Clip On Tuners / What Cha Got ?

[Murphy Slaw]

My Snark just fell apart. Turns out this is a known defect for many years, making it designed to fail. I can't support that.

I have one of the foldable Fishman tuners, it's old and dependable but it's hard to see outdoors.

So, I ordered a Peterson strobe clip on because they remind me of when I was young and the band I was in finally got a Peterson strobe tuner. It meant we had "arrived". Ah, the 70's...

[starrbri]

My Snark just fell apart. Turns out this is a known defect for many years, making it designed to fail. I can't support that.

I have one of the foldable Fishman tuners, it's old and dependable but it's hard to see outdoors.

So, I ordered a Peterson strobe clip on because they remind me of when I was young and the band I was in finally got a Peterson strobe tuner. It meant we had "arrived". Ah, the 70's...

I keep a handful of D'addario micros on hand. I usually get the ones that screw onto the tuners. Can't even see them from the front, no marks on the headstock finish.

https://www.amazon.com/DAddario-Micr...NrPXRydWU&th=1

[Pittsburgh Bill]

Try a KLIQ. You must hold the on/off button a little longer to turn on or off than other clip-ons I have used. However, they are built rugged enough to not require careful handling. I have yet to have the swivel break on one.

[Mark Gunter]

I use the stroboclip mostly, but only have one, so I move it from mandolin case to guitar case, etc., which is a PITA

Are those D’Addario micros easily visible outdoors in the sunlight?

[MontanaMatt]

Peterson stroboclip, but it’s a spendy piece of plastic!

[foldedpath]

I've used Peterson strobe (digital emulation) tuners for years, clip-on and tabletop versions. I'm using the current StroboClip HD but I still have my older "silver TV" clip-on version as backup. Both work well in bright daylight.

The only thing I don't like about the current StroboClip model is that it's a bit fussy to turn on and off, and I have to be careful not to hit the buttons that change the target A pitch. The older "silver TV" model didn't have that problem but it's larger. I like the way the current one is more inconspicuous and can be tucked behind the headstock.

[jaycat]

Been having good luck with the Unitune lately.

The new rechargeable Snark works better than the battery powered ones, but I still don't care much for them.

[pops1]

Second the Unitune, I have several. I also have a Peterson, the Unitune is nearly as accurate. The big plus is I use one that I leave out daily, several times, and can get more than a year from the battery. I don't know of any tuner, that is as accurate, that will have a battery life like the Unitune. The display is bright enough for daylight and you can use it as a normal tuner or in strobe mode, where it is more accurate.

[NDO]

I’ve switched from d’addario micro to Unitune as well.

[farmerjones]

An old, OLD, intellitouch tuner. Uses big watch batteries.
Also got an app on the phone. But for noisey stages, it's tuff to beat the Intellitouch.

[milli857]

+1 more for Daddario micro tuners.
I like to always keep mine on and those ones stand out the least. I keep the actual tuner part on the back of the headstock so only a little part of the clip is visible from the front. The batteries last long and I haven't had issues reading them or with them breaking.

[Dave Hicks]

I used to use Snarks exclusively, but the ball joint cup is pretty prone to breaking, so I've been replacing them.

I have a TC Unitune, but only one (and several instruments), so I keep a Fender FT1 in the mandolin case for when the Unitune isn't to hand. The Fender works OK, fits in a small case compartment, and is cheap enough to have spares.

D.H.

[allenhopkins]

Using D'Addario micros now, and generally satisfied. On the back of the headstock, they're generally shaded enough so I can read 'em outdoors.

The one thing I loved about the older red Snarks was the microphone option; made it easier to tune things like Autoharps. I keep a couple around for that purpose.

[BrianWilliam]

+1 to the TC electronics unitune

[rumpystumpy]

BOSS TU-03. Also a metronome

[keith.rogers]

I've got the D'Addario "clip-free" Micro on both mandolins. Works well enough for me. Having it always there, never marking the headstock, or breaking are enough plusses to outweigh any negatives. (Well, our son broke one because he didn't understand that it didn't "articulate" like the Snark-types until he'd tried to angle it away from the headstock! But, in my hands, so far they hold up.)

I still have a clip-on for the guitar (from Reverb, actually) that I got years ago. Been getting a little flaky so have to look for something else there one of these days.

[Tavy]

+1 on those old Intelli tuners - very dependable. Mine recently took a walk somewhere (don't ask), so I replaced with a D'Addario, but I'm not keen, it is excellent for guitars basses and OM's, but not so great on mandolins IMO. Looks like I'd better check out the Unitune.

[Jay]

Unitune is the correct answer

[mandroid]

Intellitouch , (before that, an A=440 Hz tuning fork)

[Doug Brock]

I have a LOT of clip on tuners! My main tuner is the Peterson Stroboclip HD (especially for the sweetened mandolin setting), but I have quite a few of the D’Addario micro headstock tuners for misc instruments like guitars, ukes and banjos. I buy the D’Addarios in two-packs and keep them on most headstocks. I also give them away when family or friend is needing a tuner!

[Jill McAuley]

TC Electronics Polytune - have used them for years and very happy with them. I also have a Strobotune clip on but I prefer to use it with my acoustic guitar, I've always found it a wee bit tricky to use with my mandolin for some reason as compared to the Polytune.

[Eric Platt]

Been using the D'Addario micro. It's on the front of the Brentrup headstock. Had it on the back, but it was touching the support in the Hoffee.

Might start using the Unitune again on it. Although I wasn't happy with visibility in the sun.

Also have a Snark HZ which is more robust and can usually be seen in full sunlight.

[Clement Barrera-Ng]

I am still rocking a shark myself but have grown really weary of it in the last year and looking for an upgrade. I looked up the difference between Unitune and Polytune and not sure I fully grasp it: With Polytune, you can just strum all of the strings on the mandolin and it gives you a reading on all 8 strings? Do y'all use the 'polyphonic' mode or just tune one string at a time?

[jaycat]

Second the Unitune, I have several. I also have a Peterson, the Unitune is nearly as accurate. The big plus is I use one that I leave out daily, several times, and can get more than a year from the battery. I don't know of any tuner, that is as accurate, that will have a battery life like the Unitune. The display is bright enough for daylight and you can use it as a normal tuner or in strobe mode, where it is more accurate.

Having the auto shut-off certainly prolongs the battery life.

[pops1]

I am still rocking a shark myself but have grown really weary of it in the last year and looking for an upgrade. I looked up the difference between Unitune and Polytune and not sure I fully grasp it: With Polytune, you can just strum all of the strings on the mandolin and it gives you a reading on all 8 strings? Do y'all use the 'polyphonic' mode or just tune one string at a time?

The Polytune will show all the strings of a guitar, not sure how accurate that is, and it is of no benefit to a mandolin. I have both and prefer the Unitune. I also have the Peterson, and D'Addriio micro. The Unitune is far superior in accuracy, and battery life. It is a little larger, but all in all a better tuner.