U2start.com | U2 & Guitar Gear: Q & A

anstratdubh1979

TC ELECTRONICS POLYTUNE.

It will be the best $99.99 you ever spent.

It works for guitar, bass.

It can be used as a chromatic tuner, to tune one string at a time.

If you strum all 6 strings it works in "polytune" mode which will show you which of the 6 strings you just strummed are out of tune. Great for fast cleanup of tuning will on stage.

You can also set it to strobe-tune which is incredibly accurate.

You can ALSO set the tuner for a guitar tuning of E, Eb, D, C or B. Helpful if you are switching between E and Eflat tunings.

The "Polytune" mode doesn't work with Drop D, open or modal tunings (alternative tunings) but the it can still be used in the single string at a time "Chromatic" mode.

Again, it will be the best $99.99 you ever spent. It's far more accurate than Boss tuners. (And Boss tuners are not horrible).

A better tuner? Don't know there is one is this price range. The Peterson Strobo-Stomp, and Flip-Strobe are amazing, accurate and $200 to $300.

Dallas Schoo uses a variety of Peterson strobe-tuners and there is a Boss tuner on Edge's pedalboard.

For my tech gig, I used a Boss TU-12 to get the guitars close and Peterson Strobo-Stomp to dial in the accuracy. I will now be using the TC Electronics Polytune to get things close to perfect and Peterson to get them dead on.

Why not JUST the Peterson? If you've used a strobe tuner you will see that they are very sensitive. So if the guitar is VERY out, the display spins fast... I have just found it easier to get them close with a chromatic tuner and then fine tune with the strobe tuner.

anstratdubh1979

15 years

Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]

In order to play along with Edge, yes. If you just want to sound good on your own, you don't need to, I always play on standard E and everything sounds good enough

True. And it can depend on live vs studio recording. Also things can change from tour to tour. Edge had been playing "Mysterious Ways" in Eb and during Vertigo he played it in E.

LikeASong

15 years

What is the strobe tune, Jeff?

thecopperkid

15 years

Does anyone have the tab for " for the first time " the way it was played at the 2006-12-09 Honolulu gig? it looks like its on the 8th fret or theres around..Any help would be great.

LikeASong

15 years

It's not in the 8th but on the 9th fret, it's a simple riff:

D--------------------------------------9---11---12---11---9-----
A------9---11---12---11---9--------0~~~~~~~~~~~~~~------
E------0~~~~~~~~~~---------------------------------------------

(let the open strings ring and ring

)

anstratdubh1979

15 years

Originally posted by LikeASong:What is the strobe tune, Jeff?

Strobe tuners are pretty much the most accurate tuners out there. Highly sensitive and highly accurate.

Dallas uses a few different Peterson Strobe tuners to keep The Edge in tune. In the October Music Radar Online article, it mentions:

Peterson V-Sam Tuner - Sells for $249.00 (Seems some online retailers are no longer carrying it. This might be that a newer version is forthcoming)
http://www.petersontuners.com/index.cfm?category=92

Peterson VS-F Strobo Flip - Sells for $199.00
http://www.petersontuners.com/index.cfm?category=37&sub=21

Peterson VS-R Strobo Rack Tuner - Sells for $359.00
http://www.petersontuners.com/index.cfm?category=73&sub=66

I remember seeing a picture from behind The Edge's amps, when they played at the Brooklyn Bridge, and there was a Peterson StroboStomp pedal (I have one and I swear by it - fantastic tuner!)

Here's a good wiki link that explains how a strobe tuners (and other tuners) work:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_tuner

The TC Electronic Polytune has a strobe tuning function. It is also pretty accurate. The Polytune is another tuner that is fantastic and one that is essential to me. And for the price, you can't beat it.

TC Electronics Polytune sells for $99.99
Peterson StroboStomp 2 sells for $199.00

LikeASong

15 years

Ah right, they're stroboscopic tuners!! I know how do stroboscopes work, I just didn't know it was the same thing!!

Thanks anyway

anstratdubh1979

15 years

Originally posted by LikeASong:Ah right, they're stroboscopic tuners!! I know how do stroboscopes work, I just didn't know it was the same thing!!

Thanks anyway

I 'heart' my Peterson Strobo-Stomp.

RattleandHum1988

15 years

Who needs a rack tuner or any tuner more than 100 bucks? Honestly something like a Korg Pitch Black is perfect, there's no reason to spend so much money on a "great" tuner. You can't be more "in tune" the more money you spend, so who cares?

anstratdubh1979

15 years

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:Who needs a rack tuner or any tuner more than 100 bucks? Honestly something like a Korg Pitch Black is perfect, there's no reason to spend so much money on a "great" tuner. You can't be more "in tune" the more money you spend, so who cares?

The Korg you are using has a number of good reviews. I don't think it's a bad tuner. Korg makes a number of great products and great tuners.

You don't have to have one over $100. This is why I mentioned the TC Electronics Polytune, which I have found to be the best tuner for $100 or less.

I didn't mean to suggest that everyone should have a rack tuner that costs over $300. I can see why Dallas has one.

You can be more "in tune" than most chromatic tuners. And that is with the truer accuracy of a strobe tuner.

"Who Cares"? I do. For my tech gig, I am responsible for making the gig move as smoothly as possible and the guitars being spot on ready. My Peterson Strobo-Stomp was a gift from said guitarist to me. But I'd have bought one anyway. I care enough to get it right.

thechicken

15 years

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:Who needs a rack tuner or any tuner more than 100 bucks? Honestly something like a Korg Pitch Black is perfect, there's no reason to spend so much money on a "great" tuner. You can't be more "in tune" the more money you spend, so who cares?

All the cheap tuners I have tried in the past were inaccurate and slow. That's why I have never bought one. I have always tuned by ear. I would expect that a good tuner would be fast and dead on accurate.
I have never tried the good ones, never really bothered, but there are probably some tuners that are better than others. Maybe better constructed, more functions, more accurate, faster. Being fast is super important.
I don't know, but maybe, maybe they are worth the price difference.

anstratdubh1979

15 years

Originally posted by thechicken:[..]

All the cheap tuners I have tried in the past were inaccurate and slow. That's why I have never bought one. I have always tuned by ear. I would expect that a good tuner would be fast and dead on accurate.
I have never tried the good ones, never really bothered, but there are probably some tuners that are better than others. Maybe better constructed, more functions, more accurate, faster. Being fast is super important.
I don't know, but maybe, maybe they are worth the price difference.

Avoid the cheap ones. It's like Payless Shoes. If you pay less, you get less.

But you can get a quality tuner for $90-$100.

Boss TU-2 or TU-12 tuners are good.

TC Electronic Polytune is better; and for a mere $10 more ($99.99)

If you are playing at home, it might be less of an issue. If you guitar is at least in tune with itself, even if not at A=440 that might not be a huge issue.

But... if you are trying to record with backing tracks or play live live with other musicians and/or backing tracks it can make a huge difference in your tone and the sound of your band. If you guitar is merely 'in tune with itself' but not the backing track or singer or bass player... not so good.

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