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Topic: Electronic Tuner Tips |
Rick Jolley
From:
Colorado Springs
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Posted 12 Mar 2006 10:55 am |
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I know I should tune without a tuner. I did it for fifty years on my straight guitar. But, when it's noisy, and when you're in a hurry, and ...
OK. You need a chromatic tuner and the Korg CA-30 is an amazing value for those of us on a limited budget. My friend George Duncan (Sypert) gave me a good tip. "Always tune a little flat. This, translated to this tuner, means that you watch the left hand (flat) light until it justs barely goes out. Still I was having a lot of trouble -- the needle and the lights jump all over the place sometimes -- and so I would wind up re-tuning by ear A LOT.
And then...
For my Fender Jag-stang, I bought an new "Intellitouch" tuner. No good for PSG, but great for straight guitar because you clip it on your headpiece and it feels the vibrations! However, it wasn't working very well on the Jag-stang, so I READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!
Basically it says "Don't pluck the string with a pick! Use your bare thumb or finger."
It says, if you use a pick, you are creating harmonics (e.g. pick clicks) that confuse the circuitry in the tuner.
Well, this makes an AMAZING difference on the CA-30 on the PSG!! I can tune in half the time I used to take. In between tunes? I can check -- and adjust -- the tuning in half the time!
RTFM! Amazing!
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Rick Jolley
(Rick Zahniser/Rickey Zahn)
Dekley S10 3/3, Session400LTD http://belizenorth.com
[This message was edited by Rick Jolley on 14 March 2006 at 03:29 AM.] |
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Jim Peters
From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Mar 2006 11:24 am
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| Wouldn't the right hand light be the sharp light? JP |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 12 Mar 2006 12:22 pm
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In my lead guitar playing guise, I always tune a tad sharp to the rest of the band.
It makes the guitar stand out better in the mix, and masks my mediocre playing  |
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Pat Kelly
From:
Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 12 Mar 2006 3:17 pm
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| Hey Richard. Wouldn't that be highlight your "mediocre playing." |
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Mac Knowles
From:
Almonte,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 12 Mar 2006 3:39 pm
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Just thought I'd add my 2 cents worth to this discussion. I use an Intellitouch tuner all the time now, on gigs anyway. Just clip it onto the bottom side of the back of the body down near the tuner end. Mind you I've only tried it on guitars that I build, but it works great for me. I'd be interested to know if anyone has one and tries it on other brands of guitars. Maybe this tells something about the sustain and body resonance in different guitars.
Mac |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 13 Mar 2006 3:24 am
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Many of the "body contact" type tuners do say not to use a pick.
I've tried it both ways (with a pick and with just my finger) with my Peterson VS-II with a Taylor guitar with a built in pickup and with my pedal steel and it doesn't make any difference. May be because of the guitar pickup feeding the signal instead of the vibrations of the guitar. |
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John Jeffries
From:
New Brunswick, Canada
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Posted 13 Mar 2006 4:04 pm
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A "tuner pick-up clamp" (which is made primarily for acoustic instruments) plugs into the tuner and clips on a fiddle bridge, guitar soundhole, etc., works pretty good...I use mine on the steel, banjo, tele, etc - I just clip it on to one of the instrument's tuning keys. Most music stores sell them for around $15.00
I tried my "intellitouch" tuner on my steel (new carter-starter) and, while it did pick up the vibrations through the body,it would not hold (sustain)the vibrations long enough to make any adjusments with the tuning keys.
Cheers....JJ
"Old age & treachery will overcome youth & skill every time!! |
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Rick Jolley
From:
Colorado Springs
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Posted 18 Mar 2006 8:48 pm
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| I can't find any good place to clamp my intellitouch using the clamp that's built into it. Front & rear panels are too thin. I'll look into that clamp, but my CA-30 works good. |
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