Double Bass Clip on Tuners

[drurb]

Just got my new GoGo TT-1. Two badger paws WAY up!!! Very fast, accurate, loves the E string, red display changes to green when in tune...

Beware the infamous "color-change" tuners. Do a search here. They are among the most inaccurate and once they "decide" the note is correct and change color they basically suppress and ignore small changes. You can demonstrate this by having it change color to indicate correct intonation and then intentionally de-tune by more than a few cents. The tuner will typically continue to indicate correct intonation.

Jeff, FWIW, the Korg OT-120 allows the player to use their ear thanks to its sound back feature. It's basically a drone that changes to whatever note you're playing as you play it (and it's sensitive to whatever octave you're in.. particularly good for upper thumb position intonation, where the ear might get a little funky on its own). You either match it right away or adjust if you're a cent or two off (it keeps the player very honest, intonation-wise). I also agree with your method of using harmonics (sometimes open strings too).

Now, that's a VERY COOL feature! Thanks!

 

[Phil Rowan]

No problem drurb! It's seriously a great practice/technique tool, and with the clip on wire (this depending on where you place it on the bass) the reaction is usually pretty fast. A solid investment, if I say so myself.

 

[clodhopper]

Just got my new GoGo TT-1. Two badger paws WAY up!!! Very fast, accurate, loves the E string, red display changes to green when in tune, bright enough that I can catch the green flash reflecting off the varnish rather than looking directly at the display. Downsides? Bright orange case (which glows from the display lighting), too many buttons (and too easy to change reference pitch, as the power switch and pitch selector are the same button - press 'n hold for power on/off). Overall it's great, and the Snarks and Stroboclip will go back to tuning guitars and dobros.

Where do you clip this one? Is it fast enough to check intonation as you play (within reason)?

 

[misterbadger]

I clip it on the bass side of the bridge. It's very fast, and I use it to check intonation. I'm not having the the experience that drurb alludes to above - it's extremely finicky about its "in tune-change to green" point - meter is graduated in cents, doesn't suppress minor changes, and happily points out a one-cent error by changing back to red. Just my $.02 - not looking to pick a fight...

 

[clodhopper]

GoGo TT-1 - This looks like the one to get...

 

[drurb]

I clip it on the bass side of the bridge. It's very fast, and I use it to check intonation. I'm not having the the experience that drurb alludes to above - it's extremely finicky about its "in tune-change to green" point - meter is graduated in cents, doesn't suppress minor changes, and happily points out a one-cent error by changing back to red. Just my $.02 - not looking to pick a fight...

Thanks for the additional information. I actually tested one of the "color-change" tuners a while back and found that it did suppress small changes once it "locked-in." Others reported the same behavior among a variety of that type of tuner. Perhaps the GoGo uses a different and/or updated chip. Your description is unlike what what has been the case for "color-change" tuners in general. That's welcome news as it suggests that, at least in the case of the GoGo, the undesirable behavior has been rectified.

A quick internet search reveals that, while many are happy with the performance of the GoGo, there seem to remain some substantial quality-control issues. I have no stake here, just reporting what I found.

 

[Mark_T]

I find that the Snark doesn't do particularly well with my bass, particularly when I'm trying to tune my low C. It's especially bad when I'm not the first one to my rehearsals and there are horns, cellos, etc., all warming up.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

The Peterson Strobo Clip works well but it's overpriced and the battery life is abysmal.

 

[misterbadger]

I'm had the GoGo for about a month, and as predicted, QC has become an issue. It's a fine little tuner, except when it isn't - has the peculiar habit of occasionally having no response to a note, either through the clip or mic, until it feels like doing so, which could range from a couple of minutes to several on/off cycles.

I'll talk with the company tomorrow to see how they'd like to deal with it. An unreliable tuner is hardly better than none at all, as it'll doubtless choke at a critical moment. My apologies to anyone who bought this tuner based on my recommendation.

 

[drurb]

I'm had the GoGo for about a month, and as predicted, QC has become an issue. It's a fine little tuner, except when it isn't - has the peculiar habit of occasionally having no response to a note, either through the clip or mic, until it feels like doing so, which could range from a couple of minutes to several on/off cycles.

I'll talk with the company tomorrow to see how they'd like to deal with it. An unreliable tuner is hardly better than none at all, as it'll doubtless choke at a critical moment. My apologies to anyone who bought this tuner based on my recommendation.

Thanks for this update. You sure do get the "integrity award" for today!

 

[ricobasso]

Has anyone tried any iphone app tuners?

 

[marcox]

I use the Cleartune iPhone app for tuning before practice at home. It seems accurate and responsive. Because I rely on the phone's mic, rather than using a cable, the app isn't usable in loud situations.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Maybe clipping the Apple headphone mic to the bridge gives better results in loud situations. But I haven't tried that yet.

 

[lmfreeman9]

Just got my new GoGo TT-1. Two badger paws WAY up!!! Very fast, accurate, loves the E string, red display changes to green when in tune, bright enough that I can catch the green flash reflecting off the varnish rather than looking directly at the display. Downsides? Bright orange case (which glows from the display lighting), too many buttons (and too easy to change reference pitch, as the power switch and pitch selector are the same button - press 'n hold for power on/off). Overall it's great, and the Snarks and Stroboclip will go back to tuning guitars and dobros.

My GoGo doesn't.

 

[rodl2005]

Korg clip on here. Works well on upright & electric. Works well in loud/live situ's also. Headstock on EB & bridge on upright.
No probs either way.

 

[lmfreeman9]

My GoGo doesn't.

GoGo now goes with battery replacement. Perhaps the stock battery is cheapo.

 

[what the pluck]

Maybe clipping the Apple headphone mic to the bridge gives better results in loud situations. But I haven't tried that yet.

Throw it in the f hole... I do this when its loud with the Peterson strobe tuner app.

 

[moles]

Has anyone tried any iphone app tuners?

I've got the ClearTune app for my Galaxy - I think it works great. Much better than the cheapo clip on I had been using before I left it at a gig.
So far I haven't had to put it through the paces in, say, a big band setting with everyone else in the room tuning up; but I use it live, and at rehearsals all the time and haven't had to ask anyone to shut up so I can tune properly. I regularly tune up at home while catching the end of the morning news and it works just fine from 5 ft away from the TV.
I wonder how much of its performance depends on the actual mic on the phone its running on.

 

[B String]

When I was at the NAMM show this past week I spoke to the people at Snark. I let them know I've tried ALL of their clip on tuners with my upright bass. They all work acceptably well at home but are near useless on the gig. No matter where I put them, the E string and sometimes the A just don't read.

The people at the booth swore up and down and promised me unconditionally that the new SN-8 B is their tightest and best to date and will EASILY do the job on my bass. We'll see...

I had high hopes for the Planet Waves Headstock mini. Its ok but still has E string issues.

 

[Sam Reese]

FWIW my Snarks work fine on both my Upton and my NS NXT4. I tune A & E by hitting the harmonics at octave &/or 5th for those strings...at gigs...and leave them on to keep an eye on my intonation while playing.