What Device To Tune Harmonics

[mkat]

Some shops use some device, that I don't know the name of, to harmonically tune guitars. I use a tuner, but would like to know of a device that is far more accurate. So, what electronic gadgets are used for this?

[GregP]

Strobe tuner.

Nothing beats an expert pair of piano-tuner's ears, though.

[rhoads56]

Strobe tuner.

Nothing beats an expert pair of piano-tuner's ears, though. 

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Except a strobe tuner... because pianos are tuned slightly OUT of tune, in relation to itself....

[unclej]

i've got a friend that tunes pianos for a living. i'd been invited to a front porch jam at his house and when i arrived they were already playing. i sat down on his right with my banjo and stared strumming rhythm. i could tell i was out of tune and reached for a tuner. he grinned and said to keep playing. he tuned my banjo while a loud song was going on and when i put the tuner on it later it was dead on...now that's an ear.

[rhoads56]

i've got a friend that tunes pianos for a living.  i'd been invited to a front porch jam at his house and when i arrived they were already playing.  i sat down on his right with my banjo and stared strumming rhythm.  i could tell i was out of tune and reached for a tuner.  he grinned and said to keep playing.  he tuned my banjo while a loud song was going on and when i put the tuner on it later it was dead on...now that's an ear.

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Nah, he most likely tuned it using the song as a reference point....

When you tune as many guitars as a pro repairer/luthier/whatever, you develop a good ear. I can pretty much nail a E everytime, straight off the "quik winder". But, i can tune up to 30 guitars in a day sometimes.

[mkat]

I harmonically tune my fretted and fretless basses by ear and check them against the tuner. But the tuner is flakey depending on the string. So, I wanted something that would register the input signal much better.

[Gorecki]

A scope is what you want then but be warned, you'll drive yourself nuts trying to attain perfection. It's the best means to come as close as possible but I virtually stopped using one on setups because I kept trying to get perfect and it never happened. Close but not without resorting to a happy medium.

[Scott Rosenberger]

I use a Peterson Strobo Stomp "Virtual" Strobe Tuner and I couldn't be happier with it.

[GregP]

Perry - I agree about the accuracy thing -- I personally believe guitars' tunings should be mildly tempered, too, though.

Although, the newer Petersen tuners DO have tempered guitar settings, too.

Mostly, I was just being droll.

Greg

[unclej]

Nah, he most likely tuned it using the song as a reference point....

When you tune as many guitars as a pro repairer/luthier/whatever, you develop a good ear. I can pretty much nail a E everytime, straight off the "quik winder". But, i can tune up to 30 guitars in a day sometimes.

i'm sure he used the song as a reference but he tuned it while i was playing it and while the others were still playing as well. i am a pro repairer/luthier/whatever and i can nail a tuning in my shop pretty close by ear but not with a bunch of background noise..i was impressed..

not arguin' by the way..just sayin'