#1
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Acoustic bass guitar tuner?
I own a Tacoma Thunderchief AEB and my Snark tuners have real issues with the low frequencies of a bass guitar. The tuners say they work with all instruments, but I'm doubting that claim. Is there a clip on tuner that works well with an AEB guitar?
Todd
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https://www.mcmakinmusic.com |
#2
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I find that most electronic tuners don't do exceedingly well with very low frequencies. Try playing the harmonic at the 12th fret for better tuning ability with the Snark (or, just about any electronic tuning device, really).
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#3
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Todd, for a while I owned a Tacoma Thunderchief acoustic bass guitar and a McAlister acoustic baritone guitar at the same time. I still own the McAlister, and will never willingly part with it, but as you've brought up, getting those low frequencies to register with a clip-on headstock tuner can be challenging.
What I found when I was using the Snark tuners is that the battery had to be very fresh to work with my baritone; once the battery gets past the first flush of youth the ability of the tuner to "hear" lower frequencies rapidly declines. These days I've mostly made the transition to TC Polytune and Unitune tuners, and these do much better with those low notes. The TC Polytune costs $50 pretty much wherever you find it; the TC Unitune is twenty dollars cheaper. It's exclusive to Sweetwater, and it's perfect for me, as it's just as accurate as the Polytune, it just lacks a couple of the features from the Polytune that I never use anyway. Here's the Polytune: TC Polytune And here's the Unitune: TC Unitune Try one of those, and I think you'll find it easier to tune those lower notes. Hope this helps. Wade Hampton Miller |
#4
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I have a Thunderchief and a Guild B50. I haven't found any headstock tuner that can reliably read the low E string. If it's giving me a hard time I usually just fret the 5th and tune the A. In performance I ALWAYS use a pedal tuner.
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#5
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I can also vouch for the Polytune working well with bass instruments.
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Yamaha AC3M Acoustic Guitar Gretch G5220 Electromatic Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Special Yamaha BB414 Bass |
#6
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Tune to the 12th fret harmonic. Works well with 5 string basses too!
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________________________________ Carvin SH 575, AE185-12 Faith Eclipse 12 string Fender RK Tele Godin ACS SA, 5th Ave Gretsch G7593, G9240 Martin JC-16ME Aura, J12-16GT, 000C Nylon Ovation: Adamas U681T, Elite 5868, Elite DS778TX, Elite Collectors '98 Custom Legend, Legend LX 12 string, Balladeer, Classical Parker MIDIfly, P10E Steinberger Synapse Taylor 320, NS34 Yamaha SA503 |
#7
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Yeah... I think the harmonic is really the only way to tune basses with clip-ons without wrestling the tuner. I don't have any acoustic basses so am always plugged in and no longer even bother with clip-ons. Actually I want ease and precision so with either guitar or bass I chain two tuners, a Korg CA-40 to a Korg Pitchblack. I like the needle on the CA-40 but there is no mute so I use the Pitchblack as a mute/confirmation thing. Crazy, I know. But it works extremely well and my tuning is always precise which is even more important with regular acoustic 6 string. I think you can pick up a CA-40 for less than $20. Also works acoustically.
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Assuming is not knowing. Knowing is NOT the same as understanding. There is a difference between compassion and wisdom, however compassion cannot supplant wisdom, and wisdom can not occur without understanding. facts don't care about your feelings and FEELINGS ALONE MAKE FOR TERRIBLE, often irreversible DECISIONS |
#8
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I use a $3 Reverb.com tuner for my bass, isn't always super accurate 9specially on the low E), but close enough for me. It has a switchable range - Guitar-Violin-Bass-Chromatic.
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Mike My music: https://mikebirchmusic.bandcamp.com 2020 Taylor 324ceBE 2017 Taylor 114ce-N 2012 Taylor 310ce 2011 Fender CD140SCE Ibanez 12 string a/e 73(?) Epiphone 6830E 6 string 72 Fender Telecaster Epiphone Dot Studio Epiphone LP Jr Chinese Strat clone Kala baritone ukulele Seagull 'Merlin' Washburn Mandolin Luna 'tatoo' a/e ukulele antique banjolin Squire J bass |
#9
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You may do better tuning to the harmonic with any bass with any tuner.
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----------------------------------- Creator of The Parlando Project Guitars: 20th Century Seagull S6-12, S6 Folk, Seagull M6; '00 Guild JF30-12, '01 Martin 00-15, '16 Martin 000-17, '07 Parkwood PW510, Epiphone Biscuit resonator, Merlin Dulcimer, and various electric guitars, basses.... |
#10
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I found the Snark to work fine with an upright bass - same notes as the ABG's but more power in them. I think the issue is most ABG's just don't put out enough sonic energy, though the Thunderchief is the best one I've played yet.
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#11
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12th fret harmonic tuning
I do this with my acoustics. I tune open strings then the 12th fret harmonics as a "fine tuning".
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1995 Taylor 412 1995 Taylor 612C Custom, Spruce over Flamed Maple 1997 Taylor 710 1968 Aria 6815 12 String, bought new |