Chromatic Tuner recommendations.

**pubylakeg** · 01-29-2014, 01:02 PM

So, I'm finally having to admit that my old ears are losing some of the keenness of my youth and that I need to buy a chromatic tuner for setting intonation on my guitars. So I was wondering can anybody recommend a cheap electronic tuner with a meter stable enough for that task. It's only going to be used during setups so I don't need a stage one with bypass or anything fancy, just one that can do a 7-string, with a jack socket input and with a display that doesn't jump around all over the place. And CHEAP.
With thanks for any suggestions.
Puby.

**AlainJazz** · 01-29-2014, 01:38 PM

Do you have an iPhone? If yes, get the Peterson strobosoft tuner app. It is Amazing! Incredibly accurate. Even my luthier was impressed and said it was the best tuner he ever used. 8€ in the App Store. Doesn't get cheaper than that.

**oldane** · 01-29-2014, 01:40 PM

The Pitch Lab app for you smartphone or tablet. Free. Insanely accurate (more accurate than my Peterson strobo).

**pubylakeg** · 01-29-2014, 07:04 PM

Thanks for the suggestions folks but I'm afraid I don't have a smartphone and keep the laptop out of the music area, definite Luddite when it comes to hi-tec stuff, but if anyone does know of a stand alone chromatic tuner that fits the above criteria I'd still be grateful for any suggestions.
Thanks again,
Puby.

**campusfive** · 01-30-2014, 01:37 AM

Peterson makes a clip-on strobe tuner - if you're doing a proper set up, you really need a tuner of that quality.
For stage use, I just go with a <$20 Snark SN-8. But to be fair, I use the Peterson Strobe app on my phone for serious tuning, so I have no need for the Peterson clip-on.

**nado64** · 01-30-2014, 04:25 AM

On Windows OS, I use G-Tune by JHC software based on the Peterson algorithm.
The demo mode, it's free. There are some recurrent windows to buy the soft, but it's not a matter.

There are a tuner, but many other useful tools.

**cosmic gumbo** · 01-30-2014, 04:33 AM

Korg CA-1 for $20 is the one I use when not using a clip on tuner, and all the brass and reed players in my big band swear by this one too. It has a built in mic and a cable input jack.

**339 in june** · 01-30-2014, 05:35 AM

+1 for the cheap, small, accurate, convenient KORG CA-1
I have one always in the case of my guitar (except when I need to tune her !)

**GuyBoden** · 01-30-2014, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by pubylakeg

I need to buy a chromatic tuner for setting intonation on my guitars. So I was wondering can anybody recommend a cheap electronic tuner with a meter stable enough for that task.
Puby.

I use a Korg, but I also have a Snark clip on for convenience and a Peterson Strobe for very accurate setup/intonation.

The Korg is great for the price.

**AlainJazz** · 01-30-2014, 07:18 AM

You'll need something accurate for intonation. I also have the Peterson clip on which is more accurate than the Snark but not so easy to use for intonation setup because it tends to jump. Too bad you don't have a smartphone.

**Chazmo** · 01-30-2014, 09:14 PM

The blue Snark works great. Incredibly tight tuning for $20.

I'm with Oldane on the Pitch Lab phone app. If you ever do get a phone, give it a shot. It's almost too sensitive. And it's free!

**AlainJazz** · 01-31-2014, 03:06 AM

The snark is a great tuner. I have one and use it for basic stage tuning. It tracks very very well. Much better than any tuner I've tried. BUT it is not accurate enough for intonation adjustments IMHO.

**va3ux** · 01-31-2014, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by pubylakeg

Thanks for the suggestions folks but I'm afraid I don't have a smartphone and keep the laptop out of the music area, definite Luddite when it comes to hi-tec stuff, but if anyone does know of a stand alone chromatic tuner that fits the above criteria I'd still be grateful for any suggestions.
Thanks again,
Puby.

No Smart Phone. No laptop in the music area. Well you're suggesting you actually play a guitar to make music with no other accessories in the room. This is just crazy talk ! You have this all wrong.

You buy a guitar so that you have a reason to buy other things. Things like pedals and cables and books and CDs and software and amplifiers. You're supposed to spend all your time focusing on these other things; waste most of your time on the internet talking about all these accessories, learning difficult software, deciding that what everybody else has is actually what you really wanted in the first place, etc. But just play a guitar by itself in a room with no distractions ? I don't know where this is coming from.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 01-31-2014, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by va3ux

No Smart Phone. No laptop in the music area. Well you're suggesting you actually play a guitar to make music with no other accessories in the room. This is just crazy talk ! You have this all wrong.

You buy a guitar so that you have a reason to buy other things. Things like pedals and cables and books and CDs and software and amplifiers. You're supposed to spend all your time focusing on these other things; waste most of your time on the internet talking about all these accessories, learning difficult software, deciding that what everybody else has is actually what you really wanted in the first place, etc. But just play a guitar by itself in a room with no distractions ? I don't know where this is coming from.

Okay, I'm okay now!

**pubylakeg** · 02-09-2014, 08:45 PM

Thanks to all for suggestions and humour.
Best Wishes.
Puby.

**Andrew White** · 02-12-2014, 07:58 AM

I prefer the Snark for ease of use and the accuracy is fine. And I prefer my Mobile App for outright accuracy. The App is just quicker to tune with.
Two cheap and easy way to tune your guitar.
The app that i use is a tuner + metronome, you can find it here:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cadenza-tuner-+-metronome/id482745751?mt=8

**rodolfoguitarra** · 10-24-2015, 06:55 PM

TB Strobe Tuner - PC Software Strobe Tuners for Windows

Free strobo tuner with 0,1 cent of precision. (the best in my opinion)

**Longways to Go** · 10-24-2015, 07:15 PM

Snark is great & cheap. hard to beat

**Herbie** · 10-24-2015, 07:43 PM

My favourite is the NS Micro tuner.

Planet Waves :: NS Micro Tuner

It's a clip tuner but that does not sting out from Your guitar's headstock just to crash on the wall/ the ceiling/ the cymbal stand/ the eye of Your bassist or vocalist.

I suppose it is not as accurate as the peterson but the fretboards of my ES-175 or Les Pauls are not quite accurate neither.

'Close enough for jazz' as someone said on this forum lately!

**SamBooka** · 10-24-2015, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by campusfive

Peterson makes a clip-on strobe tuner - if you're doing a proper set up, you really need a tuner of that quality.
For stage use, I just go with a <$20 Snark SN-8. But to be fair, I use the Peterson Strobe app on my phone for serious tuning, so I have no need for the Peterson clip-on.

I have the Peterson clip on and it works but I am not overly impressed with it. I am a big fan of strobe tuners and have the Pearson app on my phone which is amazing. Planet waves make some pretty good strobe tuners that are available for under 40 bucks on eBay. I don't know why They discontinued them. I admit that the planet waves that I have requires it's own power supply because regardless of how good the brick I'm using it just never works. Give it a dedicated power supply and it's fine.

**Jabberwocky** · 10-25-2015, 01:25 AM

Good ol' BOSS TU-12EX Chromatic Tuner. I have had the original Boss TU-12 since 1982 and it is still working fine today.

Edit: Scratch that. They're asking $90 for it today? Outrageous. Try the Korg PitchHawk Clip-on.

**rodolfoguitarra** · 10-25-2015, 07:01 AM

I have a Snark Sn-8 , and it doesn´t have god accuracy!

It has + - 3 cents accuracy in same cases. If the G string (for example) is +3 and the B string is -3 (the Snark will say that the guitar is in tune) you will have a difference of 6 cents (it´s a lot).

**Munk** · 10-25-2015, 09:11 AM

I downloaded the TB strobe but it seemed strange, that it did not show the name on the notes, but names like "F4". A different system?

Pitchperfect 2.12 (also free) worked for me. Much more sensitive than my clip on tuner, though also a bit flickering. Don't know if it is better than a good clip on tuner. I adjusted intonation with the program, and had to move the bridge some millimeters. More than I believed, it could change over a year. How hard the string is pressed also change the pitch, so it took time to intonate.

**DanielleOM** · 10-25-2015, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by Munk

I downloaded the TB strobe but it seemed strange, that it did not show the name on the notes, but names like "F4". A different system?

Pitchperfect 2.12 (also free) worked for me. Much more sensitive than my clip on tuner, though also a bit flickering. Don't know if it is better than a good clip on tuner. I adjusted intonation with the program, and had to move the bridge some millimeters. More than I believed, it could change over a year. How hard the string is pressed also change the pitch, so it took time to intonate.

For the example you show, I suspect F is the note and the 4 represents the octave level that you are playing it at. Try playing the F at different octaves.

**Munk** · 10-25-2015, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by DanielleOM

For the example you show, I suspect F is the note and the 4 represents the octave level that you are playing it at. Try playing the F at different octaves.

Thanks. It makes sense, though I did not like F4 in 12. fret. I will download the other version they had and compare it to Pitchperfect.

Update Have checked again, but getting wierd names - both A, D and E for the same note, and the frequency numbers are also strange. Maybe not made for windows 10.