The Transperformance Performer self-tuning electric guitar

There's not a whole lot one can really say about the Transperformance Performer -- Transperformance has spent the last 16 years perfecting the self-tuning guitar technology the guitar elite have shredded on since its inception. But it doesn't just carry perfect pitch, it can also store 240 custom tunings; granted, it costs thousands of dollars to get installed and sufficiently uglies up your axe, but hey, anything that gets Jimmy Page's personal seal of approval is quite alright by us.

[Via Red Ferret]

[Stephen @ Dec 22nd 2005 10:29AM]

I never saw one of these till I saw Sonny Landreth, an incredible slide guitar player, use one while sitting in with Gov't Mule.



I wasn't quite sure what it was but him needing lots of different tunings, my guess was a self tuning guitar...



It would be a toy for me... I don't even like tremelo's because most of them take too much wood out of the guitar...

[popeye @ Dec 22nd 2005 10:49AM]

Lame, and only cowboys stay in tune...



It'd be great in a '58 flametop...

[James Scott @ Dec 22nd 2005 11:01AM]

Jeff Martin of the Tea party uses one of these, he showed one off like a year or so ago on Daily Planet (Discovery channel). He likes it because he can change tunes thru out the night on one guitar rather than having like 15 behind stage.

[Ken @ Dec 22nd 2005 11:21AM]

Kinda seems like of you went through a lot of different tunings this thing would kill strings.

[jc @ Dec 22nd 2005 11:27AM]

There is no way I am modding my lespaul to save a few seconds of tuning... unless I can run doom on that display.

[Jamie Magee @ Dec 22nd 2005 12:53PM]

Any word on a version for the Bass?

[Alex Sharifi @ Dec 22nd 2005 1:59PM]

I recall seeing Nigel Tuffnel have difficulty with this guitar. Something about it picking up air traffic control's radio signals...

[menos el oso @ Dec 22nd 2005 2:46PM]

gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

[Muller @ Dec 22nd 2005 5:42PM]

possibly one of the raddest inventions in the guitar world.



All the naysayers just don't play enough guitar to understand the impact of this product. Just wait 5 years until this is actually afforable and lightweight.

[bpc @ Dec 22nd 2005 6:37PM]

Why would I want one guitar that can change between the dozen or so tunings I use when I could have a dozen or so guitars with their own tunings? The latter seems like the much more attractive option.

[Jason @ Dec 22nd 2005 7:42PM]

the point is that it will tune your guitar, and even after 5 hours of playing, no matter how hard, the guitar is still in tune.

[miscreant @ Dec 22nd 2005 8:16PM]

man, a lot of you guys don't have the slightest bit of imagination or creativity in your bones, do you? It isn't about keeping your guitar in tune... it's about instant access to multiple tunings.



I worked with a session player who had a guitar rigged with this thing, and it was awesome. He could switch tunings in mid-chord, which made for some pretty mind-bending sound.

[Jordan @ Dec 22nd 2005 9:09PM]

It might not look great, but imagine never having to tune your guitar again.

[Mad Cow @ Dec 23rd 2005 1:28AM]

One of the inventors of this thing was the step-dad of a girl in my fourth grade class. He came and showed it off on carrer day (14 years ago) and it was pretty impressive. I'm sure it's a bit better now, because back in the day, they had to shove the guts of a Mac Classic into a guitar (i.e. sort of heavy!).



And this thing won't just save you a few seconds in tuning (unless the only alternate tuning you play in is drop D), it save minutes of either tuning, or guitar switching, which, when your in front of a crowd, is a lot of time.



PS- I hate the new comments format!

[Willa @ Dec 23rd 2005 3:32PM]

This baby will let you change tunings during a song... imagine the possibilities!!!

[jim cech @ Dec 26th 2005 11:39AM]

I own a Les Paul Transperformance guitar, and it is the most creative guitar in the world. End of discussion. I'll take any guitar with a TP tuning system, over any classic, or new guitar that doesn't have one. It takes the instrument to new horizons. The ability to switch tunings in mid-song, leaves other guitars in the dust. You'll start to play with different tunings because of its ease to get to them. Alternate tunings are what make the guitar a creative monster over all other instruments.

[Logan @ Dec 27th 2005 3:40AM]

What people need to realize about stringed instruments is that just because someone declared a tuning like standard to be "the tuning" to learn in, doesn't mean that is the case at all. There is an entire world of music to be had, especially on a guitar. Imagine not understanding that? Some of you really need to open your eyes already.

[Pedro Fonseca @ Dec 29th 2005 3:48AM]

Dude, Doom on that display would really, REALLY rock... :)

[Kai Christoffersen @ Jan 14th 2006 5:12PM]

The Performer system is the work of a genious. I am the lucky owner of one of his guitars. It was perfect for me, since I play in a lot of different tunings. If you're a guitarist, you know the practical problems involved when taking several different guitars to a gig. No two PU's have the same output, and if you have severeal DIFFERENT guitars (as in a Tele, a Les Paul, a Strat, etc) the output signal will be very different. Which in turn will make the FOH engineer's job a living hell. In the end, you - the guitarist - will suffer if he can't make all the different guitars sound equally good. Then there's the time it saves between songs. The audience go to a gig to HEAR the band. Not to stand and watch while the guitar player changes guitar between every other song. Oh, and he'll need to tune as well...

The system is expensive. It's not for everybody. If you play 3 chord punk rock there's no point (Sorry Neil). But For me, and people who are in similar situations, it makes perfect sense to invest that kind of money. Coming prepared to a gig is a virtue. Those of us who bought the Performer system just went a step further :-)