Photos: Self-tuning guitars

Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page was TransPerformance's first client. Before the Performer system was compressed into a guitar body--when it was still a couple of laptops plugged into a guitar--the guitarist explored the musical possibilities of the self-tuning device, which now can be used to quickly change tunings during a song. The Gibson Les Paul that Page is holding, from his collection, is equipped with an early version of the system. Note the single row of push buttons. Current models of The Performer feature two rows of buttons, making it easier to move through control menus, insert tunings and edit each setting.

TransPerformance founder Neil Skinn originally designed the self-tuning system for his Gibson Les Paul, a solid-body electric guitar that, unmodified, weighs about 8 pounds. A fair amount of wood is routed out of the guitar body to accommodate the Performer's electronics and other hardware, shown here on a mahogany Les Paul Special. The weight of a modified guitar is roughly the same as the weight of one without the system. The Performer runs on its own power supply and does not affect the electronics that control the guitar's pickups or tone.

Skinn adapted his self-tuning system, originally designed for Gibson Les Paul guitars, for use in solid-body guitars made by Fender, including its Stratocaster (shown here) and Telecaster models.

A custom Fender Telecaster equipped with the TransPerformer self-tuning system. The heavily figured top on this instrument is maple.