In the past few months I have purchased both an intellitouch PT-2 Tuner and an FZone FT-800 Tuner. Here are my thoughts on the two.
I bought the intellitouch PT-2 first, at a local music store. Having never used an electronic chromatic tuner before, it seemed wonderful to me. The display uses a series of LCD arrowhead shapes to display the state of tune. I found this to be quite a bit less than intuitive, and difficult to get used to. I figured it out, and was happy enough.
Later I bought a second uke....a soprano this time. Several problems with the intellitouch PT-2 made themselves evident. The tuner needs to fit such that it projects rearward from the peghead in order to read it right-side-up. This meant that it competed for very little room with the soprano's friction tuners. I couldn't find a way to have the tuner on the peghead and still have access to all of the tuning knobs.
Also, the soprano has a very thin peghead. The tuner would not grip the peghead at all. The sliding clamp on this tuner will not accept anything less than a certain thickness. I had to fashion a cardboard shim to take up some slack before it would even stay in place.
The friction tuners of the soprano made the already difficult arrowhead display even more problematic to work with.
Obviously, it had become time to shop for another tuner. This time I bought the FZone FT-800, also from a local music store. What a difference! All of my problems were immediately solved.
The display is much like an LCD version of an ordinary analog guage that you might find in a car, for example. Immediately intuitive.
The tuner fits on top of the peghead and projects forward, where there is nothing but room and more room....2 for 2.
The pinch-type clamp on the FZone FT-800 will clamp down on the soprano's peghead without a problem. I could clamp it on a piece of paper....there is no minimum thickness....3 for 3.
The FZone FT-800 made it easier (by far) for me to use the friction tuners on the soprano (which I really am not very good at). 4 for 4.
Also, the FZone is backlit....the intellitouch is not.
All those reasons, plus price. The FZone is cheaper than the intellitouch. Guess which one I prefer?
Looking for a new chromatic tuner? If the choices are between these two tuners, pick the FZone FT-800!
I bought the intellitouch PT-2 first, at a local music store. Having never used an electronic chromatic tuner before, it seemed wonderful to me. The display uses a series of LCD arrowhead shapes to display the state of tune. I found this to be quite a bit less than intuitive, and difficult to get used to. I figured it out, and was happy enough.
Later I bought a second uke....a soprano this time. Several problems with the intellitouch PT-2 made themselves evident. The tuner needs to fit such that it projects rearward from the peghead in order to read it right-side-up. This meant that it competed for very little room with the soprano's friction tuners. I couldn't find a way to have the tuner on the peghead and still have access to all of the tuning knobs.
Also, the soprano has a very thin peghead. The tuner would not grip the peghead at all. The sliding clamp on this tuner will not accept anything less than a certain thickness. I had to fashion a cardboard shim to take up some slack before it would even stay in place.
The friction tuners of the soprano made the already difficult arrowhead display even more problematic to work with.
Obviously, it had become time to shop for another tuner. This time I bought the FZone FT-800, also from a local music store. What a difference! All of my problems were immediately solved.
The display is much like an LCD version of an ordinary analog guage that you might find in a car, for example. Immediately intuitive.
The tuner fits on top of the peghead and projects forward, where there is nothing but room and more room....2 for 2.
The pinch-type clamp on the FZone FT-800 will clamp down on the soprano's peghead without a problem. I could clamp it on a piece of paper....there is no minimum thickness....3 for 3.
The FZone FT-800 made it easier (by far) for me to use the friction tuners on the soprano (which I really am not very good at). 4 for 4.
Also, the FZone is backlit....the intellitouch is not.
All those reasons, plus price. The FZone is cheaper than the intellitouch. Guess which one I prefer?
Looking for a new chromatic tuner? If the choices are between these two tuners, pick the FZone FT-800!