Pedal tuners vs. Headstock tuners.

Psean

Since I bought a headstock tuner, I've found I don't really use my pedal tuner as much as I used to and am considering getting rid of it. The headstock tuners I've used seem to be in the same ballpark ITO accuracy (I've also stopped using my acoustic's built in tuner 'cause I find the headstock one more accurate).

Anyone think I'd be making a mistake if I sold the pedal tuner? The ability to mute with the pedal is quite handy but it's easy enough to just turn the volume pot down.

Chocklit_Thunda

Nah if you aren't using it then I say get rid of it ? I also use a little headstock tuner. It's convenient. You can even keep it connected in the case or gig bag ?

Psean

Chocklit_Thunda wrote: It's convenient. You can even keep it connected in the case or gig bag ?

Yup, that's what I've been doing. They're super handy these little things.

Big-G

There is one advantage that the pedal tuner has over the headstock tuner.... The head tuner is going to be more easily effected by outside factors like background noise, and any other vibrations or resonances that the guitar body is going to pick up, especially in noisier environments, where as whilst the same resonances affect the same guitar, the signal from the strings via the preamp is much stronger to the floor pedal tuner.

So, if you are playing a lot of noisy pubs and things and need to accurately tune, then the pedal will give you better results, especially if you cannot find a quiet little corner of the venue to go hide in whilst you tune.

Having said that though, you will still get 'close enough for jazz' with the headstock tuner, unless the lead and bass guys are bashing away behind you at the same time?

Regards
G!

AlanRatcliffe

Big G wrote: So, if you are playing a lot of noisy pubs and things and need to accurately tune, then the pedal will give you better results, especially if you cannot find a quiet little corner of the venue to go hide in whilst you tune.

+1. Exactly. Plus a pedal tuner can automatically mute the guitar.

Bob-Dubery

Pedal tuners are quicker. I've got four tuners in all (sad, isn't it?) and the headstock tuners get annoying because they seem to need to reset in between strings. So I pluck the 2nd string, tune it and then it won't take the third straightaway. I wait a bit then try again and now it's talking to the third. This may be a brand or progress thing - the more recent headstock tuner I bought (a Korg) has less delay in it.

OTOH my Boss floor tuner and my Seiko pocket tuner react more quickly.

The delay on the headstock tuners gets particularly annoying when I'm restringing as they don't track the stretching string very well.

My two guitars are pretty stable, so if I'm playing live I tune up with the Boss or the Seiko first, then after that the only likely change is between standard tuning and drop D and a headstock tuner handles that OK.

However, it may be that some headstock tuners are more equal than others.

Psean

Big G wrote: There is one advantage that the pedal tuner has over the headstock tuner.... The head tuner is going to be more easily effected by outside factors like background noise, and any other vibrations or resonances that the guitar body is going to pick up, especially in noisier environments, where as whilst the same resonances affect the same guitar, the signal from the strings via the preamp is much stronger to the floor pedal tuner.

So, if you are playing a lot of noisy pubs and things and need to accurately tune, then the pedal will give you better results, especially if you cannot find a quiet little corner of the venue to go hide in whilst you tune.
Regards
G!

Thanks G. Good point.
Alan and Bob too.

I forgot to mention, the pedal tuner lives on my pedalboard for electric. For acoustic I've been using the built-in or headstock tuner and have noticed it getting confused if someone else is playing. The acoustic's only really intended for 3-5 song open-mic sets so I'd never really considered using the pedal for that. My question about the tuners is more about the electric. My intention is to get gigging eventually so I will need something suitable for that. I've never noticed the headstock tuner being affected by background noise on the electric, and the new Snark and Planet waves tuners seem to be fairly accurate, and that's what got me thinking about this. Sounding like I should keep it though.

peterleroux

Psean wrote: I've never noticed the headstock tuner being affected by background noise on the electric, and the new Snark and Planet waves tuners seem to be fairly accurate, and that's what got me thinking about this. Sounding like I should keep it though.

I love my Planet Waves NS Design mini tuner, and it's been great for tuning my bass, which has no pedal board at the moment. But the other night I tried to drop tune my E string while the gutiarist was playing an intro to a song, and it couldn't lock on to tune. I ended up playing that song on 3 strings. So most of hte time it's fine, and it can deal with moderate amounts of background noise, but if there is definite pitched (ie. musical) interference, it's going to get confused

Psean

Thanks Peter. Exactly the kind of info I need. I'll be keeping it then.

PeteM

I was given a Joyo headstock tuner and I battled to tune with this thing. It got thoroughly confused and it also killed batteries. So I was dead against the headstock tuners. So I relied on my trustworthy Korg pocket variety until it finally imploded when I dropped it one too many times.

I was skeptical when John Of Village Music recommended the Boss TU-10 Chromatic headstock tuner after my last experience, but this thing is amazing. I have no trouble tuning in any environment... both acoustic and electric.

Having said this, I wouldn't get rid of the floor pedal though unless you're desperate for cash. It's always good to have a back up.

Squonk

I have the Korg Pitchclip Headstock Tuner which I used at Rumours recently which was hectically noisy and it got me from Standard tuning to DADGAD and back again quite easily.

I also have a Joyo headstock tuner that refuses to detect my G string and also delays quite hectically, I have tossed that in my travel guitar bag.

Bob-Dubery

The kind of noise that bothers a headstock tuner is not people talking and glasses clinking but other guitars. One guitar picks up another's vibration.

I recall playing at TJ's one time with Hugh Cumming's band. I'd used the headstock tuner during the set and forgot to turn it off. This, of course, has no impact on sound. I put the guitar on a stand on the side of the stage, sat down with the missus and when the next act started playing that headstock tuner lit up like a Christmas tree.

Psean

X-rated Bob wrote: The kind of noise that bothers a headstock tuner is not people talking and glasses clinking but other guitars. One guitar picks up another's vibration.

Yup. I've noticed that.

Squonk

X-rated Bob wrote: The kind of noise that bothers a headstock tuner is not people talking and glasses clinking but other guitars. One guitar picks up another's vibration.

I was practicing on the side of the stage while the other acts were performing, and the Korg worked well, I didn't experience any delay or problems with the other guitars playing at the same time, But I suppose in an electric setup, it could be different.

Bob-Dubery

Squonk wrote:
X-rated Bob wrote: The kind of noise that bothers a headstock tuner is not people talking and glasses clinking but other guitars. One guitar picks up another's vibration.

I was practicing on the side of the stage while the other acts were performing, and the Korg worked well, I didn't experience any delay or problems with the other guitars playing at the same time, But I suppose in an electric setup, it could be different.

Ja, as I said earlier, I suspect that some headstock tuners are better than others. Also my guitar on the side of the stage didn't have a person attached to it, so it didn't have a strong and a weak signal to choose between.

I've got a Korg (same as yours, I think) and a Planet Waves, and the Korg certainly seems quicker than the Planet Waves.

Psean

Squonk wrote: I have the Korg Pitchclip Headstock Tuner which I used at Rumours recently which was hectically noisy and it got me from Standard tuning to DADGAD and back again quite easily.

Squonk wrote: I was practicing on the side of the stage while the other acts were performing, and the Korg worked well, I didn't experience any delay or problems with the other guitars playing at the same time, But I suppose in an electric setup, it could be different.

That is good to know. I don't really want to have to use the pedal for acoustic, and I do sometimes use alternate tunings. S'pose it's gonna be headstock for acoustic, pedal for electric.

Psean

X-rated Bob wrote: I've got a Korg (same as yours, I think) and a Planet Waves, and the Korg certainly seems quicker than the Planet Waves.

Bob, which PW tuner do you have? I've used the mini one and it seems pretty good.

Bob-Dubery

Psean wrote:
X-rated Bob wrote: I've got a Korg (same as yours, I think) and a Planet Waves, and the Korg certainly seems quicker than the Planet Waves.
Bob, which PW tuner do you have? I've used the mini one and it seems pretty good.

That's cool! I don't have that one. The one I've got is bigger and won't work on the back of the headstock for a right-handed player and will ONLY work on the back of the headstock for a left-handed player.

Older too, I'd guess. Obviously these things are going to get better with time, so I'll just shut up about this now ?

warrenpridgeon

How about this?

"YOU TAKE CARE OF THE PLAYING—
WE’LL HANDLE THE TUNING
Min-ETuneTM is a compact, battery-powered robot tuner that tunes your guitar in seconds—and delivers 80-100 tunings on one charge. Adjust the tuning pegs manually, turn on the Min-ETuneTM to tune all six strings to perfect pitch automatically, or select any of 12 popular alternate tunings (including six you can program yourself). You can even adjust your guitar’s tunings to match other instruments.

A guitar with Min-ETuneTM feels the same, looks the same (the unit mounts onto the back of your guitar’s headstock), and plays the same. But most importantly, it sounds the same—Min-ETuneTM works by tuning the physical strings, not by digital trickery that degrades your tone.

Save time and money in the studio, keep the flow going onstage, enhance your creativity with new tunings, and more. You take care of the playing—we’ll handle the tuning."

It tunes itself!

Kush

Headstock tuners have become better as the technology has evolved, (which has been pretty fast I think.) So Bob is certainly right to say some of these are more equal than others. I used to use a pedal tuner until I tried the Snark SN-8 which is the latest headstock tuner from the John Hornby Skewes company in the UK who are a UK based dealer associated with a lot of Wilkinson gear and guitars. When I got it, I tested it against my pedal tuner and they were pretty much the same in terms of accuracy. Amongst the many improvements is the response time, better accuracy and visibility in any kind of lit or unlit environment and auto-off functions. I am really pleased with it and I have found that the only vibrations it picks up in a live setup are from the bass guitar, from other guitars... not so much. And there is virtually no lag between strings, it really is super-responsive.