Double Bass Another Bass Tuner Q

[bucephylus]

I've been using a Seiko chromatic tuner, which works ok, but can't track the E string at E0 and isn't so great with other musicians warming up around me.

So, after searching here, I bought and tried the TC Electronics Polytune clip on unit. I had high hopes for this device based on comments on here, cost (maybe = capability), and I like the clip on idea. But, after trying this little unit, it is a dismal failure. It fails to track either the A or E strings, and just looks lost. I tried clipping it to every possible point on the bridge and gear box, with no improvement.

I don't know if all the glowing reviews are based on Spirocores or what; but, this thing completely fails to connect with my orchestral strings. My conclusion is that it is basically a guitar tuner that may work for some basses. But, not mine. At all.

Does anyone have any other suggestions (and please spare me the tuning fork, thanks).

 

[ColdEye]

I just use a snark clip on or a planet waves one. I just make sure the battery is fresh.

 

[bucephylus]

I just use a snark clip on or a planet waves one. I just make sure the battery is fresh.

This is a new unit out of the box, fresh battery etc. Works just fine on my bass guitars. Zilch on the upright; and the only thing I can figure there is the lack of overtones on the orchestral strings. What strings are you using?

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

I got sick of replacing the battery in my Snark so I downloaded the BossTuner app. It works ok with the bow in a quiet environment.

 

[Don C]

I have found that my Polytune works best clipped to one of the tuning paddles, doesn't work as well when clipped to the bridge though. On a good day it will even track my extension low C. It'll tune pizz or arco. FYI I'm using Evah Pirazzi Weich strings.

 

[bengreen]

I think you might find the problem is too much overtones.

Before you ditch the tuner you might try bowing further away from the bridge or tuning with the mute on.

When I switched from old, dead Helicores to fresh Kaplans, my tried and true Peterson clip was scratching it's head over the new and, obvious from the sound of them, harmonic rich strings. Either of the above fixes helped quite a bit.

It was actually in an old Korg manual that they recommended bowing away from the bridge.

Oh, and if you're transitioning from an old pointer type tuner with 3% accuracy to one with a strobe indicator with 0.1%, the experience is different. If you tune arco you'll see the effect of bow speed on the pitch. If you tune pizz, you'll see the initial sharp indication going flatter after the initial attack. Just something you have to get used to with the increased accuracy and find a comfortable mean that works for you.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I would try to tune pizzed.
I have a Korg Pitchhawk G2 that works very well with the bass guitar setting or chromatically even with a low B on my five string carved DB clipped to the bridge. Clipped to the pegbox it works well down to the E but only sometimes with the low B. (But I don't care since I usually have a high C instead.)
If I don't use it, I put it in a plastic box with some padding inside. The holder arm is not very robust, but does its job.

 

[bucephylus]

Thanks, folks. I'll try some of those suggestions.

 

[Jay Corwin]

I just use a snark clip on or a planet waves one. I just make sure the battery is fresh.

Ditto. Once you replace the stock battery they last a long time.

 

[Ben B]

OP, your tuning problem does sound a bit odd. A clip on tuner should work fine. I prefer a pedal tuner, but I use a Korg Pitchclip and it works okay clipped to either the pegbox or bridge. I've only used helicores and spirocores, never orchestral strings, but I didn't think that should matter. Are you tuning arco or pizz?

 

[bucephylus]

Thanks again. You folks are awesome! Much appreciated. Tuning pizz is the ticket. Worked like a charm. I'm so used to tuning with the bow, I didn't even think of that.

Fascinating. The bow must produce too many overtones.

 

[bucephylus]

OP, your tuning problem does sound a bit odd. A clip on tuner should work fine. I prefer a pedal tuner, but I use a Korg Pitchclip and it works okay clipped to either the pegbox or bridge. I've only used helicores and spirocores, never orchestral strings, but I didn't think that should matter. Are you tuning arco or pizz?

I was trying to tune arco. Apparently pizz works much better with these devices. Thanks.

 

[shwashwa]

I have the polytune clip tuner and it works great for my upright Bass. Read the manual. Figure out how to put it in bass mode. Once you put it in bass mode you'll probably never need to take it out. that may help

 

[bucephylus]

I have the polytune clip tuner and it works great for my upright Bass. Read the manual. Figure out how to put it in bass mode. Once you put it in bass mode you'll probably never need to take it out. that may help

Ahhh...yup. Guilty as charged. Totally ignored that "manual" that came with it. Putting it in bass mode solved everything. Now, it also tunes VERY well with the bow.

Gee, you mean I have to read the instructions? Earned the Stupid hat for today.

 

[ColdEye]

Hello, I used it with spiros, gut, belcanto and some dead jargar. I tune by pizz, clipped on the bridge. When Arco it always shows up sharp. Btw the korg pitch hawk is pretty good, of the three I have it is the nicest, least is the snark.

 

[bucephylus]

Hello, I used it with spiros, gut, belcanto and some dead jargar. I tune by pizz, clipped on the bridge. When Arco it always shows up sharp. Btw the korg pitch hawk is pretty good, of the three I have it is the nicest, least is the snark.

Agreed. I have noticed that driving the string with the bow also slightly increases the tension on the string, and thus the pitch.

 

[B String]

Hello, I used it with spiros, gut, belcanto and some dead jargar. I tune by pizz, clipped on the bridge. When Arco it always shows up sharp. Btw the korg pitch hawk is pretty good, of the three I have it is the nicest, least is the snark.

I agree about the Pitchhawk G2 is my second fav for the upright. Much better for me than the Snark.

 

[RobinC]

Are you set on a clip tuner?

If not, might I recommend the Sonic Research Turbo Tuner as an excellent pedal tuner option. Great with a bow or otherwise, near-instantaneous tracking, solid build, lots of functions if you need them. Best tuner I have used.

Strobe Tuners by Sonic Research - Turbo Tuner Home Page

 

[wilsonn]

I got tired of jerking around with electronic tuners that sometimes worked and sometimes took me forever to finish tuning. I saw Bill Merchant tap an A tuning fork on his workbench, stick it between his molars and tune a bass with harmonics in about 2 minutes. I tried it and it works for me. The A-440, through bone conduction, fills your head with a tuning pitch regardless of background noise. I get my A string in tune and then use harmonics across the strings. No batteries, either.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I got tired of jerking around with electronic tuners that sometimes worked and sometimes took me forever to finish tuning. I saw Bill Merchant tap an A tuning fork on his workbench, stick it between his molars and tune a bass with harmonics in about 2 minutes. I tried it and it works for me. The A-440, through bone conduction, fills your head with a tuning pitch regardless of background noise. I get my A string in tune and then use harmonics across the strings. No batteries, either.

I only use the tuner in a bass section of an orchestra, since I cannot identify the sound and pitch of my bass when all basses try to tune at the same time (much easier if I play wood winds in an orchestra).
Sometimes I use the built-in tuner of my Zoom B2.1, but only if it's loud or the others don't give me a reference. And usually I only use the Zoom with my EUB or bass guitar (that means very seldom).