The "Best" Tuner

[badhabits]

TUS Oahu tuner appears to be a re-brand of the positively reviewed Fender FT-1 . (minus the 5 tuning modes of the FT-1)

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that's the beauty of the Oahu tuner, being chromatic only, i.e. no other instrument modes to complicate matters, nothing to set, just turn on. It's also got a rubbery coating that helps with grip.

 

[DJ Mango]

TUS released a new model Oahu brand tuner :

https://theukulelesite.com/oahu-rechargeable-clip-on-tuner.html

 

[badhabits]

Hope they keep the old one... rechargeable is nice, but instrument modes in not needed (for me)

 

[DJ Mango]

Hope they keep the old one... rechargeable is nice, but instrument modes in not needed (for me)

Old one is In Stock , $9.99
https://theukulelesite.com/accessories/more/tuners/oahu-clip-on-tuner-1.html

 

[Ukecaster]

I love Snarks, but just had one of the jaws snap in half on one of mine. This is the second one where that's happened. Might try to glue it, but they are cheap enough to just get another

 

[Spicysteve]

I use the KLIQ Uber tuner after re-stringing until the strings are getting settled. Then I use a Peterson StroboClip Hd after they are settled.
Also have 6 of the D’Addario Clip On Micro headstock tuners on ukulele’s and leave them on after the strings are settled as well.

 

[Jerryc41]

TUS released a new model Oahu brand tuner :

https://theukulelesite.com/oahu-rechargeable-clip-on-tuner.html

View attachment 155657

The price isn't too bad, but the $12 for shipping is a deal breaker. I like that it's rechargeable, but having to select "ukulele" rather than something else is a nuisance. I like Snark and the tiny flat one, the D'addario Micro. It's $20 for one or $32 for two, with free shipping. It uses a battery, and it works with different instruments, but it blends right into the uke.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009LL2ZAM/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=a5826e03d162ea6b424157c0fa48071e&content-id=amzn1.sym.cd95889f-432f-43a7-8ec8-833616493f4a%3Aamzn1.sym.cd95889f-432f-43a7-8ec8-833616493f4a&hsa_cr_id=1908114960501&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=3aececfa-296a-4859-8793-1634267cc647&pd_rd_w=yPMK7&pd_rd_wg=loLnW&qid=1690118547&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_lsi4d_asin_0_img&sr=1-1-9e67e56a-6f64-441f-a281-df67fc737124&th=1

 

[Mike $]

I bought my first (and last) tuner about 7 years ago for my banjo. It was a D'addario mini. The tuner fits very inconspicuously on the underside of the peghead, which I much prefer to the extremely large and bulky Snark tuners which I find very ugly. The D'addario can be kept on the peghead because it doesn't have the padding which stains some pegheads, it's just an adjustable plastic clip. I liked it a lot, but don't use it anymore. I find it quicker to do it by ear. Now I use a tuning fork if I need to be exactly at G4=392, which I use when I change strings until they hold tune. After that, relative tuning is fine.

 

[Canada Jim]

I really like the blue rectangular Snarks. They're not only sturdier than the red circular ones, but they're really easy to read on a bright sunny day outside. The whole screen lights up. They do not have the mic option, only the vibration, so you must clamp them to the instrument for them to work - not so good for Autoharps and hammered dulcimers, but great for guitars and ukuleles.

 

[Olmeck]

I was using a Snark but didn’t really like anything about it other than it worked. Just got a TC Polytune last week and like it much better. It provides a more accurate tune, is smaller than a Snark, and the strum tune feature (strum all the strings and it shows you which strings are out of tune all at once) is pretty neat.

 

[KohanMike]

I recently started using the new D'Addario Nexxus 360, USB recharge, very bright, can rotate in any position you like. I have one on each of my four tenor thinline ukes and my six bass ukes.

 

[pondweed]

seriously? 10 tuners? As little ukulele players, shouldn't we be setting the standard for reducing conspicuous consumption? Couldn't you just move one along to another headstock?

 

[Mercury59]

My favourite tuner is the Fender Bullet. Small, light, easy to use, rugged, and with a long-life battery. Plus, it doesn't look out of place perched on the end of a uke. Even on a soprano. So, what's not to like?

 

[badhabits]

seriously? 10 tuners? As little ukulele players, shouldn't we be setting the standard for reducing conspicuous consumption? Couldn't you just move one along to another headstock?

Not when we have 10, 50, 150 ukulele....each!

But yeah, at some point it just gets ridiculous.

 

[Canada Jim]

My favourite tuner is the Fender Bullet. Small, light, easy to use, rugged, and with a long-life battery. Plus, it doesn't look out of place perched on the end of a uke. Even on a soprano. So, what's not to like?
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Tuners are not attractive. No tuner improves the appearance of a uke. I realise that many people leave them on after they tune, but I like the appearance of a nice clean headstock. Even a mini-tuner looks out of place on a nice headstock.

From tuner instructions (which no one ever reads - like the instructions on a shampoo bottle). This came from Snark instructions, but applies to any soft pads that fasten to a guitar or uke.

This goes for vinyl backed straps as well.
See this thread: https://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/threads/some-ukuleles-dont-like-tuners-left-on-beware.159602/

 

[Mercury59]

Tuners are not attractive. No tuner improves the appearance of a uke. I realise that many people leave them on after they tune, but I like the appearance of a nice clean headstock. Even a mini-tuner looks out of place on a nice headstock.

From tuner instructions (which no one ever reads - like the instructions on a shampoo bottle). This came from Snark instructions, but applies to any soft pads that fasten to a guitar or uke.
View attachment 155719
This goes for vinyl backed straps as well.

Well, I don't usually leave it on. I certainly wouldn't on my Kamaka. But the Flea, being the workhorse instrument that it is, doesn't suffer from it being left on there - occasionally.

 

[Mo So]

I have had a bunch of Snarks, which were okay. I had a Fender Bullet tuner, which I found not very accurate (I always check the tuning by ear after using a tuner and the Fender took tweaking) and it died the true death in about 3 months. A friend talked me into the Snark Air, which I find clunky, flashy and only so-so. Plus it often turned on in the case from touching the case bottom, until I made a cover for it. It does hold a charge for a long time, though, once it stops turning itself on in the case.

I do like the low profile D'Addarios as well, but they don't fit well on the headstock on my Tiny Tenor. I have them on my baritone and my Kala low-G and high-G "office tenors" - the ones that stay on the wall next to me while I am at my desk. The Tiny Tenor stays in it's case with a humidifier unless it is being played, because I have found it prone to fret spurs otherwise.

The guitar-playing spouse uses a Peterson clip on strobe tuner, which I detest, and a Polytune tuner that does all 6 strings (fairly well on the guitar, poorly on the ukulele).

My current favorite clip-on is the Lekato rechargable guitar tuner on Amazon for $19.99. It does have the "instrument" mode C G V U- I just leave it on C for Chromatic - when I am tuning the E I don't need to be told that I am tuning the 3rd string, I kinda know that already. Holds a charge for at least a week of playing 4-5 times a week, and when checking the tuning it's pretty good. As far as I can tell, the Lekato is a dead rip of the Boss tuner ($10 more from Sweetwater). I suspect Lekato is the factory knock-off.

My absolute favorite is my Android phone tuner Gstrings - when my phone died and I went to an iphone, I haven't found a tuner I like as much. It is - by FAR- the most accurate tuner I have.

 

[Patty]

The guitar-playing spouse uses a Peterson clip on strobe tuner, which I detest …

Curious about why you detest it, since I’ve been thinking about getting one. No tuner I’ve ever used (Oahu, D’Addario, Snark) has sounded quite right to my ear. I tune, then remove the tuner, and then fiddle with the tuning myself.

PS: I never, but NEVER, leave a tuner on a uke, not after reading the thread Jim mentioned:

See this thread: https://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/threads/some-ukuleles-dont-like-tuners-left-on-beware.159602/

 

[badhabits]

curious, after ear tuning/fiddling do you ever put the tuner back on and see where your ear tunes? and is it consistent across your different tuners? I wonder if this is similar to the "sweetened tunings" that Peterson advertises...

 

[Patty]

curious, after ear tuning/fiddling do you ever put the tuner back on and see where your ear tunes? and is it consistent across your different tuners? I wonder if this is similar to the "sweetened tunings" that Peterson advertises...

I find that the tuner usually sounds just a hair flat. When I tune to suit my ear, the tuner says I’m a hair sharp. This is true for all the tuners I’ve used so far. I don’t understand sweetened tunings. Must look into that.