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Thread: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

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    Default Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    I now own a lovely 1925 Washburn A, by Lyon & Healy. While I love the fiddle-curl headstock, I can't find anywhere to clip on my PolyTune or any of my Snarks.

    I'm currently using a Korg Chromatic Tuner, which has an internal microphone. That works fine at home, but it's awkward for me to use at mandolin orchestra rehearsals -- either for a quick tuning check between pieces or in the racket at our half-time breaks.

    Any suggestions?

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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    You don't have to clip it on, just touching it to any surface will work. You can also clip it to the tuning peg and tune all but that string, clip to another peg and tune the remaining one.
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    Registered User Bren's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    On the edge of the soundhole?
    Bren

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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bren View Post
    On the edge of the soundhole?
    D’Addario makes a version of their micro tuner that clips to the inside of an acoustic guitar sound hole. I bet that could work.
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    Question Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    Ones with a 1/4" input can take a Piezo clip, plug in .. then you clip it to the bridge, temporarily, while you tune.

    Banjo players use these , on their bridges.

    I used that to clip tuner pickup onto the wrench to tune autoharps, when on the string peg.

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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mando Esq View Post
    D’Addario makes a version of their micro tuner that clips to the inside of an acoustic guitar sound hole. I bet that could work.
    I have one inside my Huss & Dalton guitar but I think it is designed to clip onto a flattop guitar soundboard which I believe is thinner than the L&H carved top. Please correct me if I am wrong.
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  12. #7
    small instrument, big fun Dan in NH's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    All of my guitars & mandolins have a D'Addario NS Micro tuner clipped to the headstock. I never take 'em off.
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  14. #8

    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    My second favorite tuner is the D’Addario micro tuner that mounts to the underside of the tuning pegs. You pull out one screw and replace it with a longer one supplied with the tuner and mount it under the headstock. Nobody can see it but you. One time I was playing and stopped to tune up and someone said “wow, I can’t believe you can tune that by ear”

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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    Thank you all! I knew I was asking the right people.

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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    Fiddlers use a version of the D'addario micro tuner that opens wide enough to clip onto the body, which they just leave in place, but you'd have to check that it would be wide enough for the body of your L&H, which looks a bit deeper on photos I googled of that model.
    Last edited by Bren; Jan-13-2023 at 8:07am.
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    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    Boss Tu-5. Tunes every instrument I have from mandolin through to five string bass
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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    Quote Originally Posted by Dan in NH View Post
    All of my guitars & mandolins have a D'Addario NS Micro tuner clipped to the headstock. I never take 'em off.
    Read the original post. He has a scroll headstock L&H mandolin the one you are describing works with flat headstocks.
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  23. #13
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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bren View Post
    Fiddlers use a version of the D'addario micro tuner that opens wide enough to clip onto the body, which they just leave in place, but you'd have to check that it would be wide enough for the body of your L&S, which looks a bit deeper on photos I googled of that model.
    D’Addario makes one for viola which I just got. I can try it on my Washburn/ L&H and let you know if it works. I doubt the violin one would work.
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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    D’Addario makes one for viola which I just got. I can try it on my Washburn/ L&H and let you know if it works. I doubt the violin one would work.
    I just checked my '25 Washburn A which should be just like yours, rickbella. The D'Addario violin tuner does not work however the viola one does. The only difference is that the viola one can extend wider.I was able to clamp it on the bass side cutaway. It is a little tight for that gray lever to tighten it but it does work and picks up the notes fine. Just make sure you are getting the viola one: PW-CT-25 Chromatic Tuner with Viola Mount

    It works okay as a tuner, but it is not ideal and feels like it will fall off.
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    Last edited by Jim Garber; Jan-13-2023 at 11:38am.
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  26. #15

    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    I recently purchased a D'Addario Nexus 360.

    Link:https://www.daddario.com/products/ac...rs/nexxus-360/

    I dislike it but it is o.k. if your instrument's intonation is 'right on.'

    It is 1.210" in diameter and .475" thick (the round bit, that is.)

    With small screwdrivers it could be easily removed from the mounting clamp
    and used with 'blu-tack.'

    I can't send it to you right away cause I'm in a spot of bother right now
    but if you get a hankering to try this and aren't in a hurry I'd be happy
    to just give it to you. This could easily take a month.

    You would have to un-stick it from the blu-tack to recharge.

    It might give a more stable reading mounted this way and
    be a happier experience too.

    I'm waiting on a BOSS TU-05, and I'll report here in a new thread
    but that doesn't address your problem.

    If it seems right lemme know & good luck!

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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    I would be a little nervous to use Blu-Tack on a fine instrument. I see that most folks say it is ok on wood but I would not take that chance.
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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I just checked my '25 Washburn A which should be just like yours, rickbella. The D'Addario violin tuner does not work however the viola one does. The only difference is that the viola one can extend wider.I was able to clamp it on the bass side cutaway. It is a little tight for that gray lever to tighten it but it does work and picks up the notes fine. Just make sure you are getting the viola one: PW-CT-25 Chromatic Tuner with Viola Mount

    It works okay as a tuner, but it is not ideal and feels like it will fall off.
    This sounds to me like the best idea so far. Thank you!

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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    rickbella, I have a 1920's (not sure of the exact year) L&H A model, with the assymetrical points, and I have the same problem. I have seen a tuner with a clip mount for violins that is curved to fit onto the scroll, but I don't know the make - it didn't look big enough to me to fit on the L&H scroll. I use an Oasis OT2 tuner and I can clip it onto the neck up near the nut, coming on from underneath, and it works fine. I also sometimes use a Unitune tuner (which I think is a better tuner) and it will also clip on the neck in the same way, but it seems more prone to slipping off than the Oasis. I like the look of the clip on Viola tuner, but I think these other two are better than the D'Addarrio micro. Of course you can also use one of the many tuners available for your phone, but they are not ideal in a noisy environment.

    Jack

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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    When I was a kid, I used a four-note pitch pipe to more-or-less tune my violin. Life has grown more complicated now, both better and worse at the same time.

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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    Quote Originally Posted by rickbella View Post
    When I was a kid, I used a four-note pitch pipe to more-or-less tune my violin. Life has grown more complicated now, both better and worse at the same time.
    I used to carry a tuning fork everywhere I went. I THINK I still remember how to use one.... maybe....
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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    Quote Originally Posted by meow-n-dolin View Post
    I used to carry a tuning fork everywhere I went. I THINK I still remember how to use one.... maybe....
    Ha! That's exactly what my violin teacher did!

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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    For accuracy, I haven't found any clip-on headstock tuner that beats the Peterson StroboClip HD. I recommend it highly for guitar or mandolin.
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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    D'addario makes a really good one

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    Question Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    A=440 tuning fork gets the A string on pitch ..
    I press its base against my bridge to amplify its sound output, while vibrating,
    That's how its done...

    then use octaves & unison fretted notes for the other strings..

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    Default Re: Anyone know of a suitable clip-on tuner?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bren View Post
    On the edge of the soundhole?
    This is pretty hard with f-holes, which all my mandolins have.

    I use the D'darrio guitar tuner that goes in the hole for my GoldTone MO-880 because the 23 inch scale length means I would have to turn my head really sharply left to see the tuner on the headstock and my neck is too stiff for that.

    If you use a pedal board you can get tuners that go on that.

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