Why are tuner pedals so expensive?

[Honch]

my upright needs little nudges and tweaks — even a set break is enough to disrupt the tuning, the strings cooling on the break and then encountering warm hands after sitting under the blast of air-con.

.. hmmm... and here you blew yourself. Upright with a possibility to play in tune where you move your fingers slightly? it's only the open strings that would give away some out of tune-ness...the upright are fretless and, thus, except for open strings, are always in whatever tune your fingers are playing. Other solutions: Well don't play any upright then. You don't have an acoustic cembalo player do you?
My headless doens't drift at all once tuned up. If it should, I can actually reach for the tuners which resides at the bridge WHILE I am playing even busy stuff too, to fine tune one or two strings if needed. If the strings' too sharp, if the strings too flat I just bend them up a bit. Down if it's a low E-string. But generally speaking strings goes up, when they drift out of tune. Yes, the neck being graphite sure helps, but the headless is the main crucial point of why strings don't go out of tune once tuned up. If I have to change strings to a brand new set, just tune them up, after less than 5 minutes adjusting for standard tuning THEY STAY THAT WAY, during the gig. They don't slack and drift. All headstocked basses will do, and you have to adjust ever so often, just after a couple of days it will stay put.

But I agree, those self tuning mechanism aren't any good, you have to stop playing mute the bass/guitar, and then press button. Well, I agree THOSE self tuners are very expensive. It's that they drift while playing that's the main problem...and for those ones there's this solutions (albeit more expensive than most tuners):

https://evertune.com/shop/index.php

Alas not for bass as of yet. Probably because they think it's not needed.

 

[Drgonzonm]

Tuners, I use a guitar tuner clipped to the headstock and tune slightly flat, using harmonics. 12th fret for E.
Then the 5-7 fret to match the rest of the strings to the E. Its not fool proof. I then dial in the amp, to correct pitch.
I recently tried to tune a mini squier without a tuner, and I was flat by a whole step. The instrument was in tune, but not to the right key.

A couple of things to remember, the standing wave for the E1 string is about 28 feet. Its even longer for the B0 string on some 5 strings. So, I do think that tuners are the way to go.

Several decades ago, during my jrhi arco period, a well known orchestra director, (at least locally, and he had a PhD), told us, Most of you stay in tune for about 45 seconds, and we were going to play a 4 movement opus. (Its a little longer period for bass) I believe a guitar when played is in tune for a couple of songs, four or five max.
This took place on the stage of Popejoy Hall in the summer of 1966. Not only did we tune our instruments, the stage was tuned for us. (At the time Popejoy, was the largest tune-able stage in the world, it didn't help, you can guess how bunch of junior high students with violins, violas cellos and bass on fretless instruments can sound like)

 

[Volunteerk9]

Well worth it so you don't look like a schmuck live tuning on stage and/or can tune unless everyone else goes silent.

That drives me absolutely bonkers. Particularly when they can't seem to get it in a few plucks.

 

[buldog5151bass]

By the way, has anyone here tried the Guitar Fetish pedal?

 

[StatesideRambler]

PS: To everyone saying $75 isn't expensive, I commend you getting to a point in your life where you can afford something $75 and calling it inexpensive, I hope to get you where you are one day. I agree that you pay for what you get, and I want good quality, but at the moment I'm a crap ton of college debt and getting just above minimum wage lol.

One day you'll be out of school, at "a point in your life," old enough, with life experience enough to understand why your original post comes off as whine-y. Nearly all of us were once poverty-bound students so your viewing a reasonably priced accessory as outrageously expensive is par for the course. This, too, shall pass.

 

[Big Hoss]

Never expected this much of a response lol.
I do agree that you can't stop playing in the middle of a gig to just tune, and that my phone does in fact cost ten times the amount a tuner costs, but to be fair my phone can do a bit more than a tuner pedal can.
I'm still not particularly motivated to buy a tuner pedal, and my bass can generally hold its tuning for long enough for me to sound good through a long enough gig. I've gone sometimes through 8 hours of playing (slap and all) and still not have any tuning issues that would require me to tune on stage.
In general I think the reason they're so expensive is simply because the demand for them are high enough and people can easily capitalize on them, just like all musician equipment. We're really getting the short end of the stick from all these big businesses. But at the same time, I don't particularly think I'm gonna ever be able to build myself one, so some day I'll end up buying one (probably on sale).
I agree, keeping in tune is probably the best thing you can do to stay sounding good, so in theory a tuning pedal should be your best friend.

PS: To everyone saying $75 isn't expensive, I commend you getting to a point in your life where you can afford something $75 and calling it inexpensive, I hope to get you where you are one day. I agree that you pay for what you get, and I want good quality, but at the moment I'm a crap ton of college debt and getting just above minimum wage lol.

Most of us have been there. And while $75.00 isn't just pocket change for most, it isn't a huge expense.... However.... Given your financial situation, IF you are gigging, I would spend a few bucks on Ebay, and get a tuner pedal. Like I mentioned, the Behringer can be found on Ebay all day long for $15.00, or new on Musiciansfriend for $25.00

To keep things in perspective, when I was in college and living off of Ramen and cheap hot dogs, I could scrape up $50.00 here and there doing odd / side jobs. I am going to assume you are somewhat able bodied, so making a little bit of extra scratch should be easy. Look on Craigslist, or Fiverr for side work to make a few extra bucks and just pick up a decent tuner. Being out of tune is a sure way to sound awful.

 

[Fiset]

I'm still not particularly motivated to buy a tuner pedal, and my bass can generally hold its tuning for long enough for me to sound good through a long enough gig. I've gone sometimes through 8 hours of playing (slap and all) and still not have any tuning issues that would require me to tune on stage.

My basses generally stay in tune as well but there are all sorts of things that happen at gigs (at least at gigs I've played) ranging from bumping into another band member to my hipshot D-tuner not clicking back into exact tune to atmospheric changes to someone touching my bass during a break to you name it. I keep my pedal tuner always on and plugged in the Tuner Out on my volume pedal so I can look down at my board at anytime during a gig and see if my bass is still in tune. If I need to tune during the set for any reason, I kill the volume with the volume pedal and quickly (and silently) tune. I can't honestly think of a single good reason not to have that instant feedback available to me anytime I look down at my board.

 

[phangtonpower]

Best thread ever. At least it's not another "what's the best bass for metal" etc....

Just remember this. When ever people ask what pedals you need advice, tuners are always a given as a default.

 

[lfmn16]

We're really getting the short end of the stick from all these big businesses.

Maybe some day you'll start your own business and discover what it actually costs to run one. If it's so easy and there is so much money in it you should start your own and then you'll be able to afford a tuner! I owned my own business and I really get tired of people who have never owned one thinking that it's so easy and that all businesses are rolling in money. There are more costs than you can imagine.

PS: To everyone saying $75 isn't expensive, I commend you getting to a point in your life where you can afford something $75 and calling it inexpensive, I hope to get you where you are one day. I agree that you pay for what you get, and I want good quality, but at the moment I'm a crap ton of college debt and getting just above minimum wage lol.

If you want to be a professional, you need professional grade tools. It's really just that simple. Try auditioning for a good, professional band without a tuner and see how far you get. I bussed tables at a pancake house for less than $2.00 an hour in the 70's to save enough money for a Rickenbacker and SVT head and cabinet. If you want something badly enough, you find a way to make the money.

 

[Felken]

Yep my basses unless going from extreme weather changes rarely seem to move. Still tune them properly every time before playing though with Ye olde trusty korg pitchblack

Same here! If the bass stays in tune for the whole set, why use a tuner pedal?

 

[jthisdell]

If you don't want to pay for a pedal and don't like clip-ons you could consider an old-school plug in (non-pedal) tuner (like I used 35 years ago). Unplug from your amp, plug into the tuner, tune up, plug back into your amp. Not quite as fast or convenient as a pedal but still you can do check your tuning in between songs in about 15 seconds with no noise. Costs less than $20.

But yeah, the OP makes a good point. If they can make a plug in tuner for $15 why does it cost $85 more to put it in a pedal, give it a footswitch and an output jack?

 

[lfmn16]

Same here! If the bass stays in tune for the whole set, why use a tuner pedal?

Because professionals plan for the unexpected?

What if your bass bumps into something or someone and knocks a tuner out of tune? Have you never brought your bass from the cold into a warm room or vice versa and had to retune as the bass adjusts to the different temperature? My basses stay perfectly in tune for an entire set 99.9% of the time; but I also prepare for the .1%

 

[RustyAxe]

Like honestly, $75 for a tuner? I've got a free app on my phone that works 90% of the time. I get it works as a killswitch and all, but why $75?

Try tuning it when the band is playing. Or the front man is talking. Or the wind is blowing. Whether a pedal or rack mounted, a tuner is NOT a luxury for a working musician, it's a necessary part of one's gear. And really, $75 for something that'll last years after you're in the grave is not "expensive".

 

[Korladis]

They're not expensive as far as pedals go. They're cheaper than many dirtboxes despite having more complex circuitry.

 

[lfmn16]

Try tuning it when the band is playing. Or the front man is talking. Or the wind is blowing. Whether a pedal or rack mounted, a tuner is NOT a luxury for a working musician, it's a necessary part of one's gear. And really, $75 for something that'll last years after you're in the grave is not "expensive".

I'm turning into a grumpy old man (well actually I'm already there) but I don't get someone having no problem paying $750 for a cell phone because it's got lots of fun toys but complaining about $75 for a tuner pedal that is a necessary part of every professional musicians toolkit.

Now get off my lawn and go buy a tuner pedal!

 

[Charlzm]

A tuner is built in to my multi-fx unit. Thank goodness!

 

[MrBassman17]

They don't have to be! I use a Planet Waves tuner/mute pedal, paid $30 for my first one, waiting for the second I paid $20 for used! They are built like a vault, are adjustable and use either battery or power source. Can't go wrong!

 

[Felken]

Because professionals plan for the unexpected?

What if your bass bumps into something or someone and knocks a tuner out of tune? Have you never brought your bass from the cold into a warm room or vice versa and had to retune as the bass adjusts to the different temperature? My basses stay perfectly in tune for an entire set 99.9% of the time; but I also prepare for the .1%

I'm a bit confused. Do you need to pluck a note for it to register on a tuner pedal? Or does it read it without a note? Because I can tune by ear, although I always do make sure it's perfectly in tune with a tuner.

 

[Korladis]

I'm a bit confused. Do you need to pluck a note for it to register on a tuner pedal? Or does it read it without a note? Because I can tune by ear, although I always do make sure it's perfectly in tune with a tuner.

Yes, you have to pluck a note.

Many tuner pedals have a mute function though, so that the audience doesn't have to listen to you tuning.

 

[Drgonzonm]

Do you need to pluck a note. It helps, Arcro also works (oops, that's a comment for upright).
Do you need to mute, it helps, My Fender acoustic automatically mutes the piezo output if the tuner is on.
If you leave the tuner on, someone else in the band can follow your notes. (This also works the other way, I have sit in with a band, and asked the BL-mandolin player to leave this tuner on, so I know what notes he's playing especially when I am not familiar with the song and key. [maybe this explains why they say the rhythm guitarist is an introvert. ]
muting while tuning: I am guessing his tuner has a by-pass/pass through. He mutes so the tuner reads the signal, and the signal is not passed on through the amp.
knocking a tuner of tune. the snark I use, has a selectable reference. so yes, all tuners used should be on the same reference. (Anybody tried using a 440 A tuning fork as a reference on a bass?)
cell phone tuners, I use my cell phone as pocket watch, and pay and pay and pay.