I've been using the TC Electronic PolyTune Clip-on tuner for a while now. My review and experiences with it follow. |
I started my bass life with an old Boss TU-12 tuner. In researching for this post, I found out, astonishingly, that Boss still keeps a few web pages dedicated to that discontinued tuner. I assumed it was wished into the corn field with the other old-school tools and accessories. Good for Boss. Anyway, years ago, I graduated to using the Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-200. I used it for many years and I really liked it. It worked perfectly and did everything I asked it to do. The battery life alone was other-worldly...years long. My prior review of it can be found here. |
But at some point the Turbo-Tuner began to exhibit some odd behavior: tuning to weird frequencies, flashing lights whenever I used it, getting stuck in various non-tuning modes, etc. I think it was my doing. I kept it unprotected in a over-stuffed gig bag with everything in the world in that bag. I'm sure all the free-moving cables, direct boxes, and tools had the affect of pushing all the Turbo-Tuner's buttons...in a bad way. Eventually, it just stopped working.
So, I started the hunt and research for a new tuner. I tried a few clip-on tuners as they had just came out and they seemed to be everywhere. I started with something called a Snark.
So, I started the hunt and research for a new tuner. I tried a few clip-on tuners as they had just came out and they seemed to be everywhere. I started with something called a Snark.
I think the Snarks were $12 on Amazon at the time - or something close to that. So, I bought a few, thinking the $12 plastic would break at an inopportune time. It did. The tuner tuned okay...the B string on my bass even tuned correctly. But it looked like a kid's toy. And after a month, the rubber pads dropped off and the plastic grip section cracked. At only $12, no big deal. But I needed something else. So, I dug deeper in my research. |
During my half-a-year gig at The Ranch, I asked a few guitar players for tuner recommendation and I received a few for the PolyTune Clip. The description from the TC Electronics web site.....
"Clip-On Tuner with Polyphonic, Strobe and Chromatic Modes and 108 LED Matrix Display for Ultimate Tuning Performance"
...it was $50 on Amazon so I pulled the trigger and ordered one.
"Clip-On Tuner with Polyphonic, Strobe and Chromatic Modes and 108 LED Matrix Display for Ultimate Tuning Performance"
...it was $50 on Amazon so I pulled the trigger and ordered one.
The device's LED display can change orientation depending on which way is up - which way you clamp it to your instrument. All the videos and images I've seen have the artist clamping the tuner such that the display is in front of the instrument. However, there are a few who clamp in on "backwards". Count me in the later group. The tuner works in either orientation.
So, how does the PolyTune Clip actually tune? In a word...fantastic. Its quick, accurate, highly visible (a few instances where the bright outdoor sun was a little too much for the PolyTune's LED), and tunes the low B string without issue. I haven't used the non-basic features as I only use it to tune my basses, one string at a time. But its size, battery life (I've replaced the battery one time in two years), and ease of use keeps it as my only tuner. I'm a boy scout at heart so I have a second one as backup, but I see no need for a different tuner.
My basses and my strings are set up in such a way that they don't really go wildly out of tune too much. I have read where the case I'm using does cause some de-tuning from time to time - and I have seen that as well. But for the most part, my basses stay pretty close to 440. As a result I don't gig with the tuner permanently clamped on my bass. The tuner stays atop my rig and a few times a night I'll check my tuning.
As far hardiness - I've dropped the tuner a few times with no issue. I've learned my lesson from the Turbo Tuner and I now keep my tuner in my bass case - but the tuner feels sturdy enough.
The tuner has a three minute auto-shut off feature that will save the battery should my tea get too strong one night and I forget to turn the thing off.
As as side-benefit from being a clamp-on, since I run a wireless rig, I don't need to be tied to within 15 cable feet of my rig should I need to tune. While I try not to gig with the tuner attached to my bass like a parasite, it does fold down nice and compact behind the bass' head stock.
My basses and my strings are set up in such a way that they don't really go wildly out of tune too much. I have read where the case I'm using does cause some de-tuning from time to time - and I have seen that as well. But for the most part, my basses stay pretty close to 440. As a result I don't gig with the tuner permanently clamped on my bass. The tuner stays atop my rig and a few times a night I'll check my tuning.
As far hardiness - I've dropped the tuner a few times with no issue. I've learned my lesson from the Turbo Tuner and I now keep my tuner in my bass case - but the tuner feels sturdy enough.
The tuner has a three minute auto-shut off feature that will save the battery should my tea get too strong one night and I forget to turn the thing off.
As as side-benefit from being a clamp-on, since I run a wireless rig, I don't need to be tied to within 15 cable feet of my rig should I need to tune. While I try not to gig with the tuner attached to my bass like a parasite, it does fold down nice and compact behind the bass' head stock.
Bottom line - the PolyTune Clip is Highly recommended.