Looking for a pedal tuner?

TopJoey · #1 01-12-2010, 07:22 AM

I'm looking to a pedal tuner for my set up. In the past I just used a basic tuner, tuning up after each set. Now I want something to keep in line with my amp. What are the pros and cons of a true bypass tuner compared to one with a buffer like a BOSS. Thanks in advance to any advice you have.

bmc · #2 01-12-2010, 07:26 AM

It's nice to tap a mute switch, look down, tune, and go. Once thing I never read as a feature to cosnider but realized after the purchase, was the value of a large bright read out. Someday you might find yourself in bright sunlight and having a very bright tune with a large readout is handy.

I have, but no longer use, a Korg DT10. I now use a headstock clip tuner from Sadowsky. No more pedals.

DrewinHouston · #3 01-12-2010, 07:35 AM

I did a lot of research when I bought my first pedal tuner last year, and ended up choosing the Sonic Research Turbo Tuner (Model ST-200 Stomp Box Strobe Tuner). One of my biggest criteria (in addition to being a strobe tuner, accurate, and true bypass) was being clearly visible in the dark. The true bypass ended up not being really important, I have it set up always on in the tuner out of my volume pedal.

BillyBoom · #4 01-12-2010, 07:49 AM

I did a fair amount of research as well, when i wanted a quality pedal tuner. I ended up going with the Korg Pitchblack. Simple to use, true bypass, great display, durable construction and reasonably priced.

Dirk Diggler · #5 01-12-2010, 08:00 AM

Peterson Strobostomp hands down. It has bass specific sweetened tunings, great for setups too.

Any tuner is better than no tuner though.
Dirk

TopJoey · #6 01-12-2010, 08:08 AM

Thanks for all of your advice. I should have originally mentioned that I would want to be using it for my bass as well as my guitar set up. Does that make a difference?

J.Wolf · #7 01-12-2010, 08:13 AM

I have a pitchblack and its great, but if you play outside, the display gets washed out in sunlight very easy, and you're screwed. Plus no built in mic (which I guess is the case with most pedal tuners). I vote strobostomp, I like that one alot, and if I had to replace mine, I would def. get one of those.

RCCollins · #8 01-12-2010, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TopJoey

I'm looking to a pedal tuner for my set up. In the past I just used a basic tuner, tuning up after each set. Now I want something to keep in line with my amp. What are the pros and cons of a true bypass tuner compared to one with a buffer like a BOSS. Thanks in advance to any advice you have.

the advantage of having a buffered tuner at the front of your signal chain is that it will help preserve your signal over a lot of "cable length". This is less of an issue if you only have a couple pedals in your chain, but it starts to make a difference if you have a big pedalboard or use long cables. You may notice the difference more with guitar than bass, because most of what is lost is high end.

Keep in mind that if you use an always-on pedal preamp of some kind, a buffer won't really be necessary

I have a Korg pitchblack myself, and while it is a very good tuner, I wish it were buffered! I see zero advantage to having a TBP tuner at the front of a chain. Keep in mind that I play passive basses, though

bassplayer7770 · #9 01-12-2010, 08:32 AM

I recently purchased a Turbo Tuner ST-200. I previously used a Boss TU-2. The Turbo Tuner is fantastic. It tracks quickly and accurately, and it makes intonation easier and more accurate. The display is also good, although I don't find myself in direct sunlight situations very often. The TU-2 wasn't the best in those situations either, but I always seemed to find a way to tune up (stepping between the sun and my pedal casting my shadow over the pedal for example).

BTW, I use the Tuner output jack on the back of my amp, so my tuner isn't in my signal path. I've found a Tuner output on an amp to be a very useful feature.

TopJoey · #10 01-16-2010, 06:13 AM

Thanks for all of the advice. I went with the Korg Pitchblack mainly because of the price and the positive comments. That being said when I showed up at band practice my guitar player looked down at it with disgust. Mainly because the Detection Accuracy is +/- 1 cent and his Peterson is +/- .5. Is this really an issue? I could return the Korg but it seems to work great. Any advice.

donut · #11 01-16-2010, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TopJoey

Thanks for all of the advice. I went with the Korg Pitchblack mainly because of the price and the positive comments. That being said when I showed up at band practice my guitar player looked down at it with disgust. Mainly because the Detection Accuracy is +/- 1 cent and his Peterson is +/- .5. Is this really an issue? I could return the Korg but it seems to work great. Any advice.

Your guitarist is being a snob and an idiot. No-one is going to be able to tell.

TopJoey · #12 01-16-2010, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donut

Your guitarist is being a snob and an idiot. No-one is going to be able to tell.

That was my thoughts exactly. I told him if he wanted me to have a Peterson, cough up the difference in price. The Korg works fine for me.

Jazz Ad · #13 01-16-2010, 06:45 AM

You could always tell him that your tuner is more accurate than his guitar, which if it's well built is +/- 8 cents on 7th fret.
You'd be right AND you'd piss him off. Double win.

cloclo · #14 01-22-2010, 12:31 PM

http://www.tcelectronic.com/polytune.asp

xray · #15 01-22-2010, 12:39 PM

Most will disagree, but a tuner's, a tuner, a tuner, is a tuner....Behringer TU300 works just fine for 25.00. Plugs right into my GB Shtl 9.0, mute switch and you're good to go. Seriously, why waste valuable pedalboard space when you can have it sitting on your amp or cab. I'm just following what a pro taught me.

**grygrx** · #16 01-22-2010, 12:47 PM

Tuners go in MISC.

serein2j · #17 01-22-2010, 12:50 PM

Turbo tuner. DONE.
You WON'T need any other tuner.

sal4bass · #18 01-22-2010, 01:00 PM

Planet Waves chromatic/strobe tuner.

Built like a tank, disappears in the audio chain, and hands down the best tuner I have ever used. I never use my rack tuner anymore.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TunerPedal/

iamlowsound · #19 01-22-2010, 01:40 PM

I have the boss TU-2, I use it both for bass and for my guitar pedal board. It works great.

lowsound

J.Wolf · #20 01-22-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xray

Most will disagree, but a tuner's, a tuner, a tuner, is a tuner....Behringer TU300 works just fine for 25.00. Plugs right into my GB Shtl 9.0, mute switch and you're good to go. Seriously, why waste valuable pedalboard space when you can have it sitting on your amp or cab. I'm just following what a pro taught me.

Cuz some people prefer having a mute/pedal tuner that hits before the amp in the signal chain. If you had a head that didn't have a mute function, and were playing a gig where you were sending a DI line to the house, with that tuner in the configuration you mentioned, you'd be tuning for all to hear.

I've used enough crap tuners that I really value the ones that are extremely accurate and reliable. In the end, people need different feature sets for their needs. Some folks need an internal mic so they can tune their acoustic guitars as well as their electric bass (nothing like spending 80 bucks on a pedal tuner, and then having to go buy another one that has a mic). Some folks like to do their own setups and intonations, in which case, a strobostomp or something of similar accuracy pays for itself before too long. I can't do a good setup with my pitchblack (one of the several things I am dissatisfied with for that tuner), or the TU8 and TU12 I use to own.

Seriously though...I don't agree that a tuner is a tuner is a tuner. Spend the money on a good one if longevity and accuracy are valuable to you.