Disappointed in longevity of Snark tuners

[OneThing]

Originally Posted by steelvibe

It will be, and even if something should break, and as long as you register the product, they will replace the part(s). I broke the pivot piece on my 1st generation Strobo Clip and they sent me a replacement part free of charge.

Excellent customer service

That’s great to hear. Thank you!

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by rstaight

I see that they have been tossed. But just an FYI. I work in manufacturing and we use a lot of machine probes. They all have batteries for communication to a receiver.

We have on occasion and it's not unusual to have new batteries not be up to snuff. Depending how long they have been sitting you can have enough voltage to turn them on but not enough amperage to work properly.

Very well what could be going on here.

Two Snarks and two changes of batteries. I think I can rule the batteries out, especially since they work on my D'addario tuners.

[David Eastwood]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

Two Snarks and two changes of batteries. I think I can rule the batteries out, especially since they work on my D'addario tuners.

1) You’ve already thrown them out
2) Given what your signature suggests you have invested in your guitar collection, you certainly have the means to invest in higher quality tuners, and apparently have already done so
3) You get what you pay for

[Goodallboy]

So I understand, the cheap tuners keep breaking and the solution is to buy another cheap tuner?

I’ve done that many times with various items until I realized after adding up the cheap items I had bought that eventually failed, I could have had a really high quality device.

[TBman]

My Snark jumped off my desk in an attempt to escape, but I captured it, repaired it and put it back to work. I have a Peterson StroboClip HD tuner right in the box on my desk, but the Snark is so easy to use I always reach for it.

[6L6]

Love my Snark tuners. Never had a problem with any of them.

[fishwatcher]

It's been mentioned in other threads, and likley in this one also (I could easily have missed it), but the TC Electronic Polytune and Unitune tuners are pretty popular, modern, and fairly robust tuners with 3 year warranties if registered when purchased.

The only difference between the two is the ability to strum all strings and have a view of which strings need tuning on the PolyTune, vs seeing the tuning one string at a time, like a traditional tuner, on the UniTune.

I find that the single string tuning version is just fine, it's how I do it anyways, and the price difference is significant ($29) vs. the PolyTune ($49)

I personally found that if you squeeze the clip the wrong way (i.e. squeeze the tuner case and clip at the same time, not just the clip), the thin plastic part of the case around the button can crack. However.. TC Electronic will send a replacement under warranty.. and that little crack doesn't actually affect functionality or overall robustness of the tuner.

[Tanera]

I have lost the rubber shoe on the bottom of the lower jaw. Since doing so it fails to register Anything Particularly the bass strings. After much tweaking, banging on the table, being fetched back by the dog it might register or not.

Anyone experienced a boss tu-03?????

[jgmaute]

Originally Posted by Pura Vida

I had the clips break frequently enough that I moved on to other tuner makers. I currently have a D'Addario tuner that works fine.

When I had that happen I just contacted Snark and they sent me a new one. Of course now who knows if they're even open but you might give it a try when we've come out of this.

[Bridgepin]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

I have two Snark tuners that I haven't used in a couple of years (I usually use the d'addario sound hole tuners). I took the batteries out when I stopped using them. I recently wanted to use one on a new guitar and now neither of them work, even with new batteries. Very disappointing.

Take the eraser end of a pencil and clean the contacts in the tuner, that might be the problem. Even though they might look clean still clean them and pull the metal contacts out just a bit to make sure they are making good contact. For two to fail like that lends me to believe there is something else going on.

[lar]

Originally Posted by Goodallboy

cheap tuners keep breaking .

This device is made out of solid metal, doesn't have any software bugs (it doesn't have any software), never requires battery replacement (doesn't have batteries), and is cheaper than the Snark. Bala Bing Bala Bang (Su-bang)- problem solved:

(get one for each string)

https://www.amazon.com/SUBANG-Tuning...NsaWNrPXRydWU=

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by lar

This device is made out of solid metal, doesn't have any software bugs (it doesn't have any software), never requires battery replacement (doesn't have batteries), and is cheaper than the Snark. Bala Bing Bala Bang (Su-bang)- problem solved:

(get one for each string)

https://www.amazon.com/SUBANG-Tuning...NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Or you could learn to tune by ear:

[roylor4]

Originally Posted by Joe Beamish

My Snarks are lying in parts like broken insects in a drawer. I hugely prefer the Micro Tuner from D’addario.

Yeah, me too. I made the switch some time ago. They are bright enough, unobtrusive and work well - at least as good as the Snarks IMO.

The only downside is that they are SO small that I have gone to GC to look at guitars and left one behind because I forgot it was there.

My wife still prefers Snarks though. I never had one stopped working, but have had them break at the stem. They are also hideous and reminiscent of the giant Venus Fly Trap in Little Shop of Horrors.

Feed me, Seymour, feed me.

[tbeltrans]

These don't break or need batteries and are always ready when you are...



Tony

[TBman]

Originally Posted by tbeltrans

These don't break or need batteries and are always ready when you are...



Tony

I still have mine from the 70's....