BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)

Subject: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 09:41 AM

Seeing the guitar tuner thread but being a non strings player got me to re-visit an old idea. Seeing as we now have all the micro technology required why doesn't someone come up with an on-board 'auto-tuner'.

Sort of thing that would sit on the head and connect to tuning pegs, auto detect the string frequency and the use micro servos to keep the strings in tune? Want to use open tunings? Fine - quick re-prog. Want to play 'out of tune' (eg to fit with off key instrument) - Fine, switch it off!

Any guitarist out there want to make a fortune out of the idea? - Buy me a pint (or three) from the profits.

Any good reasons it wouldn't work?

Dave "You can tune a guitar but you can't tune a fish" the Gnome

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 09:48 AM

I think all the extra electronic and mechanical gizmos would adversely affect the cow's digestive system.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 09:50 AM

I seem to remember that there was a thread about a guitar that would do that. Of course the price was astronomical. And there are computer hookups that will retune your guitar at the push of a buttom. I understand Joni Mitchell uses one onstage.

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 09:52 AM

Excuse me - thats "button" not "buttom". Pushing your buttom has a different effect alltogether.

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 10:04 AM

and bottom a different one stil.....

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: Les from Hull
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 11:00 AM

I'm not that many of us would want to lug an electronics factory around. I'm sure that if it was cheap enough and portable enough it would already exist. I've talked to enough people about the idea over the last few years. So if at least two of us thought it up (and one of them was me) it can't be that revolutionary. Mind you, plenty of people look at my 'Pub Prop' and say "that's a good idea, where did you get it?".

So why not go the whole hog and go MIDI? Then you can sound like someone else's guitar. Or a phono fiddle. Or a helcopter.

Les

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 11:38 AM

I'm not sure that I agree spaw. I wouldn't have thought that some form of LED/LCD display and extra circuitry would add much in the way of extra bulk to the sound controls that are fitted to some guitars. (not that I know anything about instrument building or electronics).

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: gnu
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 12:37 PM

Can't remember where, maybe it was me, on an altered plane ( usually catch the plane on Friday after work ), but... the servo's don't operate the tuning pegs. They operate pistons that pull the strings tighter at t'other end by lever, ie, no pegs. It's all nice and neat, housed where the sun don't shine. I am almost certain ( only an idiot IS certain - I'm sure of that ) that I saw one of these nifty little rigs in Popular Gadgets for the Terminally Lazy or somewhere - but where ? Oh well, the plane will be ready for boarding in a couple of hours so I'll ask the flight crew if they can recall.

gnu

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 01:18 PM

Oops, I see I am at it again - I did't read DTG's post completely - not entirely my fault as I was interrupted but still one day, I will learn...

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: Grab
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 01:54 PM

The problem would be the bulk of the servos. The simple rule is that the more powerful you want your motor to be, the bigger it has to get, and it takes a reasonable amount of force to tune a guitar string.

That could add some significant weight to the guitar. And what'll add more weight is the batteries to drive this - you won't be able to run it off your little PP3, or not for long anyway. If you fill your acoustic guitar up with motors and batteries, the sound is likely to be affected as well.

What could work would be a pneumatic belt-pack. Have the motor, batteries and electronic stuff hooked onto your belt, an airpipe into the guitar body, and just have a series of compressed-air-driven motors in the guitar itself. That might cut down on the weight of stuff in the guitar.

One problem left, though, is that motors vibrate. Guitars produce sound by the strings making the sound box vibrate, and the motors will be equally efficient at doing this. So you might get interesting little hums as the servos do their thing. Maybe this wouldn't be an issue if you only used it between songs?

Interesting idea anyway.

Grab.

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: Bernard
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 02:08 PM

So far we haven't addressed the key question - any good reasons why it won't work?!!

After all, you can easily arrange a wheeled trolley to carry the large bank of accumulators, a back support is readily available from any good surgical appliance shop, and humming motors can easily be taught the words...

The main objection, as I see it, is the poor performer would have nothing on which to blame a lapse of concentration - unless the thing went wild and started making up its own tunes - now there's a thought!

Glad we could rely on Dave to come up with a sensible thread for a change!!

;o)

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: gnu
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 02:15 PM

Spaw... ain't you one o' them thre Makeanickel Ingineers ? or did I get that mixed up with another 'Cat ? That's what we needs - a ingineer... and a technician to actually make it work.

C'mon all you budding scientists, ingineers, an' such. No fee, 'tho. Jus' fun.

gnu

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: Morticia
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 02:17 PM

Gomez says it's already been done but it's the most cumbersome looking beastie you ever did see.

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: IWTSHL
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 02:48 PM

Saw a demo of a electric guitar with auto tuning on board on T World here in the UK. Can't remember who made it or how it worked. They did a test between the auto tuning guitar and a session guitarist and the guitarist tuned up quicker and more accurately. Or maybe it was a dream!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: gnu
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 02:59 PM

If we keep making machines to do our work and now OUR FUN, we will all be just a dream someday. Still, it is a fun exercise in the name of creativity.

gnu

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: Mooh
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 03:04 PM

Such an animal exists. I'm not sure if it's the one Jimmy page and Joni Mitchell use. Essentially the tuning happens from the bridge end of the instrument with the power (motor and switching etc) coming from the floor.

In a way it's similar to what happens on a pedal steel guitar, I think.

Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar Tuna (Fishy Idea)
From: Bernard
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 03:52 PM

I can tune quicker'n any tuner - just ask The Gnome! So such a gizmo would be of no use to me. I don't begrudge lesser mortals their crutch to lean on, tho'!!