Tuners again - Turbo Tuner

Geri O

Geri O

Endorsing Artist, Mike Lull Guitars and Basses
Sep 6, 2013
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Florence, MS
#1
Wasn't sure where to put this. Please move as seen fit....

I've been a little frustrated with the assortment of tuners lately. I've been through the usual Boss and Poly-tuner units and I still find, to my old beat-up ears, that the tuning on my basses (Jazz-style, Stingray, and ESP fretless) feels ever-so-slightly sharp.

A guitarist I know has suggested the Turbo tuner and the specs and features of this thing are impressive. One feature I like a lot is that will store a tuning I come up with. Lately, I've been tuning the G string (here we go) to G2 on a keyboard, if one is available, then tuning the rest of the bass to that G and liking the tuning better.

Has anyone had experience with the Turbo tuner?
 
#2
Geri O said:
I've been tuning the G string (here we go) to G2 on a keyboard
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tuning to a piano/keyboard is the same as a tuner --- maybe better! --- in almost any situation.

Geri O said:
Has anyone had experience with the Turbo tuner?
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sorry, i haven't: but it's not clear to me, from your post/situation, that you have the instrument's setup/intonation in proper order --- do you have the ax setup and intonated? thanks. ;)
 
#4
I've been using the Sonic Research ST-300 Mini for intonation, but usually tune using the Peterson Android app or my Zoom b3n.

I've learned that a bass that's not intonated correctly can drive me crazy even if it's relatively slightly out of intonation, but if the open-string tuning is off by a cent or two I don't really notice.
 
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#5
theduke1 said:
I use a Sonic Research strobe tuner it is by far the best tuner I have ever used
Duke
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I think that is the Turbo tuner...

ST-300-top-249h.jpg


I guess I could get used to the spinning-dial method the display. I sure didn't mind it in high school with the old Conn Strobo-Tuner. What an awesome hulking (and high-maintinience) machine that was...

To @JRA 's points - Excellent points, and yes, I spend time and attention to the intonation. That's the piano tuner in me (and I still work as a tuner). But even with the open strings, it's like I'm fighting with myself over what I'm perceiving to be the natural "stretch" of the lower octaves where the bass lives. I haven't checked the tuning of this Nord keyboard used at church that I tune to, which I plan to do today while getting ready for a major service tonight (most other situations are pretty much throw and go and the tuning stuff doesn't bug me as much what with trying to concentrate on the tunes, dealing with the commotions of live gigs, etc).

This same guitarist has two of the Turbo tuners, a full-size unit and the mini version that can't use a 9V battery because of its size. He's bringing both of them tonight and I'm gonna use one to see if it's the solution to my issues (and they may be my issues and my issues alone, I'll admit). At $129, why not....
 
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#7
I went to this type of tuner because the three bands I work with all use different tunings so I use a Digitech Drop and the only two things that are a must is it must be first in the chain and your bass must be dead on tune.
Playing 5 string bass the Sonic Research tunes the LowB The most accurate
Duke
 
#8
I love my Turbo Tuner. I have the ST-300, which is the smaller unit that runs on external power only. A had one and sold it figuring "it's just a tuner" since I had a pedal on my board with a built in tuner. Boy, was I wrong. The Turbo Tuner is so much better than most tuners. There is something to it for sure.
 
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#9
chadhargis said:
I love my Turbo Tuner. I have the ST-300, which is the smaller unit that runs on external power only. A had one and sold it figuring "it's just a tuner" since I had a pedal on my board with a built in tuner. Boy, was I wrong. The Turbo Tuner is so much better than most tuners. There is something to it for sure.
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There's a simple test: The Turbo Tuner still shows some movement when some other tuners show that you're dead on. That's why I always use that for intonation, and it still shows all the small deviations of my fretboard
 
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#13
Jim C said:
Is this new Korg Pitchblack Advanced tuner pedal easier to see?
I know the Turbo has always received steller reviews but the Korg is $60
I've got a Fender bass and only need to tune it a few times a year...

https://www.amazon.com/Korg-PBAD-Pi...t=&hvlocphy=9007809&hvtargid=pla-381510733194
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It probably works as well as the Boss and Polytuner units. That display does look nice.

I haven’t seen any comments about its accuracy as I have with the Turbo tuner, although those comments certainly might be out there.

We all have to decide if a unit works well enough for us and our budget. For example, I live in an old double-wide mobile home that’s dry and warm or cool, as the need dictates. And paid for. And has room for my gear. It’s all I want and need.

My experience with previous tuners and the Turbo tuner make me glad it doesn’t cost any more than it does.
 
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#14
I’ve had the ST-300 (full size) on my board for a few years of 70+ gigs per year. I’m a bit obsessive about tuning, so I’m hitting the button between songs constantly.

This thing is accurate and built to last. Mine’s been stomped on, dropped, heavy stuff dropped on it, beer spilled all over it, and it operates flawlessly. Nothing is even close, IMO.
 
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#16
Jim C said:
Yep, plenty of well made and accurate turners out there.
When you get to 40 years of reliability without fail, let me know.
This one was retired from professional services not that many years ago.
View attachment 3391113
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Like I wouldn't shove one of those things in my gig bag if I thought it would fit....:D:D:D

Or a StroboConn, if I had a bigger SUV...:roflmao::roflmao:

Edit: I'm sitting here chuckling at the thought of a StroboConn on the stage with that huge microphone sitting on top of it like in high school band days...."Hey, Bill, yer guitar in tune over there? Play me an E! Yeah, you are good to go!"...:laugh::laugh:
 
#17
Geri O said:
I haven’t seen any comments about its accuracy as I have with the Turbo tuner, although those comments certainly might be out there.
Click to expand...

Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-300
Korg Pitchblack Advance

the whole site and benchmarks are interesting. it shows, for example that Polytunes are rather bad at needle mode, but okay in strobe. or that most tuners that show in spec +-0.5 cents actually have +-5 cents.

I'm waiting for StroboStomp HD to become available as my next tuner BTW.
 
#19
To my eyes, that spinning red wheel on the Sonic Research units is very easy to get comfortable with. Is the extra accuracy of the Turbo Tuners necessary in a live situation? I would say no, based on extended use with both of the tuners pictured in my post above. But others may have ears more sensitive than mine. :)

Sonic Research ST-122a...+/- .02 cent
Sonic Research ST-300 Stomp Box...+/- .02 cent
Sonic Research ST-300 Mini Stomp Box...+/- .02 cent
Peterson StroboFlip...+/- .1 cent
Peterson StroboStomp HD...+/- .1 cent
Peterson StompClassic...+/- .1 cent

M. M.
 
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#20
walking Bass said:
I bought a Korg DTR2000 years ago and have been very satisfied. I had the 1U rack space the size of the display works better for me than the pedal tuners.
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I still have one of the two DTR-1 tuners I bought about 20 years ago. Still a great tuner when I need the rack. Otherwise, my Stroboflip is great, too, when I need smaller portability.

WW-Amp-In-Rack-Oa-1200-01.jpg
 
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