Not gigging: should I get a rack tuner?

bchamorro · #1 07-19-2008, 03:07 PM

I just bought a Mesa Big Block 750 and I was wondering if I should get a rack tuner? I don't gig. Should I?

I already own a Peterson strobostop and stroboflip floor tuner.

RickenBoogie · #2 07-19-2008, 03:08 PM

Seems like a pretty unneccesary purchase then, doesn't it?

ksandvik · #3 07-19-2008, 03:11 PM

Rack tuners look fun on stage, but are usually heavier than dedicated pedal tuners and do you want to carry around all that weight just for a tuner? You start to appreciate light gear after N amount of gigs. A foot pedal tuner is quite OK even if it does not have the Star Trek effect. A tuner is still good to have, there's nothing more sad than a badly tuned bass guitar. You could get good pedal-based tuners for less than $100, or then they are part of many multi-purpose pedals such as Zoom B1s.

anyonefortennis · #4 07-19-2008, 03:33 PM

You can sell the stomp and flip and get peterson's rack tuner...

fenderhutz · #5 07-19-2008, 03:35 PM

If you aren't gigging sell the Mesa Big Block 750. That's a workhorse amp. The tuner makes perfect sense as a waste of money just like having a Big Block 750 for basement endeavors.

Just my .02

bchamorro · #6 07-19-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

If you aren't gigging sell the Mesa Big Block 750. That's a workhorse amp. The tuner makes perfect sense as a waste of money just like having a Big Block 750 for basement endeavors.

Just my .02

I don't gig but jam with a band.

Oreomeister365 · #7 07-19-2008, 03:40 PM

I've never had a rack tuner but I don't see how you can get any better than a pedal tuner. It'll mute your signal - silent tuning, its right in front of you, you don't gotta stare at your rack and instead stare at the rack of the girl out front because your tuners right there.

K?

SpankyPants · #8 07-19-2008, 03:42 PM

I just prefer to have more space on my board, so I use a rack comp, tuner, etc. Even try to mount the power supply under my pedalboard.

Just me, though.

Plus, when I play with my metal band, I don't have to bring a single pedal. Just my rig.

rustynuts · #9 07-19-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpankyPants

I just prefer to have more space on my board, so I use a rack comp, tuner, etc. Even try to mount the power supply under my pedalboard.

Just me, though.

Plus, when I play with my metal band, I don't have to bring a single pedal. Just my rig.

Ditto.

baalroo · #10 07-19-2008, 04:07 PM

I would recommend purchasing at least 5 or 6 different tuners of varying makes/models, just to make sure.

SpankyPants · #11 07-19-2008, 04:09 PM

You need to run them all at the same time to make sure your tune is as accurate as possible.

baalroo · #12 07-19-2008, 04:15 PM

don't be a jerk spankypants everyone knows running more than 3 tuners at once is redundant. my point was that after you tune with the first 3 you can double check it with the other 2 or 3.

ClassicRock55 · #13 07-19-2008, 04:18 PM

LOL I have a Boss TU-80 (15 dollar tuner). The battery cover fell off at a jam and now the batteries are held in by ducktape. Its bada$$.

I don't think you need a rack tuner, there are better ways to spend that 100 dollars.

Unrepresented · #14 07-19-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpankyPants

I just prefer to have more space on my board, so I use a rack comp, tuner, etc. Even try to mount the power supply under my pedalboard.

Just me, though.

Plus, when I play with my metal band, I don't have to bring a single pedal. Just my rig.

Yup. Nice to have all the essentials to playing all locked up in a single rack case unit instead of having to track down and remember to grab extra cables, power supplies, tuner pedals etc.

And as stated, running a tuner in a rack has the advantage of freeing up board space, and whatever power supply space it's running off, since it'll be plugged into your power conditioner.

It's not necessary, but it's much more convenient for my needs.

bchamorro · #15 07-19-2008, 04:25 PM

I'm going to go ahead and buy my friend's DTR-2000. Hes selling it to me for $70...

too cheap to be true, I know...

tomvelsor · #16 07-19-2008, 05:16 PM

i gig every 1-2 weeks, and dont use a rack tuner ever. i dont see why you would need one. i use a small $35 korg tuner. no reason to get a big expencive tuner in my oppinion..

JanusZarate · #17 07-19-2008, 05:53 PM

I use a rack tuner for numerous reasons:

1) My amp's footswitch has a tuner mute button.
2) My amp's footswitch is already on the board, taking up space.
3) It allows me to gig without my pedalboard - just my rack, cab, and bass - if I need to.
4) It's easy to read a good rack tuner from a distance.
5) It's an excellent, convenient backup tuner for our guitarists.
6) Bright white/blue LEDs are awesome (I own a Korg DTR-1000).

A good pedal tuner is just as accurate as a rack tuner. For example, the Korg Pitchblack is no different than the DTR-1000 in terms of tuning accuracy. The exceptions exist in certain insanely expensive rack tuners that I'd never dare ANYONE to bring to a gig...

...so the moral of this story is, unless your reasons for being interested in a rack tuner are the same as my reasons for having a rack tuner, then honestly, you don't need a rack tuner. As you can see, it took A LOT of reasons for me to justify owning a rack tuner... because in most cases, a pedal tuner is more than good enough.

Heck, I still think about going back to a pedal tuner from time to time, especially since I have the board space again...

EADG mx · #18 07-19-2008, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

I use a rack tuner for numerous reasons:

1) My amp's footswitch has a tuner mute button.
2) My amp's footswitch is already on the board, taking up space.
6) Bright white/blue LEDs are awesome (I own a Korg DTR-1000).

Those are terrible reasons.

Rackmount tuners just seem like a huge waste of $$ to me.

JanusZarate · #19 07-19-2008, 06:17 PM

Well, at one time, those were very good reasons, back when I had ZERO board space...

Plus, I got a really, really good deal on mine when I bought it.

rustynuts · #20 07-19-2008, 08:18 PM

A huge waste of money? If I were to own a pedal tuner it would be a Korg Pitchblack at $90 plus shipping, so just shy of $100. My DTR1000 cost me $149 with free shipping. For the fifty bucks I get one less pedal on my board, one more power connection on my board, and since I run the tuner out from one of my volume pedals I have no problem muting to tune.

I'll keep the rack tuner, but just because it works for me doesn't mean it's for everyone, and just because it's not your personal preference doesn't make a rack tuner a waste of money.