Onboard Soundhole Chromatic Tuner

[mediaman09]

For some reason, unlike other manufacturers, the Taylor electronics package doesn't include a onboard chromatic tuner - not a big deal in the scheme of things - but it would have been real convenient to include it (I dont always remember to grab the clip-on) and its a much cleaner look to have it built-in ; clipping a $XX plastic tuner on a $XXXX guitar seems wrong!!

One clean solution I have seen is the Shadow sound hole tuner. Consistently good reviews on amazon, mf, etc.

Are there other similar products?

http://www.shadow-electronics.com/viewpro.html?lang_id=&id=271






edited for price

[MexicoMike]

Looks pretty nice!  I play through a Digitech vocalsit live 3 which has a tuning mode that's quite handy as do several outboard boxes of other types.  But if I was playing gigs totally acoustically I'd seriously consider that Shadow tuner.  When I do play acoustically - like at home practicing or sitting around with friends, I use the Cleartune App on my iphone to tune but that's not practical on stage.

[mediaman09]

Ya, its a bit pricey, but very nice.

I see Epiphone is on board -- they jsut had a July promotion that included them for free with an Epi purchase : http://www.epiphone.com/News/Features/2013/Its-Acoustic-Month!.aspx

And some of those are $XXX guitars!!!



edited for price

[Captain Jim]

I use a TC Helicon Gxt that has a built-in tuner.  I also use a clip on tuner and have no issue with that, regardless of the guitar.  My new Rainsong Shorty has a built-in tuner... that is a nice feature.

I guess, as long as you DO tune, a clip on isn't so bad.    Heck, I remember the "olden days" with a tuning fork or a pitch pipe. 

Captain Jim

[MexicoMike]

 "Heck, I remember the "olden days" with a tuning fork or a pitch pipe."

We used to regularly use the telephone dial tone!  I don't think we ever carried a tuner we'd just tune the guitars to themselves between "real" tunings that might have been days apart.  Ah, the good old days.

[Strumming Fool]

  Heck, I remember the "olden days" with a tuning fork or a pitch pipe. 

Captain Jim

The "olden days" are still here (at my house anyway)...I still use an A440 tuning fork. It's an amazing tool when you have precise intonation, as is the case with every Taylor I've played. Hitting that fork and placing the ball near the fifth fret, you'll know you're in tune when the vibration causes your A string's harmonic to sound off in perfect unison with the fork. In my mind, it's one of the best ways to train your ear to perfect pitch. The visual aids don't do it for me. With the fork and the use of 5th and 7th fret harmonics, the guitar is brought to perfect concert pitch across all strings, and as is typical with Taylor, the guitar stays in tune until the next string change.

[Edward]

Looks cool!

Then again, I'd have to have one in each guit, right?  I have a handful of Snarks that I keep everywhere for very little dough ...little mavens, these.  Still, I'd be interested in hearing a review if anyone here grabs one!

Edward

[CodeBlueEMT]

 If it's an accurate tuner, why not? I've got some expensive Peterson strobe tuners, which I rarely use. My 10 year old (El Cheapo) Korg GT-3 tuner gets the job done. The condenser mic sucks, which is why I never use it.

 Here's a recent Top 10 list:

 http://guitar-tuner-review.toptenreviews.com/

   

   

[jerrytubes]

"...and as is typical with Taylor, the guitar stays in tune until the next string change".


Well, uh, (cough cough) I ain't so sure about that, now, unless you're changing strings about every other day.

[Strumming Fool]

"...and as is typical with Taylor, the guitar stays in tune until the next string change".


Well, uh, (cough cough) I ain't so sure about that, now, unless you're changing strings about every other day.

With six Taylors, I'm changing strings 2, maybe 3 times a year on some guitars. And yes, they stay in tune. Compared with other brands I've owned, I spend very little time tuning my Taylors, and much more time playing them. In fact, when I have to start tuning in between songs, that's when I change strings (D'Addario EXP16s BTW), because they otherwise maintain a decent sound. YMMV.

[jerrytubes]

OK.  So, if you have six Taylors and you change strings on each one 3 times a year, that's 18 string changes.  365 divided by 18 is a string change every 20 days, on average.  Unless you play every day, I think that's a lot.  Maybe others will disagree with me.

I use D'Adarrios too, and probably play around two hours, two to three times a week.  But I don't have to change strings every 20 days.

[Louis]

Befor you buy a tuner punch in James Taylor  guitar tuning on u- tube .Watch James how he tunes and then decide.

[Strumming Fool]

OK.  So, if you have six Taylors and you change strings on each one 3 times a year, that's 18 string changes.  365 divided by 18 is a string change every 20 days, on average.  Unless you play every day, I think that's a lot.  Maybe others will disagree with me.

I use D'Adarrios too, and probably play around two hours, two to three times a week.  But I don't have to change strings every 20 days.

I do play everyday, and in most instances, two changes are all that's needed. In some instances when one or two of the six are used less in the rotation, it could be as little as one string change. The point is that these guitars, unlike any other brand I've owned (including Martin, Gibson, Guild, Ovation, Santa Cruz, Larrivee and Lowden among others), consistently stay in tune, regardless of the environment (recording, performing, at home, away, etc.). That's why I wouldn't feel the need for a built-in tuner on a Taylor. Period. The end.

[terrypl]

(I dont always remember to grab the clip-on)

You don't have to remember to grab the clip-on if you leave it clipped on all the time. I never take off the Snark clip-ons I have on every guitar, so they are always handy. The only exception is my GS mini, which won't fit in the gig bag with the tuner clipped on. I have to take off the tuner and stick it in the gig bag's pocket. All other guitars fit right into their cases with clip-on tuners. Very handy.

[El Diablo]

For on-the-fly-at-the-gig tuning, I've yet to find anything which surpasses a Boss TU-2.