| Author | Message | ||
| smuprof
Intermediate Member Username: smuprof Post Number: 131 Registered: 12-2003 |
Long time, no post . . . but I found something I wanted to share. I've been playing with a Line 6 digital wireless rig for a couple of years now with fantastic results. In addition to the Hi-Z out for the amp, it has a 20 hz - 20 kHz full bandwidth Lo-Z that I use to feed the house, and of course with an Alembic it sounds fantastic. Now the problem - there's no good way to tune quietly. Even if I put something in line with the amp (which I hate to do), I've still got signal to the house. So I looked around for bass-mounted tuners, but everyone I found was large, ugly, didn't work or some combination thereof. Until I found this little Planet Waves PW-CT-12 NS Mini Headstock Tuner. It's about the size of a quarter, very unobtrusive, and works well. Seems Ned Steinberger had something to do with the design, but don't quote me on that. Easy to read, hidden behind the headstock, no damage to the finish and you can leave it on in the case. Now I just turn down the volume and tune to my heart's content without hitting the mains or the amp. My main Alembic is a 5 string MK, and it does tune the B string accurately. (I have found it helps on the B string to mute the others with your palm to eliminate sympathetic vibrations). I've been so happy I bought 4 more for my other basses and a guitar. Doesn't replace my TurboTuner for accuracy, but the cost (about $20) and convenience make this the coolest new technology I've bought since I bought my first Alembic. I don't work for the Planet Waves, and I'm not earning a commission - just thought I'd pass along something that has worked well for me and costs less than a set of strings.  | ||
| stout71
Junior Username: stout71 Post Number: 33 Registered: 7-2011 |
Nice find! Just looked it up on amazon. $12.99!! http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005FKF1PY | ||
| billostech
Advanced Member Username: billostech Post Number: 272 Registered: 1-2011 |
I neeeded one of these. Just ordered one. Thanks | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 580 Registered: 5-2007 |
So it sounds like it's better than the Snark tuner, which doesn't like a low B string, and can be otherwise hard to get along with. I think I will check it out. Thanks! | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 770 Registered: 6-2006 |
The Snark works GREAT on my upright. Not to bad on the Alembic either - but I don't go much lower than a Hipshot dropped D. | ||
| eligilam
Advanced Member Username: eligilam Post Number: 355 Registered: 2-2006 |
I just ordered one of these Planet Waves things too. Thanks for the link. I've got a gig next weekend using the "house rig" which has no "direct" tuner access. This little thing should help me out and keep me from doing the whole "drop to one knee and squint at my little tuner on the ground" thing between songs. Cheers. | ||
| billostech
Advanced Member Username: billostech Post Number: 274 Registered: 1-2011 |
Got mine 2 days ago and used it on the MK5 in band practice last night. It worked perfectly. Thanks again. (Message edited by billostech on February 18, 2012) | ||
| smuprof
Intermediate Member Username: smuprof Post Number: 133 Registered: 12-2003 |
You're welcome, Bill. Glad your experience was as good as mine. BTW - love your MK5. Mine's a standard, balance K body, with the omega (not heart) cut, coco bola top. I keep thinking if I can find enough coin in the sofa I'd like to try an MK5 deluxe with ebony stringers and coco top and back lams . . . be hard to miss the fundamental | ||
| billostech
Advanced Member Username: billostech Post Number: 276 Registered: 1-2011 |
John, Your Balance K sounds nice too. Are there any pictures posted? BTW, where did you get your sofa? I need one of those. lol | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2157 Registered: 10-2003 |
A buddy of Mine turned me onto the Peterson StroboClip. Pretty sweet and right around $70 list. http://www.petersontuners.com/index.cfm?category=168&sub=516 John | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 1428 Registered: 3-2004 |
I would go for the Peterson hands down. I have the Stroboflip and the difference over my Korg rack unit is very noticeable. Much more precise. | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1165 Registered: 10-2006 |
10 times more precise, to be precise. Korg (and every other non-strobe tuner I've checked out)claims ± 1 cent; Peterson's stuff does 0.1 cent. Peter | ||
| 5sicks
Junior Username: 5sicks Post Number: 32 Registered: 8-2010 |
Your basses are that unstable that you have to tune between songs...HMMM... | ||
| adriaan
Moderator Username: adriaan Post Number: 2907 Registered: 6-2002 |
I'd blame the strings, personally. (I tune by ear, by the way.) | ||
| 5sicks
Junior Username: 5sicks Post Number: 33 Registered: 8-2010 |
The strings don't stretch much after a week and several touch-up tunings. HMMM... | ||
| flpete1uw
Junior Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 24 Registered: 11-2011 |
New to me, ever since I received my first Alembic I find a need to tune her up every day. All strings will be either sharp or flat by the same amount. Depending on the Temps and Humidity. New to me is that my Fender P tends to stay set. Don't mind, I just have to keep a closer eye on it. Recieved the Planet Wave tuner today. Some getting used to for the reading isn't instantaneous. It A/B's with my other tuner well. Not to mention fitting in the case and being almost hidden from view I might just set and forget it and leave it on. ļ I Love when things come together. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2161 Registered: 10-2003 |
I check tuning before every set and after particularly ambitious songs. I tend to flog the instrument and sometimes it pulls it out a little bit. I've done this with every instrument I've owned, including a Steinberger L2A. If it's got strings, I can pull it out of tune. John | ||
| alembickoa
Member Username: alembickoa Post Number: 86 Registered: 5-2002 |
I just bought a Snark...great tuner for bass & guitar. Love it. Beats the pants off of my 100.00 Boss. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10594 Registered: 5-2002 |
John; I've seen your videos. I would tend to describe your handling of the strings as perhaps more "loving" than "flogging", but your word choice does make the point better. And I too tend to pull my strings out of tune, with a technique that might be described as | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2179 Registered: 10-2003 |
Er, yes, "lovingly aggressive" seems to, er, "cover all the basses" quite well.. ;) |
