Snark headstock tuner for minimal equipment gig?

scottfeldstein

scottfeldstein

Roots and fifths and a little extra.
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Jun 20, 2011
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#1
I'm playing in the orchestra pit for a musical in April. As I'm planning out my gear choices, I realized I couldn't really take my big pedal board. And my pedal tuner can't operate on a battery, so that's out. Last night I ordered a Snark SN5X. Am I going to be happy? I play a 5 string. Will it pick up my low B? I don't mind doing a 12th fret harmonic if need be.
 
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#3
scottfeldstein said:
I'm playing in the orchestra pit for a musical in April. As I'm planning out my gear choices, I realized I couldn't really take my big pedal board. And my pedal tuner can't operate on a battery, so that's out. Last night I ordered a Snark SN5X. Am I going to be happy? I play a 5 string. Will it pick up my low B? I don't mind doing a 12th fret harmonic if need be.
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Yes you will. Tons of guys use them. I do on minimal gigs and I always get requests from someone to borrow mine because they forgot theirs. A Snark is a great little device to have in the gig bag. I use mine to tune using vibration, so I just turn down my volume knob and tune. Very easy and can detect the B.
 
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#5
My experience with Snark is that it falls apart; and in turn/time the tabs that hold the connecting arm can break. It also could not grab the low E on my DB as well as my cheapo super-dependable no-name "ukulele" tuner. On top of that, mine is a thirsty little bugger and eats batteries like an oxy-addict chronic-pain sufferer pops Oxy-Percocet pep-ups.

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Positioning it wasn't as intuitive or as easy to get the correct angle as other clip-on tuners I've used: Intellitouch, Korg, no-name, and a few other brands I can't recollect at the moment.

I'm a tuner junky, out of all the clip-ons I've owned, and amongst the ones I've tried/borrowed... I really don't like my Snark — don't remember which model it is, don't care, it's junk. Out of all the clip-ons, the no-name "uke" has been the most reliable and accurate and if it ever dies... I'll use my wife's (it's the same tuner) and if that in turn dies...


Next clip-on for me to try will be TC Electronic Polytune, which has had great reviews overall.
 
#8
I have 2 Snarks that I use. They are OK. Not sure accurate, but get you close enough for government work. When gigging, I have a little plug in battery powered KORG tuner from sometime back abouts when Jesus laid in hay that is super accurate, but I can't run it in a line. So I tune up with that and clip on a Snark when I can hear things getting a little hinky for some rough adjustments without having to plug and unplug and kill a set.
 
#11
I bought one several years back, found it to be very inaccurate. Newer ones may be better, I would verify it against a tuner that you know to be accurate.

For clip ones I've had good results with all Korg models, Intellitouch, and more recently the tiny NS from daddario. I keep one clipped to several of my basses for a backup
 
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#12
I use a Snark and find it's adequate.
Sure they fall apart eventually but they're really inexpensive to re-buy.
It's almost cheaper to buy a new one online than replace the batteries. $10-$13 new.
The one thing I don't do is leave it clipped on my bass. I'm sure it's just me and old school thinking
but I find it looks silly and novice to have a tuner dangling from a bass all gig.
I'm sure there is a whole generation of players that would be at a loss trying to figure out how to tune their instruments without electronic tuners.
 
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#16
I use one - great! Basically disposable, easily replaced when lost, stolen and/or broken. It seems some instruments of mine like it better than others - on my conventional basses and guitars (etc) it can get down to a low A. I have a hard time positioning it well on my upright, and for some reason it dislikes my ABG.
 
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#19
I've got one. It works fine on everything I use it on. Can get a little touchy when the battery needs replacing. But the battery lasts a long time on mine. Just remove it before you put your bass back in the case or bag and it'll last. I still prefer a pedal tuner. But for a quick & convenient tune check I think the Snarks work quite well. And they do work with bass.
 
#20
I find the Snark to be fine.

Accuracy?....the guitarist I work with on a regular basis uses one, as do many musicians I work with in jam session situations, so we all typically are tuned to the same pitch. Seriously, I've not ever had any "pitchy" issues fretted or fretless in the eight or nine years I have been using one, in any stage or rehearsal situation.

I always carry an extra. Batteries can dump without much in the way of advance symptoms. Works....doesn't work.

Mine hears / senses the low B fine in most situations. However, in some rooms, depending on noise levels and what else is going on, it will take the Snark a little longer to "hear" the note and focus on it. When this happens to me, I do a harmonic at the 12th position and it gets it. If you're properly intonated, no problem. Usually when the note is sensed, the Snark does not lose it. My experience has been it is the first find on B that is the challenge. The solution is patience....maybe an extra 25 seconds....and using the harmonic. No biggie in my opinion.

Finally, someone mentioned earlier a price of $50. I bought several from Amazon for around $20, and have one or two that I bought for $16 - $18. So shop. You can find deals on these at Amazon and elsewhere from time to time.

Hope this is helpful.

Koog
 
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