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Post new topic Tuner drifts while tuning...
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Author Topic:  Tuner drifts while tuning...
Ben Carneval

 

From:
North Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA
Post  Posted 11 Apr 2004 1:19 am    
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Has anyone experienced the problem of tuner needle drifting while tuning? Seems like the harder I pick a string the higher the needle goes. Not sure weather I should tune at that point or wait until the sound dimenishes and the needle drops...
It happens on all 10 strings.

It also happens on red/green light type tuners... the lights will switch back and forth depending on how hard I pick the strings and switches as the string volume diminishes.

My strings are several months old, steel is a Carter E9 10 string, single neck, double body.

Thanks in advance.
Ben
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Rick Schmidt


From:
Prescott AZ, USA
Post  Posted 11 Apr 2004 2:12 am    
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Ben...I don't know if anyone will agree with me on this, but that's why I mostly tune by my 12 fret harmonics, not open strings. I seem to get a stronger signal to the tuner that way.
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Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 11 Apr 2004 5:52 am    
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Ben, that's natural. The harder you pick a string, the more you're stretching it. Therefore, it's reading higher initially, and then takes longer to "settle down". The good part is that most of these deficiencies that you can see in a tuner will be very hard to hear.

Remember, tuning is far easier if you don't pick real hard when you're doing it! Instead of picking hard to make the string "ring" longer, pick it easier and pick it several times, if necessary.
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C Dixon

 

From:
Duluth, GA USA
Post  Posted 11 Apr 2004 6:25 am    
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Donny is correct.

carl
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Pee Wee Rogers

 

From:
Lebanon, Tennessee, USA * R.I.P.
Post  Posted 11 Apr 2004 6:28 am    
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Get a Peterson .... it will not stray ... and it has the presets for steel that works on most guitars.

I have one (V-SAM) and use it ONLY.

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Jeff Lampert

 

From:
queens, new york city
Post  Posted 11 Apr 2004 9:16 am    
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Tuner drift is natural. Do what Donny said. Pick lightly many times. It gives you a steady signal that will help nail the point on your tuner. Picking hard sporadically gives you a very unsteady signal.

------------------
[url=http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/jeff's_jazz.htm]Jeff's Jazz[/url]
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Brad Sarno


From:
St. Louis, MO USA
Post  Posted 11 Apr 2004 2:12 pm    
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Also, it's more of an issue on the fatter strings.

Brad Sarno

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Ron Randall

 

From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 11 Apr 2004 6:46 pm    
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AHHhhh.... but it is not the tuner that is drifting!
The string's pitch changes from the time it is picked until it is quiet.
Sometimes you can hear it. Mostly, only see it on a strobe tuner.
So what? I find that doing all this the same way each time, minimizes variation.

Ron
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C Dixon

 

From:
Duluth, GA USA
Post  Posted 12 Apr 2004 6:23 am    
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Donny, as usual, is correct. I get around this by using harmonics, rather than picking, to keep the needle more stable. This is particularly helpful on the bottom strings.

carl
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Robert Porri

 

From:
Windsor, Connecticut, USA
Post  Posted 12 Apr 2004 10:01 am    
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The tuner is just doing it's job. The settled down pitch is the correct one. And ditto on the previous suggestions.

Bob P.
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Willis Vanderberg


From:
Petoskey Mi
Post  Posted 12 Apr 2004 12:31 pm    
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All good advice: But...I have a problem with stings five and six.It is very hard to keep the needle in the middle of my TU-12H.
Even using harmonics it wants to stray.
Also it seem like with everything about as good as I can get it, when is push the "A" pedal the fifth string is almost alway a touch. Maybe it my ear.....

Bud
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Buddy Emmons

 

From:
Hermitage, TN USA * R.I.P.
Post  Posted 12 Apr 2004 2:22 pm    
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Ben,
Old strings develope overtones that cause the needle of a tuner to shift back and forth as you described. Put a new 5th or 6th string on and you should see a noticable difference in the reading. Make sure all surfaces in contact with the new string are clean.

[This message was edited by Buddy Emmons on 12 April 2004 at 03:32 PM.]

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