices and professional stage performers.

The instruments are the first of their kind to have robotic ability, the firm said.

It works by a device in the bridge monitoring the pitch of the guitar. Motorised tuners automatically adjust the pitch of the strings.

Gibson Guitar chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz said: "We expect the Gibson Robot Guitar to sell out within hours on December 7, and have been taking reservations for orders as fast as we can answer the phone lines."

The instruments go on sale on Friday at 400 Gibson dealers worldwide.

A maximum 10 self-tuning guitars will be available at each store in the Blue Silverburst Les Paul model.

If successful, it is thought other top name guitar manufacturers will follow suit.

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