After Market Robot Tuners

tampadragon

Hi

I've never modded a guitar before, or done anything other than a string change to one (Which is struggle enough!).
I'm interested in the robot/auto tuning kit that comes with some of the Gibsons/Epiphones but I don't have room or funds for a new guitar.

I have a Vintage(Brand) Les Paul which I bought a while a go and has been in need of some love ever since. One of the things i'd like to look at doing is fitting one of these tuners.

Has anyone ever done it, and if so do you know where to get the bits from and what bits are needed to perform this "upgrade"

Bob

ICBM

You buy them from one of the many people who have taken them off their 2015 Gibsons when they got fed up with all the problems they cause...

But first you need to check that the spacing of the machineheads on the Vintage corresponds *exactly* to that on a Gibson with the tuners - both along and across the headstock. If it doesn't, it won't fit unless you go to an enormous amount of trouble to plug and redrill all the machinehead holes.

To cut a long story short, just don't.

tampadragon

Ok, That sounds like a bit of a hassle!
Might have to rethink that then. and possibly consider moving on a guitar to buy one with it pre fitted.

olafgarten

If you have money then you can buy the system from Tronical

eSully

tampadragon said:

Ok, That sounds like a bit of a hassle!
Might have to rethink that then. and possibly consider moving on a guitar to buy one with it pre fitted.

Plenty of 2015's Gibsons floating about (check the Facebook gear pages if none on here) but be warned about the neck width. Definitely find one to play first.

As for the GForce. There have been plenty on sale here in the past. Might be worth putting a WTB thread in the sales classifieds. Tronical do templates you can print out to check if the model of GForce will fit

http://www.tronicaltune.com/uploads/TronicalTune_PCB_Template.pdf

Be warned though. A lot of Guitarists have been disappointed with them and have had issues so if you can have a play with one first to make sure it's for you. (The Gibson 2017/16 HP models have them so you should be able to have a play with one in any guitar shop stocking those or 2015s)

tampadragon

Thanks, I'll see if my local store has any in with the tuners fitted, The reason i haven't gone with a 2015 model is that I'm not a fan of a wide neck.

ICBM

The problem is that the wide neck was introduced to allow the fitting of the adjustable metal nut which was to fix the tuning problems caused by the robot tuners with a standard nut...

tampadragon

I guess that makes sense! This is seeming more and more like an idea I need to scrap. I'll just save up for a Variax instead!

RocknRollDave

What is your reasoning for wanting the robot tuners?

tampadragon

Easy alternate tuning, and the ability to quickly and easily change and experiment.
I am lazy, very lazy and having to manually tune to something and then tune back up to standard is just too annoying so I just don't bother.

Ravenous

tampadragon said:

Easy alternate tuning, and the ability to quickly and easily change and experiment.
I am lazy, very lazy and having to manually tune to something and then tune back up to standard is just too annoying so I just don't bother.

This is why I use a cheap old spare guitar, for the alternate tuning etc. (Obviously doesn't help if you want to use your best guitar for all tunings, but something to consider.)

Going a little off topic I'm sure in a few years better systems will be available anyway; gadgetry seems to be heading that way.

tampadragon

Yeah, this was for my downstairs guitar, the one I always have to hand and play when the little ones asleep, or in bed. So don't want a second or third guitar downstairs.

I'll have to live with it for now and then see what else comes onto the market!

WezV

tampadragon said:

Easy alternate tuning, and the ability to quickly and easily change and experiment.
I am lazy, very lazy and having to manually tune to something and then tune back up to standard is just too annoying so I just don't bother.

Sounds perfect for you and if you can confirm the fit before investing it would be worth a go.

it is less stable and obviously less reliable too.  That's always going to be true when you compare a simple mechanism that does one thing to a complex system that offers extra features... but it does work and is fully reversible if you don't like it


do you need it?   No.
is it perfect? No.
can you gig it?  Yes, but take a backup guitar and tuner.

ICBM

WezV said:

do you need it?   No.
is it perfect? No.
can you gig it?  Yes, but take a backup guitar and tuner.

I suppose it depends how many different tunings you use. If only one, you may as well just take another guitar tuned to that. If more than one then it maybe becomes more useful.