What's wrong with my tuner?

lexxmexx · #1 07-27-2009, 09:54 AM

Ok, I have no idea on where to post this.

Anyway, I had bought a new electronic tuner yesterday (Intelli IMT-204) and it could not tune my bass's A and low B strings. The other 3 strings (E,D and G) were properly detected and response was quick.

The tuner could not detect the B and A strings. Most of the time, I just get no response on the tuner at all (the needle does not move) or very very slow response. The B string was read as F# on the tuner when it finally register, I have confirmed it on another tuner that the B string was tuned in B.

Thus, the tuner can only read some strings correctly. Does this mean that I have bought a faulty tuner?

jefkritz · #2 07-27-2009, 10:01 AM

perhaps.

did you try using harmonics to tune? i generally use the harmonic at the 12th fret to tune the top 4 strings and the harmonic at the 5th fret to tune the b string (in both cases the harmonic is the same note as the open string). lots of tuners have difficulty registering the low tones produced by basses (especially the b strings).

the tuner reading f# instead of b backs up this theory (as f# is a fifth higher than b and is an overtone of the open b)

scottbass · #3 07-27-2009, 10:07 AM

That's a $12.99 tuner (at Amazon), although I see other online places trying to sell it for up to $50! This is another case of "you get what you pay for".

Remedies: (1) You can learn to tune using harmonics. (2) You can spend $90 for a Korg Pitchblack.

Craig_S · #4 07-27-2009, 10:27 AM

The tuner is being confused by the harmonic content. Also: Are you muting the other strings as you tune? I've formed a habit of muting all the other strings, when tuning.

Sahm · #5 07-27-2009, 10:31 AM

Was it set on chromatic? If it was set on guitar tuning, that might have confused it.

lexxmexx · #6 07-27-2009, 10:57 AM

It was stated to be able to pick up A2#, so it should be able to pickup the B string. But the same problem also happens on the A string which is higher than the E string which was detected properly. The fretted notes on both B and A strings worked fine, even the first fret (low C) on the B string worked. It was set on chromatic and each string was tuned with the other muted.

I have tested the harmonics approach, it worked! But do I have to do this all the time?

My good old Seiko ST-747 was able to detect every open string perfectly and had served me very well since 1998 till a couple of days ago when I had accidently dropped and smashed it

Craig_S · #7 07-27-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexxmexx

It was stated to be able to pick up A2#, so it should be able to pickup the B string.

A2 is the 12th fret harmonic of the A string, the fretted 7th fret on the D string, or the fretted 2nd fret on the G string. Open A is A1. If A#2 is the lowest it goes, you need a better tuner.

ggunn · #8 07-27-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexxmexx

I have tested the harmonics approach, it worked! But do I have to do this all the time?

On that tuner, yes. Chime the octave and go in peace.

lexxmexx · #9 07-27-2009, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_S

A2 is the 12th fret harmonic of the A string, the fretted 7th fret on the D string, or the fretted 2nd fret on the G string. Open A is A1. If A#2 is the lowest it goes, you need a better tuner.

You are probably right, but it was able to pick up the low E very well....strange

Pilgrim · #10 07-28-2009, 09:27 AM

Make sure the instrument's volume is turned up full - that's easy to mis and can make a big difference. Might be good to upgrade to a bit better tuner.

ggunn · #11 07-28-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Make sure the instrument's volume is turned up full - that's easy to mis and can make a big difference. Might be good to upgrade to a bit better tuner.

Or just chime the octave harmonic; that's as accurate as an open string.