Who makes the most accurate tuner?

ukrobbiej1 · #1 10-28-2011, 02:38 AM

I thinks its time I replaced my ageing intellitouch tuner, and am looking for something incredibly accurate to replace it. Bare in mind I mostly play in alternate tunings. Ideally it would offer the ability to provide sweetened tunings as well. It must be incredibly accurate- do people think 1 percent is accurate enough, or should I go for something like the Peterson which is 0.1 per cent?

Oh, it must be a clip on one (no stomp boxes).

So, whats out there thats worth looking at, other than the obvious Peterson clip on tuner?

Robbie

www.youtube.com/ukrobbiej1

mtl · #2 10-28-2011, 03:38 AM

You've probably seen this?:
http://www.acguitar.com/article/defa...rticleid=23460
And this might be interesting as well:
http://leftyfretz.com/review-snark-c...-guitar-tuner/

brianmay · #3 10-28-2011, 04:30 AM

I've got two of the little Crafters and they are a delight to use. When in tune, I've checked it with my iPhone and a tuning fork, all seems spot on.

Have fun,

Dr. Jazz · #4 10-28-2011, 04:45 AM

Pietersen tuners are pretty remarkable. Expensive in comparison, but the top of my list. I also like the Snark for an inexpensive tuner.

charles Tauber · #5 10-28-2011, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukrobbiej1

something incredibly accurate...sweetened tunings... It must be incredibly accurate- do people think 1 percent is accurate enough, or should I go for something like the Peterson which is 0.1 per cent?

Perhaps, the right question is what tuner will provide you with a fidelity that matches (or slightly exceeds) the capabilities of you and your listeners in their ability to distinguish between pitches? Far as I know, the human ear/brain cannot distinguish between pitches .1 cents apart. Few can distinguish between pitches 1 cent apart. A good ear is around 2 cents; the average less than that.

Once you start looking for "incredibly accurate" in sweetened tunings for a guitar, you're chasing your tail. First you have to define what exact pitches are "correct", then determine how close you need to be to them. How accurately do you want to be "inaccurate", since "sweetening" is about deviating from equal temperament by an amount ultimately based upon preference?

ac · #6 10-28-2011, 05:35 AM

0.1 cent

Temperamants to 0.01 cent

$500

http://www.precisionstrobe.com/

mchalebk · #7 10-28-2011, 06:13 AM

In my mind, there are two clip on tuners worth considering:

Snark (very affordable, reasonably accurate)
Peterson Stroboclip (very accurate, affordable by Peterson standards).

I've got a Peterson Virtual Strobe tuner (I think it's the VS-1) and have been very happy with it. If I wanted a clip on, I would get the Stroboclip.

dawhealer · #8 10-28-2011, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mchalebk

In my mind, there are two clip on tuners worth considering:

Snark (very affordable, reasonably accurate)
Peterson Stroboclip (very accurate, affordable by Peterson standards).

I've got a Peterson Virtual Strobe tuner (I think it's the VS-1) and have been very happy with it. If I wanted a clip on, I would get the Stroboclip.

+1 on the Snark. I have two of them. My other favorite is from Planet Waves. Drawback to the Planet Waves tuner is that if I'm playing outside during the day it's difficult to read the scale. Not as big a problem with the Snark. Both work equally well on my guitars, my mandolins, my ukes and my banjo. Never a problem being in tune with other players.

Oh, and I ALWAYS keep a tuning fork with me. Just in case. No batteries, no readout, works in all light conditions.

rmyAddison · #9 10-28-2011, 06:21 AM

Peterson.................

lone eskimo · #10 10-28-2011, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawhealer

+1 on the Snark. I have two of them. My other favorite is from Planet Waves. Drawback to the Planet Waves tuner is that if I'm playing outside during the day it's difficult to read the scale. Not as big a problem with the Snark. Both work equally well on my guitars, my mandolins, my ukes and my banjo. Never a problem being in tune with other players.

Oh, and I ALWAYS keep a tuning fork with me. Just in case. No batteries, no readout, works in all light conditions.

The other thing about the Planet Waves clip-on is that the clips themselves are not very sturdy. I loved them when they came out- but I went thru 3 of them due to the clips breaking. I also went thru a few Sabines before I gave up on them. It wasn't the clip- they were just kinda slow and one had issues.. In my search I tried the mini-intellitouch which I like a lot. I've heard great things about the Snark and Peterson too.

Mike

JRB · #11 10-28-2011, 06:38 AM

I use two tuners (well, 3): a Snark and a Peterson StroboFlip. I use the Peterson for setting intonation on guitars, as it's the absolutely most accurate. For the other 35+ hours of the workweek, I use a Snark. I also have a Peterson clip-on I use for personal use (but also a Snark or two).

Auriemma · #12 10-28-2011, 06:41 AM

Snark works great from me. Much better than my Intellitouch.

JRB · #13 10-28-2011, 06:46 AM

On a related note, we had a vintage 60's Conn strobe tuner in the shop a while back, tube-powered. After it warmed up for its standard 10 minutes (per the manual), we lined it and the Peterson StroboFlip up next to each other. It was cool to see both of the tuners lock on to the same pitch.

Anthony7 · #14 10-28-2011, 06:49 AM

Brent Hutto · #15 10-28-2011, 06:54 AM

Try out one of the red/green light chromatic clip-on tuners on your guitar in a quiet place. If you can hear notes still "out" slightly when the lights say "in tune" then get a Peterson Stroboclip (or possibly the similar Sonic Research unit, which I have not seen in person).

For me there are clearly in-tune and not-in-tune notes that show exactly the same in-tune indication on most cheap tuners. So I have a Peterson. If you can't hear those differences, no need for it.

P.S. I am neither a trained musician, a skilled player nor do I have perfect pitch. I just happen to be real sensitive to sour notes...which is a curse and not a blessing!