Snark headstock tuner for minimal equipment gig?

#81
I have a TC Polytune that I feel confident in. It tracks fast, holds onto the note well and is easy to see. The only issues I've run into was that it doesn't track well when the band is already playing. I've almost gone back to a TU-2 for the emergency mute-and-tune-midsong moments, but so far the convenience of the TC has been winning.

I have a Planet Waves NS Micro Tuner that I don't feel confident in. I bought it because I wanted something smaller that I could leave clipped to my headstock, but it tracks a lot slower and has a hard time holding onto the E string. I've relegated it to being a guitar tuner where it works marginally better, but so far it's not inspiring a lot of confidence there either.

I'm a rock band, so I have no idea how a clip on will track in an orchestra pit, but if I was playing a gig where I needed 100% confidence in my ability to tune at any time I'd use a pedal tuner.
 
#82
I recently had to downsize my pedal board to make room for my vocal processor. In the course of doing so I realized how excessive cable capacitance had been robbing my tone. But I digress. Anyway, one of the pedals that went away was my Pitchblack. In its place I use a Snark. I'm very happy with it. It seems plenty accurate for me.

I recently tried a Korg clip on. It tracked so slowly that it was unusable, and it kept falling off. My Snarks are miles ahead of that Korg.
 
#83
dday110 said:
I SECOND this. I have them on all my basses. If only if they had one that sat well on my upright....
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NS Micro clip on! Thanks, guys, for bringing this one to my attention. For $10 I think I'll just order one and see. I like that it can easily mount on the back. My one worry: I won't be able to see it without reading glasses. Then again, I probably will wear a mild pair of cheaters in the pit anyway, so...
 
#84
_Some Dude said:
I'm a rock band, so I have no idea how a clip on will track in an orchestra pit, but if I was playing a gig where I needed 100% confidence in my ability to tune at any time I'd use a pedal tuner.
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I'm in a rock band as well. (See my sig.) And for that I have a polytune pedal. Very happy with it. I just want to minimize my pit rig. No pedals. Well, maybe my compressor. But that's it. Besides, my polytune is the mini - no battery capabilities.
 
#87
obimark said:
I had problems with my snark picking up my strings when playing live- plus you still have the issue of having to mute your instrument somehow so you don't sound like an amateur tuning out loud.
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There is no muting issue. The snark senses vibrations in the neck, it doesnt need your volume on.
 
#88
buldog5151bass said:
What do you think of something like this, compared to a clip on? I don't have a pedal board - just want something inexpensive and accurate.

Korg GA Custom Handheld Tuner - Black
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Pitch lab light on android (maybe iThings too). Seems very accurate, handles low B on up to geetar. I like the strobe tuner mode. Free if it will work on your phone, so worth a try. I have not tried in a noisy environment.
 
#89
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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As has been said by others, the Snark works fine. Sometimes I do have to hit the 12th fret harmonic on the B, but that's no big deal. My Korg tuners (Pitchhawk and Sledgehammer Pro) track better, but I still use the Snark.

I LOVE clip-on tuners. So convenient. The reason I have such a variety is because I like to keep one in each of my bass cases, so I've picked some up on sale from various stores.

Pedal tuners have their advantages, but also disadvantages. When I show up at the local open mic, or bring my bass when I sit in for a few songs with friends' bands, I don't want to deal with setting up a pedal. Sometimes I play very small/cramped stages where I don't set up any pedals.
 
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#90
My Snark SN-8 tracks pretty darn good for a clip-on. For the B string you might have to wait for it to track or hit the 12th fret harmonic but it will track. My older version of the Snark, not so much. Even my drop tune basses track. Great $13 investment.
 
#92
friskinator said:
If you have an Ikea near you, they have the flat batteries that work with the Snark for crazy cheap. I buy all my batteries there now.
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We don't have one here, but I'd guess so in Indy. Do they have variety packs that are good? I ran out of good variety packs and went to Horrible Freight and they suck. I have about 40 or 50 watches that need batteries (past obsession... including watch repair). I went from a weekend of battery replacements a year to 3 or 4 per year!
 
#94
gravesbass said:
^^ new peterson? ohhh, interesting....
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whaaaaa? Then I read up one post :D

I keep forgetting to search the web or go to the flea market when it's open for good cheap batteries. Found those looking for antique hand tools (another past obsession) and I had 10 cards of huge Sanyo variety packs for watches and 10 smaller cards of the size 99% of my machine shop (another past obsession) measuring equipment use. Still have 9 1/2 cards for the shop, none for watches.

I have issues...
 
#95
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#97
madbass6 said:
Hopefully it will pick up thd low B!
Heres a tip:
Next time you should consider asking or doing some research on a product before ordering it NOT after.
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I've never understood people who think a tuner doesn't work properly because it can't track an open B or E. The 12th fret harmonic works with every tuner I've ever had. I even pick the 12th harmonic on the low E of a guitar.

Old Garage-Bander said:
I have a Snark clip on. I find that mine has a harder time picking up the G string compared to the others.
I also like to roll the tone way back when tuning. My Snark sometimes triggers on overtones.
Rolling off the highs helps it focus on the fundamentals.
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Ummmmm. They work by sensing vibration not sound. You should have your volume completely off.

scottfeldstein said:
NS Micro clip on! Thanks, guys, for bringing this one to my attention. For $10 I think I'll just order one and see. I like that it can easily mount on the back. My one worry: I won't be able to see it without reading glasses. Then again, I probably will wear a mild pair of cheaters in the pit anyway, so...
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The display is actually quite large. I think you'll be fine unless you're nearly blind.
 
#100
BadExample said:
We don't have one here, but I'd guess so in Indy. Do they have variety packs that are good? I ran out of good variety packs and went to Horrible Freight and they suck. I have about 40 or 50 watches that need batteries (past obsession... including watch repair). I went from a weekend of battery replacements a year to 3 or 4 per year!
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I don't remember seeing variety packs, but they have most of the popular sizes. The ones I bought for the Snark also fit my digital scale. I don't remember seeing watch batteries, though.
 
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