Sabine Stick On Tuners

Subject: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 08:00 AM

http://www.SabineUSA.com/newsite/faq.html#tuners

Anybody else have this problem andnot have the FAQ suggestion fix it? Or am I the only one who's tuner still won't work?

;-)

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 08:04 AM

Good thread idea Clinton......There hasn't been much mention of Sabine Stick-Ons here and I don't know anyone who uses them. I'll be interested to see what people have to say about them.

Spaw

Subject: Oh Spaw!!!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 08:11 AM

Dang... here I though someone had a fix already!!

LOL!!

I love my stick on tuner... it can be tough to get a read from sometimes in a real noisy pub, and like any LCD display, it's impossible to read outside in the sun... But overall... they're my favorite tuner in the whole wide world!! I'd have one for every insrument I own, if I didn't have so many instrruments!!

;-)

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: bigchuck
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 08:40 AM

I keep one on my Taylor, and have used it for several years with decent results. Really, though, I prefer the Intelletouch overall, particularly for instruments other than guitar.
Sandy

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 09:21 AM

Are you talking about the suction cup ones? Or the kind that stay stuck on the instrument all the time? I had a suction cup one and the little rubber cup wore out and wouldn't stay stuck anymore. I switched to a Matrix universal clip, and I love it.

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: GUEST,Timothy Cameron
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 11:13 AM

Hi ya, I've got a Sabine stick-on tuner and I'm really happy with it. They say you have to move it to a slightly different location on the guitar every so often, as there's a chance it will mar the finish if left in one place for too long. I'm not worried about that myself, since my guitar is made of masonite and slathered in a thick coat of paint, but take heed if you're guitar has a laquer or poly finish (which most do). The Intellitouch are good as well, and I think they must have improved the design within the last couple of years, because the first time I tried one three or four years ago, it didn't work at all, but I've borrowed a couple since and they've worked fine. Anyway, hope that helps. Timothy

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Mooh
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 12:46 PM

One broke, two broke, then I bought a cheap Yamaha that still works, but now I use an Intellitouch most of the time. I liked the Sabine idea, but it was useless outside, and wouldn't take too many falls. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: GUEST,Jeremiah
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 04:11 PM

The Intellitouch wins, hands down. The Sabine is pretty good, but . . .

The intellitouch is more sensitive to lower tones (like my acoustic bass guitar - the Sabine doesn't like the low 'A'-string and seldom even responds to the 'E'-string). The Intellitouch is also less likely to be thrown by ambient sounds (like when you're on stage).

Only caveat: baby that swivel joint - it's the most likely thing to break.

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 06:23 PM

I have to agree with the Intellitouch crowd. You can read it outside in bright daylight, or inside a cow. The swivel joint is indeed its weakness.

I had a couple of the stick on Sabines, and even a "stealth" tuner that was barely visible, but they all gave up the ghost much too quickly for the dollars invested.

THREAD SHIFT - Has anyone tried the Sabine Bak Trak gizmo. You can record up to 30 seconds of a tune or song and then slow in down to 1/2 or 2/3 speed, while still keeping the same tonal pitch. Supposedly good for learning instrumentals and incomprhensible words. Would like to hear if it does as advertised ?!?

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Mooh
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 07:15 PM

Les. Just what jurisdiction allows you to tune inside a cow? Just wondering...Moooooh, mooooooh.

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Les B
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 12:21 AM

Mooh - Sort of a bovine paraphrase of the old mountain saying: "Outside a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog it's too dark to read !"

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 01:36 AM

well... I got email back from Sabine, and it looks like my tuner is well and truely dead... Not too bad though... I did get 4 or 5 HARD years out of it... for 80 bucks that's not too bad...

And well, I do still have a Sabine that works... maybe I'll replace the broken one with one of those clip-on-the-headstock ones... You folks say they read well outsied in the bright sunlight? Good enough for James Keelaghan is good enough for me...

;-)

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 04:59 AM

Not only that Clinton, you seem to be able to read it inside a cow and you never know when that will come in handy.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Mooh
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 08:15 AM

Les. I don't have ready access to a cow, but I'm ready to test this theory on my dog, Rosie. Should I sedate her first? Mooh.

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 08:47 AM

Can someone give me an idea what these clip-on-the-headstock tuners cost? Just to give me an idea before I start shopping?

;-)

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Mooh
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 09:43 AM

C.H.

Out here in the boonies of Huron County I paid $70 or so last year. You'll likely do better next to the border where you live (Windsor, right?).

Mooh.

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 09:49 AM

right... thanks folks!

I'll keep it in mind...

;-)

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Allan C.
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 09:54 AM

Just a note on the Intellitouch tuners: The joint is okay except that it is rather limited as to the directions you can point the display. The breakage is more than likely due to attempts at swiveling it in directions other than the ones for which it is designed. But just in case, drip a few drops of Armor-All into the joint. (It works as a great lubricant for most plastic joints including the rollers of computer printers and faxes.)

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: GUEST,FORTUNATO
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 10:18 AM

I believe it was Groucho Marx who said: "Outside a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog it's too dark to read!"

Although I suppose he might have been in the mountains when he said it.

REGARDS, FORTUNATO

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Les B
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 09:55 PM

Clinton - First Quality in Nashville has Intellitouch tuners listed for $49.99 right how, and they pay the shipping.

I thought Groucho was part of the Beverly Hillbillies, now I'm sure, just a good oy mountain boy !

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: TonyK
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 10:28 PM

The Sabine was the first tuner I ever spit out cash for ($60) and I was happy with it despite lighting sighting difficulties and the fact that it sometimes took awhile to get the colors to quit jumping too far sharp of flat. Then I saw one of the head stock tuners and I wasn't so happy any more. As limited as funds are I'll have to wait for a justification to get a new one. With my luck I got the Sabine that will never die.

TonyK

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 10:30 PM

That seems to be a going rate, but looking at these pictures, I have a question..................will this thing fit up inside the cow without undue pain or excessive amounts of Armor-All or KY-Jelly???

Just curious........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: TonyK
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 10:43 PM

Either way, they're not calf as good as they cud be.

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Allan C.
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 01:20 AM

Nice one, Tony!

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 01:26 AM

Actually Alln, I think it may be worthy of the "Art Thieme Gold Dyspuntional Award.".......a real gem Tony.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 01:59 PM

Good pics spaw... ta!

Les... so in Canadian money that'd be about what? $65,297.57???

LOL!!!

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Les B
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 02:29 PM

Clinton - I guess - I'm not sure what the exchange rate is these days. Locally, I see these tuners going for $55 to $65 US, so $49.99 with free shipping is a fair savings here - enough for a set of cheap strings !

And I was mistaken - First Quality is in Louisville, KY (not the jelly). I'm west of the Mississippi, so all those states just blend into the "southeast" for me.

First Quality's web site is www.fqms.com - And, no I don't work for them.

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Les B
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 02:32 PM

Now that I look at Spaw's pictures from Elderly I see the price is the same there. Last time I looked at Elerly's catalog they were a few bucks higher.

Competition is a good thing.

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 02:50 PM

Leaving us only for your definitive answer Les, as you seem to be the one with experience............

"How does the Armor-All or KY affect the readings inside the cow?"

Inquiring minds and all that............

(And thanks to all who contributed here for the info. A lot of times its good to have one of these to pull up to answer with)

Spaw

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: GUEST,Bill (Scotland)
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 01:37 PM

Is this a standard tuned cow or alternative one?

Cheers

Bill

Subject: Intellitouch clamp-on tuners?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 03:14 AM

O.k.. so I managed to lay hands on a loaner Intellitouch... and I gotta ask... are they ALL back-lit in red? Blech...

And I think I may have found a downside to playing a Seagull... the headstock is pretty damn narrow and maybe a little on the thin side for this thing... Anybody have suggestions on how to shore up it's grip so that it's clamp doesn't move when I fold it up behind the head?

Other than that, it seems to be a wicked awesome cool piece of tuner... I wanna try it in the pub some night just to test how good it really is in a noisy room...

Subject: IntelliQuestion
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 11:33 AM

Ker-bump!

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Les B
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 12:19 AM

Everyone's querry about the effect of the tuner on the cow reminds me of a tale told here in Montana.

Seems rancher Jones had cow that was looking pretty sick. He got her herded into the corral and called the vet. The vet arrived, looked her over and said they were going to have to get a series of pills into her gut over the next few days 'cause she had a bad bug.

First,said the vet, we'll try plan A. So he gets out the pills and they try to make the cow swallow them. No go. She clamps her jaws closed and that's it.

Ok, plan B, says the vet. He goes around to the tail end of the cow, takes about 4 feet of garden hose and stuffs it up her ass. He then puts the first pill in the hose, sticks his mouth firmly over it and gives a strong blow, sending the pill down inside the cow (about where you do the Intellitouch readings !).

He then turns to rancher Jones and says, OK, you try it, cause this is what you're gonna have to do for the next few days. The rancher steps up, proceeds to pull the 4 feet of hose out of the cows ass, turn it around and re-insert the other end. He then puts the pill in, and locks his lips over the end that's been in the cow. The vet, horrifed, says "what the hell are you doin'?!?"

The rancher, puzzled, looks up and says, "well, dammit, I shouldn't be puttin' my lips where you've just had yours, should I ??"

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 12:33 AM

I've had bad luck with the Sabines, they die after about a year or so. They replaced one that died while still under warranty, but I had to toss another two. I also tried the one that goes inside the guitar, with the LED readout on the upper bout of the guitar, but they went belly-up too. So I just use an old Korg now. No problems, although the headstock thingy sounds intriguing.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Big Mick
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 12:48 AM

I have used both the Sabine and the Intellitouch. Intellitouch is the finest tuner I have ever used.........hands down. The backlit readout works in all light conditions. If there is a downside, it is that once in a while you can't get a readout. This is fixed by either plucking further up the neck, or by simply moving the tuner to a different spot on the headstock. It doesn't give a shite about how much noise is in the room. I can tune the 12 string in about a minute flat. They run about $50.00 US and can be purchased through elderly.com.

I lost one at the FSGW Getaway last year. I hope whoever found it, enjoys it. They are wonderful tuners. Best I have ever used.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: GUEST,Sabine
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 04:10 AM

Folks.....honestly.... I definetly won't stick on anything or anyone.

:o)))))

sorry, I couldn't hesitate to write that down *LOL*

regards, Sabine

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Sabine
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 04:12 AM

damned, forgot to reset my cookie *giggle*

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: John Hardly
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 11:43 PM

Here's the plan, and as Dave Barry says "I'm not making this up". Go to juststrings.com they have an offer, buy ten sets of elixers and get the intellitouch for (last check it was thirty something). Sell the elixers on ebay--Intellitouch is FREE (that's US or Canadian free)

JH (who just bought his Intellitouch tuner($48) on his trip to Elderly's and the John Pizzarelli concert last week)

I haven't had to use lubricant yet, but i haven't tried all the possible placements and positions yet.

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 11:58 PM

Well John, when you try them up inside the cow, I'd definitely use the lubricant.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: John Hardly
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 12:04 AM

definitely reads "Bmb"

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Big Mick
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 08:56 AM

John Hardly, what the hell are you doing coming to Elderly and not sending me a PM letting me know?????? Consider this a notice to all Mudcatters. When you come to Michigan, and Elderly, Big Mick demands that you allow him to show you some Michigan hospitality!!! Got it????

And now we return to our regularly scheduled programming.............

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 08:58 AM

Yeah.....Mick supplies the cow.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Mark Clark
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 10:34 AM

I use two permanently mounted tuners... one on each side of my head. Those and an A440 tuning fork are all one really needs to tune accurately and quickly. See my tips thread posting for details.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: John Hardly
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 10:45 AM

Big Mick,

Noted! A friend and I have a trip loosely schduled for April--I'll also be there in May because I'll be doing the East Lansing Art Festival (My booth last year wasn't 30 yards from the stage where Tom Paxton and Joel Mabus performed--also caught Tom Paxton in mini-concert at Elderly's the day before). Also got to enjoy David Mosher and the Raisin Pickers on stage right after Joel.

I'll be sure to PM you next time!

JH

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Big Mick
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 11:29 AM

I await with bated breath..........or if you are a fisherman, I await with baited breath...........LOL.

Mick

Subject: Still More Tuners
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 01:01 PM

The loaner Intellitouch I have seems to be working pretty well, This weekend is gonna be it's trial by fire... I have a nice quiet pub gig tonight, a matinee tomorrow and tomorrow night a rocking loud pub gig... if it works well there, then I'll be very happy...

I still love my Sabine Stick On tuner, but the one down side.. can't read 'em outside in the bight sunlight because of the LCD display...

If I thought Elixir stings were worth the $$,I'd maybe take them upon that offer, but I'm just not THAT impressed with elixir strings... But I've joined the juststrings.com email list so I'll get the whole skinny soon enough I'm sure

Big Mick.. ta fer the heads up eh... that's one area of slight concern... Playing Seagull, I don't have much room on the head stock to move the tuner to, should it be in a dead spot... we'll see what happens this weekend...

;-)

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: John Hardly
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 01:15 PM

Mr. Hammond,

Don't panic if the thing balks at reading your low E. It often gets fooled by the harmonics. My suggestion is, when it does this conterintuitively pluck lighter to get the reading

--but you probably already knew that. (for anyone new to the use of these things)

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 01:30 PM

John...

yup... learned that trick with the Sabine Stick-On too...

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 01:38 PM

Sorry not to be going back to the worn out cow thing, but Clinton (and others) as you're now trying both ( or have tried)...........Can you compare the two in regards to background noise?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 01:51 PM

After this weekend I can Spawser! I'll come back and let you folks know my review on Sunday or Monday...

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Big Mick
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 10:16 AM

You are welcome, Clinton. I play Seagull too. You don't have to move it much. Usually from one corner to the other. I have even mounted it between the tuners from time to time. And the tip on picking lighter, with just a finger tip even, works pretty well.

Spaw, for the most part background noise has no effect on this tuner. My guess is that Clinton will come back very pleased with the performance of this tuner. The only time that background noise ever affected mine was when I was right in front of the feckin' bass player, and he was monkeying around with sustain and volume. He was SO loud that the vibration screwed me up. Mind you, it wasn't normal loudness, he was being a smart ass. Other than that, I have never had a problem with noise, because this thing doesn't have a mic in it. It senses vibration in the headstock. Works wonderfully onstage. And I can tune a 12 string in about 15 to 20 seconds.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: Tuners
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 11:37 AM

One Quick review... played last night and used the Intellitouch... it seems to work o.k. so far, but the end of the head stock is a lousy place for a tuner to sit... It sticks out to the back, right where my hand is when I'm tuning my E, A, and D strings... And well, my hand makes a better door than a window right... So... Gotta get accustomed to that... not a big deal I guess... but just a heads-up for you folks out there...

IF that's the only down side to Intellitouch, I'm gonna have to get a couple of my own soon...

Oh ya... the clamp thingy on the Intellitouch is a little... crampy... Fortunately, I'm moving it with my left hand, the one that has all the strength from years of gripping guitar necks... It'd be great if they could, say, combine the one handed use of the Kyser capo with the electronics of the Intellitouch tuner...

OH YA... another 'adjustment'... you folks who use Kysers and clip 'em to the head stock when not in use? Well, the tuner is there now, so you'll have to find a new place to keep yer Kyser... I'm gonna try to get in the habit of keeping it in my back left pocket... Maybe you folks out there with non-Seagull, wide-as-paddles head stocks have enough room, but the sleek lines of my Seagulls are just to svelte for that much stuff...

I'm starting to feel a little like Batman... I got so much crap on my belt... Change/pick holder, keys, phone sometimes, and now the hard shell case that the Intellitouch lives in... All I need is a length of Kevlar rope and a lightsaber and I could be Luke Skywalker!!

;-)

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 25 Mar 01 - 06:47 PM

O.k... well...

In the "tuning in a noisy bar" catigory, the Intellitouch failled hands down...

Understand that Patrick O'Ryans was PACKED SOLID last night with young americans (got flashed again... ;-)) and a huge contingent of the Canadian Navy... it was so loud my ears hurt... the sound system was cranked to 11... The intellitouch didn't have a hope in hell...

Everyone recommends to me a Boss footpeddle... I may give that a try, provided it's a tuner that doesn't jump around a whole lot....

Gonna get an Intellitouch for festivals, especially in the bright sunligh, and soI don't have to worry about running a power chord to the boss footpeddle...

;-)

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 01:42 AM

bump...

Subject: RE: Sabine Stick On Tuners
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 12:01 PM

Re-bump for Spaw...