W.S., I think you've put your finger on the justification for an electronic tuner. I've never had to play in an electric band with drummer and sound crew. I've always tuned in a noisy club by pressing my left ear against the side of the guitar as I tune. Ambient noise doesn't get in the way and I can tune very quickly to my A440 fork.

Bedubya, Oh yeah, the festival thing. Of course no two groups will be at exactly the same pitch. Unfortunately, in a particular festival jam, no two musicians may be at exactly the same pitch. I'm not sure that any pitch reference—accoustic or electronic—is helpful in that situation. If I'm invited to join the group, I just stand back a few feet while they're playing, tune my A string to an average of the best lead players and quickly tune my guitar to that. I don't think it's polite to walk into a session and ask for pitch and it's usually the most out-of-tune player who will offer to help first.

      - Mark