Guitars go high tech

Technology progresses! I well remember sticking a tuning on my bridge many years ago, and trying vainly to match that tone with the "A" string, and then trying to tune the rest to that....
And the first electronic tuners, which were more than a little wonky.

But electronic tuners have become extremely accurate, and I suppose it's no great technological leap to put little servo-motors on the tuning machines.

I'm pretty sure it was Chet Atkins who confessed that he was absolutely dreadful at tuning, and by the time he'd figured this out, he'd made so much money he couldn't quit....

I currently use a little free program called the AP guitar tuner. Tiny little utility that sits on your desktop. Hold the axe up to the mic, and pluck away. Thing can be set for alternate tunings quickly and easily.
I believe the current version is shareware, but you can find the older free job on various FTP sites, and it's just as functional.
 
AP Tuner just has a brief nag screen when you start it. I've been using it to tune harmonicas.

A cool trick: digital watches beep A-440. Casios beep C when returning to the home screen. That's a very accurate pitch reference; it's crystal controlled and temperature is pretty constant on your wrist.
 
Cool Technology.

We will see if this will stand the test of time, as like body and neck materials, 7 strings, headless, Tiny body, etc.


I can see this working well for Fixed Bridge Instruments.

As for a Tremolo is would be a real time saver, but how could this even work with a locking nut or would is put an end for the need for one, as you would think it would.

I still tune with a Boss TU-12H BTW
 
One other problem I see is in playing Jazz and Blues those off Notes that go in and out of key, as in bending, that Flavor, Voice and Fraze that gives this Music it's character and feeling. It's all about the Tone.
There is a Big difference Between Tone and Tuning.
 
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