Why a self-tuning guitar isn't a good idea

Yesterday, Gibson Guitars released its self-tuning Robot Guitar. It'll add about $800 to the price of a new guitar (it's available only on mid-range guitars with street prices over $2,000), and will compete against a self-tuning guitar add-on from TransPerfomance, which runs about $3,000, including installation.

The way the rest of us tune.

(Credit: Boss)

The technology behind self-tuning guitars is far from trivial--a CPU in the guitar neck must continually monitor string tension and adjust the pegs accordingly--and I'm sure the demos are fun to watch, but I think the vast majority of guitarists will get a lot more value out of a standard $100 tuner pedal. The main problem is intonation. When you buy a new guitar, somebody has set it up so that the strings are in tune with themselves--that is, when a string is in tune in the open position (no finger on the fretboard), it'll be in tune at every important interval above open, including third, fifth, and octave. But perfect intonation is rare, even on an excellent guitar that's been set up by a master. And more to the point, intonation changes over time--different strings lose tension at different rates (this can happen even with temperature changes), the bridge and nuts get looser, and in extreme cases (like if you frequently lean your guitar against walls instead of always putting it a stand or away in your case), the neck might bow.

So, while self-tuning guitars may be perfectly in tune on open strings, they won't be perfectly in tune all the way up the fretboard unless the guitar has perfect intonation.

With a chromatic tuner, you can aim for the best possible tuning throughout the entire guitar--maybe you let the open tuning be slightly flat on each string so that the third and octave are in. There are other tuning issues where manual control is nice--for instance, you might hear that another instrument has gone slightly out of tune in the middle of a song. If you're a small enough ensemble, and you trust your own ears, you might adjust your own tuning slightly to compensate, then indicate to the other person that it's time to tune up after the song's over. Or, like many lead guitarists (notably Eric Clapton--scroll down to "Why Does Love Have To Be So Sad?"), you might prefer slightly flat tuning so you stand out from the rest of the band, or so you can use thick strings (for a fatter tone) and still bend them (for blues licks).

Of course, the number one rule for tuning on stage is: always use the bypass! Nobody wants to hear you tune your guitar.

[deconai]

Dude, it intonates as well. One mode allows you to first tune, then strike a certain string with your finger in the 12th fret position. The guitar then tells you how many half turns to turn the tune-o-matic bridge screw for that string. Granted, it's convoluted, but it does the job.

[Pete Bardo]

'Perfect' intonation is a function of the guitar quality. Maybe that's why "it's available only on mid-range guitars". If you have to tune your open strings a little flat to compensate for poor intonation, it's time you had your instrument repaired. I do agree with you to a point, there's no reason to put this $800 gizmo on your $300 guitar.

I was undecided about this gadget, but the comment from deconai is changing my mind. Many $100 tuner pedals, including mine, are actually accurate enough to set the intonation properly.

[MattRosoff]

I didn't know about the intonation setting, that's pretty awesome. Even so, I still think the "vast majority" of guitarists will get more value out of a tuner pedal. That's how I set intonation, and it's not that hard. This seems like a really cool gimmick, but a gimmick nonetheless.

[chippydoodydoody]

To me this is nothing more than a gimmick...albiet a pretty cool one. My guess is that anyone that can afford what amounts to a $2800 guitar can tune on the fly by ear during a song if necessary. You're usually not off that much during a song (if you are, its your own fault). Then between songs use the tuner pedal for more precision. For those who are inexperienced players; they probably wouldn't throw down 2800 on a new guitar with the feature. Tuning is a fundamental skill that guitar players must practice. As far as intonation. I could care less if the guitar has intonation features. Musicians adjust intonation much less frequently than tuning. That is, you don't see too many people with a scredriver on stage adjusting their bridge between songs. Besides, something that is as sensitive as intonation, I prefer to do myself. Unnecessary for a seasoned player, too expensive for a beginner or even intermediate. But very cool nonetheless!!

[lthornto]

It's not that it it can tune itself that is so great, it's the fact that you can play in different tunnings without having to retune on stage or carry ten guitars with you.

[mixministermike]

"like if you frequently lean your guitar against walls instead of always putting it a stand or away in your case"

That's an old wive's tale. No truth to it.

[devdevlin95]

After all this time this is the best that anyone can come up with? The electric guitar should have made many more advancements than this. Auto intonation and truss rod adjustment should be a part of the tuning process or the action will be useless on the guitar. Add that and a digital whammy bar that puts no wear on the strings and then they might have something. On one last note. Isn't there a better way to detect the vibration from the strings besides using an electromagnet? The electric guitar as we know it is so old. Maybe that is why I see all these guys who are at least in their late 20's buying guitar hero.

[stooch2]

I thought the value in guitar tuners was that they helped to train your ear to recognize differences in pitch. Small portable tuners, or the online ones like the SupaTuna guitar tuner allow you to develop your sense of pitch in a natural way.

This seems like a very expensive gimmick for people too eager to get to the destination without experiencing the journey.