What 'Tuner' do you use?

[Dick Glasgow]

Is this true for you?

"Hammered Dulcimer players spend 1/2 of their time TUNING and the other 1/2 of their time .... playing out of tune!"

But seriously folks, what do you use to tune your Dulcimer, assuming you don't still use that old Traditional method of tuning 'By Ear'?

I use one of these - Intellitouch PT2 Tuner

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Here are a few more, which might be worth checking out:

Intelli - IMT 500

Boston BTU-300

Korg_CA30_Chromatic_Tuner

Sabine_STX1100_Chromatic_Tuner

[drs55]

I have a KORG Digital Tuner DT-2. It's pretty old, but it's simple and it does the job. I used to have just a tuning fork, so digital tuners were a huge time and sanity saver.

Another thing I did recently that improved my tuning life, was to get a new hammered dulcimer. The old one had a warped sound board that was making it harder and harder to tune. The new one (from Folkcraft in Connecticut - USA) tunes like a dream.

[Dick Glasgow]

Hmmm Interesting drs.

I'll show you mine, if you show me yours!

This is my other H-D, it's a 16/15 Folkcraft Legend

As for the tuners, I find the Intellitouch is great when everyone is tuning up at the same time, whereas I couldn't do that with my old audio tuner - everyone just had to wait their turn.

[dulcimike]

I used to use KORG CA-20/30, but now use a Seiko - now what is the number? Hmmm. Oh, yes, an SAT500. It seems ot be a bit more accurate than the KORG.

I was always fascinated by Nat Magee's story about tuning his Dad's dulcimers by ear starting with a tuning bar from the school, though I have never tried tuning more than a guitar like that.

I don't agree with the statement, "Hammered Dulcimer players spend 1/2 of their time TUNING and the other 1/2 of their time .... playing out of tune!", though. It does take longer than a fiddle or flute, but once I get mine tuned, it's tuned.

[Nikita]

Hi there ! hard question, that of tuning... just imagine ; HD have about 50 strings, I believe... my hackbrett has 144... and 5 strings per course... so be happy, you easy going HD players ! others suffer more
But it seems to stay tuned for quite a while once I've tuned it. At least, when I tune it in the morning, I can still play with others at night (except if there's a storm). It seems to react more to humidity than to heat...
I've been using different tuners all over the years, but now I'm quite happy with the Seiko SAT 500. I use a small mike you can clip onto the bridge. But I use it only for the 1rst string of the course, and ear for the others...

[pocolargo]

I use the Korg CA-30. I'm happy with it...but then again it's the only one I've tried so not much to compare it to. I'm just ever so thankful I don't have to do it by ear!

[Dick Glasgow]

Hey Poco, spare a thought too, for all those poor Cimbalom players & their appx 130 strings to tune!!!

[pocolargo]

Bless their hearts! I would be way too slow for that....by the time I finished tuning all those strings...even with a tuner...I wouldn't want to play, it would be time for bed!

[gypsy]

The intellitouch is too slow for me.......the intelli (the square one, different company) is much faster, and great for travel. At home i use a seiko with a leash....very fast, and very accurate.

[jt3d]

I use a Korg CA-30 Chromatic tuner for all my instruments. It is small, easy to use and highly reliable.

[Dick Glasgow]

Here's a cool piece of kit. I wonder if anyone here has tried one of these?:

Sabine_STX1100_Chromatic_Tuner

[Dulcetta]

I have a Korg ca30.
Although more often then not I just tune to my piano. I have a lovely habit of leaving that little tuner at church ( I also use it for my guitar, as it is easier than using piano mid service).
I was thinking about getting a pick up to use with it, my parrot starts singing when I try to tune