Roadie 2 or Roadie 3 Automatic Tuner and Winder

Have any of you tried the Roadie 2 or Roadie 3 device for winding and tuning? Since my carpal tunnel surgery, it is more difficult for me to tune my mandolins. As I look at the Roadie video on their website, I am a bit concerned if the device will work on the typically smaller tuning knobs on the mandolin, as compared with a guitar. I was going to contact Roadie directly, but thought I would first run this by mates on Mandolin Cafe. At first view, this looks like a very nice device but I will not order yet. I had posted earlier on this subject, but now they came out with a Roadie 3. Just wondering if it is an improvement. Thanks for any advice.

Link?

For the rare occasions I need a powered string winder; mainly for spinning/lubing tuners, I use an old Dunlop “Turbotune” end on a Bosch rechargeable screwdriver.

https://www.roadiemusic.com/roadie3

Ah, more than just a string winder! Personally, I have no desire to buy one but I suspect, as you appear to do, that they may not be that accurate on mandolins. I say this because I have numerous different tuners - almost as many as I have instruments - and find that some work better on some instruments than others. The most expensive is poor on mandolin but works well on bass!

@dulcilini Thank you for the heads up on the version 3. I've just asked them if the winding speed is programmable. I want a slow speed for my vintage instruments.

EDIT: It has 3 inbulit speeds

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Originally Posted by Ray(T)

Link?

For the rare occasions I need a powered string winder; mainly for spinning/lubing tuners, I use an old Dunlop “Turbotune” end on a Bosch rechargeable screwdriver.

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So do I, been using it for years.

Hmm, might be interesting for those of us with arthritis or other finger/thumb joint issues.

Although, I have to say, I am getting a little tired of gadgets that have to link to a phone app. They say they don't collect data on you, but....

Link to the manual: https://www.roadiemusic.com/roadie3-manual-en.pdf

For $129, it's not cheap, but I would be interested in any user experiences.

I recall that Gibson produced guitars with built in automatic electric tuners a few years ago which were unpopular. I can’t help but feel that such devices are primarily designed for people who can’t be bothered tomlearn to tune an instrument and, whilst they may have their uses for people with medical conditions such as the o/p, the results may be unsatisfactory for those used to better things.

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Originally Posted by Ray(T)

I recall that Gibson produced guitars with built in automatic electric tuners a few years ago which were unpopular. I can’t help but feel that such devices are primarily designed for people who can’t be bothered tomlearn to tune an instrument and, whilst they may have their uses for people with medical conditions such as the o/p, the results may be unsatisfactory for those used to better things.

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Dunno, I seem to recall that the problem with the Gibson tuners was the weight, the cost and that they were a special item that not a lot of folks wanted, but Gibson was pushing them nonetheless.

Still think this might be good for fast tuning or changing to alternate tunings quickly, although it would eliminate the need for witty repartee between songs during extended retuning. 😸

And as Ray, the OP (& I) point out, good for those with joint issues. As for "used to better things," I always tweak tunings, even if I'm using a strobe tuner.

🤷🏻

It could also be advantageous for someone with around 50 stringed instruments in the house . Just a shame it can't tune violin tuners :-(
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Originally Posted by TheMandoKit

They say they don't collect data on you, but....

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Yikes! Do you mean that, thanks to flute tuning issues in hot weather, they might learn that we sometimes tune to A=442?

I tried a Roadie 2. Bought it through Amazon. Sent it back. For me, it worked inconsistently and took a long time to zero in. I am not totally denying that there could have been just a touch of operator error. But, for me a plain old wooden string winder works fine and faster for my arthritic fingers.

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Originally Posted by EdHanrahan

Yikes! Do you mean that, thanks to flute tuning issues in hot weather, they might learn that we sometimes tune to A=442?

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I am often amazed at the data some apps collect that has nothing to do with what the app is supposed to do. Like collecting location, or wanting access to contacts, or the ability to use the camera. But then, I don't use "social" media, either...

“.....took a long time to zero in.” implies that it reaches the “correct” pitch by tuning up and down. This should be a worry as we all know that you should always tune a string up to a note rather than down!

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Originally Posted by TheMandoKit

...But then, I don't use "social" media, either...

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I think what you mean is that you aren't on any of the larger social media sites. You're here, you can't say that you don't use social media. This is social media.

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Definition of social media

: forms of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as videos)

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This thread by a user with arthritis may be of interest.

Homemade Tuning Peg Tool. https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...ferrerid=24164

I noticed it didn't get the "B" string quite right. I suspect that one has to be corrected by the player.