Looking for a mute switch. Thoughts?

[JazznFunk]

The trick, if you have a passive volume pedal, is to not use the Tuner Out on the volume pedal, but have an always-on tuner behind it, in the "normal" signal chain. This is what I'll often do if I don't use "my own" AB switch, which I posted.

View attachment 7017631

The new-ish Korg tuner is really cool – but for some insane reason, it can't be set to always-on! If you look at this promo image, that seems like a neat place to stick a tuner – but you can't do the volume pedal "trick" mentioned above. You have to use a tuner-out (preferrably buffered) or stomp on the pedal to use it (which is difficult if it's somewhere like the promo image).

If I remember correctly, the Sonic tuner can't be set to always on either – but that's more excused, as it isn't brand new. But some that can, are Boss, Peterson, Walrus Audio Canvas and Polytune 3. Also a little shout-out to the Nux Flow tuner, which can do this, while being very cheap.

I've had bad experiences with both. I choose not to use an inline tuner anywhere. I split it off via my Little Lehle or use the amp tuner out.

 

[JazznFunk]

You won't

You don't yank it out completely
No pops, no nothing. When an amp doesn't have a mute that's what we did/do.

(sounds like you haven't tried it... go on )

I question the 'just the tip' method of muting for sure, after having accidentally gone too far with accidentally pulling a plug out on a huge festival stage, popping my amp and the mains before the tech could get it muted. You risk static or introducing a pop somewhere in the connection going in or out. So yeah, I've tried it to an extreme. It's not a method I recommend, but you do you. When it comes to plugs, I go all the way in and stay there.

 

[mcnach]

I question the 'just the tip' method of muting for sure, after having accidentally gone too far with accidentally pulling a plug out on a huge festival stage, popping my amp and the mains before the tech could get it muted. You risk static or introducing a pop somewhere in the connection going in or out. So yeah, I've tried it to an extreme. It's not a method I recommend, but you do you. When it comes to plugs, I go all the way in and stay there.

Risk... is a very subjective thing. Feel free to ignore the method if you can't trust your ability, of course.

 

[JazznFunk]

Risk... is a very subjective thing. Feel free to ignore the method if you can't trust your ability, of course.

Risk - is dependent on one's ability to perceive and accept the consequences of said risk, especially if there are other far better methods to achieve the same outcome without such (unnecessary) risk. In this case, there is no reward for such risk - only negative consequences for a choice executed poorly. It doesn't make you smarter or more clever.... it just means your luck hasn't run out yet. As David St. Hubbins said in Spinal Tap: "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Going to throw in another vote for a tuner pedal. Cheap easy solution.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

The old "pull the cord at the amp's end a bit" trick would probably work too, no?

This is a terrible practice, never do it. There is no “safe way” to do this. This is like saying I can clean a loaded gun because I know how to do it when it’s loaded.

 

[mikeswals]

Boss tuner pedals. I've been using them on various boards for over 20 years and no issues with tone loss.

On my big pedalboard, my Shure wireless receiver also has a built-in tuner/mute button.

 

[JazznFunk]

This is a terrible practice, never do it. There is no “safe way” to do this. This is like saying I can clean a loaded gun because I know how to do it when it’s loaded.

Another voice of reason countering this practice. Nice to see!

 

[speedball3]

The cheapest mute switch is a true bypass pedal you already own and don’t use. Put it in your signal chain but don’t route power to it. Leave the pedal “off” while playing and stomp it “on” to mute. When it’s on, it will try to route your signal thru its circuit but will fail because it’s not powered. Easy and free (since you’ve already paid for it)

Outside of this quick cheap fix, it sounds like a decent tuner is the correct solution here. Unless you already have a way to tune your bass (clip on tuner)… then see above

 

[Verticos]

Another happy ST-300 owner here wondering about OP's bad experience with the turbo-tuner (and tuners in general?)...

Psychoacoustics is a hell of a drug.

In any case, I'm wondering if there's something missing. Maybe OP has one of their older units which performed differently than current offerings, or the one they have is defective. Sonic Research's modern iterations all have every capability mentioned in thread: true bypass or buffered bypass, always-on mode, etc. I've never known anyone to have the problem with them that OP describes.

 

[kenny ames]

I have used a Sonic Research ST-300 Mini tuner for several years and it doesn't thin any tone at all. I also owned the previous larger version of this pedal; same thing, no degradation in sound. Maybe you had a bum unit?

View attachment 7017927

Hmmm, I wonder. It definitely altered the bandwidth. It was the larger ST-300, I believe.

 

[kenny ames]

Another happy ST-300 owner here wondering about OP's bad experience with the turbo-tuner (and tuners in general?)...

Psychoacoustics is a hell of a drug.

In any case, I'm wondering if there's something missing. Maybe OP has one of their older units which performed differently than current offerings, or the one they have is defective. Sonic Research's modern iterations all have every capability mentioned in thread: true bypass or buffered bypass, always-on mode, etc. I've never known anyone to have the problem with them that OP describes.

Was the first run of the ST-300. Loved the accuracy but it definitely cut the bandwidth.

Never experienced that before.

Maybe it was bum unit.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I had a sonic research tuner, but it definitely thinned the sound a bit.

I have used a Sonic Research ST-300 Mini tuner and it doesn't thin any tone at all. I also owned the previous larger version of this pedal; same thing, no degradation in sound. Maybe you had a bum unit?

Was the first run of the ST-300. Loved the accuracy but it definitely cut the bandwidth.

Never experienced that before.

Maybe it was bum unit.

Interesting. Can you describe what "cut the bandwidth" means in terms of frequencies and dB variations? Curious what you were hearing....

 

[kenny ames]

I have used a Sonic Research ST-300 Mini tuner and it doesn't thin any tone at all. I also owned the previous larger version of this pedal; same thing, no degradation in sound. Maybe you had a bum unit?


Interesting. Can you describe what "cut the bandwidth" means in terms of frequencies and dB variations? Curious what you were hearing....

I can’t give you DB plus/minus or frequencies, etc. I’ve played professionally for 42 years and when when I was plugged into the sonic research, it sounded way better going direct into the fat boy then into the sonic research and then into the fat boy.

 

[zombywoof5050]

Regarding the Sonic Research ST-300:
The full-size version of the pedal can be run in ‘always-on while still passing signal’ mode, but the Mini version cannot.

 

[mouthmw]

Hmmm, I wonder. It definitely altered the bandwidth. It was the larger ST-300, I believe.

ST-300 is true bypass. There’s zero circuitry going from input to output when it’s off. The only thing affecting your tone is your cable length because without the buffer, it’s not affecting the impedance at all. It’s like having additional cable the length of the pedal. So check your cables. Either that or it’s a dud unit.

That said, since no buffer to bring back the signal, you will lose the high end the longer your cable gets. So if you compared a short cable directly into your amp vs 2 longer cables with ST-300 in between, then yeah the tone can suffer the high end.