Preamp -> Tuner .... or .... Tuner -> Preamp?

[Tricky Fish]

I will be getting TC Electronic Polytune shortly.

Should i run it before my Red Eye pre-amp or after? What are the pros & cons? Or is this a clear-cut decision ?

I play nylon string guitars with K&K pickups.

[RockerDuck]

Tuner with a buffer is always first in a pedal chain.

[martingitdave]

You should try it both ways. You might even find you don't need the Redeye.

[varmonter]

just to add a bit more confususion.
i beleive the polytune has a dipswitch
that can either be a buffer or true bypass. I actually liked the buffer when
i owned the pedal. but in true bypass
it shouldnt matter where you put it.
just use your ears..

[pieterh]

On the whole it doesn’t really make much difference but consider this: it is always good to get in the habit of muting signals in the chain before pulling out the guitar cable. If your tuner is placed in the signal chain but after the preamp then technically you’ll be sending a nasty signal spike every time you plug in or disconnect. I use mine first in the chain as I often change guitars mid-show and it’s a good way of keeping the audience’s ears and the PA’s speakers healthy!

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by pieterh

On the whole it doesn’t really make much difference but consider this: it is always good to get in the habit of muting signals in the chain before pulling out the guitar cable. If your tuner is placed in the signal chain but after the preamp then technically you’ll be sending a nasty signal spike every time you plug in or disconnect. I use mine first in the chain as I often change guitars mid-show and it’s a good way of keeping the audience’s ears and the PA’s speakers healthy!

Hi Pieterh

That really depends on the preamp. Both my Raven and DTAR preamps have a mute switch (true mute) which does the same thing (keeps it from spiking the mains).

So does my ToneDexter.

I owned the PolyTone floor unit, and if you have to run it on batteries, I'd go through one a week playing at church (multiple services). It's on semi-permanent loan to my gigging partner and lives in his pedal board. There are many other brands of decent floor tuners than TC Electronic's for those of us who like the extra precision.

[SpruceTop]

Irrelevant to the OP but I just bought a TC Electronic PolyTuner clip-on that works well.

[edman]

Originally Posted by Tricky Fish

I will be getting TC Electronic Polytune shortly.

Should i run it before my Red Eye pre-amp or after? What are the pros & cons? Or is this a clear-cut decision ?

I play nylon string guitars with K&K pickups.

I have a Polytune. I’ve used it in the front of my chain and at the end of my chain without noticing any difference in the tone. It kills the signal to the amp no matter where it’s placed. Currently, it’s at the end of my 13+ pedal chain.

[varmonter]

Originally Posted by edman

I have a Polytune. I’ve used it in the front of my chain and at the end of my chain without noticing any difference in the tone. It kills the signal to the amp no matter where it’s placed. Currently, it’s at the end of my 13+ pedal chain.

I think he meant it will send that spike
to all your pedals when you unplug.
you just dont hear it because the polytune mutes it to the amp/pa.
if one of the prior pedals has a signal
meter or lights you should be able to
visually see the spike..

[pieterh]

Originally Posted by varmonter

I think he meant it will send that spike

to all your pedals when you unplug.

you just dont hear it because the polytune mutes it to the amp/pa.

if one of the prior pedals has a signal

meter or lights you should be able to

visually see the spike..

Exactly. It’s not really a big issue, I just like muting the signal before it goes down the line. Some devices that also have mute functions have an always-on output for tuners so the problem is solved that way.

It also occurs to me that using modulation effects in the chain could have an adverse affect on tuning, given that by definition the signal’s pitch is being slightly altered all the time...

I’m going to keep mine near the front of the signal chain...