Dissection of Gibson Robot Tuners Under the Microscope

[@nonsuch]

I got those stock on a 2010 Les Paul. I also put the inline system version on my 2004 70's reissue Stratocaster. I think I'm the only one who really loves them. The thing is, the people who don't like them are the ones that never really gave them a chance. They didn't want to put the time in to learn how to use it properly. Everyone seems to have a dreaded fear of being on a gig, hitting a wrong button, and end up in some odd tuning before the next song starts. Now, while that "could" happen if they didn't know how to use it, it's not the fault of the tuners. If you panic and just start mashing buttons, it's just gonna end up in disaster. If they would have taken the time to learn how to use it (just like one does with everything else new and unfamiliar), they would have grown to love it. You are always in full control of what it does. It would never do something unprovoked. It's always user error. After a while, its operation became part of my mussel memory. I don't have to think at all and my guitar is in tune, in the tuning of my choice in seconds. The only issue I can honestly say i've have with them is the battery. They start to discharge quickly only after a few years and now, they won't hold much of a charge at all anymore. The RED battery light will come on after a tune or two. Anyway, anyone can call it an unnecessary gimmick if they wish but, these people don't play with alternate tunings. So, if you play in E the majority of the time but, have a song or 2 you play in drop D and all you need to do is tune the E string to D, the TronicalTune system isn't really for you. It's a tool you have to learn to use to appreciate.

[@GuitarQuackery]

First and foremost, thank you for posting this well thought out and enlightening comment. This is more than just a comment, it's a contribution to this video. I sure hope viewers take the time to read through it all and also give it some time to think about what you said, which are opinions based on years of experience. I'm sure you've heard plenty of negative comments about those robot tuners and have probably grown tired of all the negativity and criticism. Yet, you were able to express a strong opinion that goes against common opinions and you were able to do that without even a hint of negativity. I sure hope that anyone replying to your comment will keep it civil. I am personally still processing what your thoughts and really don't have much to say, as I currently don't have access to any guitars equipped with robot tuners. I'll be the first to admit that I did not take the time to learn to use them and certainly did not bother reading a manual. As with most other things that I try to do, I just try to figure out how tings work on my own. Perhaps that is a mistake with this particular product. Due to my own lack of experience as a user, I'm not even sure if it would be fair for me to say that the developers should have taken more time to develop this product in a way that it would be more intuitive. Perhaps the more intuitive version of this product would have ended up with more buttons to deal with. I really don't know. The only real opinion I have is about the batteries. Basically, batteries are like strings. They are not guaranteed to last forever. I'm not really sure how long it took for your batteries to go bad, but in general, it is expected they would need to be replaced at some point. Thanks again for takin the time to post.

[@eddiejr540]

It looks to me like the unit detects the pitch of the string then converts that into a number that equals tension…so basically tension equals pitch…it’s quite ingenious…well done👍

[@GuitarQuackery]

I don’t think it calculates tension. I think it just keeps detecting the pitch and stop spinning the shaft when the pitch is correct.

[@robbysguitars8223]

Thank you, my friend. I always wanted to see inside those things.

[@GuitarQuackery]

Glad to hear I was able to make your wish come true.

[@carpathus]

Interesting. Vintage split post for me. Cheers!

[@GuitarQuackery]

Those have stood the test of time (unlike Robot Tuners). Interestingly, a lot of players put the strings wrong on the split posts.

[@henryhunter5026]

It was interesting to see inside the tuners. I have two sets of the in my spares box, they were removed from a couple of used 2015 Gibson guitars I own. I found that although the robot tuners worked I prefer manual tuning so I replaced them with Grover tuners. If I sell the guitars I can include them with the sale so that the new owner can reinstall them if they want.

[@GuitarQuackery]

I definitely think that's the way to go. Tuners are just accessories and it only takes a few minutes to change them around, as long at the replacement tuners fit all the holes.

[@UncleKennysPlace]

That last thing than any Gibson every needed was an extra 100 or so grams on the headstock.

[@GuitarQuackery]

Good point.

[@espiritguitar]

Excellent dr. Excellent

[@GuitarQuackery]

Thank you, Doctor.

[@NintenDub]

Best robo tuner dissection video on the internet: confirmed. I dont know if anyone else has ever even bothered.

[@GuitarQuackery]

More dissection videos coming up, if you like that sort of thing. Thanks for dropping by. Feel free to share this video on Guitar forums.

[@NintenDub]

@@GuitarQuackery I mean I'm not really knowledgeable on robo tuners, but I like your approach. I will share, but I don't visit guitar forums. Alot of those ppl think changing your volume knobs can affect and change your tone.

[@jamesmoore9596]

Fascinating demo of what many feel to be a benighted technology. You didnt say so expressly but I got the impression that if a player wants to defeat the robo tuners it's just a matter of removing the motors and tuning manually. Did i get that right?

[@GuitarQuackery]

You can’t remove the motors and then use the tuning machines manually. A lot of players don’t like the robotic tuners, they simply change the entire set and put manual tuning machines on. For those who do just that, it is recommended to save the set of robotic tuners in the case, for resale value of the Guitar. I hope this makes sense.

[@brettclark8020]

Often i see good ideas with bad execution. This is the opposite. That's some impressive engineering to do something completely unnecessary.

[@GuitarQuackery]

LOL. There's an old Chinese proverb there, somewhere.

[@rillloudmother]

Man, I really wanted these things to be a valid product. But they don't even work with my preferred string guages.

[@GuitarQuackery]

How so? If you changed your string gauges for an alternate tuning, it might be necessary to tough up the string slots on the nut, so the strings don't get stuck in the narrower slots. If the strings are getting stuck in the nut, I would imagine the robot tuners would have a hard time. Everything else must be just right on the guitar for these to work.

[@MashaT22]

Robo call, lol. 😂😂😂 Great dissection video! I always have said the Robo Tuners were ahead of their time. Great idea, but poor execution because the technology wasn’t ready to support it. If Gibson would try it again today and team up with the right company, the technology would be much smaller/thinner/lighter, with better software, etc. Band Industries would probably be the most equipped to help make a modern Robo Tuner, as the Roadie 3 is essentially the same thing (with more features) that is not attached to the headstock. Band Industries has been making their tuning devices (that do much more than tuning) since their first Kickstarter was launched in 2014. There have been 3 iterations for guitar and most other stringed instruments, as well as 2 versions for Bass that were build with a different motor. I’ve had these tuners, and they were all fantastic and delivered on all their promises - never had failure with the hardware or software, the motors have all been robust, etc. That said, I bet Band Industries can make a unit for Gibson that’s attached to a headstock like the original Robo Tuners, but with much stronger motors, more advanced and smaller hardware, and much better firmware and app support. Is Tronical still around these days?! I’d be curious what they’ve been doing since the failed Robo Tuners. 🤔

[@GuitarQuackery]

I am not familiar with Band Industries and I don’t know the Roadie 3 products either. I’ll look it up. Thanks for letting us know. Tronical is still around. I was on their website when I was making this video.

[@Libra1059]

Great video and new subscriber. I just recently found your channel. I have three 2015 Les Paul's with these tuners. I am changing to Grovers as the batteries are failing and they are expensive. I do think the adjustable nut height that came with these are brilliant but the stock brass nuts wear out fast. Gibson will send you free titanium nuts free if you contact them.

[@GuitarQuackery]

Thanks for letting me know about the free titanium nut replacement option. I didn’t know about that. Now I will know to tell my customers. Thank you very much.

[@GlitchyPickles]

I can see why these didn’t catch on. While these tuners were near, they were expensive and guitar players like old technology anyways!

[@GuitarQuackery]

Yeah, I don’t see any guitar players retrofitting their vintage guitars with Robo Tunes. I tried to mess with them a couple of times and I couldn’t even tune the guitar. But I’m sure I was doing it wrong. But, again, it was not intuitive.

[@GlitchyPickles]

I think Gibson was going for a proprietary thing where you would buy the product and wouldn’t mod it, if you wanted a guitar with the tuners you would just have to get the full stock guitar without mods

[@forestyogin2218]

video is too dark

[@GuitarQuackery]

Interesting. I am surprised to hear that, as I've done all luma corrections, using the waveform monitor, in Final Cut. I guess it's possible that my exposure setting on the close-up camera is low (as I did lower it, to avoid burnout, as recommended by some KZbin tutorials) but perhaps I should raise it back up a bit. I also don't really have a good way to light up the workbench for that close up side camera. Thank you for pointing this out.

[@forestyogin2218]

@@GuitarQuackery just trying to help man, take care. .:)

[@fallingsky1984]

Boring

[@GuitarQuackery]

I take my videos very seriously. In fact, prior to posting anything on this prestigious social media platform that is KZbin, I always test my videos with a live audience comprised of volunteers, who sign waivers that they are watching at their own risk. On this particular video screening test, I noticed, around the 7:30 mark, that half of the people in the audience were jerking off as they were watching the video. Initially I assumed that it was because of my good looks. But now that you've pointed out that the video is boring I now believe that those audience members were jerking off simply in a desperate effort to keep themselves entertained, as they were struggling to watch through this boring video. Darn, I should have never published this video. I wish you had alerted me to this fact sooner. Thank you for this enlightening feedback.