Clip On Tuners / What Cha Got ?

[kymandolin29]

i only use the vintage seiko tuners with a wire...st -900 909 800 or sat 501....

[707erich]

If you don’t need or have a use for the polyphonic part of the TC Electronic unitune you can get just there chromatic version at Sweetwater for $29.99.

Looks like Sweetwater just increased the price to $35.00

[musicofanatic]

It has been years now that we've all had that crap clamped onto the headstock. I would like to invite all (at least gigging/on stage musicians) to care about your appearance and employ the micro-type tuner or if you plug in, an in-line device. Whilst I was appreciative of the convenience when they first appeared, I thought they all looked really dumb from the outset, especially the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 one (Snark). Lately I have heard many (musicians and audience members alike) voice this opinion. Clean up your look onstage...hide your tuner!

[Murphy Slaw]

It has been years now that we've all had that crap clamped onto the headstock. I would like to invite all (at least gigging/on stage musicians) to care about your appearance..........I thought they all looked really dumb from the outset, ...... Clean up your look onstage...hide your tuner!

I don't plug in.

I've seen Chris Thile practically leave his tuner on for an entire show, tuning before EVERY SONG.

The audience has no idea, except gear nerds.

[onassis]

I don't plug in.

I've seen Chris Thile practically leave his tuner on for an entire show, tuning before EVERY SONG.

The audience has no idea, except gear nerds.

Exactly. I've never heard a non-musician spectator complain about the appearance of a clip-on tuner. IMO, being out of tune is much more noticeable than a headstock tuner.

[Eric Platt]

Have become used to having the tuner on the instrument so it's easier to adjust tuning during a set. Today we are playing outside and will probably retune twice during our set. In this band, the fiddler uses my tuning as her reference.

For this show will use the Unitune, but am going to have a Korg Sledgehammer Custom (AAA battery version) in my pocket as backup.

[Tom Hart]

After seeing Bela Fleck in Detroit last month and trying to support artists via the merchandise table I picked up hit Flecktune heart shaped tuner. Already had the album, didn't want a poster. It works fine.

[musicofanatic]

Exactly. I've never heard a non-musician spectator complain about the appearance of a clip-on tuner. IMO, being out of tune is much more noticeable than a headstock tuner.

Conversely, I never gave it a thought until a non-musician pointed it out (providing the reference to Mystery Science Theatre), and it has happened more than once. This opened my eyes to how it looks. Why have, say, an F5 mandolin with an artistically distinctive headstock then clamp some goofy looking distraction on it? Worse is seeing a guitar player with a Snark and a Kyser capo clamped on the headstock...looks like he's playing a damn swiss army knife, not a Martin guitar. This being the internet, I am prepared to be told I am not entitled to my opinion. Additionally, Hey, Thele: maybe get a good mandolin that does not require constant tuning!

[Explorer]

Ha!

A small sub-group gathers in a room to discuss low-cost devices used to keep in tune, thereby making for pleasant playing and listening.

Someone enters that room, and says they should instead be using a signal chain, and then moving the tuner to that signal chain. The person also feels much more in command of tuning and performing issues than Thiele, although I'm not sure if the group got the low-down on how much experience is behind that opinion.

Having performed for paying audiences at least once or twice, under differing environmental conditions, I personally have found that ambient temperatures, stage lights, and even handling can make *strings* change temperature, affecting their tuning.

Hmm... and that last part was interesting, the idea that Thiele's F5 was chosen for appearance instead of sound.

People are definitely entitled to their opinions, even those who blunder into a group discussing staying in tune, while loudly professing that appearance is more important than sound when performing. As to whether any given opinion is actually valued might be a different story.