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Author Topic:   Tuners
kbdrost
Member

From: Barrington, IL

posted 26 October 2002 08:07 PM     profile     
I'm looking for a digital chromatic tuning mechanism that will mount on one of the guitar legs. Does anybody have any ideas?

------------------
Ken Drost

Matt Martin
Member

From: Palm Harbor, Florida, USA

posted 27 October 2002 03:15 PM     profile     
Velcro
Rich Weiss
Member

From: Woodland Hills, CA, USA

posted 27 October 2002 04:51 PM     profile     
At a hardware store, for about a buck, you can get several little pieces of PVC. A "T", an extension, and an L. Make sure the T is the right size to clamp to the leg. (I wish I could take a picture of mine to show you) I built this little tuner holder, snapped it to the leg, put some velco on it, and some velcro on the back of my Boss TU-12 plastic box. Works like a charm. Way easier than using a rackmount, takes up no space, and plugs into the second output of my volume pedal.
Jim Smith
Member

From: Plano, TX, USA

posted 27 October 2002 05:05 PM     profile     
If your tuner has visible case screws, you can mount one or two broom clips from a hardware store.
Donny Hinson
Member

From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.

posted 27 October 2002 06:22 PM     profile     
Hmmm...in my days, I've seen a lot of "Rube Goldberg" devices that mount a tuner to the guitar. Must you really do that? No offense, guys...but they all look "kinda dopey" to me!

But if Buddy or Paul used one...

Nah, I'd still say it looked dopey.

George Kimery
Member

From: Limestone, TN, USA

posted 27 October 2002 08:04 PM     profile     
I just slapped a strip of sticky back velcro onto the edge of my tuner and a matching strip on the back edge of the guitar. Simple, out of the way, easy to see...works for me. I ran an extra cord out of the 2nd output on my volume pedal to the tuner. Works at home, but on a gig, might not be too good of an idea, since you have to increase the volume pedal to get a signal to the tuner.
Kevin Hatton
Member

From: Amherst, N.Y.

posted 27 October 2002 09:28 PM     profile     
George, I've been doing the same thing for years right on the back of the guitar. I use industrial strength velcro. You don't want to get to close to it though because you can stick yourself to the guitar when your setting up! Seriously though the Boss TU-12H
with velcro is real convenient. I also use the second output on the volume pedal.
seldomfed
Member

From: Colorado

posted 28 October 2002 02:02 PM     profile     
I got one of those little leg clamp thingys that the George L folks were selling at Scotty's - put velcro on it and on the tuner. Then I can remove it from the leg (like the broom clip idea). See if George L still sells them.

------------------
Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"We can't afford to let Nature run wild" - govt. offical - Alaska
www.seldomfed.com

kbdrost
Member

From: Barrington, IL

posted 28 October 2002 07:53 PM     profile     
There is never a lack of creative ideas on this Forum. The reason for the post, Donny, was because I think it looks even more dopey to be fumbling for/with a tuner on stage. They make tuners that mount on the peghead of a guitar. Someone ought to make an equally accessible tuner for steel players.

------------------
Ken Drost

Ricky Davis
Moderator

From: Spring, Texas USA

posted 29 October 2002 02:26 AM     profile     
I use the Boss Stage tuner..(its a stomp pedal)...and is in-line from my guitar to the input of my volume pedal...and right next to the volume pedal on the floor. It does not effect the sound at all....and you just quickly stomp it....touch up what ever new string(s) you need...and stomp again and never miss a beat.
Ricky
Donny Hinson
Member

From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.

posted 29 October 2002 03:40 PM     profile     
Don't get torqued, Ken! I'm not against having a tuner nearby, or even permanently attached, if you feel the need. What I am against is taking a nice-looking steel, and then "cobbling-up" something out of pipe fittings and such, and then hanging it off the steel. These "jury rigs" just look junky and out of place to me...kinda like putting a round Sun tachometer on the hood of a new Cadillac.

Actually, I'm surprised that steel manufacturers haven't thought of putting (routing out?) a pocket in the center of the steel (between the necks) for a small tuner, or for your picks, bar, and such. A thin tuner, like the Korg, could easily be "inset" into the pad on loafer models.

That's the deal. If I were going to do it to my steel, I'd do it so it looked professional!

Kevin Hatton
Member

From: Amherst, N.Y.

posted 29 October 2002 07:53 PM     profile     
Donny, I have to agree with you. I've seen some real ugly jury rigs.
Jim Palenscar
Member

From: Oceanside, Calif, USA

posted 29 October 2002 08:16 PM     profile     
The reason that manufacturers don't install tuners in the guitars is that what happens when the installed tuner is no longer available and your tuner no longer works? Nice hole in ur ax- what do you use it for now?
Earnest Bovine
Member

From: Los Angeles CA USA

posted 30 October 2002 12:22 AM     profile     
If a builder mounts a tuner on his guitar, he is advertising the fact that it won't stay in tune.
Whip Lashaway
Member

From: Sherwood, Ohio, USA

posted 30 October 2002 04:37 AM     profile     
Donny
I have to agree with you about cob jobs on steels. I've seen some really nasty looking things put on guitars. Hose clamps, rubber hoses, stuff that came right out of the garage junk bin. I know that steel players by nature are a creative bunch, but I've always wondered why some of us didn't have a little more pride! I like to show off my equipment and try to encourage young people to take an interest in Pedal Steel. Just me I guess. I feel the same way about all of my bands equipment. I don't like to see a bunch of homemade - stuff - on stage, looks tackey and un professional. I'll get off my soapbox now. Whip

------------------
Whip Lashaway
Sierra E9/B6 12 string
Sierra E9/B6 14 string

Pete Burak
Member

From: Portland, OR USA

posted 30 October 2002 08:55 AM     profile     

A friend recently bought an acoustic guitar with built in tuner and it seems highly functional.
I like the idea.


Donny Hinson
Member

From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.

posted 31 October 2002 02:18 PM     profile     
quote:
...what happens when the installed tuner is no longer available and your tuner no longer works? Nice hole in ur ax- what do you use it for now?

Read my post again, Jim! If it were lined with a little vinyl-plastic tray, it would be a great place for picks, bar, tuning wrench, heck...even your business cards!

Speaking of "custom features", shucks...I'm old enough to remember when you could order a Bigsby steel with a custom built-in ashtray.

kbdrost
Member

From: Barrington, IL

posted 31 October 2002 07:08 PM     profile     
Hey Donny, I'm not torqued at you, I'm torqued with you I have no interest in defiling my rig. It just seems to me that there are a lot more convenient, cosmetic solutions for guitar than for steel. Actually, the best suggestion I've seen so far is the one by Ricky Davis for a stomp pedal. I just hope my ol' eyes can see the readings from the floor on a dark stage. 'Guess I'll have to head on down to Sam Ash and find out.

------------------
Ken Drost

Jim Smith
Member

From: Plano, TX, USA

posted 31 October 2002 07:11 PM     profile     
I just use the built-in tuner in my Boss GX-700. My rack is already sitting beside my steel, so I just hit the tuner button (which mutes the signal) and tune away!
Matt Martin
Member

From: Palm Harbor, Florida, USA

posted 01 November 2002 12:02 AM     profile     
I set it in my lap. Is that so hard??
Ricky Davis
Moderator

From: Spring, Texas USA

posted 01 November 2002 12:53 AM     profile     
The Boss stage tuner has a bright green dot/light for 440 and Red dot/lights for sharp or flat....you can't miss'um. each red dot is 5 cents flat or sharp.
Also the note is a bright red Letter underneath the bright dots.....can't miss that either.
I used to set my boss chromatic tuner in my lap...but then I would miss have the song just to touch up a string or two...ha .....this is by far the best tuner that I've ever used; cause you don't stop playing to plug in...or push a button....you just stomp...touch up....stomp and go.....yeee haaa.
Ricky
Dave Birkett
Member

From: Oxnard, CA, USA

posted 01 November 2002 04:56 PM     profile     
Has anyone ever made a device that you could use to tune harmonics, like a light that blinked with the beats? It would be nice to be able to do this silently.
Earnest Bovine
Member

From: Los Angeles CA USA

posted 01 November 2002 07:20 PM     profile     
You could see and tune individual harmoincs on the old Conn Strobotuners. Each concentric ccirle on the spinning wheel had a number of marks that corresponded to a harmonic, and when the light driven by your instrument would shine on it, you could see a different harmonic in each band. This would be a good introduction to inharmonicity; i.e. you can see that some harmonic are sharp while others are flat.
kbdrost
Member

From: Barrington, IL

posted 02 November 2002 07:41 PM     profile     
Hey, Ricky, I just got me one of them Boss TU-2 units. This is the bomb. You were absolutely right. It plugs in direct; it sits on the floor, so there is no cosmetic mutation to the guitar; I can see it without my reading glasses; it is easy to use; and there is no reduction or alteration to the signal going through the device. It ain't cheap though--$100.00 US for the unit and another $20.00 if you want/need the A.C. adaptor--but it's worth it in my book. Thanks for the advice. You can close this thread as far as I'm concerned, although others may wax lightly on the subject.

------------------
Ken Drost

Ricky Davis
Moderator

From: Spring, Texas USA

posted 02 November 2002 10:41 PM     profile     
Hey Ken; great news pal...glad to hear it.
Yes it is the Bomb....
Didn't know it was a hundred bucks...I think I got mine last year for 75 new....but I always; when I walk into some whatever music store, tell them I'm a working musician and give me that discount or I'll head right on out the door.....works every time.
Ricky
Peter
Member

From: Cape Town, South Africa

posted 03 November 2002 12:12 AM     profile     
Here is a solution...very stable, you can stomp it with your hand.



The clamp is a Roland Clamp Set APC-33.

The switches are for mono/stereo, to disconnect the tuner and to bypass the whole system. There are 3 inputs for other instruments. The knob controls the effects unit like a foot pedal.

I use PVC clips at the bottom of the legs to hold the powerstrip.

------------------
Peter den Hartogh-Fender Artist S10-Remington U12-Hilton Volume Pedal-Gibson BR4 lapsteel-Guya "Stringmaster" Copy-MusicMan112RP-Peavy Rage158- - My Animation College in South Africa


[This message was edited by Peter on 03 November 2002 at 12:52 AM.]

Bob Metzger
Member

From: Waltham (Boston), MA, USA

posted 03 November 2002 04:28 AM     profile     
Wow, What a cool setup! But how do you tune your pedals?

I tried the Conn tuner but after staring at it for a while the next thing I knew, I woke up in a pine box down at the Magic Castle which was being sawn in half by some guy named Count Hortobagy!

Bob M.

[This message was edited by Bob Metzger on 03 November 2002 at 04:32 AM.]

[This message was edited by Bob Metzger on 03 November 2002 at 04:33 AM.]

Peter
Member

From: Cape Town, South Africa

posted 03 November 2002 05:11 AM     profile     
Bob, its easy: one small twist on the big wingnut, and the whole assembly swings away. Or I can clamp it 2 inches lower on the leg.
I must still make a hole in the unit, and put a grommet in the hole to hold the tuning wrench.
I hope that will make you sleep better.


------------------
Peter den Hartogh-Fender Artist S10-Remington U12-Hilton Volume Pedal-Gibson BR4 lapsteel-Guya "Stringmaster" Copy-MusicMan112RP-Peavy Rage158- - My Animation College in South Africa


[This message was edited by Peter on 03 November 2002 at 05:21 AM.]

Bob Hoffnar
Member

From: Brooklyn, NY

posted 03 November 2002 07:45 AM     profile     
There are these real nice clamp on tuners I have been seeing alot of these days called the Intellitouch tuner. They work fine on the steel.

[This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 03 November 2002 at 07:46 AM.]

Ricky Davis
Moderator

From: Spring, Texas USA

posted 03 November 2002 07:49 AM     profile     
Hey Peter; that is quite a deal pal...
Ricky

[This message was edited by Ricky Davis on 03 November 2002 at 07:50 AM.]

Joey Ace
Sysop

From: Southern Ontario, Canada

posted 03 November 2002 10:00 AM     profile     
Closed per Ken's request.


PS I also use a Boss TU-2 Tuner live.
I took (and modifed) it's picture for the gag at http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum6/HTML/003012.html

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