Tone degradation with tu-2

Tim Tweedale · Post by **Tim Tweedale** » 10 Sep 2004 4:23 pm

The saga continues... With my newly re-wound pickup (wound to 17.5k) installed, I plugged into my boss TU-2 and out into the amp... There was so much tone degradation. It started to distort, even at a low volume. I thought it might be a bad battery, so I used the AC adaptor, and still. Same thing. Any ideas why this would be? Would some sort of pre-amp help? I'm at a loss. Thanks...

-Tim

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 10 Sep 2004 5:22 pm

There is the possibility that the tuner's defective (I haven't used that model). Until you verify whether or not it's bad, or that tonal change is just a characteristic of the unit, you could use an A/B switch, or...just unplug the tuner when you've finished tuning.

If the pickup is fine without the tuner in-line, then there's nothing wrong with the pickup! A lot of in-line devices may affect the tone, so I always advise trying them out before you buy.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 11 Sep 2004 4:23 am

Tim,
If you are using a Goodrich pedal, or any volume pedal with two outputs, you might try running your tuner out of the second out on the pedal so it is not directly in the signal path.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 11 Sep 2004 6:32 am

I use a Boss tuner and used to have it in line from my guitar to the volume pedal. It had an in and out jack so that's what I used but there was a definite tone loss. I bought a volume control with two outlets and I use one of the outlets for the tuner. Much better!

Erv

Scott Appleton · Post by **Scott Appleton** » 11 Sep 2004 8:49 am

That trick never works. A direct feed to your amp is the best way. Never through a TU 12.
My Peterson seem OK
but still never through a tuner

------------------
Mullen S12 Almost Mooney
71 Tele, Regal 45
Sho Bud S10 NP
Line 6 Flextone 3 + JBL D130

Tim Tweedale · Post by **Tim Tweedale** » 11 Sep 2004 9:35 am

Thanks for the replies. I guess the solution is to get a v-pedal that has a separate out... What do you guys do for other effects like distortion? Do you have a true bypass for that?

-Tim

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 15 Sep 2004 4:49 am

I have just tried my rig both ways, with tuner inline, and direct to amp from volume pedal with out tuner and there is no difference in tone---crystal clear. I go from my Shobud that currently has a BL 710 p/u, to my Goodrich 120, to my TU-2 tuner to my ProfexII, to my '71 twin reverb. I use George L cables, except one patch cord between volume pedal and tuner. I want my tuner inline so I can tune silently if I need to. My rig sounds crystal clear, so maybe you have a bad chord, or grounding issue, or bad tuner, ect.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 15 Sep 2004 5:00 am

I like no effects... nothing... between my guitar/black box/pedal/amp (in that order). Anything else diminishes the tone, IMHO. If I need effects, my amp has an effects loop.

This is a round-about way of saying I unplug from the amp when using a tuner.

Now, I use a well-adjusted PP most often, so tuning changes are not that much of an issue. When playing a old Sho~Bud or a Bigsby, that is a different ball of twine.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 15 Sep 2004 6:12 am

Tim,
Before you abandon your current volume pedal, go to Radio Shack and pick up a short "Y" chord with one male end and two female ends, that will give you two outlets. Plug that into your VP and it might take care of your problem.
Erv<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 15 September 2004 at 07:12 AM.]</p></FONT>

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 15 Sep 2004 6:29 am

Folks, you cannot use a TU-12 in line on a steel. It will distort. Thats exactly why they came out with the TU-15. It has a high impedance input to stop signal loss when using the tuner in line. I use the TU-15 and have no distortion or signal loss.

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 15 Sep 2004 9:37 am

An old rule of thumb is never leave a tuner in line. I made a switch on my rack case that switches my guitar either to the tuner or to my effects unit. One half of the switch shorts the input to the effects so it won't hum when disconnected.If the tuner and effects is in the same unit I guess you have to keep it in line. I strongly advise that you use a separate tuner with a switch in line or plug and unplug the tuner by hand.