Tuner Etiquette
 

As if I do not have enough real things to worry about, two and a half years into my guitar journey, and four months into fingerstyle work, I just can't get this question out of my head.
When I tune my guitar with a headstock device, I attach, tune and remove. But, I see that others skip the final step. They leave that plastic digital device clamped unceremoniously to the top of the their impeccable, hand-crafted, fully pampered, wooden object of desire. Frankly, it looks to me like some orphaned after-thought of a plastic star placed atop a lovely fir tree otherwise painstakingly trimmed for Christmas.
Am I right. Or is this just another thing in my life that I need to put in my rearview mirror. If I can.
David

Most eloquently put Del! I’m with you, no unsightly appendages shall remain perched on my pristine Martin headstock!

a thought
 

Same folks who used to keep loops of untrimmed strings adorning the headstocks, you know, REAL guitar players.

This was the thing to do back in the seventies - now it just means your lazy !

I agree! But, having said that, I have a little D'addario tuner sitting on top of my classical right now, since the tuning needs adjustment frequently after string changes! And if you're using a lot of alternative tunings, DADGAD, DADGBD, DADGBE, then it makes more sense!!

Some people do leave their tuners up there, attached to their headstock. It's certainly more convenient to have it there when you need it, but I always remove it. I think it looks bad, but that's only my opinion. Others will disagree.

I don't think it hurts anything to leave it on the headstock. I have seen Tommy Emmanuel do this quite often. I can't imagine that Tommy worries about looks too much when he takes sandpaper to the top of his guitar. :D

- Glenn

I'm thinking of switching to open gear tuners to save weight on the headstock.

https://i.imgur.com/dP7qP0Jl.jpg

I have to be truthful, I could care less what is on top of someone else's guitar headstock. I take mine off as soon as I'm done but if someone wants to keep his on so be it.

OP here. Bruce, when I saw your image, my spontaneous howling literally woke the dog. He wanted to know what the fuss was about. So I showed him the picture. He howled too, noting six tuners for four strings. "'Bout right", he said.

I leave the tuner in place while I’m playing. Whatever visually jarring element the tuner might introduce, in terms of keeping and holding an audience it’s much better to have the tuner in place to use as needed rather than disrupt the flow of the performance by putting the tuner on, tuning the strings, then taking it off.

It’s all a matter of priorities, and for me keeping things moving right along is top priority.

Hope that makes sense.


Wade Hampton Miller

Geez Bruce!

That is so ridiculously funny! :roll::lol::roll:

- Glenn

That..............

I noticed my tuners left scratches on the headstock of my jazz box. And I always remove it after I tune up.

Hey Bruce,

OK, I get it.

Despite the tuner overkill, it must make it 6 times better with 6 tuners on 4 strings.

That would make it 150% more efficient per string, right?

But then I would need 9 tuners for a 6 string guitar.

And please don't ask about 12 string guitars. My head is hurting already, as is my machine head.

:guitar:

Don
.

I always leave it in place as I am always putting capos on and off and also going from different tunings. But also seems I can knock it out of tune in one song if I play hard in a performance. I played a 3 hour gig last Saturday and used a floor Peterson tuner and a headstock one so I could do quick tweaks either way. I doubt anyone really pays attention to the brand or value of your guitar, even musicians, they want to hear you perform.

The real question I would have is do you use a floor tuner when performing so you can mute the sound and avoid subjecting the audience to tuning on the house speakers?