Tuners

kbdrost · Post by **kbdrost** » 26 Oct 2002 7:07 pm

I'm looking for a digital chromatic tuning mechanism that will mount on one of the guitar legs. Does anybody have any ideas?

------------------
Ken Drost

Matt Martin · Post by **Matt Martin** » 27 Oct 2002 3:15 pm

Velcro

Rich Weiss · Post by **Rich Weiss** » 27 Oct 2002 4:51 pm

At a hardware store, for about a buck, you can get several little pieces of PVC. A "T", an extension, and an L. Make sure the T is the right size to clamp to the leg. (I wish I could take a picture of mine to show you) I built this little tuner holder, snapped it to the leg, put some velco on it, and some velcro on the back of my Boss TU-12 plastic box. Works like a charm. Way easier than using a rackmount, takes up no space, and plugs into the second output of my volume pedal.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 27 Oct 2002 5:05 pm

If your tuner has visible case screws, you can mount one or two broom clips from a hardware store.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 27 Oct 2002 6:22 pm

Hmmm...in my days, I've seen a lot of "Rube Goldberg" devices that mount a tuner to the guitar. Must you really do that? No offense, guys...but they all look "kinda dopey" to me!

But if Buddy or Paul used one...

Nah, I'd still say it looked dopey.

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 27 Oct 2002 8:04 pm

I just slapped a strip of sticky back velcro onto the edge of my tuner and a matching strip on the back edge of the guitar. Simple, out of the way, easy to see...works for me. I ran an extra cord out of the 2nd output on my volume pedal to the tuner. Works at home, but on a gig, might not be too good of an idea, since you have to increase the volume pedal to get a signal to the tuner.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 27 Oct 2002 9:28 pm

George, I've been doing the same thing for years right on the back of the guitar. I use industrial strength velcro. You don't want to get to close to it though because you can stick yourself to the guitar when your setting up! Seriously though the Boss TU-12H
with velcro is real convenient. I also use the second output on the volume pedal.

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 28 Oct 2002 2:02 pm

I got one of those little leg clamp thingys that the George L folks were selling at Scotty's - put velcro on it and on the tuner. Then I can remove it from the leg (like the broom clip idea). See if George L still sells them.

------------------
Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"We can't afford to let Nature run wild" - govt. offical - Alaska
www.seldomfed.com

kbdrost · Post by **kbdrost** » 28 Oct 2002 7:53 pm

There is never a lack of creative ideas on this Forum. The reason for the post, Donny, was because I think it looks even more dopey to be fumbling for/with a tuner on stage. They make tuners that mount on the peghead of a guitar. Someone ought to make an equally accessible tuner for steel players.

------------------
Ken Drost

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 29 Oct 2002 2:26 am

I use the Boss Stage tuner..(its a stomp pedal)...and is in-line from my guitar to the input of my volume pedal...and right next to the volume pedal on the floor. It does not effect the sound at all....and you just quickly stomp it....touch up what ever new string(s) you need...and stomp again and never miss a beat.
Ricky

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 29 Oct 2002 3:40 pm

Don't get torqued, Ken!

I'm not against having a tuner nearby, or even permanently attached, if you feel the need. What I am against is taking a nice-looking steel, and then "cobbling-up" something out of pipe fittings and such, and then hanging it off the steel. These "jury rigs" just look junky and out of place to me...kinda like putting a round Sun tachometer on the hood of a new Cadillac.

Actually, I'm surprised that steel manufacturers haven't thought of putting (routing out?) a pocket in the center of the steel (between the necks) for a small tuner, or for your picks, bar, and such. A thin tuner, like the Korg, could easily be "inset" into the pad on loafer models.

That's the deal. If I were going to do it to my steel, I'd do it so it looked professional!

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 29 Oct 2002 7:53 pm

Donny, I have to agree with you. I've seen some real ugly jury rigs.

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 29 Oct 2002 8:16 pm

The reason that manufacturers don't install tuners in the guitars is that what happens when the installed tuner is no longer available and your tuner no longer works? Nice hole in ur ax- what do you use it for now?

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 30 Oct 2002 12:22 am

If a builder mounts a tuner on his guitar, he is advertising the fact that it won't stay in tune.

Whip Lashaway · Post by **Whip Lashaway** » 30 Oct 2002 4:37 am

Donny
I have to agree with you about cob jobs on steels. I've seen some really nasty looking things put on guitars. Hose clamps, rubber hoses, stuff that came right out of the garage junk bin. I know that steel players by nature are a creative bunch, but I've always wondered why some of us didn't have a little more pride!

I like to show off my equipment and try to encourage young people to take an interest in Pedal Steel. Just me I guess. I feel the same way about all of my bands equipment. I don't like to see a bunch of homemade - stuff - on stage, looks tackey and un professional. I'll get off my soapbox now. Whip

------------------
Whip Lashaway
Sierra E9/B6 12 string
Sierra E9/B6 14 string

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 30 Oct 2002 8:55 am

A friend recently bought an acoustic guitar with built in tuner and it seems highly functional.
I like the idea.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 31 Oct 2002 2:18 pm

<SMALL>...what happens when the installed tuner is no longer available and your tuner no longer works? Nice hole in ur ax- what do you use it for now?</SMALL>

Read my post again, Jim! If it were lined with a little vinyl-plastic tray, it would be a great place for picks, bar, tuning wrench, heck...even your business cards!

Speaking of "custom features", shucks...I'm old enough to remember when you could order a Bigsby steel with a custom built-in ashtray.

kbdrost · Post by **kbdrost** » 31 Oct 2002 7:08 pm

Hey Donny, I'm not torqued at you, I'm torqued with you

I have no interest in defiling my rig. It just seems to me that there are a lot more convenient, cosmetic solutions for guitar than for steel. Actually, the best suggestion I've seen so far is the one by Ricky Davis for a stomp pedal. I just hope my ol' eyes can see the readings from the floor on a dark stage. 'Guess I'll have to head on down to Sam Ash and find out.

------------------
Ken Drost

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 31 Oct 2002 7:11 pm

I just use the built-in tuner in my Boss GX-700. My rack is already sitting beside my steel, so I just hit the tuner button (which mutes the signal) and tune away!

Matt Martin · Post by **Matt Martin** » 1 Nov 2002 12:02 am

I set it in my lap. Is that so hard??

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 1 Nov 2002 12:53 am

The Boss stage tuner has a bright green dot/light for 440 and Red dot/lights for sharp or flat....you can't miss'um. each red dot is 5 cents flat or sharp.
Also the note is a bright red Letter underneath the bright dots.....can't miss that either.
I used to set my boss chromatic tuner in my lap...but then I would miss have the song just to touch up a string or two...ha

.....this is by far the best tuner that I've ever used; cause you don't stop playing to plug in...or push a button....you just stomp...touch up....stomp and go.....yeee haaa.
Ricky

Dave Birkett · Post by **Dave Birkett** » 1 Nov 2002 4:56 pm

Has anyone ever made a device that you could use to tune harmonics, like a light that blinked with the beats? It would be nice to be able to do this silently.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 1 Nov 2002 7:20 pm

You could see and tune individual harmoincs on the old Conn Strobotuners. Each concentric ccirle on the spinning wheel had a number of marks that corresponded to a harmonic, and when the light driven by your instrument would shine on it, you could see a different harmonic in each band. This would be a good introduction to inharmonicity; i.e. you can see that some harmonic are sharp while others are flat.

kbdrost · Post by **kbdrost** » 2 Nov 2002 7:41 pm

Hey, Ricky, I just got me one of them Boss TU-2 units. This is the bomb.

You were absolutely right. It plugs in direct; it sits on the floor, so there is no cosmetic mutation to the guitar; I can see it without my reading glasses; it is easy to use; and there is no reduction or alteration to the signal going through the device. It ain't cheap though--$100.00 US for the unit and another $20.00 if you want/need the A.C. adaptor--but it's worth it in my book. Thanks for the advice. You can close this thread as far as I'm concerned, although others may wax lightly on the subject.

------------------
Ken Drost

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 2 Nov 2002 10:41 pm

Hey Ken; great news pal...glad to hear it.
Yes it is the Bomb....
Didn't know it was a hundred bucks...I think I got mine last year for 75 new....but I always; when I walk into some whatever music store, tell them I'm a working musician and give me that discount or I'll head right on out the door.....works every time.
Ricky