cheap electronic guitar tuners!

Subject: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 02:59 PM

the website Thomann are doing brilliant guitar tuners for about three quid. i've got three of them.

there is a downside. p and p is ten quid. but if you got all the mates at your folk club do have a couple - you would have a machine that is quite as good as a snark for each of your guitars.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,Ripov
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 03:18 PM

Where did that go??

If everyone used the same make of tuner there's a fair chance - assuming that the tuners are in tune with each other - that all would be playing at the same pitch! Musically a great improvement on the present situation; but would it still be folk??

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 03:29 PM

brilliant guitar tuners for about three quid. i've got three of them.

Why do you need three?

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 03:54 PM

Why not? I've got six Snarks - one in each case and one on the coffee table by my armchair. That way, whichever instrument I take out, I'm sure to have a tuner with me.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 04:05 PM

.. and you're covered for loss, breakages,
and that bloke who always goes home with other players' gear accessories in his guitar case...

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 04:19 PM

yes i've got four snarks. these are really cool. they change colour when you're on note. they seem more precise than the snarks.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 04:24 PM

What brand and model no. Al?

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 04:31 PM

Aaahh, found it - Thomann CTG-10, Euro 4.70?

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 04:34 PM

yeh that's it!


https://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_ctg10.htm

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 04:40 PM

Mmmmm, if I didn't have so many Snarks, a Peterson Strobo-Clip, and a Boss TU-3 pedal tuner,mid be straight on to those. Might get a couple anyway,mand give them a try.

Thanks Al.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 04:54 PM

Thomann is great for the occasional bargain big buy, and a few cheap goodies on top to reach the margin for free delivery...

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Fossil
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 05:13 PM

Naah! Why carry another bit of electronic crap around. If you have a smartphone, there's a neat app available called ClearTune, which works really well and allows very accurate tuning.

And while on the subject, why do so many performers at folk nights and open-mic nights stick their tuner on the end of the guitar and bloody well leave it there all night and NEVER tune at all?

These days I use the phone app, but I do actually have a tuner, which I would put on beforehand, tune and then put it back in the case.

Surely anyone playing before an audience can handle any minor tuning issues during your set by ear? If you can't, you shouldn't be playing in public anyway.

But to have an unsightly tuner sticking out of the end of the guitar - never used - is just laziness and a sign of a lack of confidence.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 05:34 PM

"Surely anyone playing before an audience can handle any minor tuning issues during your set by ear? If you can't, you shouldn't be playing in public anyway.

errrmm.. what about those clueless deluded stubborn bellends who are convinced they have an ear for good tuning...???
.. and blame everyone else in a session for being out of tune...

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 06:43 PM

That's right. Then you get the 12-string man who tunes all the other eleven to the one that's out of tune. Or who realises what a b*ast*ard it is to get it in tune in the first place, so he just does a really thorough job on it at home at the beginning of every calendar month.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,ripov
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 06:50 PM

Out of tune is another thing entirely.
As a fiddler I'm probably more out of tune (especially as the evening progresses) than a guitarist, who, given a decent guitar and careful tuning, will play fairly in equal temperament (which of course is equally OUT of tune in every key) all night. But I and others find that moving round the circle in a sing/play around, each time the performer changes the pitch changes, and, as we base our intonation relative to what is being played, have to retune the whole fiddle.
Whistles also vary a lot in pitch, but that's in the making of them and can't be helped. So it's better to ignore your tuner and tune to the pitch of the whistle, if there's only one there.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: AlbertsLion
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 07:29 PM

One of my tuners (yes, I have more than one) cost 99p, in a box, with battery, and all the way from China - 2 years old and still going strong!
@ripov - my g/f, self taught and playing fiddle and cello purely by ear, doesn't even notice if i'm slightly out, just says she doesn't need to re tune since she's no frets, just alters her finger position.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,nickelnose
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 08:58 PM

The Cadine is a very good clip-on tuner, and only $7 with free shipping.

Beware of the Fender FT-004 ($10 including shipping). The one I had drained batteries very quickly. I threw it away after it ate 3 batteries in just a couple of months.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,ripov
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 09:40 PM

now Here's a man who can manage without, and on the fly. But I can see the concept of listening to your instrument while you're playing doesn't appeal, so I'll shut up.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 01 Dec 14 - 10:37 PM

I like the ENO ET3000s - typically £6 including P&P, sometimes less, on fleabay. The white ones are particularly fun in that the coloured lights glow through the case so the whole gadget changes colour depending on whether the string in point is sharp, flat, or in tune.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 01:58 AM

Martin Simpson doesn't use a tuner on stage either. But John Gomm and Martin Simpson aren't trying to tune in a noisy pub, with the babble of conversation, other instruments being tuned or their humans warming-up on them, and the bass of the jukebox downstairs going thud-thud-thud through the floor, are they? They have the luxury of tuning alone and in silence, while their audience looks on in silent awe.

Same for iPhone tuners - fine in your own front room, useless in a noisy pub with the buffoon on the 12-string next to you thrashing it the way all 12-string players think is the way to play a 12-string.

At home, I use a tuner to get 'there or thereabouts', then fine-tune things by ear using the Guild of American Luthiers' method. In a pub or other noisy venue, I use a tuner - quick and easy.

And I agree about leaving a tuner on the headstock - hate to see it, but it's surely up to the individual? I would never do it because of the risk of damage that can happen due to reaction between the finish on the headstock and the pads on the tuner.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Mr Red
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 03:33 AM

I got a Snark for my Bodhran (and because it was red)
Mind you it struggles to tell if my Bodhran is in tune!

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 03:35 AM

Backwoodsman nailed it - noisy pub, idiot with twelve string - err, I hardly ever play mine these days, never sounds in tune even with a tuner, and then there's banjos

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Musket
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 04:15 AM

As the subject of keeping a whole room in tune has come up, let us not forget guitars are tempered? I was in a music shop recently with a mate and picked up a violin to show the difference between playing a fiddle accompanied with guitars, accordions etc and playing a violin in a string quartet. The difference being whether or not to differentiate between F# and Gb.

I use Snark these days, and have been known to use my phone too. If I am stood playing and wish to retune to open, DADGAD, drop D etc, I show my age by just doing it whilst cracking a crap joke without any aids. (Apart from the expectation of pity laughter at the one about the nun on the flying trapeze.)

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 04:19 AM

Hey Backwoodsman

"useless in a noisy pub with the buffoon on the 12-string next to you thrashing it the way all 12-string players think is the way to play a 12-string."

" noisy pub, idiot with twelve string - err, I hardly ever play mine these days, never sounds in tune even with a tuner, and then there's banjos"

BG Are you getting at us


Gerry

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 04:52 AM

My wife bought me a tuner for my washboard, it looks very like a 7 pound lump hammer to me but she assures me...

RtS

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 04:53 AM

nun on the flying trapeze? i don't know that one....do tell!

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 05:03 AM

Regarding 12-strings, a friend claims that if he's ever condemned to death by firing squad his last request will be a 12-string and time to tune it...

Obligatory 12-string jokes:
"12-string guitarists spend 50% of the time tuning and the otehr 50% playing out of tune"

Q: How long does it take to tune a 12-string guitar?
A: The research is ongoing.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 05:49 AM

Thomann are very good , but the shipping is a tad naughty for small orders . There are a lot on E Bay as cheap with free shipping .
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Tuners-/64388/i.html

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 06:04 AM

Right then, you buggers.. going on and on about your Snarks...

I've just gone and bought a Snark SN14 Ltd Ed. off amazon, and I don't even need another bloody tuner...

Now I'm gonna have to find and dust off my unloved acoustic* guitar for it's annual quick strum...

[approx 1998 - 200 quid Art & Lutherie Cedar top]

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Musket
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 06:25 AM

My youngest plays bass in a band and although I bought him a nice Fender many years ago, he recently bought himself a fretless Jobby. His reasoning being that the three other guitars in the band are occasionally tuned and occasionally to the same pitch. His fretless allows him to make tonal adjustments on the hoof.

I notice that the nice Korg half moon shaped tuner that fits in the sound hole is now available as a chromatic rather than just EADGBE. Might have a look. After all, I am running out of good jokes.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 07:11 AM

Banjo-Flower, I realised what I said one second after I hit the 'submit' button! 😃
Definitely wasn't referring to the Malt-Shovel Sesh - I love it!

And, on a point of order, it was someone else who mentioned banjos - I don't have that kind of courage! 😳

Next one on the 21st?

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 08:12 AM

Yeh Christmas special is on the 21st come along and get Gaudete out of your system for another year plus all the other Christmas tunes songs and carols its usually one of the best acoustic nights in the year

Gerry

BTW we allow Ipads and tuners at our session

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 08:13 AM

Have you ever seen Simpson's tune-up and setup routine? He brings ONE guitar, ONE banjo and his own minimixer with just a line feed to the desk and it still takes AN HOUR - leaving the other bands on the roster no soundcheck time at all.

Personally I think tuning into open tunings is easier than getting back to standard, and particularly on guitars with light-ish tops when if you tune one string you then have to tune the other 5 because things have flexed (until you decide to have a bridge doctor put in).

And I'm intrinsically suspicious of people who go on about the difference between F# and Gb, unless they audibly play the old scales.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 08:31 AM

I only go to Martin's concerts where no-one else is billed, so tuning-time doesn't bother me, and he always fills the minutes of ying-yanging with interesting anecdotes and mind-boggling noodling, which I'm happy to listen to.

I agree about tuning into an open tuning being easier than t'other way round. Might it be because open tunings are generally lowered, whilst going back to standard means raising string pitches?

The only problem I run into with lowered tuning is in DADGAD, where getting the open 'a' to ring perfectly in tune with the second-fretted 'G' string can be a bit frustrating. It happens on all four of my guitars, so it's not a problem with an individual instrument, I suspect it's more likely a touch of tin-ear on my part.

Gerry - I should be there. I might bring the new toy - my mandolin - don't forget your earplugs! 😜

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 08:37 AM

BTW, I've seen MS many times - always had two guitars plus other sundry instruments, always tuned in the dressing room before he came on. He doesn't really take any more time tuning than any other top-flight guitarist IME. And it's a delight to hear a guitar properly in tune in every number.

Tuning between numbers.......see my earlier comment.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 09:41 AM

soooo.. I dug out my approx 16 years old budget price cedar top acoustic,
in anticipation of the Snark being delivered later this week...

I've not touched it for at least a year or two, and maybe last changed the strings about 10 years ago...

I just don't really get on with acoustics..
and this one just feels & sounds lifeless and a chore to try to play in standard tuning.

After about half hour of uninspired perseverence, I dropped it down to DADGAD
to see if I could remember stuff I used to play a long time ago.

DADGAD certainly suits this guitar better.

So, I dropped it down a tone to CGCFGC just to see what happens..

OK.. now this guitar seems to be responding much better,
but the bass C was a bit flabby.

Next bright idea.. raising the lowest string up to F ie.. FGCFGC...

That has just hit a sweet spot, almost an entirely different instrument now;
this guitar finally seems to have found it's voice.

BTW.. Tuning with my ever dependable mid 1990s SEIKO ST-747


CONCLUSION: 16ish years old budget cedar top now sounds 'right' in FGCFGC
and perhaps even better in FGCFAC.

Are these tunings used a lot by 'proper' acoustic players ???



I'm actually enjoying playing an acoustic for a change..

innit fun working out chord shapes in 'odd' tunings !!!

.. and all this just because reading this thread tipped me into ordering a Snark off amazon on whim...

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Musket
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 09:59 AM

Cheers.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 10:04 AM

Just imagine what it'd be like with new strings.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Betsy
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 06:40 PM

I bought a new Snark and it is fine - it was to replace a black, square tuner which is like a black and white American "B" Movie where the action in the car is heating up - like the speedometer needle - jumps between 40 and 80 m.p.h.type of thing
I honestly - honestly commend a tuning fork - they are SO dependable - I love 'em - I have a couple in "A" - I love and believe 100% in them. Fabulous when you put new strings on.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 02 Dec 14 - 10:02 PM

Approx 36 years ago, during the peak punk / new wave years,
I bought an "A" tuning fork to keep in my guitar case;
which was what our band depended on.

Even that was considered a progressive advance on tuning to any piano
we might find at a venue or rehearsal room.
Or while we had a keyboard player, his ancient 1960s Vox organ.

I never owned an electronic tuner until the 1990s when I treated myself to the seiko mentioned above.
.. and that was about £25, which I had to think twice about, before commiting to paying for such a luxury.

It immediately proved to be one of the most useful tools I ever owned.

Now I lose count of how many I've aquired, and how many items of my gear have them built in.
Young kids just take cheap tuners for granted...

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 03 Dec 14 - 04:05 AM

Anyone who doesn't understand the benefits of an electronic tuner clearly didn't play in bands in pubs and dance-halls before electronic tuners were invented. 😎

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,#
Date: 03 Dec 14 - 10:14 AM

Ain't that the truth.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Dec 14 - 01:28 PM

Tuners that let you choose the reference frequency and people who don't understand what 440 stands for.

Interesting combination, especially in singarounds where people are encouraged to join in...

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: olddude
Date: 03 Dec 14 - 01:37 PM

I have a drawer full of cheap ones they work fine for sure and if they break toss them. I found some that work fine cheaper than replacing the battery

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Nick
Date: 04 Dec 14 - 09:30 AM

A friend bought a new tuner and came down to our regular session proudly displaying it.

Played first song and I went to join in (allowed!) and realised that I was way out of tune. Quickly retuned to him and carried on with him for the rest of the song.

A little later I went to join in with the fiddle players and got very black looks as I joined in a semitone out. Quick retune etc etc

It then turned out that John's tuner had a 'useful' semitone up/semitone down button which he must have pressed by mistake...

Though it is useful sometimes if you are playing with box players and don't want their help.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 04 Dec 14 - 09:51 AM

Yep, I reckon we've all done it, Nick. But the intense embarrassment does tend to ensure its a bollock one only drops once! 😄

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 04 Dec 14 - 10:02 AM

The brand new Snark has just been delivered.

First impression, it doesn't look or feel as cheap and flimsy as I thought it might.
That's positive.

Attached to the end of a Strat style headstock, and it just worked quickly and effectively..

Not bad, might buy another.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Nick
Date: 04 Dec 14 - 10:22 AM

It's that thing of trusting an object that purports to be 'right'. Luckily I can retune very quickly. And at least I noticed :) We did have the 'are you sure the batteries are ok?' and 'was it cheap - are you sure it works?' conversations first before finding the semitone button. The 440 - 441 - 442 thing I looked for but didn't expect a 'let's make you look stupid' button was a standard 'feature'

There is an interesting James Taylor view on tuning - and lots of responses! - here

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 04 Dec 14 - 11:42 AM

Yep, seen the JT thing a few times on other specific guitar forums.
Seems like a solution to a non-existent problem to me. I use the Guild of American Luthiers' method at home but, depending on whether I'm playing mic'd or plugged, I use my Snarks or the Boss TU-3 on my pedal board when I'm playing out.
I have a Peterson Stroboclip, it has some nice 'sweetened' presets for a number of instruments/tunings, but it's too fiddly for stage-work.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,Troubadour
Date: 05 Dec 14 - 06:40 AM

I have a Barcus-Berry inbuilt tuner and pre-amp on my Westfield.

The tuner is progressive, which allows me to tune directly into any tuning I choose.

Having considerable fun playing around with it.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Dec 14 - 07:12 AM

A few years back I bought a couple of brand new Washburn solid body electrics
factory fitted with "Buzz Feiten Tuning System"

After I bodged about adjusting the bridge height and truss rod, they were sort of intonated ok enough by ear,
though the theory of it was a bit too much of a faff to be bothered with.

I eventually aquired an expensive Planet Waves strobe tuner with adjusted "Buzz Feiten Tuning System" presets.

Subject: RE: cheap electronic guitar tuners!
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Dec 14 - 10:36 AM

you tune your strobes.....i just let them dangle.