Boss TU 15 Tuner: Thumbs down.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 15 Jul 2006 7:47 am

Well I gave it a try after my Korg GT 12 went nuts.

When used in line it distorts the signal, on or off, and when the battery runs down it kills your whole signal, on or off.

Back to the Korg DT3 and I'm gona check into a stick-on for the tele.

Off to GC for the return. Probably the best thing I like about shopping there.

EJL

KENNY KRUPNICK · Post by **KENNY KRUPNICK** » 15 Jul 2006 8:14 am

Eric, get a TU-12. The industry standard.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 15 Jul 2006 8:20 am

Does it distort the signal when inline and on like the 15, block the signal off or on when the battery runs down or the power supply is disconnected?

If so..

I still think I'll either get another DT3, or if I get a TU12, it'll be on a return basis like the 15.

EJL

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 15 Jul 2006 8:20 am

I like the TU12H model better. I've had one for years. I tried a TU15 and the only thing it has going for it is the lighted meter.

I don't use the TU12H since getting a Peterson tuner but I wouldn't part with it.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 15 Jul 2006 8:34 am

I've been using a TU-12H for over a year now, and I'm delighted with it.

I have been experiencing some grounding problems with both my Korg rack-tuners, and I thank Jack for explaining how I can overcome this (see a previous thread). However, the sheer convenience of my TU-12H has so far prevented me from getting around to implementing the changes he suggested, so I still may sell off these redundant Korgs!

I'm essentially an 'ear' tuner, anyway - I get the guitar and pedals to where it sounds good to me, and I'll take that over any tuner. They're mainly for fixing a broken string in mid-show for me...

RR

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 15 Jul 2006 9:51 am

I use a Korg GT-12 very similar to the Boss with needle and lights, going to take a strong look at the Peterson Stroboflip if it ever comes out.

Larry Behm

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 15 Jul 2006 11:12 am

Well it worked well enough except for a "boost chip" that evidently was a "preamp".

I didn't notice any line noise with my Korg 12, but it went haywire after only a year. ( It without warning started registering some notes 15 cents flat and some sharp, and didn't match the frets on any of my fenders, or my G&L. Kind of like Just Intonation..

)

Maybe the Boss 12s don't do that, but the TU15 sure did. I've already got two "preamps". One in my Podxt and one in my Hilton. I don't need another..

(It's back at GC. They were fairly good about the 30 day return, and I hate to use it. Because it was scratched up a bit, and the box was destroyed I activated the replacement policy, rather than have them refund it, being a fair guy, and let them put a new one back in the case to sell.)

This one was making my amp sound like it was distorting when using it inline and on. That and it totally killed the signal if the power supply crapped out or came unpplugged.

My Korgs DT3 or GT12 never did that. I had retired it, but it might have to go online again..

What I did was get a Fender chromatic stomp box, for about half the price, the LEDs are daylight bright, and it's got a bypass.

I'll see if it works without adding distortion after the gig tonite, and a loud outdoor gig in Pioneer Sq tomorrow.

If not, at least it's something that doesn't work good for half the price of something else that doesn't...

The Fender Chromatic is really solid, has a stomp switch, and we'll see if it changes the signal running in line.

EJL [This message was edited by Eric West on 15 July 2006 at 12:19 PM.]

Bill Moore (RIP) · Post by **Bill Moore (RIP)** » 15 Jul 2006 1:50 pm

Eric, the stompbox style tuner will probably work fine for you, knowing that you tune it all straight up. I've used a TU-12 for about 20 years, with no problems, I always run a separate cord from the second output jack on the volume pedal. I think eliminates the problem of the tuner affecting your tone. Even with the pedal completely "off" there is plenty of signal to run the tuner. It always worked well with the Goodrich 120 and the Hilton pedal I have now. I also have one of those cheap Korg chromatic tuners, for a spare, it works fine too, hooked up like this.

------------------
Bill Moore...
my steel guitar web page

[This message was edited by Bill Moore on 15 July 2006 at 02:51 PM.]

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 15 Jul 2006 4:57 pm

I've used the TU-15 for three years and have had no distortion problems at all with it. I specificly went to the TU-15 from the TU-12 because I was getting distortion out of the TU-12. I also use the second ourput from my 120 volume pedal. Interesting.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 15 Jul 2006 5:26 pm

Well Kevin, I'm used to a little "preamp" distortion from my Podxt and my Hilton, but it went away at playing volume. I gave the TU15 a cursive check and then used it. I don't sit in front of my amps, so I don't hear them all that well, but when I pointed them at me last night at a gig it was horrendous and I thought I'd heard something the time before.

I removed the TU15 and it was gone.

The Korgs DT3 and GT12s never did it. ALso they didnt' kill the whole signal when the battery ran down or power supply wasn't plugged in.

This little Fender looks hell for stout, and we'll see in an hour or two.

EJL

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 15 Jul 2006 8:20 pm

I've owned a BOSS TU–100 ever since the time that they were discontinued, with never a problem! It operates on either 9-volt or A/C Adaptor with no problems. Still, I only use it for my Basic~Pitch (E) & (C). Don't even aXe me how many Hz.!

------------------
“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
Current Equipment

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 16 Jul 2006 5:31 am

I don't use my tuner with the signal passing through it to the amp. If your amp has a line out, try going into the tuner from that point as your sound will not be effected.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 16 Jul 2006 5:45 am

As per Len--a nifty trick is to go line out or, if you have it and aren't using it, use the send jack of an FX loop. The only warning there--if it is a switching jack then it will cut the entire signal path. Of course, the down side of this is the need for a long cord from amp back to tuner.
I won't even use the second jack of a Goodrich 120---it is wired parallel and passive to the other jack and will intermix any funk the tuner contributes to the signal. My CA-30, when on, feeds crap upstream into the signal. You need an active circuit like a line/loop insert to keep stuff from interacting.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 16 Jul 2006 8:05 am

Len and Jon. That is the most sensible way I can see to get a post VP tuner without changing anything.

I'll see how this little Fender pre vp does. SO far last night it was good, and didn't change anything.

It comes to mind that a raw signal constantly to these tuners might overamp them. Just a thought.

We'll see.

EJL

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 17 Jul 2006 12:05 am

Eric, I agree about the TU-15, for different reasons. It's way too sensitive when I'm tuning up in night clubs, the DJ music whacks out the needle. The TU12 was much more isolated, and the needle locked on to my steel's notes; the TU15 wobbles badly. I loved the light, but the rest of the tuner leaves a lot to be desired.

I currently have a y-cord, one cord to my signal chain, the other to the TU12. But I honestly never noted any sound degradation even all the years I kept the tuner in-line, contrary to the comments of others here on the forum. But this y-cord setup has to be cleaner and better. Just wish George L made a y-cord as clean and pure as their guitar cords!

------------------
E9 lessons
Mullen D-12/Carter SD-10/Webb amp/Profex II+Lexicon MPX-110 OR Line 6 Pod XT