stormy Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Well, I got my new robot guitar and I've been having a few problems: First of all, in Europe, the wall adapter is not included! Only the charger part is included. I got in touch with Gibson Europe Customer Service and got nothing but BS replies: "because voltages and plugs in Europe were so different, we decided not to include it". I replied that there is only ONE voltage in Europe, and only one country with a different plug (UK). I also told them that I've bought many electronics that include chargers that work in all of Europe, including different plugs for UK, etc., and I expect a "limited edition first run" guitar that also happens to be robotized to be equipped with the charger for that robot. Their reply was "sure, there are so many adapters out there that we didn't feel we needed to include one". Awesome. And now the real problem: I tried 5 different adapters, all following the specifications on the charger, with different voltages and polarities, and also two different patch cords, the shortest I could find. None of them charge the guitar! The charging sequence works as planned up to the point where the guitar is flashing red (looking for charger) and the charger is flashing red too. Then I plug the guitar into the charger, the charger blinks green, but the guitar doesn't change. After a while, the guitar starts to flash the green peg (standby mode) and the charger blinks red and then a continuous red led. Nothing else happens. My dealer in Spain is waiting to hear from Gibson about it, but given the kind of replies I got from them, it doesn't look like this is going to be solved at all, at least not in a timely fashion. Can someone confirm that the charging process works as described in the manual? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raptor Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Mine works as described and it charges perfectly fine. Sorry to hear about yours. Hopefully your dealer can get it sorted out for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy Posted January 26, 2008 Author Share Posted January 26, 2008 Just to make this clear: during the charging process, does the charger keep flashing green, as the manual says? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raptor Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 You know, I had mine out today and played it for about 3 hours, then I charged it again today. Yes the 'adapter' had a flashing green light while charging. This time the MCK alternated between the flashing red battery symbol and the green 'meter' reading. But it did charge fully. I think the lights on the MCK were due to the long cable I used tonight. I didn't go upstairs for the short cable. When I charged it the time before the MCK had a steady green battery light and the increasing LEDs to show the charge. I know of one person who was having problems but changed to a short cable and it worked fine for him. How long is the shortest patch cord you are using? The last time I used a 1 ft cable, today I used a 15ft cable. Both times after I unplugged it, I checked and it was showing a full charge. I played mine today using all the alternate tunings to see if they all worked and they did. I went up the list, played each tuning for a while, retuned, played some more then went to the next tuning. Then I worked my way back up the MCK. Everything worked fine, although every now and then one string would be a little stubborn, but I don't think that any of them took more than 4 strums to tune. It wasn't any one particular tuner either. On one tuning the low E was stubborn, on another it was the B, another it was the G but they all tuned in the end. The only thing I noticed, and I wonder if this is a problem that some people are having. I pulled the tuner buttons out and played with all the strings, but I found some of the tuner buttons would only go all the way back in, when in certain positions. They would all push in some, but a couple of them took some playing with to get fully in. I would push it in, check it, pull it out and turn it a little then push it back in. I had to do this on 3 of the tuners. So I wonder if some of the problems people are having with the tuners 'not tuning at all' have to do with this? The 'stubborn buttons' would push in about half way and then feel stiffer to turn than when pulled out, but they were not fully pushed in. This might give some people the feeling that they were pushed in and engaged when they weren't. I judged if they were pushed in, by looking at the shafts of the buttons rather than by feel alone. However, apart from that, it worked and tuned time after time all afternoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy Posted January 27, 2008 Author Share Posted January 27, 2008 I used cables shorter than 5 inches, so cable length was no problem. Also: can you please tell me what specs does the wall adapter show? Voltage, AC or DC, polarity, etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raptor Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 Yeah 5 inches should have been no problem. Here is what is written on the power supply; SWITCH POWER SUPPLY Model No.: GPSU15U-3 Part No.: FK-SPS-0746 Input: 100-240 V AC 50/60Hz 0.5A Output: 12V DC 1.2A Max Then there are the various approval labels and such, like UL. The plug polarity is centre positive and outside negative, and it is made in China. Hope that helps you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Hi I bought my Robot guitar at Guitar Center in Boston and had it shipped to Spain where I live.... Of course when it came it had everything that was supposed to come with it. Let me tell you, the charging unit has the standar USA plug on it but the charger itself is rated 110 to 220 and 50/60hz... That means you can use it in Europe or the states.... I just put a euro style adapter plug over the USA style plug and it works fine. Gibson must have had in mind that guitar players might play outside of the USA. People do go on tours.... So where ever you are all you need is the plug adapter that works in your area and your all set.... Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 That is excellent info. Could you post a picture of the transformer? If at all possible I would like to read the label with the specs. Thanks! Edit: oops! I had missed Raptor's post with all the details. Thanks!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRom Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Hey, wasn't that thing invented in Europe? You'd think there'd be an adaptor availabel eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Hi Stormy, Where in Spain are you? I live in Valencia... I am visiting my family now in Boston so I wont be able to get a pic up of my Robot transformer. I go back to Spain on the 7th of Feb. I'll try to get a good foto of the transformer that clearly show the specs some time after the 8th... Saludos, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormy Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 I live in Oviedo. I am hoping to have this solved through the local dealer before you return! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muskett00 Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 I found these... any thoughts? http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?origin=gbase3.3&prodID=B130391 its a Netgear router adaptor - UK POWER SUPPLY 12V 1.2A and http://www.pc-addons.co.uk/productcategorydetail.aspx?categoryid=55954 330-10138-02 UK Power Supply 12v 1.2a for UK Prosafe Routers and Access Points Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvendio Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Also check that your battery in the guitar hasn't lost all charge. See the manual about the emergency charge mode thing as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiamondJig Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 You could try and contact http://www.tronical.com/ that's Chris Adams company the inventor. http://www.gibson.com/robotguitar/guitar.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShALLaX Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Many thanks to Raptor for posting the mains adaptor specs. I too live in Europe (England, to be precise) and didn't get a mains adaptor. It's ridiculous, there is no indication of any input specs on the charging module (no voltage, current or polarity). Seriously, Gibson, you need to sort this out. I nearly sent the guitar back until I found this forum post. Luckily I had a mains adaptor lying around that is perfect for the Robot guitar. I do, however, seem to have a dead D string "powerhead", so maybe I'll have to send it back after all :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dairybeat Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Can anyone tell me how many 'V' and 'mA' I need with a voltage of 220-240? (It's crazy that Gibson doesn't give these details!!!) Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puroplatino Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Hey guys, Does anyone know if there will "really" be any upgrades available for those of us who jumped the gun and bought the "ROBOT" or is it just hype?? I wanted to upgrade to the Dark Fire Hardware but now there is a new Dusk Tiger model. Any info about either model "upgrade" would be appreciated. ----Enrico---- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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