The Peavey AT-200 is a conventional electric guitar with an unusual extra: Antares Auto-Tune for Guitar and Peavey’s Solid-Tune system electronically correct the pitch of its amplified output. The strings do not move under tuning motors. That makes it useful for pitch correction and alternate tunings, but it is not a self-tuning guitar in the mechanical sense—and it does not correct mistakes in rhythm, note choice, or playing technique.
How the AT-200’s tuning system works
Peavey announced the AT-200 in December 2012 as a collaboration with Antares Audio Technologies. The guitar combines Antares Auto-Tune for Guitar with Peavey’s Solid-Tune intonation system. Peavey said the system monitors each string and corrects pitch and intonation during performance; its claims of “perfect” performance are the company’s promotional language, not an independent test result.
The key distinction is where the correction happens. A conventional tuner tells you to adjust a string, and a motorized tuning system physically turns a peg. The AT-200 instead changes the amplified signal electronically. A period Guitarist review described the strings as remaining still while the output pitch changes digitally. The feature can alter the sound you hear, but it does not physically retune the instrument.
Can the AT-200 play alternate tunings?
Yes. Peavey’s manual explains how to engage String Tune using the guitar’s controls and how to set alternate tunings by fretting strings at specified positions while the tuning process is engaged. The manual is the best guide to the actual operating procedure; use it rather than assuming the guitar behaves like a standard tuner or tuning-machine system.
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- Exclusive PowerPlate increases sustain
- 22 2.3mm frets
- Hard maple neck
- Three Peavey USA design single coil pickups with 6mm large pole pieces
- One volume and One tone control
Peavey also announced software packs with named tuning options. These are historical offerings, not confirmation that the packs can still be bought or installed.
| Historical pack | Documented tuning options |
|---|---|
| Essential Pack | Standard Tuning, Drop D, DADGAD, Open E, and Open A |
| Pro Pack | Essential Pack options plus Open E minor, Open G, Open D, and Open A minor |
The same announcement listed guitar models, virtual capo ranges, MIDI control, and presets. It does not establish present-day availability or compatibility with a particular used guitar, so verify the software and connection requirements before relying on those functions.
Rank #2
- 25 1/2 inch scale
- Solid body construction with new styling for better ergonomics and balance
- Dual action torsion rod
- Wide top pole piece single coil pickups for bigger string window with more focus
- Tremolo bridge
What it is like as a conventional guitar
A Peavey-published contemporary Guitarist review excerpt describes a basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, 24 frets, two passive Peavey humbuckers, a three-way pickup selector, volume and tone controls, and a MIDI connection beside the output jack. The excerpt also lists a 25.5-inch scale and AA-battery power. These are historical review specifications; inspect the specific instrument and confirm its details before buying.
Peavey presented the AT-200 as retaining the look and feel of a conventional guitar while concealing the digital system onboard. The period Guitarist excerpt describes both ordinary dual-humbucker operation and a digitally corrected mode, and notes a subtle processed quality in the corrected sound. MusicRadar’s historical review coverage is also a period account, not a current hands-on assessment. Treat these impressions as useful context rather than a guarantee of how a particular instrument will sound.
Rank #3
- 25 1/2 inch scale
- Wide top pole piece single coil pickups for bigger string window with more focus
- Tremolo bridge
- Peavey six-in-a-line headstock with ergonomic tuner placement and straight string pull
- Dual-expanding truss rod
Auto-Tune does not fix rhythm, wrong notes, articulation, or expressive choices. It changes pitch output; the player still supplies the performance. If you are choosing between this and a regular guitar, compare ordinary pickup tone with corrected-mode tone, as well as neck and body feel and the way you intend to use alternate tunings.
What to check before buying a used AT-200
Current stock, prices, support status, and feature-pack availability are not established here. The AT-200 is therefore best assessed as a particular used instrument, not as a currently supported system with guaranteed upgrades.
Rank #4
- 25.5 inch scale, 12 inch radius, 22 frets
- Solid basswood body construction
- Wide top pole piece single coil pickups for bigger string window with more focus
- Vintage Style Steel Fulcrum tremolo bridge
- Peavey six-in-a-line headstock with ergonomic tuner placement, straight string pull
- Test the guitar in both its ordinary pickup mode and its digitally corrected mode.
- Confirm that String Tune engages and that the controls behave as described in the manual.
- Check the condition of the electronics, battery compartment, MIDI connection, output jack, and controls.
- Ask what tuning features or software packs, if any, are installed, and verify that they work with that instrument.
- If you need MIDI control or an accessory cable, confirm compatibility with the AT-200 and its connection requirements before purchasing.
- Check the individual guitar’s specifications and condition rather than assuming every used example matches the period review description.
Peavey’s update announcement listed the Essential Pack at $79 and the Pro Pack at $149, approximately in 2014. Those are historical announced prices, not current offers. The available sources do not confirm that either pack remains available.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verdict
The AT-200 is a genuinely distinctive electric guitar if you want electronic pitch correction and documented alternate-tuning options without physically moving the strings. Its appeal depends on whether you like the corrected sound and can verify the condition and functionality of the particular instrument. It should not be mistaken for a guitar that mechanically retunes itself or a system that corrects the full range of playing errors.
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Best Value
- Fast, slim Maple neck
- Beautiful quilted Maple art grain top
- High output Infinity R pickups
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
