Double Bass Tuners Of The Future?

[Don Kasper]

Has anyone ever considered the possible benefits of producing "keyless" tuners?
If you would remove the key(s), you could then use a (removable) key, similar to a drummer's key - used to tune the drum head.
Given the popularity of fingered (and latched) C-extensions, this would improve and allow LH access to, and remove excess mass at, the pegbox/scroll.
Yes/No?
Should I switch to Decaf?

 

[hondo4life]

I was just thinking of this idea as a weight-saving anti-neck-dive measure. Cut off the silly handles, and throw a pair of channel-locks in my bag. Bam, problem solved.
But then I spent an obscene amount of money on ultralight tuners.

 

[Tom Lane]

Should I switch to Decaf?

Like that ship didn't sail LONG ago!

 

[james condino]

What happens when you loose the key on a gig?

 

[Tom Lane]

Teeth?

 

[micahwc]

Make it so you can put the key on your car key ring.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Because no one EVER loses their keys.

Good thing there are no frets.

 

[Don Kasper]

What happens when you loose the key on a gig?

Just ask the pianist "how many sharps or flats?"

But seriously - Maybe have more than just one key??? Keep 1 in your bass bag?? Keep 1 at home on the music stand?? Keep 1 on your keychain.
It's a very solvable "problem", IMO.
We have the technology!
For those of us with C-extensions, this would be a nice feature.
Thanks.

 

[Tom Lane]

True story: I keep a drum key in my gig bag for when my drummer says "dang!" Happened much more than once.

 

[Don Kasper]

True story: I keep a drum key in my gig bag for when my drummer says "dang!" Happened much more than once.

Do you also keep a set of flashcards numbered 1 thru 4?

 

[Tom Lane]

Do you also keep a set of flashcards numbered 1 thru 4?

You got me there, but I do bring an extra music stand, an extra extension cord, an extra multi-outlet strip, and a back up amp for me, along with some old strings. Oh, and I bring ALL the books of charts WITH the same charts in the same order appropriately transposed. All used many more times than they should have. Who said musicians tend to be flakes? I think it was in the Old Testiment, wasn't it?

 

[Don Kasper]

You got me there, but I do bring an extra music stand, an extra extension cord, an extra multi-outlet strip, and a back up amp for me, along with some old strings. Oh, and I bring ALL the books of charts WITH the same charts in the same order appropriately transposed. All used many more times than they should have. Who said musicians tend to be flakes? I think it was in the Old Testiment, wasn't it?

St. Thomas strikes again!
Yes - I am also usually the guy with various tools, fuses, extra patch cords, etc.
"Blessed are the Flaky, for they shall make Music."

 

[Tom Lane]

Ya gotta EARN your place on a gig and if I can't dazzle 'em with playing I can at least demonstrate my worth by making the band sound better than it would without me. Better for me too because I don't want to play with a drummer futz-ING with his/her hi hat all night or a guitarist I can't hear.

 

[jsf729]

Ya gotta EARN your place on a gig and if I can't dazzle 'em with playing I can at least demonstrate my worth by making the band sound better than it would without me. Better for me too because I don't want to play with a drummer futz-ING with his/her hi hat all night or a guitarist I can't hear.

Make sure you put a level in your gig bag to level the drum platform. That way the drool will run out of both sides of the drummer's mouth

Ya gotta EARN your place on a gig and if I can't dazzle 'em with playing I can at least demonstrate my worth by making the band sound better than it would without me. Better for me too because I don't want to play with a drummer futz-ING with his/her hi hat all night or a guitarist I can't hear.

Make sure you put a level in your gig bag to level the drum platform. that way the drool will run out of both sides of the drummer's mouth.

 

[bassmastan]

I could see something like the Tronical tuners for guitar coming to fruition... imagine always being in tune without ever touching a peg

 

[Don Kasper]

I could see something like the Tronical tuners for guitar coming to fruition... imagine always being in tune without ever touching a peg

Yes, but...
I'm an old geezer and I prolly won't be around when this comes to fruition. I need something "now".
Thanks.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

I could see something like the Tronical tuners for guitar coming to fruition... imagine always being in tune without ever touching a peg

Ha! Never going to happen. Gibson put their dumb electrical tuners on all their electric guitars for 2015 - and couldn't sell them at any price...

And their failure rate is right through the roof.

Not to mention that you need to tune your strings a little off from equal temperament if you want to be able to play in tune with instruments like voices, fiddles, brass and woodwinds.

 

[Don Kasper]

Ha! Never going to happen. Gibson put their dumb electrical tuners on all their electric guitars for 2015 - and couldn't sell them at any price...

And their failure rate is right through the roof.

Not to mention that you need to tune your strings a little off from equal temperament if you want to be able to play in tune with instruments like voices, fiddles, brass and woodwinds.

Where did you purchase your Time Machine?
Inquiring Minds want to know!
(Not looking for a BassBrawl, Jack...Just funnin' with you a bit.)
Don Kasper

 

[Tom Lane]

Wouldn't self-tuners be the exact opposite of what Don was originally proposing because it'd add quite a bit of mass to the pegbox? And, I've had teachers seriously recommend that I scrap my electronic tuner altogether and if I understood them correctly that was because 1) learning to tune your instrument is an important skill 2) tuning to the other current instruments in the band is more important than tuning to a standard and 3) it's not necessary if you know how to tune and have an external reference. I'm trying to think of a situation where it'd be better to have an electronic tuner than not, and I can't think of one. There have been times when I wished that I had a taser to get the noodlers to be quiet while I'm trying to hear the piano but unless it's a digital piano, the electronic tuner still isn't any help. I don't think I'll be get a self-tuning bass anytime soon.

 

[Don Kasper]

Wouldn't self-tuners be the exact opposite of what Don was originally proposing because it'd add quite a bit of mass to the pegbox? And, I've had teachers seriously recommend that I scrap my electronic tuner altogether and if I understood them correctly that was because 1) learning to tune your instrument is an important skill 2) tuning to the other current instruments in the band is more important than tuning to a standard and 3) it's not necessary if you know how to tune and have an external reference. I'm trying to think of a situation where it'd be better to have an electronic tuner than not, and I can't think of one. There have been times when I wished that I had a taser to get the noodlers to be quiet while I'm trying to hear the piano but unless it's a digital piano, the electronic tuner still isn't any help. I don't think I'll be get a self-tuning bass anytime soon.

My original post primarily concerned the removal of the tuning keys to allow for easier access to a (my) C-extension - the "less mass" issue is just a byproduct that may or may not be desirable.
Regarding electronic tuners - I own and use one, but only on gig$ (the background noise level is often an issue.) (I'll take a reading of the piano to confirm or correct the A440). At home, I
ALWAYS tune to a tuning fork or to my piano (recently tuned to A440!$), and I (do) recommend/insist that any serious student tune up at a lesson using only the piano-supplied "A" - NOT using an electronic tuner. That process/struggle is still an important skill to develop and acquire.
As for "tuners of the future", I'm not sure if self-tuning tuners will be good or bad, only that they are inevitable - the bugs will be worked out at some point and the technology will progress and this will then be a "thing". Future generations will be shocked to hear that people used to "tune by EAR??? ***?!".
And dat's da name 'a dat tune. (Robert Blake/Barretta reference.)