electronic tuners

Andrew B. · #1 09-14-2010, 02:22 PM

I've never used an electronic tuner. I searched here for info and then got confused.

I don't need a $200 stage tuner. I need something for home use that is very easy to use and understand. I use four string electric bass.

ldmm · #2 09-14-2010, 02:26 PM

You can try using a Korg CA-1.
They are cheap and very reliable.

MosGuy · #3 09-14-2010, 03:13 PM

Most tuners $30 or under work great. Which you can pick-up from any local music store. I've had various brands over the years they've all been reliable. The only thing you may want to mention is that it's for bass. Most tuners these days work fine with bass. But there are still some around that aren't designed to hear the low bass range. My last tuner was a Qwik Tune. Which worked solid for years, then suddenly the LCD display died for some unexplained reason. Last week I replaced it with a Korg GA1 for $21 CDN. Which I believe is the newer model to the CA1. It works just fine, most electric tuners are really easy to use and generally self explanatory. If you get one from a local music store the sales person will normally explain how to use it.

nicoli · #4 09-14-2010, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MosGuy

The only thing you may want to mention is that it's for bass.

I've bought one before that didn't recognize bass frequencies - it needs to be able to function to 40 Hz or lower.

CG Jones · #5 09-15-2010, 10:00 AM

Another vote for the Korg GA-1. I've been using one for a few months now, and it's great.

mid_life_crisis · #6 09-15-2010, 12:46 PM

Even the ones that are supposed to be made for a bass don't always work all that well on the lower strings. I usually tune using the G and D strings and do the rest by ear off those.

Andrew B. · #7 09-15-2010, 01:08 PM

Thanks. I think I'll get the Korg CA or GA. Well, the GA looks like it's for guitar/bass, so maybe that will be simpler to use. I hope this can handle the E string.

Chrisk-K · #8 09-15-2010, 01:22 PM

I bought a BOSS tuner in 1990 and it still works perfectly.

**Staccato** · #9 09-15-2010, 01:41 PM

These are all at the house: Korg GA-30, Korg GT-4 Guitar/Bass, and Korg Pitchblack (listed from lowest priced tuner to highest). I've got a Qwik Tune chromatic tuner, too.

GT-4 is small & handy for carry, or evaluating basses at the music store. Pitchblack is my FAV!

See tuner reviews on Amazon.

walterw · #10 09-16-2010, 08:19 PM

for home use? here's a great one that goes right on your computer.

the demo version is free, and the paid for version is worth it.

Bassdirty · #11 09-16-2010, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mid_life_crisis

Even the ones that are supposed to be made for a bass don't always work all that well on the lower strings. I usually tune using the G and D strings and do the rest by ear off those.

thats y this thread should b bout tuners that pickup low B well.

boss tu2- or 3

jmo

billoetjen · #12 09-16-2010, 08:25 PM

Maybe I'm the only guy who does this but I always use a chromatic tuner like the Korg
CA-1 (like $20) because I never tune to open strings. I feel like I'm more in tune if I set up the bass, intonate it well, and then only tune to the 5th fret. Why? Because I seldom play an open string, and I tend to play in the deeper end of the neck. So, that's where I want to be most right-on. Also, the tuner seems more reliable up the neck rather than with the low E.
Maybe there ought to be a thread on this.

walterw · #13 09-16-2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mid_life_crisis

Even the ones that are supposed to be made for a bass don't always work all that well on the lower strings. I usually tune using the G and D strings and do the rest by ear off those.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassdirty

thats y this thread should b bout tuners that pickup low B well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

for home use? here's a great one that goes right on your computer.

the demo version is free, and the paid for version is worth it.

it will pickup C0 just fine (that's the C below the low F# of a 7-string bass.)

Andrew B. · #14 09-17-2010, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

for home use? here's a great one that goes right on your computer.

the demo version is free, and the paid for version is worth it.

Does that one listen to the bass with the computer's microphone?

Quote:

Originally Posted by billoetjen

Maybe I'm the only guy who does this but I always use a chromatic tuner like the Korg
CA-1 (like $20) because I never tune to open strings. I feel like I'm more in tune if I set up the bass, intonate it well, and then only tune to the 5th fret.

Interesting idea. It also got me thinking. Sometimes I've played a note on guitar or bass that just doesn't sound right. With a chromatic tuner I could double check this.

4-stringB · #15 09-17-2010, 01:24 PM

Intellitouch PT10. Clip-on style, large screen, bright display, 30 USD. However, I have always used harmonics to tune, so tuning the lower strings is a non-issue for me...cheers...

Andrew B. · #16 09-17-2010, 02:46 PM

I tried the one you can download and run from your computer. IOW, the AP Tuner. I wonder how close you are suppoed to get to the actual note. For example, below are links to a couple sites that simulate the sound of a bass. Running these against the AP Tuner, I usually don't get a perfect pitch. And I guess I don't expect perfection. I'm just wondering how close you usually get.

Keyboard Bass

Bass Tuner

klokker · #17 09-17-2010, 03:30 PM

I bought a cheap Fender tuner and it wasn't very good. You can actually hear the note going out of tune while its in the "green", but the tuner doesn't respond until its way off. Get something else.

walterw · #18 09-17-2010, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew B.

I tried the one you can download and run from your computer. IOW, the AP Tuner. I wonder how close you are suppoed to get to the actual note. For example, below are links to a couple sites that simulate the sound of a bass. Running these against the AP Tuner, I usually don't get a perfect pitch. And I guess I don't expect perfection. I'm just wondering how close you usually get.

Keyboard Bass

Bass Tuner

make sure the tuner is calibrated to A440.

i would expect the AP to be more accurate than sound samples, so you should be OK using it.

Andrew B. · #19 09-17-2010, 05:28 PM

I'm glad to get so many responses. Thanks to all of you.

I picked up a Korg CA-1 today. It does fine with open E, and it's easy to use.

Oren Hudson · #20 09-17-2010, 09:10 PM

The last three tunings I've done, I've used the on line sights. There are several that I've found. I'll tune with one and then go to another site for comparison. They've been together and right on the money each time. More than once, after tuning with a basic tuner, I've headed to a gig or auditon only to find that it was off a good bit. My favorite way is with the keyboard, but the on line ones have worked well for me. Can't beat the price.