Tuner Etiquette

[k_russell]

I prefer to remove the tuner, but often forget. Then I must open 5 or 6 cases to locate the tuner when I need it, next.

[rmp]

however if you have one of them D'Addario tuners that hide inside your sound hole, you've achieved greatness!!!!

regarding leaving them on...

not a fantastic idea with Nitro finished guitars, especially newer ones where the stuff hasn't fully cured yet

[Ed66]

I just leave it on. I've got one on each of my guitars that are uncased and hanging on my wall. My only concern, originally, was there might be some kind of reaction between the finish on the headstock and the padding on the tuner clamp. After checking numerous times in the early months, I've found this was not an issue with any of my guitars. Do whatever works for you.

[rstaight]

Sometimes it bugs me that tuners are left on guitars. But to each his own.

I use an app on my phone. I do carry an clip on for quick touchups but it comes off when finished. Honestly it doesn't get used that much.

[Purfle Haze]

Originally Posted by phydaux

Justin Guitar has his tuner left on the headstock in may of his videos.

Yes. On his Froggy Bottom guitar. A Unitune! I leave mine on the headstock, but I only play at home. If I played out, I'd definitely leave it on the headstock. By the time I got to Headstock...

Has anyone ever received a comment about tuners on headstocks from a non-guitar-player? Curious.

[hubcapsc]

Originally Posted by Tony Burns

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

Wait... what? I have a little SnapOn wire cutter in my guitar
case now. Looping the strings takes a whole lot more effort
than snipping them off...

-Mike

[The Bard Rocks]

I am always annoyed to see a really good guitar played with one on the headstock - you can't read the label!

On my own, I leave them off when not being used. Unless it has just been restrung there is little need to tweak while playing. Years ago, I left one on a '67 D12-20 while it was cased and when I removed it, found the spot where it had been attached was far shinier the the rest of the headstock. It remained that way for as long as I owned it, and that annoyed me. With some tuners and nitro finish there is far greater concern.

My tuners stay in my gig bag unless I am actively using them. One and a backup are always with me, no matter which guitar I have at the time.

[musicman1951]

I almost never use the tuner at home, although every once in a blue moon I have a day when the ears just don't seem to work. I don't usually leave it on while performing, but I play a lot with fingers and not a great deal of pressure at that, so the guitar tends to stay in tune.

But I'm not offended if someone else leaves the tuner on. There are things that bother me, but that just isn't one of them.

[catdaddy]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

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

This for sure. My guitar is a performance tool, not a museum piece for display purposes.

[Rosewood99]

That’s why I use a sound hole tuner.

[keith.rogers]

On my mandolins, I use that small D'Addario tuner that replaces one of the screws from the [string-]tuners' plate to hold it on behind the headstock. Works well enough and it's out of sight from a couple feet away.

I had one of those on one guitar, but I found there's really not a good place for it on a guitar with one of those diamond-shaped volutes, like my OM has. When I was playing out, I always leave those Snark-style things clipped on, but would take them off before storing the guitar away in the case if it was something I cared about. (I have a couple guitars I don't care about )

[roadbiker]

Originally Posted by Deliberate1

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

I agree! As soon as the guitar is in tune, the tuner comes off. Thankfully, I can tune my guitar without one .

There is an other option from D'Addario. They have a verrrrry small one (Micro Tuner) that attaches to their Artist Capo, as well as to a headstock. When used on the capo, it's only there when the capo is on the guitar. When it is used on the headstock, it's nearly un-noticeable. They also have one that clips inside the soundhole (Micro Soundhole tuner).

[roadbiker]

Originally Posted by phavriluk

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

Another one of my pet peeves!

[hairpuller]

I first tune up and then take the tuner right off. I don't feel the need to retune after every couple minutes. My ears aren't that precise.

I don't like the look of the tuner on the headstock, but if you keep yours on, fine by me. <snicker, snicker>

scott

[J Patrick]

…sometimes I leave them on….sometimes I take them off……I don’t think it’s a matter of etiquette…..just preference and habit…