Anybody abandoning their tuner pedal for clip-on tuners?

**kenstee** · #1 08-13-2011, 03:52 PM

Gotta admit I'm close to taking the Korg Pitchblack off my board and just using my $9.50 Snark clip-on tuner (Snark Tuners). This thing is dead-on for tuning; calibrates and transposes as well and contains a silent metronome. Large, color display. Accuracy is amazing as is viability.

Anybody else getting rid of or thinking of doing away with their pedalboard tuner? Never thought I'd get to this but the technology has advanced that much as to make this a possibility.

Von Felgenhauer · #2 08-13-2011, 03:55 PM

How low have you gotten it to tune? Some people have some crazy low tunings that require the expensive tuners.

scottfeldstein · #3 08-13-2011, 03:59 PM

I absolutely love my Snark. But it'll never leave the house anymore now that I got my TC Electronic PolyTune pedal. The snark is still incredibly useful for around the house, switching from one guitar to another: an acoustic guitar, a bass, whatever. But the idea that I'm going to clip on the Snark every time I want to check that D string at a gig...well, I ain't gonna. I'd have to turn around and reach for it, clip it on, turn it on, make sure my volume is down, then tune. With the pedal, I just step and tune.

**kenstee** · #4 08-13-2011, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Von Felgenhauer

How low have you gotten it to tune? Some people have some crazy low tunings that require the expensive tuners.

Just standard and Drop D so far.

Does change pitch reference from 415 to 466Hz if you want.

BassMonstrum · #5 08-13-2011, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

With the pedal, I just step and tune.

Agreed!

**kenstee** · #6 08-13-2011, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

With the pedal, I just step and tune.

It's not all that different with the Snark (Still getting used to that name....) if you leave it on the bass/guitar.

scottfeldstein · #7 08-13-2011, 04:17 PM

If you leave it clipped on, you still have to 1) turn it on, 2) turn your volume down and 3) tune. With the pedal it's just 1) step, 2) tune. It still saves a step. Plus my hand never gets in the way of seeing the readout on my pedal when I'm twisting the tuning pegs.

DarkArwen · #8 08-13-2011, 04:19 PM

One of my fav things about my multi pedal is that is has an onboard tuner that can be used silently if I hit the pedal. Wouldn't dream of going to a clip on tuner. I love the all in oneness of it,t he simplicity of it, and the "i dont have to worry about having to look for it because if fell off"ness

Pilgrim · #9 08-13-2011, 04:23 PM

A clip-on is very handy to have, but it's no replacement for my TU-2 that mutes while tuning.

bassgod0dmw · #10 08-13-2011, 04:26 PM

I would not want something that ugly handing off my bass at home, let alone at a gig. I'd also be worried of it falling off if I moved around too much. I can't see any reason to get rid of my pedal tuner.

**kenstee** · #11 08-13-2011, 04:28 PM

Admittedly it ain't the coolest thing to have it on your ax! It does fit on quite strongly though. So far, its primary use is its nice to have another (good enough) tuner around the house when I'm not around my pedalboard. No need to run around upstairs to downstairs or "guess" about the tuning.

**lowfreqgeek** · #12 08-13-2011, 04:29 PM

I have a Snark that's good for basic tuning, but is absolutely no match for my Peterson. I'll take the Snark to a jam or even use it for certain gigs, but critical tuning needs like the studio require something far more precise. The Snark has been as much as 5c off in either direction. Not a huge deal if you can hear it and correct, but the point of a pedal tuner is to mute for silent tuning. If I'm tuning visually, I better know that I'm in tune.

I also do a lot of setup and intonation, so I use a Peterson for that.

bassgod0dmw · #13 08-13-2011, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenstee

its is nice to have another tuner around the house when I'm not around my pedalboard.

That I can certainly understand.

I do have a few other tuners laying around the house for that reason. The pedal board is always used at band practice & gigs, it's rarely used when I practice at home because it's simply not here.

SoonerMatt · #14 08-13-2011, 04:44 PM

Not until you show me a clip tuner that will double as a mute pedal. I have a tuner on my phone but prefer my pedal tuner by a mile.

**kenstee** · #15 08-13-2011, 04:45 PM

Actually, I also use the tuner on some iPhone apps (AmpKit and Amplitube) as well as the TC PolyTune tuner app I got awhile back when they were giving them out for free for a couple of days.

BassMonstrum · #16 08-13-2011, 04:48 PM

Also, I like to move A LOT on scene. Be a shame if someone gets hit by a flying clip-on tuner...

Verminaard · #17 08-13-2011, 09:32 PM

I have a G&L and use it passive. When using a clip tuner I simply kill the active feed with a switch (mute). It may not work perfectly for low a or g, but if you use it in the standard tuning (aka 2 or 4 frets up) and you can manually understand tuning, it's the shiite. I tune to a on a 5er, and I have no issues whatsoever.

scottfeldstein · #18 08-13-2011, 09:32 PM

Just to clarify my own position: I love my pedal tuner AND my snark! But I use them in totally different times/places. I'd hate to have to plug my living room acoustic guitar into my pedal board just to tune it. But I'd hate to have to clip something on, turn it on and mute my bass just to tune between songs at a gig, too.

Both are winners, I say.

Big John66 · #19 08-13-2011, 09:41 PM

I really liked my Intellitouch tuner until it ripped of the "FENDER" part of the decal on my Fullerton era 62 reissue Jazz bass that I bought in 1983 with money I made by mowing lawns.

The upside is the Intellitouch thing smashes really well when struck by a waffle head roofing hammer.

Verminaard · #20 08-13-2011, 09:48 PM

BTW I use a Planet Waves headstock tuner. It works well for me.