Tuner Troubles...

iamthebassplayr · #1 07-26-2008, 09:44 PM

This won't turn into the change your batteries thread...

So.. I've had a crappy little tuner for a while and noticed that I can't use the "Tuner Out" function on my Aguilar 500 amp head... Figured it was the cheap tuner...

But I just bought a much more highly reviewed tuner and it gives me the same problem...

I am running the tuner with an AC adapter so it is not a power supply problem... And it isn't the amp head because I also tried it out of the back of my Cafe Walter...

Whenever I go to tune it will show the strobe flipping back and forth between B flat and B....

Halpz?

bongomania · #2 07-26-2008, 10:30 PM

So, the tuner "works", but poorly, right? When you say you "can't use the tuner out function" do you mean the tuner does the flip-flopping deal, or does it not work at all?

Does the tuner work when you plug your bass straight into it?

Would you say your bass has low output or very high output?

Have you confirmed with certainty that the AC adapter is the correct one?

iamthebassplayr · #3 07-27-2008, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

So, the tuner "works", but poorly, right? When you say you "can't use the tuner out function" do you mean the tuner does the flip-flopping deal, or does it not work at all?

Does the tuner work when you plug your bass straight into it?

Would you say your bass has low output or very high output?

Have you confirmed with certainty that the AC adapter is the correct one?

Both tuners work fine when I go straight into either of my basses, One is a passive squire jazz and the other is an MTD Z5... so the Squire has low output and the MTD has high...

The tuner doesn't work when I use the "Tuner" jack on my amp head. It is on, and reads a b normally... I can crank volume on the bass, mute, but nothing makes the tuner actually pick up the bass signal...

And the AC came with the tuner, and it works with the bass alone... =/

bongomania · #4 07-27-2008, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Myers

Both tuners work fine when I go straight into either of my basses, One is a passive squire jazz and the other is an MTD Z5... so the Squire has low output and the MTD has high...

OK, so that makes it pretty clear that the tuners are not the problem. They work fine with a decent range of input.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Myers

The tuner doesn't work when I use the "Tuner" jack on my amp head. It is on, and reads a b normally... I can crank volume on the bass, mute, but nothing makes the tuner actually pick up the bass signal...

So I'm still confused here. Does signal pass into the tuner or not? When you say "it reads a b normally" that makes it sound like it's working just fine. Then you say "nothing makes the tuner actually pick up the bass signal", which makes it sound like the connection is dead. What is actually happening?

Also, have you tried using a different cable from amp to tuner?

iamthebassplayr · #5 07-27-2008, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

What is actually happening?

After I plug in the bass and cable and tuner, it will read a B, regardless if I play anything or not... I can pluck away at an E until my fingers fall off and it doesn't affect what it is reading...

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Also, have you tried using a different cable from amp to tuner?

I've tried using two or three...
Should I be using in instrument or speaker cable? I've been using instrument ones I think...

bongomania · #6 07-27-2008, 09:46 AM

Instrument ones are correct. It sounds like it must be a bad ground or bad connection somewhere, but at this point I'm stumped about where it would be.

First thing I'd do is call Aguilar to confirm that a "normal" tuner pedal should be able to operate from their tuner output jack.

After that, I'd take the tuners and the amp head and the Cafe Walter all over to a friendly shop that would let me test the tuners with their amps and their amps with your tuners.

If you don't already have one, I'd buy a cable tester too.

Happynoj · #7 07-28-2008, 05:10 AM

I get a similar situation if I turn on my Little Big Muff and tuner at the same time - it just reads a constant G#. I assume that it is something to do with the hum from the LBM. Maybe the tuner out on your Aguilar is dodgy and is humming into your tuner, which is making it go psycho.