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How do you tune your basses (AT GIGS) with low E/B?

Which low string/tuner do you use?

  • Low B headstock

  • Low B pedal

  • Low B other

  • Low E headstock

  • Low E pedal

  • Low E other

  • Carrots... I tune my bass with carrots at gigs


Results are only viewable after voting.
I am not a big fan of headstock tuners but I see EVERYONE using them. Maybe I haven't tried the right one but they never seem to track my B string amongst house music and other musicians checking levels. I have one of the old black Korg tuners about the size of a tape cassette. I think pedals are the best but I don't really use effects and I bike to gigs so I'm obsessed with how much weight I carry. I'm curious to see how the talkbass community tunes at gigs.
I've got a few clip-ons and some track B much better than others, but I prefer the muting, tuning feature of my Boss pedal.
 
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I've got a few clip-ons and some track B much better than others, but I prefer the muting, tuning feature of my Boss pedal.
I'm happy for those of you who have room for a pedal board. I all but 1 of our venues, I have room for 1 pedal at the base of my mic stand. Anything else and I'd be in the dance"area".I use a clip-on that is mostly behind the headstock. So far, no one has "bitched" about it. No one pays that much attention.
 
My only complaint about headstock tuners is that I have lost 3. My current Snark is tied to my E string tuner with a piece of thin electral wire.

I play bass well enough that I dont give a crap what others think about my bass's appearance. Its the music you make that counts.

My snark works well on the E string, but i sometimes fine tune the B by ear. I tune before the band starts or on breaks, so noise is not a factor. I dont play with folks that wank before or between songs (or at least more than once).
 
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My Eden combo has a tuner out right next to the DI out. I have one of these on a short patch cable and it sits atop the amp. Stomp the mute button, check the tune, done. It has led's for dark stages too.

View attachment 3091830
I've got that exact same korg tuner, i've dropped it a few times had it since 2007, only changed batteries 3 times. Awesome tuner.
 
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I also use the BOSS TU- 2 pedal tuner for low B. Here are two things that make my tuning better (for me anyway). First is to make sure your tuners are tight and not too loose. I replaced all mine a few months ago and that made a huge difference in getting a better tune. Second, I do not play the low B open, but I do play the low C, D, E and F a lot. So I tune for just those notes, again only on the low B string. When I get those precisely in tune the open low B is almost never in tune precisely. Doesn't matter 'cause I don't play it open. So you might just tune for the notes you DO play and don't worry about those you DON'T play.
 
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I also use the BOSS TU- 2 pedal tuner for low B. Here are two things that make my tuning better (for me anyway). First is to make sure your tuners are tight and not too loose. I replaced all mine a few months ago and that made a huge difference in getting a better tune. Second, I do not play the low B open, but I do play the low C, D, E and F a lot. So I tune for just those notes, again only on the low B string. When I get those precisely in tune the open low B is almost never in tune precisely. Doesn't matter 'cause I don't play it open. So you might just tune for the notes you DO play and don't worry about those you DON'T play.
Agreed. Normally I don't go below D w/ an occasional C on the end of a song. Normally I tune to D/Eb
 
I am not a big fan of headstock tuners but I see EVERYONE using them. Maybe I haven't tried the right one but they never seem to track my B string amongst house music and other musicians checking levels. I have one of the old black Korg tuners about the size of a tape cassette. I think pedals are the best but I don't really use effects and I bike to gigs so I'm obsessed with how much weight I carry. I'm curious to see how the talkbass community tunes at gigs.

If I need to downtune I use my Roland GR-55 rig. I leave it in standard E, then the pedal downtunes for me. Beautifully. I don't lose any string tension or playability. It's crisp, I don't have to reconfigure an instrument to just play in that tuning.
 
Thanks. Actually dorky might not be the right word. It looks unprofessional to leave the tuner on the headstock during a gig.
You're entitled to your incorrect opinion. EDIT: my clip-on is black, so are my headstocks. The way it clips on, the head/indicator is behind the headstock. I'm the only one who can see it. If something doesn't sound right, I can push the button, turn it on and check in seconds-while playing. One of our guitarists seems to need to tune about every 2nd or 3rd song. He has to tell us, get his tuner off of his music stand, clip it on, tune, unclip and put it back on the music stand-all while we're standing there looking stupid. Since I do our announcements, I'll try to fill the time with some sort of B.S., but we usually have to wait a bit with the people on the dance floor staring at us. OK, pop quiz:which is more professional? BTW, at our venues, we don't have room for pedal boards w/o encroaching on the dance"space".
 
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You're entitled to your incorrect opinion. EDIT: my clip-on is black, so are my headstocks. The way it clips on, the head/indicator is behind the headstock. I'm the only one who can see it. If something doesn't sound right, I can push the button, turn it on and check in seconds-while playing. One of our guitarists seems to need to tune about every 2nd or 3rd song. He has to tell us, get his tuner off of his music stand, clip it on, tune, unclip and put it back on the music stand-all while we're standing there looking stupid. Since I do our announcements, I'll try to fill the time with some sort of B.S., but we usually have to wait a bit with the people on the dance floor staring at us. OK, pop quiz:which is more professional? BTW, at our venues, we don't have room for pedal boards w/o encroaching on the dance"space".
How can it be incorrect if it's an opinion?
 
How can it be incorrect if it's an opinion?
Good point.You are entitled to your opinion. I happen to think it's very narrow minded(my opinion). After reading the rest, what's your response. As an example, this is how much room I have at one of our gigs.(I'm in the corner)
IMG_1383.jpeg
Any idea where else I could have a tuner?
 

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