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-   -   Best Handheld tuner! (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f18/best-handheld-tuner-938710/)

grass132456 12-06-2012 06:10 PM

Best Handheld tuner!
 
Hey guys!
I hope this is the right section, but what is the best guitar/bass tuner? Hopefully one that is easy enough to hold in your hand and can tune to every note, not just the basic EADG(BE).
Thanks!

kellyrojo 12-06-2012 06:12 PM

Snark.... Cheap accurate perfect. Also use the search for more info. Gl

rfslick 12-06-2012 06:14 PM

Snark
 
++1 Inexpensive and effective. Simple!

esa372 12-06-2012 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grass132456 (Post 13546029)
...what is the best guitar/bass tuner? Hopefully one that is easy enough to hold in your hand and can tune to every note, not just the basic EADG(BE).

I'm not sure why or when you would want to hold a tuner in your hands, but this is the best tuner available right now:

Sonic Research Turbo Tuner

grass132456 12-06-2012 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esa372 (Post 13546084)
I'm not sure why or when you would want to hold a tuner in your hands, but this is the best tuner available right now:

Sonic Research Turbo Tuner

I don't want a pedal because I usually share a portable tuner with other people and if I have a pedal, it is just going to take much more time to just tune. I'm looking for simplicity and efficiency without pedals :P

brianerwin 12-06-2012 06:31 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Snark!!! All the way. You can tune ALL your notes.



Attachment 304248

Snark Tuner

The Birdman 12-06-2012 06:50 PM

I personally have not had good luck with Snark tuners on basses (they work GREAT on regular EADGBE-tuned guitars). The tuner that has worked best for me is the Boss TU-80. It "chirps" when each note is in tune, giving you a definite cue.

Roger

megafiddle 12-06-2012 07:01 PM

I have a Turbo Tuner ST-122, which is hand held (not a pedal).

It's chromatic (all notes) with a range of C0 to C8. Also has the standard notes for
various instruments, as you would expect.

I like these, they are true strobes. The signal is converted directly to display, much as
the rotating disc strobe tuners did, but different technology. Once the note has been
identified, the pitch information is instantaneous.

You do have to get a feel for it though. The tuner does not indicate "in tune" or "not in tune".
You have to do that.

walterw 12-06-2012 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megafiddle (Post 13546213)
I have a Turbo Tuner ST-122, which is hand held (not a pedal).

It's chromatic (all notes) with a range of C0 to C8. Also has the standard notes for
various instruments, as you would expect.

I like these, they are true strobes. The signal is converted directly to display, much as
the rotating disc strobe tuners did, but different technology. Once the note has been
identified, the pitch information is instantaneous.

You do have to get a feel for it though. The tuner does not indicate "in tune" or "not in tune".
You have to do that.

this is by far the best "hand held" tuner at any price, but they're kinda hard to get these days; they're now made with a cool steampunk-looking aluminum housing which is apparently difficult to manufacture right, so they're in short supply. you'd need to call them to order one, and they're more like $170 now.

(i'm lucky i have three of the older ones, including one on my repair bench :smug:)

phangtonpower 12-06-2012 07:58 PM

I have a TU-2 tuner. It's a pedal, but I use it as a hand held. Just because it's a pedal doesn't mean you have to have it on a pedal board or on the floor in line with your bass and amp.

tjh 12-06-2012 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Birdman (Post 13546174)
I personally have not had good luck with Snark tuners on basses (they work GREAT on regular EADGBE-tuned guitars). The tuner that has worked best for me is the Boss TU-80. It "chirps" when each note is in tune, giving you a definite cue.

Roger

I had several of the Snark clip ons, and just never felt real good about them .. I never used the Snark hand held ...I have the Boss TU-80, along with a couple of the less expensive Korg handhelds, along with a brand new Korg Pitchblack pedal tuner, that never gets used ... I usually just end up using whatever handheld is in the case of the bass I grab ...

.. when I tested the Boss with my 40+ year old calibrated Peterson Strobe tuner (model 420?), it was perfectly accurate ... the TU-80 is also a metronome if that matters ...Musicians Friend has them on sale for like $22 now ... I paid mid $30's if I remember correctly ...

esa372 12-06-2012 08:02 PM

Ah, now I get it.

megafiddle and walterw have it - the ST-122:


megafiddle 12-06-2012 08:09 PM

They are amazing tuners. You can set one of these on a table top and then play a note
on an acoustic guitar. If you move towards or away from the tuner, you can see the pitch
rise or fall due to doppler effect.

walterw 12-07-2012 01:15 AM

ooh, i haven't tried that one!

my favorite is testing pickup installs before i put strings back on; i hold a tuning fork over the new pickup, then over the other ones, and if the half-circle in the display flips to the other side of the ring i know the new pickup is out of polarity with the others and needs its wires reversed.

TheEmptyCell 12-07-2012 09:09 AM

Buy yourself a tuner, and tell whoever the hell is using yours all the time to get their own. It's pretty unprofessional to have to borrow one of the most necessary items in any gigbag.

Jay2U 12-07-2012 09:28 AM

The CA1 by Korg goes from C1 to C8. It can either be plugged in or use its built-in microphone. It only costs around $18.

walterw 12-07-2012 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheEmptyCell (Post 13548038)
Buy yourself a tuner, and tell whoever the hell is using yours all the time to get their own. It's pretty unprofessional to have to borrow one of the most necessary items in any gigbag.

+1

grownups bring their own tuners.

Randyt 12-07-2012 02:40 PM

I really like my Peterson Strobo tuner..old type..(Blue)

Thick McRunfast 12-07-2012 03:22 PM

Another Korg fan here. The CA1 I have has been bulletproof. I've given several as gifts

Stilettoprefer 12-07-2012 09:52 PM

Yet another for Korg. Mine has proved to be pretty much indestructible, and its very accurate. I use it for setting intonation all the time.


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