I tried a snark, didn't read the low B string well. I have a Delta-labs one now, but tbh the android app on my phone is more accurate. Better than nothing in a pinch but I'm kind of over them.
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Snark Tuners?
- Thread starter CauliColin
- Start date
Myself and our two guitarists long ago ridded ourselves of pedal tuners and now all use the SN-8 on tour almost exclusively; we swear by them, on and off stage. For me personally, they stay out of the way, tune all of my basses (even the low B) exceptionally well in any setting, and for in-town gigs, sessions, or practice, it's hard to beat the built-in metronome and pitch calibration and transpo! Fantastic tool!
There! $.02!
There! $.02!
If any of you have trouble with the Snark, it may be because you have the blue guitar model and not the black universal model. The black one works with my bass and violin.
I have the black one and I was a fan until I changed the battery. Near the end of the stock battery's life it stopped picking up the E string. With a new battery (and I'm sure I got the right type) it was fine for maybe two days then it wouldn't read the E string again, in under two weeks it wouldn't pick up anything above the 5th fret and now it's all but dead. (And it didn't even bother to give me a low battery light this time around.)
It won't read anything now unless I accidentally smack one of my electric guitar's string with the tuner's clamp while clipping it to the headstock. (The string doesn't stay under the tuner.) Than it will work perfectly for that guitar if I don't adjust the tuner at all.
It won't read anything now unless I accidentally smack one of my electric guitar's string with the tuner's clamp while clipping it to the headstock. (The string doesn't stay under the tuner.) Than it will work perfectly for that guitar if I don't adjust the tuner at all.
I have a couple of Snarks, and a few other brands. They all work. Headstock tuners on an electric bass are useless in a band situation so I use pedal tuners on stage (I just replaced my TU-2 with a Korg Pitchblack). Headstock tuners don't always pick up the low bass notes ... depends a lot on the placement. I love them for use with my acoustic instruments (acoustic bass guitar, upright acoustic bass, and acoustic 6 and 12 string guitars).
The Planet Waves NS tuners really struggle with the low B and sometimes E when there's other low frequency noises on the stage. In my experience, it's pretty much impossible to tune the low B while the drummer is playing, or while the DJ is pumping music between sets. Snarks seem to be better at handling this.
On a side note, has anyone tried the Son of Snark yet?
Invalid Link Removed
On a side note, has anyone tried the Son of Snark yet?
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I must say though...
I have one and use it, but only need it when changing strings and a few days after. My bass does not go out of tune so never have had to tune between gigs let alone during a gig. It doesn't even change tune from my house to playing in a cold 40F garage.
I have one and use it, but only need it when changing strings and a few days after. My bass does not go out of tune so never have had to tune between gigs let alone during a gig. It doesn't even change tune from my house to playing in a cold 40F garage.
crap. the ball joint is first to break every time.
deltalab ct-30. same price as a snark and way better.
deltalab ct-30. same price as a snark and way better.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I have three of them for the time being. The battery died in one of them, so I replaced the battery. It works again. It took about three years for the battery to die. The reason I have three of 'em is so there's one in different places so I don't forget to take one of them.
The only routine maintenance I have found they ever need is to push on the face a little to make sure the ball joint is tight enough to transmit vibrations. Other than that, they have always worked very well for me on guitars, bass guitars, and the upright. The big problem I have with them is leaving them on the headstock and leaving them powered up. That causes "oh, shiny!" moments when you hit a note and it really is an F#. Then you forget what comes next because the F# is such a fascinating phenomenon. That's the main drawback as far as I'm concerned.
The only routine maintenance I have found they ever need is to push on the face a little to make sure the ball joint is tight enough to transmit vibrations. Other than that, they have always worked very well for me on guitars, bass guitars, and the upright. The big problem I have with them is leaving them on the headstock and leaving them powered up. That causes "oh, shiny!" moments when you hit a note and it really is an F#. Then you forget what comes next because the F# is such a fascinating phenomenon. That's the main drawback as far as I'm concerned.
I occasionally have trouble picking up a low B but much rather have a snark over a pedal, rack, or plug in type for the convenience.
They're on clearance on musicians friend right now at $7.99 each, I just grabbed a couple extra
They're on clearance on musicians friend right now at $7.99 each, I just grabbed a couple extra
Snark blue for practice, studio and other relatively quiet settings. Vibration clip on tuners generally aren't as good as a pedal or rack unit for actual loud gigging environments.
A word of warning to you guys leaving the snark on your headstock, there is a possibility of discoloration according to the brochure. I use mine & remove it, works as advertized. Only strange thing that happened with mine was the rubber foot slipped off & I put it right back on.
couldn't pass on the $7.99 sale so I'll be trying one soon. I will still be using my tu-3 on pedal board live. I think It will work just fine for home practice, set ups, string changes, gigs without pedal board, etc..
they work great. i dont like that the little rubber foot on one side falls off easily, i had to put a bit of superglue under there. aside from that i really like it.
sometimes you'll need to tune to a harmonic for low B or E, but so what. they also work great (the reason i bought it) for symphony playing, being able to tune while the tuba player next to the bass section warms up is a HUGE plus. fits nicely on the foot of the bass bridge, and on any electric bass headstock i've encountered.
it's also convenient to be able to clip it onto your music stand... normal korg tuners or whatever you use, fall of, batteries go everywhere, you know the scene. it clips on so it wont fall.
sometimes you'll need to tune to a harmonic for low B or E, but so what. they also work great (the reason i bought it) for symphony playing, being able to tune while the tuba player next to the bass section warms up is a HUGE plus. fits nicely on the foot of the bass bridge, and on any electric bass headstock i've encountered.
it's also convenient to be able to clip it onto your music stand... normal korg tuners or whatever you use, fall of, batteries go everywhere, you know the scene. it clips on so it wont fall.
Hmmm ... I call BS. I suspect it's just that you can't hear and don't know that your bass is out tune.
