D. Gauss Posted August 7, 2001 Share Posted August 7, 2001 yikes, my boss tu12H tuner that i've had for years, never made it home last night. i'm not in a hurry to shell out 80 bucks on another one if i don't have to. any of the new cheaper tuners work well? likes, dislikes? i always preferred the analog VU meter to the LCD... -d. gauss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott from MA Posted August 7, 2001 Share Posted August 7, 2001 Yeah... I've got a tuner for you: It's FREE, and you don't have to carry it around, because there's already one in every club in America. Just pick up a pay-phone and listen to the dial tone... it's an F. That's the only tuner I've ever needed! ------------------ Scott (just another cantankerous bastard) Scott (just another cantankerous bastard) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Gauss Posted August 7, 2001 Author Share Posted August 7, 2001 umm...i'm sure mama Bell is a wonderful tuning source, but i was kinda leaning towards one i could fit into a gig bag. -d. gauss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted August 7, 2001 Share Posted August 7, 2001 Lay out the $$ for a Boss TU-9 pedal. They are really something! I own an Akai tuner pedal that I enjoy very much, but the strobe function on the Boss makes me want one, after using it. I was out with the country group, The Wilkinsons, in June and July. Steve Wilkinson uses the TU-9 onstage. I was responsible for tweaking the tuning prior to show, along with running monitors. It was a very easy to use tuner, easy to see. (We played a lot of northern shows at outdoor fairs. Light at 10pm everywhere we went. Bright at 8pm at the start of the show.) Like all Boss pedals, built like a Sherman tank. The only reason I might tell you to get the Akai, is if you want a mic for non-electric instruments. I don't remember if the Boss has it, but the Akai does. If you don't want to plug in at all, you might try the Onboard Research Intellitouch tuner. It uses a spring loaded clamp to attatch to your headstock. If you need to change instruments, simply reclamp it to the next instrument. It has a very cool swivel, red-backlit, LCD for tuning in the dark, and as it's on the headstock, it's very easy to read. Be careful, though. It's a fragile design. Comes with a softcase with a separate, internal hard shell to protect it when not in use. No mic, but it doesn't need to plug in, so, you won't need one. Just some ideas... Most of the tuners on the market will suit you fine, but the niceties of each will vary quite a bit. You can have one of my Korg CA-20 chromatic's, if I can find it for you. Good little tuner. Korg redesigned them from small to credit card size after only 1 year or so. I have the "large" version. (Still pretty tiny) Musician's friend sent me a duplicate order to replace the box UPS put in the yard with my Dalmation!!! One of the tuners has tooth marks, but it still works fine! The cost on these tuners was around $25. ------------------ Neil Reality: A few moments of lucidity surrounded by insanity. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip McDonald Posted August 8, 2001 Share Posted August 8, 2001 I wish Line6 would make a little stomp box tuner, with a true hard bypass. The tuner in the POD works really well - although that's probably a byproduct of using their LSI chips for the task of tuning. Hmm. But now that they're moving to SHARCS, maybe they can put PODS into a stompbox with the tuner, and STILL HAVE THE HARD BYPASS... ------------------ New and Improved Music Soon: http://www.mp3.com/chipmcdonald Guitar Lessons in Augusta Georgia: www.chipmcdonald.com Eccentric blog: https://chipmcdonaldblog.blogspot.com/ / "big ass windbag" - Bruce Swedien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted August 8, 2001 Share Posted August 8, 2001 Umm, would I be out of line to suggest folks learn to tune by ear? You could easily forego the 80 bucks that way http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif Originally posted by d gauss: yikes, my boss tu12H tuner that i've had for years, never made it home last night. i'm not in a hurry to shell out 80 bucks on another one if i don't have to. any of the new cheaper tuners work well? likes, dislikes? i always preferred the analog VU meter to the LCD... -d. gauss I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Gauss Posted August 8, 2001 Author Share Posted August 8, 2001 Originally posted by coyote: Umm, would I be out of line to suggest folks learn to tune by ear? tuning by ear is indeed a wonderful thing, however i've found that it is a bit difficult to do that in a dark new york city club with deafening music blaring over the PA and only 5 minutes to set up all your gear between bands. in that situation, for me its better to tune it with a tuner.... oh and did i mention it was dark...that's how i lost it in the first place! -d. gauss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted August 8, 2001 Share Posted August 8, 2001 Originally posted by Chip McDonald: I wish Line6 would make a little stomp box tuner, with a true hard bypass. The tuner in the POD works really well - although that's probably a byproduct of using their LSI chips for the task of tuning. Heh... as it turns out I've ended up using the tuner in the POD much more so than the rest of the POD... http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif During band practice I'll just plug into it and tune and then plug back into my amp... dunno if $300 was worth it for a tuner though! I'm in the market for a new tuner myself though. I've had this Boss one for years too but my dog chewed it up. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif I'm not kidding. It still works, but I'm leery of taking it to gigs because some of the circuitry is exposed and I know it's gonna go south on me one day soon! --Lee This message has been edited by Lee Flier on 08-08-2001 at 09:43 AM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott from MA Posted August 8, 2001 Share Posted August 8, 2001 Originally posted by coyote: would I be out of line to suggest folks learn to tune by ear I think I already did. Anyway... I know some people just like to use a tuner. A lot of my friends use the Sabine tuners. Seem to be pretty reliable, and fairly road-worthy. I have no idea how much they cost, so it may not be any savings to you, but I can't figure they'd be too much. Scott (just another cantankerous bastard) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat0124 Posted August 8, 2001 Share Posted August 8, 2001 I'll second the Sabine. I've had the same little black box for 12 or 13 years now, very reliable. I do have a Fender chromatic true bypass stomper, but I really don't use it for tuning, a little, but mostly for muting when I wanna swap guitars or something. It's a fast and stable tuner...just my Sabine is my main tuner, and I trust it. I remember when everybody used those strobe tuners....expensive and delicate at the time....and they look so cool! Ha Ha!!! Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Gauss Posted August 8, 2001 Author Share Posted August 8, 2001 Originally posted by strat0124: I remember when everybody used those strobe tuners....expensive and delicate at the time....and they look so cool! Ha Ha!!! remember the rust never sleeps movie? neil's got 6 conn strobotuners on stage! -d. gauss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calfee Jones Posted August 8, 2001 Share Posted August 8, 2001 The reverb went out on my amp a while back, so I have been using one of those Zoom 505(?) guitar effects pedals. It has a built in lighted chromatic tuner, so it is really easy to tune individual strings, or check individual notes on a string. The leds on it are easy to see. - Calfee Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted August 9, 2001 Share Posted August 9, 2001 Originally posted by strat0124: ...I remember when everybody used those strobe tuners....expensive and delicate at the time....and they look so cool! Ha Ha!!! Don't laugh, Strat. They are still the ONLY tuner of choice for people who's living depends on accurate tuning and the ability to check and adjust intonation. Namely, guitar techs and repairman. They are also still available, brand new. As to tuning by ear, I have a great sense of relative pitch. I've been tuning by ear for 26 years and have used wild, alternate tunings for 15 years. I can also get within several cents of standard tuning with no reference. However, without taking the time to compare the bass to the lead to the acoustic to the multiple backup guitars in the band, even dismissing the loud background which is too often the case, it is far quicker and more accurate for all to tune with a tuner than to trust everyone's ears. Don't forget, your ability to hear and perceive pitch change with your mood, the humidity, etc. A smoky bar or a hot, humid, outdoor stage can really mess with your perception. For the good of the gig, you have to realize your ears will be fooled sometimes. Sad, but true. Now if I were playing in a symphony, in a controlled environment, that opinion would change. Orchestra musicians listen to each other when tuning, as well. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif ------------------ Neil Reality: A few moments of lucidity surrounded by insanity. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted August 9, 2001 Share Posted August 9, 2001 Tune by ear? With the f&^%ing jukebox BLARING? Boy, touchy subject time, because no matter how good your tuner, I still need to make little fine adjustments by ear. And if you're guitar is WAY out...(like, just put new strings on and they're still stretching)...a tuner can grab the wrong note...(tuner talking)..."hmmm, let's grab a E and tune his A string to that"...I would guess frequency aliasing of some sort would come into play here... "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott from MA Posted August 9, 2001 Share Posted August 9, 2001 Originally posted by strat0124: I remember when everybody used those strobe tuners.... I have one that I use for doing set-ups on the guitars I build. It's a tempermental old bastard, but it sure does make intonations quicker and easier! Originally posted by Tedster: Tune by ear? With the f&^%ing jukebox BLARING? I was a guitar tech for a friend for 2 years. I always amazed him with my ability to change a broken string and re-tune his guitar by ear while crouching behind his Marshall full-stack, and right next to the drums. He HATED his back-up guitar, so he always wanted his main guitar back by the next song... no time to go backstage and mess with a tuner. Scott (just another cantankerous bastard) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat0124 Posted August 9, 2001 Share Posted August 9, 2001 I did ear training, however I'm with Ted in that I don't think I could tune accurately in a pub. The cool thing about my Fender pedal tuner is it has true bypass, really fast recognition, and it mutes the signal....it was around $50. Hey I agree that a strobe is the finest I know of, however I've tuned our home piano, my hammered dulcimer, and just about anything else with my Sabine chromatic tuner...worked like a champ...for cheap! Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ Posted August 9, 2001 Share Posted August 9, 2001 Originally posted by fantasticsound: If you don't want to plug in at all, you might try the Onboard Research Intellitouch tuner. It uses a spring loaded clamp to attatch to your headstock. If you need to change instruments, simply reclamp it to the next instrument. It has a very cool swivel, red-backlit, LCD for tuning in the dark, and as it's on the headstock, it's very easy to read. Be careful, though. It's a fragile design. Comes with a softcase with a separate, internal hard shell to protect it when not in use. No mic, but it doesn't need to plug in, so, you won't need one. [/b] They are very fragile! They don't clamp as securely to the headstock as you would like. I had an Intellitouch that I used on my Jazz bass. It was pretty accurate and very easy to read, however it would go flying off the headstock if I moved around too much (I move around too much!). It survived two flights, but not so the third. Now it turns on, but just stays in "Learn" mode and won't go to tune mode. You'd figure I'd have learned, but nope, too stubborn http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif !!!! ------------------ KJ ------------------- bari man low KJ ------------------- "50 million Elvis Presley fans can't be all wrong" - John Prine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dstagl Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 I was apprehensive about the Boss TU-2 pedal tuner at first, but I love it now. I had the same LED vs. analog meter reservations, but it really hasn't been a problem. It's fast, and soooo much easier to see on a dark stage than my old TU12H. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratman_dup1 Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 I use an Arion stage tuner, pedal type, that I couldn't live without. It has nice bright leds that are easy to see on a dark stage, the left and right leds are red versus the green center led so it's really easy to see when you're on pitch, it mutes the output (for those emergancy mid song tunings) or not, and doesn't color my sound at all. I can't honestly say whether it has a hard by-pass or not, I really don't know but it sounds fine too me. I have noticed the pitch tracking problem every once in a while but if you pluck the strings a few times it corrects itself, no biggie. And it's pretty cheap, like $30.00 if I remember correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Originally posted by KJ: They are very fragile! They don't clamp as securely to the headstock as you would like... ...It survived two flights, but not so the third. Now it turns on, but just stays in "Learn" mode and won't go to tune mode. You'd figure I'd have learned, but nope, too stubborn http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif !!!! Yeow! Yes they are. I'm surprised your problem after the third fall (You know 3 falls is a TKO with tuners! http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif) you are having electronic problems. The reason I mentioned fragile is I've seen the plastic clamp break off of these tuners. As it is part of the pickup mechanism, this renders the tuner useless. Also, it's made with one of those modern molded plastics that resist glueing by any glue known to man. When it's broken, it's GONE! http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/frown.gif ------------------ Neil Reality: A few moments of lucidity surrounded by insanity. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calfee Jones Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 I saw today (Fri Aug 10) that Musicians Friend has a pedal tuner with a backlight on sale for $10. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/j.pl/6021629 - Calfee Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kudyba Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Originally posted by Calfee Jones: I saw today (Fri Aug 10) that Musicians Friend has a pedal tuner with a backlight on sale for $10. You know, I've heard some real nasty things about the QwikTune tuners...any real-world experience with the line? I believe they're just a company that outsources the manufacturing process and only sells to distributors like MF, Kaman, etc...just try finding a website for the actual manufacturer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kudyba Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 I ordered it anyway...what the heck, less than $15 with shipping...I'll let you know what I think about it but I know it won't work well in any afternoon in-the-sun gigs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Heck, I use a Quik-Tune...they're like Bic disposable tuners. If one gets lost or ripped off, you're not out big bucks. Mine has a little LCD "needle" for right on, with three LEDs...a red one for flat or sharp...and a green one for right on. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kudyba Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Yeah but how well does it work with noise around, especially on acoustics (with pickups) or in the daylight... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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