Anybody Giving Up On Tuner Pedals For Headstock Tuners?

[kenstee]

To be honest, the headstock tuners are getting so good that I'm thinking of giving up on my tuner pedal and just going with the headstock ones. Don't see much difference as accuracy dramatically increases with the headstock tuners. Plus frees up a space on my pedalboard.

Here's a decent review..10 Clip-On Guitar Tuners You Should Use - Premier Guitar

[HeadyVan Halen]

They're cool no doubt, but please, please fellas, take'em off after you tuned up...nothing says "This is just a hobby" more than playing the entire night with it clipped on..

Got a witness

[KJung]

This is an honest question.... Why would anyone want one of these? What is the advantage?

You still have to mute to tune in most cases. With the availability of these amazing true bypass tuners (small, mute switch, and some have the accuracy of true benchtop strobe tuners), which would one want something clipped to their headstock.

I don't get it. I can see finally eliminating those big rack tuners from the market, but the new, small, accurate, true bypass pedals (Turbo Tuner, Pitch Black, whatever) seem the 'state of the art' at this point.

[derrico1]

I like an in-line tuner for muting.

If you always run all your basses w/ the volume pot all the way up, this isn't such an issue w/ headstock tuners (just remember to quickly zero the bass volume to mute FOH/stage rig before tuning, then remember to pull it back to full volume). But that's not how I run all of mine, and I don't want the bass level to change after I tune.

[Bassmike62]

Anybody Giving Up On Tuner Pedals For Headstock Tuners?

Nope.

[cybersnyder]

I use one a lot but I think I'm in a rather unique situation. We go from the warm backstage to the stage where it's maybe below freezing and that puts a hurt on the tuning. I could probably have another pedal tuner somewhere to tune while the instrument is adjusting and before we go on, but the headstock tuner is more convenient. I still prefer a pedal tuner in most circumstances, but there are definitely uses for headstock tuners and they're surprisingly good. Personally, I use the Snark.

[LowDown Hal]

+10 on the pedal's addition of the MUTE feature

[Nev375]

The new planet waves NS mini is pretty nice. It's barely noticeable on the headstock, you don't even have to take it off to put your bass in its case. And at $17 bucks cheap enough to have one on all your basses that you actually gig with.

[Kwesi]

For the longest time, I couldn't imagine why anyone would ever want a pedal tuner. Then I bought one and now I can't imagine being without it, lol! Lucky for me I can't really think of any effects I'd rather have even if I did dump my pedal tuner so it being there works out pretty well.

[wolffman]

I use the snark. Works great, accurate enough and takes up no room on the pedal board. And personally I like the way it looks clipped onto my headstock, makes the bass look like a robot. I was in the studio on Saturday, used my snark then asked the audio tech running the session for a tuner, he put one on through pro tools hd… was super accurate. The headstock tuner got me as close to perfect as I’d ever need to be.

[kevteop]

I prefer pedal tuners, and since I've got other pedals anyway I suppose I might as well use a pedal tuner. I do have a clip-on tuner that I use to tune up my DB in noisy rooms but that's only because I don't have any pedals in that setup.

[Savage_Dreams]

i agree with if your going to use a headstock tuner take it off when your done! i prefer my pedal tuner though because its always on. i can see it while im playing. questionable string while playing, just sustain a note and i can check tuning with no one being the wiser.

[husky123]

My Korg Pitchblack is the only thing to stand in the middle of my chain. With my noisy J's and all my bands different tunings it's a lifesaver. Can't. Live. Without it.

[rhino333]

I've been using clip-on tuners for years on bass and guitar because:

• I like that I can be anywhere on stage and check my tuning at any time.
• It's one less thing sound wise in my pedal change
• It's one less physical thing on my pedal board (when I use pedals)
• If I'm not using my pedals (or my Boss GT-6B), all I need is my clip on. I'd rather carry that than a single tuner pedal or a whole pedalboard I'm using.

I often use a BOSS-GT6B which has a built-in tuner, but you have to mute the signal to see the tuner. At least with a clip on (if it's a good one) you can get an idea if you're out of tune in the middle of a song by looking at the tuner.

I've used the following clip-on tuners:

• 2 Intellitouch Tuners (PT-1 & 2) for years,
• A Fishman
• A Snark Clip-On.

The Snark is the best I've found for not only quickness, but accurately sensing the notes. The Planet Waves mini looks interesting and I may get one of those because it appears a little more compact.

[maxgrant]

I got a Snark for my son, just for fun. It was such a cool toy I'm permanently getting one.

I have a pedal tuner on my Zoom B2, but in bright light that thing is unreadable. It is easy enough to navigate my settings (each bank is set up for a different bass, and I've got all the complicated sequences duplicated the same), but looking down there under the sun or a very bright light to catch the dim red LED is sometimes impossible.

And I like the Snark stuck to the headstock. It means I can quick-check tuning during performance, and it's right there less than 2 feet away.

Originally Posted by HeadyVan Halen

nothing says "This is just a hobby" more than playing the entire night with it clipped on..

I'm not sure why. To me it says "I have a tuner that clips to my headstock." I'm not sure why you think it looks amateurish . . . or why I should care. If you don't want to, don't. There are all kinds of acoutrements musicians stick to their guitars. A tuner is probably one of the most totally appropriate items I can think of.

[stingraysvt]

I saw a Snark this weekend for the first time, guitar player was using it.

It looked really cool.

I have a tuner in my amp on one of my rigs, but I have to disable the speakers and the DI out to tune quietly and have forgotten more than once to re-enable the DI out

I've thought about getting one for my other rigs but then I'd prob leave it in the case with the bass, which can be a problem since I don't use the same bass every time.


Well, Just Checked good ole Amazon and the snarks are $10 a piece, at that price I'd get 3 or 4 and just keep them in the case with my main players and maybe in my gig bag for backup...

I have the Peterson strobe tuner App for iPhone but it has to be quiet onstage to use it.

[caeman]

I love the clip-on tuners. I leave on on my resonator. I have one on my fiddle. I have one I switched between the banjo, mandolin and balalaika. My son broke another one of my clip-ons, so I am probably going to order multiples more.

I find that turning the volume knob on my bass to zero is an effective method for muting my bass when I use a clip-on.

[wolffman]

I wish they made a rechargeable version. I HATE using batteries.

[MUSHROOMSeAcOw]

Yep. Snark works for me, and I can toss it across the stage to whoever needs a quick tuning at a moment's notice. Try that with your $100 pedal.

[caeman]

Originally Posted by wolffman

I wish they made a rechargeable version. I HATE using batteries.

Your wish is granted.

10 Clip-On Guitar Tuners You Should Use - Premier Guitar