Robot Upgrade

[geebake]

I'm sure this topic has been flogged to death, but I'm new in this world and searching hasn't yielded anything concrete.

 

I've seen many threads referring to a potential upgrade for some of the early Robot models. It's not at all clear to me which guitars are likely to be upgradeable and exactly what the upgrades are. Perhaps these are mysteries to everyone and my question is moot.

 

I guess the newer versions are faster and have smaller tuners. Is there something else that I'm not aware of? I see mentions of the MCK

ng different on newer versions. How so? More available tunings? Does it do something beyond the functions that exist in the first gen?

 

I believe my newly acquired SG Special Robot is from the first generation. It was made in '08. Am I correct on that.

 

And here's a really embarrassing question. I see a lot of refs to GOR. What does that stand for? Gibson Original Robot maybe?

 

So the key question is, what is expected in this upgrade, should it in fact ever arrive?

 

Thanks,

 

Greg

[CharlieP]

I'm sure this topic has been flogged to death, but I'm new in this world and searching hasn't yielded anything concrete.

 

I've seen many threads referring to a potential upgrade for some of the early Robot models. It's not at all clear to me which guitars are likely to be upgradeable and exactly what the upgrades are. Perhaps these are mysteries to everyone and my question is moot.

 

I guess the newer versions are faster and have smaller tuners. Is there something else that I'm not aware of? I see mentions of the MCK

ng different on newer versions. How so? More available tunings? Does it do something beyond the functions that exist in the first gen?

 

I believe my newly acquired SG Special Robot is from the first generation. It was made in '08. Am I correct on that.

 

And here's a really embarrassing question. I see a lot of refs to GOR. What does that stand for? Gibson Original Robot maybe?

 

So the key question is, what is expected in this upgrade, should it in fact ever arrive?

 

Thanks,

 

Greg

GOR is as you stated.

The much anticipated upgrade was for original owners of the GOR. It is a mystery as to when and if it ever happens. My guess is never! If you are a second owner then it will not be availible for you.

[geebake]

GOR is as you stated.

The much anticipated upgrade was for original owners of the GOR. It is a mystery as to when and if it ever happens. My guess is never! If you are a second owner then it will not be availible for you.

 

 

Thanks for the response. That's a bit of a surprise. So, even if this is an update that has to be paid for, second owners aren't going to be eligible? Odd business model if you ask me.

 

Thanks again,

 

Greg

[GuitarBuilder]

The "upgrades" refer to changing the hardware on the first generation robots to that of the newer ones. In principle that would improve tuning performance; in practice, it's fairly major surgery as most if not all of the robot hardware and electronics would have to be replaced. Replacing this with the 3rd generation technology would be exciting; here is what that does in addition to what our first generation can do:

 

Chameleon Tone TechnologyTM delivers iconic guitar sounds without digital modeling

The pickup switch toggle is also a knob (“Piezo blend”) that, when turned, determines the blend

of magnetic and Piezo pickup sounds

Companion software includes Gibson Chameleon Editor for creating custom sounds and tunings

available at Gibson.com

Software is compatible with Mac OS X and Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7

Robot Interface Pack

 

It's a lot of stuff! On the one hand I would like to preserve my Gibson Original Robot in original condition, because it's more valuable that way. On the other, I would like to try these new features to see what they can do. So it's a very personal decision!

 

An '08 SG Robot would be 1st generation.

[geebake]

The "upgrades" refer to changing the hardware on the first generation robots to that of the newer ones. In principle that would improve tuning performance; in practice, it's fairly major surgery as most if not all of the robot hardware and electronics would have to be replaced. Replacing this with the 3rd generation technology would be exciting; here is what that does in addition to what our first generation can do:

 

Chameleon Tone TechnologyTM delivers iconic guitar sounds without digital modeling

The pickup switch toggle is also a knob (“Piezo blend”) that, when turned, determines the blend

of magnetic and Piezo pickup sounds

Companion software includes Gibson Chameleon Editor for creating custom sounds and tunings

available at Gibson.com

Software is compatible with Mac OS X and Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7

Robot Interface Pack

 

It's a lot of stuff! On the one hand I would like to preserve my Gibson Original Robot in original condition, because it's more valuable that way. On the other, I would like to try these new features to see what they can do. So it's a very personal decision!

 

An '08 SG Robot would be 1st generation.

 

 

Exactly the info I was looking for. That does all sound great. I suspect it would come at a pretty penny. I think I read $700 somewhere. So far at least, I'm pretty pleased with the performance of my SG, but the whole peizzo modeling thing sounds intriguing.

 

Thanks very much,

 

Greg

[Chas in Philly]

I have the first-gen Les Paul Robot.  Tronical/Gibson's  second-gen design addressed two major flaws in the Original Robot:  1) They replaced the rubber-band drive in each tuner (can you believe it?) with a miniature gear drive; and 2) they eliminated the complex body components and connections by designing everything to fit into a fully self-contained headstock unit.   It was a vast improvement.  A third flaw remains, and it's a killer:  the  daintiness of excessive miniaturization, that is, watch-like gears and shafts, tiny welds, etc. that betray any semblance of a Les Paul's timeless roadworthiness.  After a failure in my second-gen setup, I converted mine to Grover tuners with 4 standard pots and knobs.  So much for maintaining originality.  BTW, to those of you who still have the original Robot, you will not be assured to know your complex, plastic-based, push-pull control knob clings to a mere 3/16" of shaft length by a tiny allen-head screw in the plastic.   The tiny allen-head access hole can be seen in the side of the knob.   Gear lube and rubber bands...