November 24, 2007
Sorry, I think Gibson should have named this the Les Paul Android. The Robot Guitar just sounds a bit 1960′s to me… as if robots still hold some awe factor. My toothbrush is a robot. No big deal :-\
Okay on to business… For all you people that want to know, you can go to any store that will be selling these and reserve one. I put money down to hold the first one in my area, likely my entire state. Here’s the thing though, and if you’re interested, you should know this. The guys at the store I went to said they were alloted ten, but that they only get one in at a time. When one sells, they get another one until all 10 have been purchased. So don’t think you can show up at the store on December 7th and get one. If you show up at the store I went to, you’ll be disappointed cuz I got the only one they’ll have on that day ;-b
The cost of the guitar is $2030.00 USD. Many sites are reporting $2500 which is incorrect. I had the option to pay for it in full so that’s how I know.
The non-limited edition will reportedly be released early next year. I’m not really moved by the paint job on the limited edition… it’s cool, but there’s something just not right about the color blue (my favorite color by the way) on a legend-type guitar. All my guitars are red or some derivative of red (my all-time worst favorite color!!!) but that seems more fitting. Go figure. If they make a Gecko for the RG, I might have to trade ;-) I could do that paint-job for sure. That’s a rare scheme for the Les Paul Standard. Can’t seem to find that anywhere in the US, only in the UK.
All in time. Rock on peeps. Oh and FYI, you can install this system on other guitars. It’s not exclusive to Gibson. Seems like it would make tons of sense on a guitar with a whammy duh. Steve Vai seems to think so.
My down-payment :)
Here’s the inventor of the technology, Chris Adams, explaining how it all works. I would have used a cleaner channel for my demo Chris :)
Here’s the Gibson demo video:
Suz – you sure keep us hopping, keeping up on the latest gadgets. I’m sure you’ve seen them already, but some fun videos on the Gibson site…
http://www.gibson.com/robotguitar/RobotGuitarVideoVoting.aspx
Suz,
Hey gal, instant Open-G tuning… you’ll be giving Keith Richards a run for his money in no time. This is really out there for an old coot like me, but i’ll admit, it is pretty cool.
Rock on …
Anne – yeah, I’ve seen those… I’ve been stalking that site since I got the email a few weeks back. You haven’t heard me play in a long time. I’m getting pretty good!
Hey John I knew I’d get you to comment on this one! It’s not exactly a classic Les Paul, but I’m not exactly an old coot either ;) In time, I’ll collect some of the oldies – I really like the BFG a lot. That’s not old, but it’s raw and cool… the red one…. if Santa is listening :D
Say an update on this… apparently the intonation feature that’s included with the system is exclusive to the limited-edition RG!
:-O
YES!! Now I’m actually sold on this thing. That’s one of the best parts of the technology in my opinion.
Although, I have to say, it seems odd that Gibson would limit that feature to a limited-edition guitar. That’s just dumb. It’s a great feature that I think most people who are willing to consider such a system would want. Now you’re saying you’ll never include it again? That math doesn’t add up.
The other thing I’ve learned is that the non-limited edition will come (at least to start) only in a midnight blue color so I’ll be happy with the version I’m getting. I would have loved an arctic white one, but I’ll survive. It’ll grow on me I’m sure.
I think they went with “Robot” just because it DOESN’T sound newish. :) It sounds old, clunky, even charming in it’s own retro way, which is probably why they went with the friendlier term.
Plus, they always have the option to market the Robot and the newer Android side by side as one will have nanotech AND be able to do string by string chord changes AS YOU PLAY by damping and modulating the strings you aren’t using at a given time :)
Strange thing, I was at work the other day showing this same guitar (plus the fun little movies)to a coworker. Small world!
Hum… interesting point Ken. It’s retro, but new… clever. You’re good at seeing things from those other perspectives. I’m not a fan of marketing.
They must be trying to sell the idea to their long-time Gibson zealots. I’m not sure why you’d want to do that. Those guys aren’t interested in that kind of change. They’re happy with their old stuff. Leave them alone. Let the technology appeal to the younger crowd that hasn’t defined themselves by their own history yet.
I’m sure the accomplished classical guitarist felt the same way about the advent of electric guitars. What a travesty and distortion of divinity to create an electric guitar!! Now generations of guitarists will grow up never knowing the true art of the instrument. They’ll just make noise!! (Or in today’s case, “No one will ever learn to tune a guitar!”)
I’m sure if you define yourself based on things like this, change can certainly threaten your immortality. No marketing scheme can cover up that problem ;-)
The guy I was talking to at work said it’s great just for being able to change the intonation on the fly. As long as it’s sound quality hasn’t been compromised, you no longer have to swap guitars or group certain types of songs together. Your set could be completely how you feel. Want to play a crowd favorite “out of order” but don’t want to kill the momentum? Go ahead and then get back to your other intonation in a flash.
He was also explaining to me that some accomplished players never gain the ability to change intonation by ear because it’s really something you have to do a lot to get a handle on. This could allow some beginners to play with notes they only dreamed of… new music awaits!! :)