Robo Tuners

[WavMixer]

I remember a few years back, robo tuners were popular. I remember some Gibson models coming with the robo tuners and there were mixed opinions about them Purists were replacing them with standard tuners and selling to robo tuners. Other people were jumping on the chance to purchase the slightly used robo tuners to install on their guitars. Anyone here using the robo tuners?

 

[Inspector #20]

I remember a few years back, robo tuners were popular. I remember some Gibson models coming with the robo tuners and there were mixed opinions about them Purists were replacing them with standard tuners and selling to robo tuners. Other people were jumping on the chance to purchase the slightly used robo tuners to install on their guitars. Anyone here using the robo tuners?

It's one of the most requested swaps, from Robos back to manual tuners..

 

[iblive]

Nope. Was never interested. But then. I’ve never had an issue tuning. Either with a tuner or by ear to a piano.

 

[Session 5]

Ones that i have talked with, swap them out.

 

[Sp8ctre]

I had three Gibson's with them on. I tried to use the first set but didn't care for them. They were all taken off, sold and replaced with locking tuners. Every guitar I kept for any length of time had locking tuners installed...

 

[smitty_p]

Back when they first came out, I tended to scoff at the idea. Now, I think that was a rather closed-minded approach for me to have had.

Now, I look at them purely from a pragmatic point of view.

Using them now would depend solely on whether they tuned reliably, were dependable, and do not seriously imbalance the guitar due to their weight.

I do recall back then that some did indicate that they didn't always tune properly and they tended to wear out. I also recall that SG owners, particularly, had complaints about them creating serious neck dive.

So, would I use them? Assuming the above issues had been corrected, I wouldn't necessarily spend the money to install them on a guitar and replace existing manual tuners, but I wouldn't reflexively remove them from a guitar or avoid buying a guitar that had them, either.

 

[Inspector #20]

Back when they first came out, I tended to scoff at the idea. Now, I think that was a rather closed-minded approach for me to have had.

Now, I look at them purely from a pragmatic point of view.

Using them now would depend solely on whether they tuned reliably, were dependable, and do not seriously imbalance the guitar due to their weight.

I do recall back then that some did indicate that they didn't always tune properly and they tended to wear out. I also recall that SG owners, particularly, had complaints about them creating serious neck dive.

So, would I use them? Assuming the above issues had been corrected, I wouldn't necessarily spend the money to install them on a guitar and replace existing manual tuners, but I wouldn't reflexively remove them from a guitar or avoid buying a guitar that had them, either.

They dont work well in my experience...but, then again, my Les Paul doesn't give me any tuning issues, so i would have no interest in them.







No better tuners anywhere. Tuning issues are always misinterpreted.

My knack for addressing tuning issues is what got me hired at Fender.

 

[gball]

I'm actually gonna go ahead and argue they were never popular. They just unfortunately got put on a a lot of new guitars.
I don't know a single person that didn't change them out asap, sometimes before even leaving the shop with a new guitar.

 

[smitty_p]

They dont work well in my experience...

Then, I'd have no interest in them. Like I said, I wouldn't bother spending the time or money to install them on a guitar that didn't have them. But, if they worked, were reliable, and didn't imbalance the guitar, I'd likely not take them off a guitar that did have them.

That said, I've gone through a bit of a mental shift and no longer get much of a thrill from modding a guitar. If things work, I leave it.

Where I could see them being useful would be going to different tunings if you only had one guitar. I could see this being faster than retuning manually.

But, it all comes down to execution.

 

[iblive]

When they were first introduced I seem to remember all the magazines and online reviewers were like, “best thing since sliced bread.” Then real people started using them. Almost no one liked them…. And oddly…. Reviews started changing.

I liken it to Motor Trends Top Ten. Always found it interesting to see the Top 10 coincidently were from the same manufactures that spent the most money advertising. Weirdest thing.

 

[Session 5]

Agree, now Rick go to Consumer reports for honest reliable reviews on appliances, electronics, and Automobiles..

 

[iblive]

Agree, now Rick go to Consumer reports for honest reliable reviews on appliances, electronics, and Automobiles..

Yeah, I get that. But not a fan there either. And not because of advertisers buying the best picks. Just got really tired of it wasn’t a Honda, Toyota, Subaru or Volvo…. The car never got a good rating. Ive owned a couple cars CR trashed. One of them was the best car I’ve owned. It was an 80s model Chevy. CR absolutely trashed it. Now…. Typical 80s Chevy there were rust problems. Mechanically…. Which they trashed…. The car was dead nuts reliable. Spent almost nothing on actual repairs. Wear items. Another story. We kept that car so long the body actually rotted of the unibody frame….. so several dollars spent on tires, brakes, exhaust, etc.

 

[Session 5]

Well I like them, I find they are pretty much on the money, In the magazines I buy they don't trash any vehicles but they prove by vehicle repairs and through their own research from their labs and test tracks, There are poor rated vehicles , but i have never seen them trash them.

They are independent and are not sponsored by any companies, Like you say Motor Trend is sponsored, and as far as I see it a poor place to get reviews .

 

[Jethro Rocker]

My buddy from the originals band has a set on his one LP. They seemed to work fine.
Now...
He doesn't use em to replace tuning, rather, of he needs to tune to open tuning real quickly between songs it takes it there very quickly. Then he fine tunes and done.
In that way it would have a use.
I would just bring another guitar.

 

[Inspector #20]

My buddy from the originals band has a set on his one LP. They seemed to work fine.
Now...
He doesn't use em to replace tuning, rather, of he needs to tune to open tuning real quickly between songs it takes it there very quickly. Then he fine tunes and done.
In that way it would have a use.
I would just bring another guitar.

A second guitar makes the most sense for alternate tunings.

Even greater sense is made by just doing everything in standard tuning.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

A second guitar makes the most sense for alternate tunings.

Even greater sense is made by just doing everything in standard tuning.

Well slide doesn't work the best in standard. You can but not ideal especially if song is in G open.
For those songs (Thorogood) I just drop A down to G and for the most part ignore high E string. But for proper open tuning or Stones type StartMe Up you have to retune.

 

[Inspector #20]

Well slide doesn't work the best in standard. You can but not ideal especially if song is in G open.
For those songs (Thorogood) I just drop A down to G and for the most part ignore high E string. But for proper open tuning or Stones type StartMe Up you have to retune.

Those would be noted exceptions. I'd only do those tunes if the $$$ was really, really good.

I did the slide part on my recording of "All Along The Watchtower" in standard tuning and it was ok i think...

 

[iblive]

Well I like them, I find they are pretty much on the money, In the magazines I buy they don't trash any vehicles but they prove by vehicle repairs and through their own research from their labs and test tracks, There are poor rated vehicles , but i have never seen them trash them.

They are independent and are not sponsored by any companies, Like you say Motor Trend is sponsored, and as far as I see it a poor place to get reviews .

Trash was probably the wrong term to use. I could have chosen a better term for sure. But the car I mentioned. They did do a review on it and pretty much had nothing good to say about it. Had I read that particular article first I might not have purchased that model. And I would have missed out owning one of the best cars I’ve owned in 52 years of driving.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Those would be noted exceptions. I'd only do those tunes if the $$$ was really, really good.

I did the slide part on my recording of "All Along The Watchtower" in standard tuning and it was ok i think...

Yeah slide can work in standard, depending on key amd song. I like doing 2 Thorogood tunes. Just fun party rock. We do Haircut and all put on cheap Dollar Store wigs. Good crowd pleaser, fun.
But only 2 songs so I just tune A to G and carry on.
Get a haircut and get a real job!

 

[Jethro Rocker]

One of the fun parts of my guitar synth is that each string is treated independently so one can do 12 string, alternate open tunings, drop D, or do half or whole step flat etc. But has to be through one of the tone settings, cannot simply run that to the front of an amp.