|
Post by jackorion on Feb 26, 2018 12:36:08 GMT
hey folks,
Did a few totally unplugged gigs this week and really enjoyed the sound and ease of setup - one thing I noticed was that I found it easier to talk to the audience whilst I was tuning when using a headstock tuner than I would when using a floor tuner...
Does anyone here rely on a headstock tuner for their tuning needs at gigs? I have my Orchid DI which mutes so I can always mute the signal when I'm retuning but I'm thinking of going to a headstock tuner for a few gigs and seeing if it works as well as my Boss TU3 which I normally use...
I sometimes find having to look down at the floor means I end up interrupting myself talking by having to back off the mic a bit, whereas I think with a headstock tuner I could just angle the guitar so i could see it by looking to my left and still have my head up to talk...
I have a Korg pitchcrow at the moment which is a pretty good tuner I think, but it is a bit ugly on the headstock - I've seen those tiny little daddario ones but I used one before and it seemed a little inaccurate...
any thoughts?
Was looking at the tc polytune clip in black, which I think would be pretty ignorable looking to the audience, but has a good bright screen and a good rep apparently (although the polytune function would be useless me as it only works in std...)
|
|
|
Post by delb0y on Feb 26, 2018 13:05:37 GMT
Yep, only headstock tuners for me. They're a godsend. Well, any tuner is when I think back to the old days of tuning up between songs without any electronic and silent assistance. I love my Peterson for total accuracy, but also use a Snark if I have more than one guitar on a gig.
|
|
|
Post by andyhowell on Feb 26, 2018 13:06:16 GMT
I use both floor and headstock.
The headstock tuners are great and as you say make talking to the audience a more natural experience.I use my pedal when playing outside as the headstock tuner can easily get lost in the sun — I use the Boss tuner which has a display boost. I do like the pedal and would probably use it more if I wasn't doing the talking but as it is I'm mainly using the headstock tuner.
I bought a Polytune and liked it although it was no better in the sunlight. It died on me though after less than 12 months and would have been expensive to replace. I've gone back to using a Spork — cheap but accurate.
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,859
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Feb 26, 2018 15:37:27 GMT
I only use headstock tuners. I've been using Snarks for a few years now. They're not too expensive and pretty accurate, though prone to breaking if you drop them on a hard floor.
|
|
|
Post by scorpiodog on Feb 26, 2018 15:46:23 GMT
I've gone back to using a Spork — cheap but accurate. A tuning Spork? like this?
|
|
|
Post by andyhowell on Feb 26, 2018 16:00:45 GMT
I like to keep you on your toes Paul ;-)
|
|
|
Post by dreadnought28 on Feb 26, 2018 16:12:24 GMT
I remember them there olden days when I used just my ears as there weren’t no tuners apart from a fork or those pipe thingys.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2018 16:54:31 GMT
Yep, I use a polytune, simply because I constantly change instruments (although I will soon not have that problem anymore!!). At the time the simpler tuner from TC without the polytune capability wasn’t available. I have to say, it’s not a function I have ever used, as I use it on bass, mandolin and guitar in dropped C. The newer non polytune versions would seem to me to be better value.
Nice to have finally met you in Exeter last week Jack 🙂.
Robbie
|
|
|
Post by bobcarter on Feb 26, 2018 17:01:07 GMT
Have a Polytune as my only tuner and love it. Had about 18 months so far no problems still on same battery. Live I cheat by using an old preamp pedal with the volume set to zero as my mute!
|
|
|
Post by PistolPete on Feb 26, 2018 17:01:27 GMT
Yep, just a clip on tuner, I've never felt the need for anything else. At the moment it's a weird cube shaped thing made by Snark.
|
|
Wild Violet
Artist / Performer
Posts: 3,562
My main instrument is: Symonds OM-14
|
Post by Wild Violet on Feb 26, 2018 17:13:25 GMT
Headstock only for me as well. I use a preamp and want to keep the chain as small as possible. I have another tuner and spare battery in my extras bag in case it stops working.
|
|
ocarolan
Global Moderator
CURMUDGEONLY OLD GIT (leader - to join, just ask!)
Posts: 34,111
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"c0cfe1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 182a3f
Mini-Profile Text Color: 733a1c
|
Post by ocarolan on Feb 26, 2018 21:29:42 GMT
Plugged in I use a headstock tuner (TC Polytune clip on). Unplugged I use ears.
Keith
|
|
|
Post by jackorion on Feb 26, 2018 21:58:15 GMT
ok cool - looks like I'm not the only one who doesn't want to look at the floor like a member of Ride between songs!
I like the look of the TC tuners, they look pretty sturdy - I also kinda fancy the Peterson stroboclip HD but i think the strobe function would be annoying in a live situation...
|
|
Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
|
Post by Riverman on Feb 26, 2018 22:43:07 GMT
I don’t like playing live with a tuner stuck on the headstock (though it was noticeable how many people playing live on that Old Grey Whistle Test thing on Friday were using them), but I agree that looking down is less audience friendly than looking sideways. And while strobe tuners might be more accurate, I find them a pain to use on stage - good for when you’re recording, but with an audience waiting I’d rather get it close enough, then use my ears to decide if any fine tweaking is needed.
|
|
|
Post by jackorion on Feb 26, 2018 23:02:43 GMT
I don’t like playing live with a tuner stuck on the headstock (though it was noticeable how many people playing live on that Old Grey Whistle Test thing on Friday were using them), but I agree that looking down is less audience friendly than looking sideways. And while strobe tuners might be more accurate, I find them a pain to use on stage - good for when you’re recording, but with an audience waiting I’d rather get it close enough, then use my ears to decide if any fine tweaking is needed. I don't really like the aesthetic of headstock tuners either, i think they just ruin the lines of the guitar somehow... but then I don't really like having to sing through a microphone and hearing myself in the monitors rather than the actual sound coming my my mouth but that's part and parcel of playing live sometimes! I can tune pretty well by ear at home and at open mics etc, but I like the security of having a tuner there at gigs just in case I'm having an off day tuning-wise...
|
|