On Board Tuners

[4 Strings]

Anyone using an onboard tuner?

I've only found two:

http://www.wittman-spins.com/tuners.html

and

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/N-Tune-Onboard-Guitar-Chromatic-tuner-500K-Toggle-switch-for-Gibson-Guitars-/370862551883"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/N-Tune-Onboard-Guitar-Chromatic-tuner-500K-Toggle-switch-for-Gibson-Guitars-/370862551883[/url]

Both require the replacement of the volume pot.

Will this work on an active bass?

Anyone using one?

Are there any others?

Could I let a clip on type into the back of the body?

Seems a great idea, not sure why they're not more popular.

[discreet]

I believe quite a few on here use the Planet Waves clip-on tuners... which seem popular.

[url="http://www.planetwaves.com/PWVideo.Page?ActiveID=3985&MediaId=9297&sid=4a10d3fe-4e50-4bec-8458-679be55edd66"]http://www.planetwaves.com/PWVideo.Page?ActiveID=3985&MediaId=9297&sid=4a10d3fe-4e50-4bec-8458-679be55edd66[/url]
[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Planet-Waves-PW-CT-12-Micro-Headstock/dp/B005FKF1PY"]http://www.amazon.co...k/dp/B005FKF1PY[/url]

Just clip and tune. Or did you specifically mean tuners that fix to the body of the bass?

Edited September 14, 2013 by discreet

[Oopsdabassist]

I have a planet waves one, very small, very discreet, and seems pretty accurate when I compare to my TU2, well worth 12 quid!

[Shobaleader One]

I also have one of the planet waves headstock tuners - I much prefer it to the idea of a modification to my bass, permanent or not!

I have found it can take a bit of fiddling to get it on the right spot on the headstock to more accurately tune the strings, but like 'oopsdabassist' said, its well worth £12.

[Lozz196]

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1379154543' post='2209168']
I have a planet waves one, very small, very discreet, and seems pretty accurate when I compare to my TU2, well worth 12 quid!
[/quote]

Yes, great little gadgets, ideal for gigs with quick changeovers etc - walk on stage with your bass/lead/strap, plug in & play.

[geoffbyrne]

Do these Planet Waves tuners go down to a Low B? I have 2 tuners, one detects the Low B (Yamaha) - the other doesn't.

G.

[discreet]

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1379168001' post='2209404']
Do these Planet Waves tuners go down to a Low B? I have 2 tuners, one detects the Low B (Yamaha) - the other doesn't.
[/quote]

It depends on your bass and where you fit the tuner. Near to the nut as possible is best.
If no joy you can always play a harmonic at the twelfth fret - the tuner will pick it up no problem.

[4 Strings]

Tuners on board, built into the guitar.

Those I mentioned involve nothing more than simply swapping the volume pot, totally reversible and so no no need to worry about modifying a bass guitar. I wondered how useful/accurate etc they were in the long term

I'm having a bass built so I can do anything I want without having to compromise what I get in case it might take a little longer to sell it later.

I've used the clip on ones and they worked fine, I have a plug in one which can sit almost permanently plugged into the tuner output on my amp. However, these are still a bit of a faff compared to an on-board and more things to remember to take/pack away etc.

Someone suggested this one which seems the perfect build-in:
[url="http://www.aqdi.com/ztuner.htm"]http://www.aqdi.com/ztuner.htm[/url]

In actual fact I don't really like using them, I can quickly tune from, for example, a keyboard note and can also quickly hear anything going remotely sour and tune accordingly. However there's been the odd occasion when a tuner has been useful, or would have been if it wasn't in my case. I was looking for something always available with no effort from me.

Any experiences?

[paulconnolly]

I used the tuner on my Korg Pandora but now I have a TC BH250 with a built in tuner. Footswitch mutes the amp for tuning. Great piece of kit. Mind you the fat end of £300 is a lot to pay for a guitar tuner

[alstocko]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1379154135' post='2209165']
I believe quite a few on here use the Planet Waves clip-on tuners... which seem popular.

[url="http://www.planetwaves.com/PWVideo.Page?ActiveID=3985&MediaId=9297&sid=4a10d3fe-4e50-4bec-8458-679be55edd66"]http://www.planetwaves.com/PWVideo.Page?ActiveID=3985&MediaId=9297&sid=4a10d3fe-4e50-4bec-8458-679be55edd66[/url]
[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Planet-Waves-PW-CT-12-Micro-Headstock/dp/B005FKF1PY"]http://www.amazon.co...k/dp/B005FKF1PY[/url]

Just clip and tune. Or did you specifically mean tuners that fix to the body of the bass?
[/quote]
The NS micro is an amazing piece of kit!

[BigRedX]

Bass Surgery basses had a built-in tuner similar to the Wittman ProTuner. Unfortunately the instruments were extremely expensive as they are no longer being made.

I think the problem with built-in tuners is that unless they are fully featured and can cope with down tuning and unconventional intervals they might not be that much use. Also it probably means yet another battery (or faster drain on existing on-board batteries) which many would find unacceptable.

[4 Strings]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1379242330' post='2210117']
Bass Surgery basses had a built-in tuner similar to the Wittman ProTuner. Unfortunately the instruments were extremely expensive as they are no longer being made.

I think the problem with built-in tuners is that unless they are fully featured and can cope with down tuning and unconventional intervals they might not be that much use. Also it probably means yet another battery (or faster drain on existing on-board batteries) which many would find unacceptable.
[/quote]

They do. But even if you don't use unconventional tunings they still seem to be a boon to me. Certainly with you on the battery thing, the current favourite for my new bass needs a 3V supply. Bit awkward.