Before Electronic Guitar Tuners (AccuTone Model 300)

[citizenk74]

My mom got me an Ovation analog tuner (the ones with a needle, remember them?)

I think she was trying to tell me something.

My first gig as a guitarist-for-hire was with a four-piece dance band (I was the fifth wheel). As soon as I was able, I talked the other three gtr/bs players into going together to buy a metered (needle) tuner. It took another three jobs to buy them out. I repeated the process for proper circuit protected extension cords (I also added extension chords, but that's another story). I still prefer the needle, but am happy with my Peterson Virtual strobe, which was the best two-hundred bucks I ever borrowed. I like tuning forks for acoustics, but they are at a disadvantage in noisy environments. Like actual jobs.

[wintermoon]

Hi Fep.
by coincidence, I used an A440 tuning fork years ago before the
advent of electronic tuning devices, The method I used was to
tap the fork on a surface and hold it across the pickup while
amplified and while it sustained , tuned the A string to it ,quite
effective, Today , the simple TC electronic polytune pedal is
accurate and easy to use while plugged in to an amp.

foot of the bridge is where I held it

[wintermoon]

I have one of these old Deagan's tuned to A 440 I still use occasionally
yeah your ear isn't going to be as accurate as an electronic tuner but these are fun and sound great.