Listening to the voices in his head, it seems.
Also the article pee'd me off a little: "Getting the tuning correct every time you pick up a guitar is a serious barrier to entry for those just getting started"
In the wider context of guitar playing (and without wishing to seem overly élitist) is chopping people off at the door who can't even be bothered to learn how to tune a guitar properly such a bad thing?
Exactly.
And how many of those just getting started will be buying a Gibson for their first guitar anyway?
I think the idea is innovative, sure...not sure that the $2500-4000 Gibson guitar buying demographic should be forced to have it though if they are looking to purchase.
EDIT: The more I see of it, the more I like it. I wouldn't hate it, couple of strums when you sit down and you're off!
They could have simply put it on a series of guitars rather than everything. Nothing to get in a knot over though.
You can't tune the GForce on the fly. You have to strum first. That's one of the complaints about it. More important, from what I've read, it's not all that accurate. The Axcent tuning system (formerly called Transperformance) can tune on the fly. It costs upward of $3K installed but it works and you can still turn your tuners manually. The GForce isn't innovative either. The Axcent has been on the open market for ten years and was in prototype years before that.
Gibson is not only forcing it on buyers, they void your warranty if you replace it with conventional tuners. Still, a number of dealers are offering to install conventional tuners on your new Les Paul at no additional cost. The few people who like it will buy it aftermarket. But all you have to do is hang out at Gibson-oriented guitar forums (like MLP) to see that it's been rejected outright by most prospective buyers. That's one big reason 2015 sales are in the toilet, although not the only reason.
At any rate, when Gibson eventually backs off, you can bet that Henry won't take personal responsibility for it.
