How did you tune up before tuners?

[Dave Hicks]

Just found mine in a drawer, where nobody has disturbed it in a long time:

[Joe Beamish]

Tuning fork, which I still often use.

[Wade Hampton]

I used to tune my A string to an A tuning fork, then tune the remaining strings to the A string. When I was gigging in loud bars where you could barely hear yourself think, I would tune by striking the tuning fork on a knee, then place its base on a tooth. This would sound the note in my skull, and I’d tune from there.


Wade Hampton Miller

[EZYPIKINS]

I broke allot of strings tuning to the record. Thinking everybody tuned the same.

When I started in a full band, I was told we all need to be in the same tune. So we all bought the dreaded pitch pipe.

Problem was, come to find out. All pitch pipes are nor equal.

In a band with 3 guitars, a bass, 2 horns, a B3 and a Rhodes. Many things needed to be tuned.

Bought my first Peterson Strobe Model 450 in 79 or 80.

Everyone would stand in line, before each set, to tune up.

Oh how times change.

[Silly Moustache]

1. A440 tuning fork.
2. some one else's guitar
3. the E drone on "On the road again" by Canned Heat.

[Joe Beamish]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

I used to tune my A string to an A tuning fork, then tune the remaining strings to the A string. When I was gigging in loud bars where you could barely hear yourself think, I would tune by striking the tuning fork on a knee, then place its base on a tooth. This would sound the note in my skull, and I’d tune from there.


Wade Hampton Miller

Exactly! To this day, I do this. It could be why I’m not terribly sane.

[Bob Womack]

I kept a Hohner Marine Band G diatonic harmonica in the neck box.

Bob

[Mirosh]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

I used to tune my A string to an A tuning fork, then tune the remaining strings to the A string. When I was gigging in loud bars where you could barely hear yourself think, I would tune by striking the tuning fork on a knee, then place its base on a tooth. This would sound the note in my skull, and I’d tune from there.


Wade Hampton Miller

That reminds me of another nifty way to use a tuning fork: while it's ringing, touch its base to the bridge of the acoustic guitar. Then everyone nearby can hear it.

[Steve DeRosa]

Used the good old Kratt guitar pitch pipe until my ear was sufficiently acute to tell me that it wasn't quite accurate enough - began using only the B tube (generally the hardest string to tune precisely), then a combination of harmonics to arrive at an overall tuning that works in all positions; currently use a clip-on tuner (various brands) to get me 99% of the way, then do the harmonic thing to fine-tune...

[H165]

Pitch pipe or tuning fork for low E. Harmonic low E fret 5 & A string fret 7 for A. Harmonic at string 6 fret 5 for high E and B string fret 5. Strings 3 and 4 with adacent matching harmonics. Takes longer to type this than to tune this way.

[Wardo]

In the early 70s through the 80s I used a blues harp unless there was a piano around.

[K20C]

Neil Young, Harvest. I’d tune my D to the record then tune the rest by ear.

[musical123]

Not very well.

[_zedagive]

Tuning fork and harmonics.

[mcduffnw]

Originally Posted by FingahPickah

Pitch pipe? Tuning fork? Other?

Yeppers...Pitch pipe, that is what I learned to tune with back when I started to play in '71/'72 and that is still what I use to this day. I have one in each case of my main guitars, which is 5, and one out in the kitchen/dining room area just hanging out quick and handy. I have a couple of electronic tuners, but I always reach for the pitch pipe, when I even care to worry about how accurate to A440 the guitar I am playing actually is. I play mostly for myself, so unless I am playing with someone, or the guitar sounds really low pitched, I don't usually worry about it too much.


duff
Be A Player...Not A Polisher