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Post by reverendrob on Jan 5, 2022 10:28:46 GMT -5
I've been using this pedal-sized external tuner from the 80s for ages - needle, doesn't ever die, held up through a long abuse on the road and was always far more accurate than it should have been. It still works, but decided on a whim on the Black Friday sales to get one of the "Sweetwater exclusive" TC Electronics clip-on tuners because it doesn't have a damn plastic clip. Strobe mode is a very nice bonus. Had it a month or so, and can report for the $13 the "demo" unit cost me, well damn worth it. I'd probably have paid the full list - one of the things that had kept me away from the Snarks et al is the plastic clip and I've seen WAAAY too many break from friends to ever throw money at one. Battery life is good, and extremely visible, and apparently according to the reviews works even if removed from the clip body. It also runs on my Bass VI for the times I'm not using it with the guitar synth, whose strobe tuner is already stupidly accurate. www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UniTuneClip--tc-electronic-unitune-clip-clip-on-chromatic-tuner |
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DrKev
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It's just a guitar, it's not rocket science.
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Post by DrKev on Jan 5, 2022 11:10:51 GMT -5
I think they are the best clip-on tuners out there. Robust and super accurate.
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sirWheat
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For a better future, play Stevie Wonder for your children.
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Post by sirWheat on Jan 5, 2022 18:44:47 GMT -5
Agreed. I have the more expensive Polytune Clip and it is great. I'm a weenie about tuning accuracy and also have the Peterson offering which is also very good but comparatively clunky.
Rob, your old tuner doesn't happen to be a Seiko does it? I have one that a friend gave me in '86 or so, needle-style; still works great. Model ST-388.
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Post by reverendrob on Jan 5, 2022 23:59:37 GMT -5
It's not, it's old and in the "crappy plastic that won't ever come clean despite best efforts" age. The maker label is long worn off (used to have a serial once there too) Bad photo:  |
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Post by jazzguy on Jan 6, 2022 1:07:46 GMT -5
I have a couple snacks a friend gave me but recently bought a Peterson strobe tuner on a few recommendations and it's great.
Works like a snark but the clip on part is much stronger. I don't leave them clipped on, once I tune up they come off.
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sirWheat
Wholenote
For a better future, play Stevie Wonder for your children.
Posts: 321
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Post by sirWheat on Jan 6, 2022 6:07:50 GMT -5
That may be a curse rather than a blessing. I got the first gen. Peterson clip-on when they came out. It lasted a while but eventually the clamp gave out; one of the ears that hold the pin in place blew out. A heavy-duty rubber band keeps it useful but I wonder if the stiffness of the spring is at fault as it was always treated kindly. The new version seems a bit sturdier but who knows? I've lately gone back to the Polytune; can't imagine a better design. I've had it since whenever they came out and it's still working fine. The Peterson has fancier stuff like Buzz Feiten settings but I'm used to tuning my guitars that have that set-up with regular tuners.
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Post by reverendrob on Jan 6, 2022 6:19:49 GMT -5
Yea, I just wanted a regular-ol tuner. It works just fine for that, my only honest thing I'd change is being able to set the auto-turnoff to a higher amount - it shuts off when I'm doing a lot of tuning or just having one of those nights or breaking in new strings etc.
Minor annoyance, mind you, nothing's perfect perfect except maybe the original Boss HM-2!
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Post by larryguitar54 on Jan 6, 2022 16:26:13 GMT -5
I think they are the best clip-on tuners out there. Robust and super accurate. Agree. I have about 3 or 4 of them spread out amongst various instruments. I've not had a problem with any of them. |
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Ayns
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Post by Ayns on Jan 6, 2022 20:09:31 GMT -5
I’ve had half a dozen Snarks, but, as you say, they keep breaking. I’ve got a couple of Polytune clips now, and I think they’re excellent. :-)
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Post by reverendrob on Jan 6, 2022 20:11:25 GMT -5
First time I saw the Snark, I thought of the crappy hair clips the ex had a ton of and kept breaking.
it's the same crappy plastic.
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Post by bluzcat on Jan 7, 2022 23:16:14 GMT -5
Yea, I just wanted a regular-ol tuner. It works just fine for that, my only honest thing I'd change is being able to set the auto-turnoff to a higher amount - it shuts off when I'm doing a lot of tuning or just having one of those nights or breaking in new strings etc. Minor annoyance, mind you, nothing's perfect perfect except maybe the original Boss HM-2! I have the Polytune and my main aggravation is the auto-off. Otherwise, it’s great. |
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Jan 8, 2022 9:15:24 GMT -5
Agreed. I have the more expensive Polytune Clip and it is great. I'm a weenie about tuning accuracy and also have the Peterson offering which is also very good but comparatively clunky. Interesting.
I use snarks at work, because it is a quasi-disposable tool at that price point. They last a couple years and I get another one. I end up spending more on batteries than on the tuner itself. I've been thinking about a nicer one for home and had my eye on the Peterson because I love all of their other offerings, but maybe I shouldn't bother?
The downside to the metal clip on the Polytune is that on a soft finish with a high gloss they can leave the smallest of marks. They buff out easily, but it is there.
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bassngtr
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I am all about the bass...
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Post by bassngtr on Jan 8, 2022 10:17:44 GMT -5
Like Rob I was late to the clip-on party too. I have a Snark Hz which I love. But since I am one of the cool kids I never leave it on after tuning...except by mistake.  But I was very wrong about these. No cords, easy-peasy. If I didn't rely on my PitchBlack for muting at church (big necessity between songs) I would go 100% clip on. |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Jan 8, 2022 16:54:05 GMT -5
First time I saw the Snark, I thought of the crappy hair clips the ex had a ton of and kept breaking. it's the same crappy plastic. I agree. That original ball-and-socket stalk was ridiculously flimsy. Snark has gotten rid of that in their new-generation tuners. BUT they still eat batteries. I'm a fan of the Boss TU-05 rechargeable. It plugs into a mini USB and battery life between charges rivals that of the best coin cell/2032 chargers on the market. I have pals (geezers like me) that think clip-on tuners look stupid. I'm pretty sure they feel that way because there are no pictures of their bromance partner Duane Allman or Eric Clapton playing a guitar with a tuner clipped to the headstock. I could be wrong, but I'm probably not  |
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sirWheat
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For a better future, play Stevie Wonder for your children.
Posts: 321
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Post by sirWheat on Jan 8, 2022 16:57:50 GMT -5
The Peterson is a great tuner. By clunky I mean that you have to hold the button down for a few seconds to turn it on or off (a petty gripe, I know, but it's something that has become normal in the greater gadget world and bugs me. Are they worried that I'll accidentally bump it?) and takes a bit longer to fire up. The original version was clunky size-wise but the new one not so much. And the plastic construction makes it seem less durable; whether it actually is, time will tell. The Polytune is comparatively streamlined but both are very accurate and do a good job of picking up the low E, something that other tuners don't do so well. You won't be disappointed with the Peterson.
Anyone here use the Peterson phone app? Very affordable but I don't really like using my phone for much outside of calls and texting.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Jan 8, 2022 19:34:31 GMT -5
The Peterson is a great tuner. By clunky I mean that you have to hold the button down for a few seconds to turn it on or off (a petty gripe, I know, but it's something that has become normal in the greater gadget world and bugs me. Are they worried that I'll accidentally bump it?) and takes a bit longer to fire up. The original version was clunky size-wise but the new one not so much. And the plastic construction makes it seem less durable; whether it actually is, time will tell. The Polytune is comparatively streamlined but both are very accurate and do a good job of picking up the low E, something that other tuners don't do so well. You won't be disappointed with the Peterson. Anyone here use the Peterson phone app? Very affordable but I don't really like using my phone for much outside of calls and texting. Good to know! Now I'm on the fence... Hmmm..
I have the app for iPhone. It is mind blowingly good, isn't it? I have an older bench top Peterson at work, and the phone app works better. I just turn on the amp, open up the tuner, and go. I use it for BFTS, things like mandos, or when I get a bass that isn't registering well with the tuner. I think it has some algorithms in it to filter out noise, so you don't have that need for a totally quiet room like you did with old tuners and acoustics.
It is expensive as far as apps go, but as far as tuners go, it is ridiculously cheap. I agree, I don't like pulling my phone out every time I want to tune, but it is tempting to get a cheap, old iPad or something and make it my new tuner. It is that good.
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sirWheat
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For a better future, play Stevie Wonder for your children.
Posts: 321
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Post by sirWheat on Jan 9, 2022 11:50:15 GMT -5
I've yet to try the app. No need for it right now, not getting out much these days, but for ten bucks I'll probably give it a try eventually. I have a Peterson bench top as well but only use it for set-ups like everyone else. The noise is a bit annoying after a while, seems that one of their digital offerings may be just as good for guitar stuff.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Jan 9, 2022 12:29:17 GMT -5
I've yet to try the app. No need for it right now, not getting out much these days, but for ten bucks I'll probably give it a try eventually. I have a Peterson bench top as well but only use it for set-ups like everyone else. The noise is a bit annoying after a while, seems that one of their digital offerings may be just as good for guitar stuff. Yeah, give it a shot. The app exceeds expectations by a long shot. Older reviews seem to indicate it is better on iPhone than Android, but I don't know if that is still true. The charge you extra for "sweeteners", but the BFTS is the only thing I ever need, so I don't have to go too far down that rabbit hole. The tuner is smart and you don't have to adjust offsets in that mode - you just can't use the harmonic for the open string.
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Post by Taildragger on Jan 9, 2022 18:31:54 GMT -5
It's not, it's old and in the "crappy plastic that won't ever come clean despite best efforts" age. The maker label is long worn off (used to have a serial once there too) Bad photo: I'd advise washing your hands after using that. Especially before eating... |
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Post by reverendrob on Jan 9, 2022 20:18:11 GMT -5
Oh, it's not quite as godsawful these days as when I pulled it out of storage for the photo a few years ago.
Cleaned everything as much as it gets before I moved a couple years ago!
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Post by rdr on Jan 9, 2022 22:27:38 GMT -5
I got one of those unitunes from SW on sale. I really like the strobe method. Seems really accurate.
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Post by Larry Madsen on Jan 11, 2022 11:18:05 GMT -5
I picked up a couple of these a while back. Peegoo had brought them to my attention. When I found them they were virtually out of existence. I think I bought the last two.  The rechargeability of these is great and also convenient.  IMG_2790[1] by Larry Madsen, on Flickr Amazon seems to have an Intellitouch Tuner PT1 for $40.00, nearly double what I paid for a PT40c Looks like BOSS has picked up where the discontinued model from intellitouch left off. |
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Post by reverendrob on Jan 11, 2022 12:39:45 GMT -5
Battery free isn't an issue, the TC thing takes CR2032s that I buy a couple dozen at a time as everything from the laser grips on my Sig 226 to various red dots use plus household remotes etc.
In bulk they're dirt dirt cheap!
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Post by markfromhawaii on Jan 17, 2022 13:38:28 GMT -5
I liked the TC Electronic unitune (the cheaper model) so much, I got a second. Actually, because I thought I lost the first one.
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Post by pcalu on Jan 17, 2022 21:53:46 GMT -5
It's best to have a combination of true bypass and buffered pedals... I still use a boss turner (just for said reason)
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Post by reverendrob on Jan 18, 2022 21:24:08 GMT -5
It's best to have a combination of true bypass and buffered pedals... I still use a boss turner (just for said reason) I have a host of buffered pedals (including the option to switch buffer on/off on a per-patch basis on my Boss ES-8 pedal switcher that also lets me move them around without rewiring on a patch to patch basis. I know definitively now what sounds better with a buffer and doesn't because of it!) |
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But I was very wrong about these. No cords, easy-peasy. If I didn't rely on my PitchBlack for muting at church (big necessity between songs) I would go 100% clip on. 
