Headstock tuner suitable for gigs?

[glenb73]

I just got one of those Headstock tuners from Korg. Does anyone else use them and are they reliable enough so that I wouldn't need a stompbox style tuner during a gig?

[cybersnyder]

I use a Snark whenever I don't have my pedalboard. It works in 10 degree weather with noise from 70k fans at an NFL football game. The only downside is that I need to use the harmonic on the B string. If you play on a crazy loud stage you may pick up vibrations from other sources, but it would have to be very, very loud.

[rojo412]

I was just going to ask about these style tuners, so please excuse a possible thread-jack, but I kind of want to know the same thing.

I don't use a floor tuner, but just replaced my head and no longer have a rack tuner. My portable tuner is okay, but kinda sucks sometimes.
I was thinking the headstock ones are cool, easy to use, easy to take with any bass you have, etc. But I don't want to buy a turd, so looking for something accurate and reliable.

There are more of these style of tuners available these days and I wonder what's the consensus of which one (ones) are better than others?

[jaywa]

I bought one, used it for 2 gigs and threw it away. I don't recall the brand but it was abso-freakin-worthless. Inaccurate for bass, hard to read and looks dorky. The only real advantage is that you can mute your amp and not have your tuning escapades going out to the house.

YMMV of course and maybe they have gotten better the last couple of years. My personal opinion, though, leave those toys for the acoustic guitarists and get yourself a pedal that mutes when the tuner is engaged. Me, I'm using a Korg PitchBlack now and luvin it.

[Swift713]

The big appeal of these for me is the ability to share so easily. Just roll off your volume knob for muting and pass the tuner to whoever.

[smeet]

I use the Planet Waves one, and it's great. Not as accurate as my PitchBlack, but it's good enough and more convenient than a pedal. I have one clipped to the strap on each of my basses, just stick it on the headstock when I want to tune. On most of my basses it works fine with the B string, on one I need to use the harmonic.

[Edward G.]

I'm all for the Planet Waves clip-on. I love being able to tune with just the instrument's volume down. Very unobtrusive.

I've even used it at home to test a body and neck with no electronics mounted, just to check out the vibe and resonance.

They're also cheap enough to have one in every gig bag. Love 'em.

[BruceBass3901]

+1 for the Snark

[audiomitch]

+2 for the Snark

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by smeet

I use the Planet Waves one, and it's great. Not as accurate as my PitchBlack, but it's good enough and more convenient than a pedal. I have one clipped to the strap on each of my basses, just stick it on the headstock when I want to tune. On most of my basses it works fine with the B string, on one I need to use the harmonic.

To me, stepping on a footswitch is a lot more convenient than unclipping something from your strap, clipping it to your headstock, turning down your volume, and then reversing the whole process.

Different strokes, I guess.

[Blackbird]

I like the idea of having a tuner completely out of the signal chain, but I'll say this: Stay away from the intellitouch. Mine fell off my bass's headstock and broke way too easily for what it cost.

Now I use a Boss pedal. At least it's already on the floor, so it can't fall and break.

[rojo412]

The lack of cable needed and the cost being 1/3 kind of overshadows the pedal convenience factor... for me, at least.
I won't deny that the PitchBlack is SWEEEEET, but I don't use any pedals usually, so it's kind of a hassle.

But then again, who says you can't have both, RIGHT!?!

[Big John66]

I had a headtstock tuner that worked just ok. It would never pick up the D string, no matter where I placed it on the headstock. The last time I removed it after a gig, if took half of my decal off my Fullerton era 62ri Jazz bass , that I purchased new in high school back in the early 80's . So I think they suck now.

[ga_edwards]

Originally Posted by Swift713

The big appeal of these for me is the ability to share so easily. Just roll off your volume knob for muting and pass the tuner to whoever.

Every guitarist/bassist should have their own tuner. Sharing a tuner during a gig when someone *will* go out of tune is ridiculous.

Rather than spending money on un-needed effects, tell your fellow guitarists to buy a tuner with that money instead.

To the OP. IME, clip on tuners are not reliable enough in gig situations for bass. It can be difficult enough to get a good response from the lowest strings in a quiet room, in a venue, the bass can pick up so many sympathetic vibrations you can have a tough job getting anything from the tuner.

[Swift713]

Originally Posted by ga_edwards

Every guitarist/bassist should have their own tuner. Sharing a tuner during a gig when someone *will* go out of tune is ridiculous.

Rather than spending money on un-needed effects, tell your fellow guitarists to buy a tuner with that money instead.

Absolutely, in a band everyone should be responsible for their own tuning (and timing) but what if my wife and I want to hit an open mic for sh@ts and giggles and I don't want to bring my pedals and power supply and plug and unplug my bass, her guitar, etc? A friend of mine brought a clip on over to jam and it was super convenient and works with acoustics as well.

[Turock]

The Snark is a good tuner.

[smeet]

Originally Posted by jaywa

To me, stepping on a footswitch is a lot more convenient than unclipping something from your strap, clipping it to your headstock, turning down your volume, and then reversing the whole process.

Different strokes, I guess.

That's what I used to think also. But since I can use it without my pedal board, with no worries about cabling or signal path, and tune up before I hit the stage without being plugged in, it works really well for me.

[Thrill-House]

Originally Posted by ga_edwards

Every guitarist/bassist should have their own tuner. Sharing a tuner during a gig when someone *will* go out of tune is ridiculous.

Rather than spending money on un-needed effects, tell your fellow guitarists to buy a tuner with that money instead.

To the OP. IME, clip on tuners are not reliable enough in gig situations for bass. It can be difficult enough to get a good response from the lowest strings in a quiet room, in a venue, the bass can pick up so many sympathetic vibrations you can have a tough job getting anything from the tuner.

Agreed on all counts.

The clip on tuners are a cool idea, but yeah, i have found them to be somewhat lacking compared to pedal or rack tuners. I find my simple rack setup (head, power strip/conditioner, korg rack tuner) to be a better solution for me. Tuner-outs on amps are a god send, as you always get a direct signal without actually having the tuner in the signal chain.

[xikbastard]

i used to have a korg aws tuners and use it mostly everywhere from jams to gigs, etc.. but tuning the low B is a big issue and checking tunes between sets looks dorky with a head tuner, so now i use a korg pitchblack and it works damn good

[smeet]

Originally Posted by ga_edwards

To the OP. IME, clip on tuners are not reliable enough in gig situations for bass. It can be difficult enough to get a good response from the lowest strings in a quiet room, in a venue, the bass can pick up so many sympathetic vibrations you can have a tough job getting anything from the tuner.

Everybody's situation is different, but with my Planet Waves I haven't had any problems tuning right next to a loud guitarist/drummer, even my low B. It doesn't seem to pick up vibrations from the room at all.