Clip-On Tuners --- best and cheapest

[T. Brookins]

I guess it depends on the physics of the bass... My Korg PC-1 will tune down BELOW F# underneath the B string.

 

[T. Brookins]

It'll even tune two octaves below the D string, but not like that note even makes sense to my ears.

The tuner is good at math.

 

[FretNoMore]

I've not had the same luck with the Micro tuners; on my jazz basses the tracking is poor on the E string and hardly works at all on the B string, and depending on where on the headstock I place them they also show slightly different pitch and not in agreement with my Polytune. On my guitars and some of my other basses the tuner works better, but all in all they (I bought three) are in my opinion, for me, quite useless. YMMV, it seems.

 

[Adamixoye]

I am using a 5-string StingRay and an Ibanez RG-series guitar, FWIW.

 

[smeet]

All these vibration-based tuners are quite sensitive to where and how tightly they are clipped to the headstock. Mine have been fine (NS mini better than micro) on Fender P5, Fender J and J5, Nordstrand NJ5, VP5, and VJ5. The B is sometimes touchy. The NJ5 has a short 3+2 headstock, and the B string was solid and quick on that. The Fender style 4+1 headstocks are a bit more iffy on the B, but all the other strings are fine.

 

[Adamixoye]

All these vibration-based tuners are quite sensitive to where and how tightly they are clipped to the headstock. Mine have been fine (NS mini better than micro) on Fender P5, Fender J and J5, Nordstrand NJ5, VP5, and VJ5. The B is sometimes touchy. The NJ5 has a short 3+2 headstock, and the B string was solid and quick on that. The Fender style 4+1 headstocks are a bit more iffy on the B, but all the other strings are fine.

Where do you put yours on the headstock, then? On my StingRay, which is 4+1 style, I put it on the underside "bump" of the headstock, relatively close to the nut.

 

[smeet]

It seems different for different basses. In general it seems that it picks up better near the far tip of the headstock. But then I can't always see it that well, si that plays into it too.

Maybe I'll move it around on my VP5 headstock tonight and see where it picks up the best.

 

[FretNoMore]

I think I get the best tracking at the very top of the headstock too.

 

[Adamixoye]

Huh, I've been happy with mine where it is but maybe I will experiment.

 

[basss]

Went with the D'addario Micro. So far it's working great on both my upright and electric basses