Tuner question

[JGeoghagan]

I am using Helix at church and home. I have always used a TC Electronic Polytune for tuning but was hoping to ditch this and just use the Helix. I also have other MFX units to include an Digitech IPB-10, a Boss GT-100, and I use Amplitube frequently on my Macbook Pro for home practice with headphones.

 

I notice that the tuners on all the above units and software are all a little sharp compared to the Polytune. To my ears, the Polytune has always sounded more in tune with other instruments or tracks. However, I am concerned that three MFX units and a software modeler can not all be wrong.

 

Anyone else have tuner accuracy questions or any ideas.

 

Jay

[gkinder]

I sold my Polytune because I found it inaccurate, especially on low E.   Haven't had any issues with the tuner on the Helix and have cross referenced it with my Peterson Strobe clip on tuner...pretty much spot on between the two....

[PeterHamm]

I sold my Polytune because I found it inaccurate, especially on low E.   Haven't had any issues with the tuner on the Helix and have cross referenced it with my Peterson Strobe clip on tuner...pretty much spot on between the two....

 

I have started tuning my low E by fretting at fret 2 and tuning to the Gb/F# there. I only use that string open for one note, and I'd rather it be a little flat when I do that then a little sharp the rest of the time...

 

That said, a lot of folks have griped they want more granularity to the Helix tuner. I think it's pretty darn usable as is.

[Dshow]

I am using Helix at church and home. I have always used a TC Electronic Polytune for tuning but was hoping to ditch this and just use the Helix. I also have other MFX units to include an Digitech IPB-10, a Boss GT-100, and I use Amplitube frequently on my Macbook Pro for home practice with headphones.

 

I notice that the tuners on all the above units and software are all a little sharp compared to the Polytune. To my ears, the Polytune has always sounded more in tune with other instruments or tracks. However, I am concerned that three MFX units and a software modeler can not all be wrong.

 

Anyone else have tuner accuracy questions or any ideas.

 

Jay

You could do a comparison between your Polytune and Helix. Set the offsets in Helix so that it fits your Polytune.

This is what I did with my favorite tuner and it works just fine.

[miguel_lopez]

I'm not so sure if it's the tunner but the way you use it

 

first of all you have a more accurate tunning with any tunner by tunning your guitar with natural harmonics, those produced by touching softly with the fingertip over the 12th fret and play the string

then make sure you are perfectly intonated

if that's the case play little parts of the music you play to double check you are ok

also press the strings no more than you need to produce the sound without killing the vibration and keep the natural sustain

how many times I've been surprised i'm outta tune and when I play note by note it's indeed out of tune, then I go to the natural harmonics procedure and found out there was the problem

a little technique skills is basically something that helps a lot to keep this tunning

depending on other factors: saddles, nut, nut slots, how strumming affects what you're doing, your bolted on neck, if your tuneomatic is weel installed and set up

but all the tunners you mention are fine, the accuracy it's more a treaky procedure

try to tune this way with one single tunner, then you check how it reacts to the others and see if they are doing it the same way

[gkinder]

I have started tuning my low E by fretting at fret 2 and tuning to the Gb/F# there. I only use that string open for one note, and I'd rather it be a little flat when I do that then a little sharp the rest of the time...

 

That said, a lot of folks have griped they want more granularity to the Helix tuner. I think it's pretty darn usable as is.

 

I find it usable as well...haven't had any issues.