Conference napalm::guitar

    I think the Sabine GT-1000 (I think that's the number) is definitely
    the best and the best deal.
    
    I *hate* guitar tuners that require you to change the "string" setting
    each time you want to tune a different string and my advice is avoid
    those.  It practically doubles the time and pain it takes to tune.
    
    Usually tuners that don't require you to tell them which string you're
    tuning costs more but the Sabine actually costs less and works
    extremely well.  What's more is that I can NOT seem to get mine to
    run down the battery despite having unknowingly left it on for days.
    
    Another thing to avoid is tuners that you can NOT see in the dark.
    I.E. tuners that use needles instead of LEDS.   This is mainly
    important only if you are gigging but I find the needle tuners hard
    to see even in some non-stage settings.
    
    The Sabine tuner:
    
    	o Does not need to be told what string you're using
    	o Uses three LEDS and you not only can tune your guitar in total
    	  darkness, but you could even tune it from 20 yards away!  Honest!
    	o Has a "calibration" switch that allows you to tune it to
    	  other standards besides A-440.  For example, if you have to
          tune to other out-of-tune guitarists or to an out-of-tune piano.
    	o It's cheap - I think I bought mine for well under $40
    	o It's reliable - mine has been dropped, kicked, left on, left
    	  in a car in direct sunlight, etc and it has always worked
    	  flawlessly.
    	o It doesn't eat batteries like many other tuners.
    	o The Sabine (unlike other tunes I've owend) works VERY well from 
    	  its microphone input.  
    
    				NOTE
    
    		One of the nice things about the Sabine is that it
    		is just so easy/efficient to use: all you have to do
    		is turn it on.  You don't have to plug your guitar into
    		it, you don't have to change any string settings, it
    		is easy to use and you don't have to have your eyes
    		inches away from it to get a reading. 
    
    		Actually, there doesn't even seem to be much of a reason
    		to turn it on and off!  It would seem that while it's
    		in a quiet room, it doesn't consume much power and doesn't
    		wear down the batteries.
    
    I don't think you've heard me say this about any other product but I
    think the Sabines are the clear winners in the "Tuners" category.

    I have a Korg GT-1, which I'm happy with.  It has all the features
    mentioned by Dave for the Sabine, except the "calibration" switch to
    allow tuning to non-A-440.  It has a three-position power switch...
    off, on, and on with lamp.  The third position lights up a small bulb
    which will chew the hell out of the battery if you forget to turn it
    off.
    
    One nice thing about the GT-1 is that it has _both_ LED and meter
    tuning, so it's usable in dark, normal, and bright conditions (outdoor, 
    direct sunlight where LEDs are sometimes impossible to see).
    
    The Korg also has passed the abuse test and seems to work well from its
    microphone, in my experience.
    
    One thing I'll tell you for sure... whatever you buy, you'll be
    wondering how you ever lived without it and kicking yourself for
    waiting so long to buy one!!
    
    							Marc

    
    Thanks guys for the inputs. I'll be taking my lunch at Daddy's. I'll
    let you know what I selected when I return.
    
    Gordie

re: .1

I suspect Dave has a Sabine ST-1000 (not GT-1000).  There's actually
several models in the series now (ST-1100, ST-1200, etc) with varying
degrees of additional features.

-Hal

    
    
    Thanks for the last minute update Hal, I'm on my way-only wish I had 1k
    to drop on that "Twin".
    
    Gordie

    
    
     I got the KORG GT-3, cheapo. Hay it looks like it will do the job!

A little late,,

 but-- the Sabine is all the stuff Dave said  I should also mention,,

Tunerslike the Sabine are REAL nice cuz they include the
flat note in thescale too...

If your band, lets-say,, tunes to Eflat to save the singers
voice,, comes in quite handy..

although, gawd how I hate Eflat tuning ^8^\

    
    So, for curiousity's sake, how much do these things cost?  In
    particular, the Sabine ?T-1000 and the Korg GT-3?  Are we talking
    about $25, $50, $100, ...?
    
    Jim
    

    I have one of the Sabine's too and like it.  My only complaint with it
    is that after a couple of years the battery door got loose and finally
    fell out and got lost.  I have a little piece of tape for a battery
    door now...
    
    They sell for about $50-$60 new.
    
    Greg
    

    I have one of those bulky but rugged Conn Strobetuners. When I don't
    want to bother with that, I use a little tuning fork that's pretty
    accurate. And when that's out of reach...I guess. :^)

    --Ron

    
    
    I've got one of those little Sabine tuners, too.  I drive it off of one
    of the fx sends in my little rack...doesn't seem to care that it's
    receiving a line level output in an instrument level input, either.
    
    I have managed to go through a few batteries with this setup, though,
    since it's easy to walk away and leave it on...
    

    
    
    Well, got to tell you all that the KORG GT-3 worked just fine. I think
    I may invest in a new battary, it comes with one but God knows how long
    it's been sittin there. I paid $30.00, Daddy's was having a % off sale.
    They had a large selection a low end such as mine and some rack high 
    end stuff. But the old Silvertone sounds great.
    
    Thanks to all your inputs.
    
    Gordie

    re: John
    
    The new ones have a ext power supply jack on 'em (ST-1100).  I don't
    think mine does (ST-1000).  But hey, for the price I paid (something
    like $30 from a fellow noter who didn't like it...), I can't complain!
    
    re: Gordie
    
    Killer price on that Korg!  I haven't used that model, but a friend of
    mine had the old DT-1 (the one that looks like it's in a cassette case)
    and it worked great.  Seemed pretty bulletproof too, I'd like to have
    one myself sometime, but the Sabine does fine, so it's not a priority.
    
    Greg

Another tuner that I've heard good things about is the 
Boss TU-something-or-other.  Like the Korg, it has both
a meter and LEDs.  Don't remember how much it costs, though.

-Hal

    
    I've had one those BOSS TU-somethings for years. I run my bass
    straight into the tuner, then out of the tuner into my dbx
    compressor,etc... This tuner is chromatic, has both hi and lo 
    settings (for guitar or bass), has a jack for external AC power
    and it's built like the proverbial brick $hi+house !!! One of 
    these days I'll break down and get a rack-mount tuner, but not
    until this little BOSS finally gives up the ghost...
    
    /Billy_K

    I think that's the Boss TU-8. I have mine permanently mounted with my
    floor stuff: MIDI footswitch, volume pedals, etc. My volume pedal has a
    tuner output... so when I want to tune, I just kick the pedal back. The
    tuner stays on permanently with other devices and runs off the common
    9V power supply. With this configuration, I can easily tune between
    songs.
    
    I like the Boss because it is completely chromatic and completely
    "hands off". I don't have to reset it to tune different strings. It
    also has the feature to allow tuning to instruments that are not A440.
    
    However, I remember this tuner costing me something like $80, which is
    twice the money being discussed here. I've never felt ripped off
    though. I think this is one fine tuner. To be honest, my previous
    tuner was a Korg, and I didn't like it all that much.
    
    Brian

    Well, just goes to show ya, different strokes...
    
    For some reason, I've never liked the Boss tuners.  Everytime I
    use one, I have a hard time with it.  Some sorta impedance mismatch
    between the thing and my brain.  I know people love these and Boss
    makes quality gear and all, but they just don't seem to do it for me.
    I had a cheap Korg with the needle that I used for years, and recently
    got a Sabine; a very nice piece of gear.
    
    /rick

    I just bought a Sabine RT1600 rack-mount tuner. I've been wanting
    one for a while, and this note helped push me over the edge. I
    plan to add this to my guitar preamp rack along with the Mesa-Boogie
    Studio Preamp and Alesis Midiverb. I demoed it in the store and it
    appears to be very stable and easy to use. It also has an A-440 tone
    generator which will no-doubt come in handy. 
    
    Later on, I may also get a Sabine ST1500 to replace my Boss TU12. 
    
    Mark  (the old will-power can only stand so much)