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Best tuner in the $100-150 range?

R

RayO5421

Jan 15, 2007
608
1
34
Toms River NJ
#1
Hello everyone,
I wasn't sure where this topic should go so I just figured it would go well along with amps and such. Please move it to another thread location if you need to.

I am playing in a rather serious band now and need a tuner. I used to just tune to a guitar player by ear, but my band now is trying to keep a steady flow between songs without much talking. In addition, the tuning to guitar player thing looks a little unprofessional to me.

Either a rackmountable tuner or pedal is fine. In the $100-150range. I've been looking into the Boss Chromatic pedal and the Planet Waves pedal as I see a lot of other musicians using them. Also mabey a used Korg rackmountable? I think I might be able to find one for around $100 used.

Thanks in advance and sorry if this is the wrong thread!
Ryan
 
#4
At the moment it seems to be Sonic Research's Turbo Tuner, followed closely by Korg's Pitchblack... Also, a used Peterson Strobostomp can usually be had in that price range, and IMO it's the best pedal-type tuner on the market... The Boss TU-2 is still a solid tuner as well...

Rackwise, I'd say a used Korg DTR-1000 would be the best in that price range...




- georgestrings
 
#5
I think the best is probably those Peterson strobe tuners. But I'm cheap, and how good a tuner do you need when you can buy a $20 tuner that tunes you just as well for all practical purposes? So I buy the $20 Korg CA-30 tuners ;)
 
#12
JimmyM said:
But I'm cheap, and how good a tuner do you need when you can buy a $20 tuner that tunes you just as well for all practical purposes?
Click to expand...

+1..

Before a gig I check my tuning on one or two strings with my Boss TU-12, and use my ear to finish up. I keep my tuner plugged in during the set and if I detect any intonation problems, I will correct it on the fly.

My '64 P Bass stays in tune for months at a time and usually only requires tweaking the E string a couple of cents.

Just choose one that has the features that you need and you'll be fine.

Oh, and quit tuning to your guitar player,,,,,they're never in tune!!:bassist:;)
 
#13
Jordasch said:
Effects probably woulda been better.

Do you mean a pedal tuner? Rack tuner? Hand held tuner?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick replies everyone!

I'm looking into either a pedal tuner or a rackmountable one (my head is currently in an SKB roadcase), whichever you good people feel would be best. Mabey handheld but I'm looking for something a little beefier so a good pedal would be great.

Any thoughts on the Planet Waves chromatic pedal? They are on sale at MF for $70 and are looking pretty decent to me right now.
 
#14
I have a Korg rackmount and a Boss TU-2 - I think the pedal tuner is the way to go as it provides more versatility. You can put it anywhere you need to in your signal chain, it's there even if you're not using your own backline, and it's muted by footswitch instead of having to mute it at the rack.
 
#16
I have "two plus one" here a Korg DTR-1000 which I picked up at GC used for around $100, a Seiko SAT500 handheld unit I bought new for about $35 before I got the 1000, and the built in one in my Behringer preamp in the baby rig. I just let my kid use the sieko for his stuff now.

As long as everybody's tuners jive that's the trick. They usually aren't off very much but A lot closer than the old ear method!!! BOB
 
#17
Why? Accuracy and readability.
It's accuracy is the best of ALL tuners, including Peterson, and you can read it from 10 feet away, that is, as long as you already know you are at least tuned reasonably close to begin with. Read about it before you buy anything else. You won't be sorry if you buy one. My 2 cents for the day. http://www.turbo-tuner.com/
Rufus
 
#18
rokkitt said:
I use the peterson strobo-flip
why did you replace the strobo stomp , and what made you go with the turbo tuner?
Click to expand...
I'm not him, but I also replaced a Strobostomp with the Turbo. My Strobo actually died after a few years, and I was going to get the new "II" version, but I read around that they were having some technical problems, and right around then the Turbo hit the market. The Turbo is both faster and easier to use (IMO) than the Strobo, for the lowest notes. It is also smaller and less expensive (about $140).
 

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