New Clutch tuner from Korg

[erick]

Just got the new Korg AW-10 ( $60 from Elderly) tuner, which works a lot like the Intellitouch tuner, with one key difference. It really works. The AW-10 gets the notes quickly. has a built -in mic and a piezo element ( you choose either one.), and some other cool features.

The drawbacks are that the display is a bit small and is weakly lit. Hopefully they'll take care of this in the future. Meanwhile, for daytime tuning situations, it's the best I've seen.

[erick]

Correction on the Korg model number- it's an AW-1.
(Ooops)

[Grace]

I, too, purchased this tuner after misplacing my intellitouch. The primary downside...in noisy playing conditions, a tuner needs to be able to respond only to the instrument to which it's attached. Last pm I played in an open band with a lot of extraneous instrument sounds coming from the other players. My mando must have been resonating like crazy - the Korg could not zero in on MY strings..it was moving around madly, even when I wasn't plucking a string. Any suggestions? G

[JD Cowles]

hello grace-
in loud situations i still prefer my cheapo korg chromatic tuner with an alligator clip type mike you can attatch to your bridge. the clip mike goes in the 1/4" plug so it overrides the internal mike on the tuner and does a good job of zeroing in your strings.
i've never had much luck with the intellitouch type tuners, but i think it's just my mando/personal preference.
jd

[Mandolin-AL]

I'll go along with ye there on the Korg and my Jumplead I managed to tune my Zouk no problem while my mate was blasting away on his Bagpipes while someother lad was going nuts cause his Intellitouch was havin a heartattack cause of the pipes lol
was a good night though..........

[pickinpox]

i still prefer my cheapo korg chromatic tuner with an alligator clip type mike you can attatch to your bridge.

That's my rig too. Very satisfactory!

[fredfrank]

the Korg could not zero in on MY strings..it was moving around madly, even when I wasn't plucking a string. Any suggestions? #G
Perhaps you had the selector on "mic" instead of "piezo". Mine seems to work in about any situation, although I wish it had a lighted dial. 'Course, I can't play in the dark, so why should I try to tune in the dark?

One of the problems I've had with the Korg and alligator clip model is it's too much hassle to stop and hook it up on stage. The AW-1 fits in your pocket and clips on like a clothespin. Easy, breezey, right in tune!

[JGWoods]

I got one too- but haven't used it much yet. The instructions say the battery is for getting started only and will need replacement, but I didn't find any locally on first look. Have any of you had to replace the battery yet?

best
jgwoods

[jim simpson]

These clip-on tuners are notorious for flying off your instrument if you leave them on while playing. I have attached a string with clip that attached to the post of one of the tuners so when the tuner decides to bungie jump, it doesn't come crashing down onto a hard tile floor, etc.

[fredfrank]

The intellitouch does fly off, but if you'd seen the clip on the AW-1, you'd know that baby's not going anywhere. I keep mine in my pocket, nonetheless.

[mmukav]

"works a lot like the Intellitouch tuner, with one key difference. #It really works.".........(really, hmm.....)

1--"the drawbacks are that the display is a bit small and is weakly lit"

2--"Meanwhile, for daytime tuning situations, it's the best I've seen."

3--"The primary downside...in noisy playing conditions"

4--"I wish it had a lighted dial. 'Course, I can't play in the dark, so why should I try to tune in the dark?"

Sounds like the AW-10 has it's problems also. I agree the Inellitouch can be tricky to get the hang of, but after I replaced the stock battery with a new one, and worked with it to find where it worked best with each of my instruments, I love it. Well-lit, easy to read, easy to use, accurate. Did I mention 'well-lit?'

[fredfrank]

Yes, I believe you did mention it's well lit.

The main reason I got the AW-1 was the little mounting gizmo that I found to mount it directly on my banjo between the brackets.

I gotta admit it is hard to see in dark conditions. But I seldom play in those conditions.

[Grace]

Hey FredFrank - I checked the piezo vs mike and it was definitely set to piezo...maybe my mando is just super resonant. Interestingly, I also have an older Gibson which I was using last night in a jam session and the tuner was fine. So, its either the mando itself or the open band situation, which is absolute aural chaos while everyone is tuning and getting settled. G

[jim simpson]

The first one I saw used was at a jam by a fiddle player. That newfangled Korg tuner flew off just as good as the Intellitouch and hit the floor. Fortunately it didn't break. I would still use my bungee cord if I were to get one.

[Perry]

Try this if you are having trouble with a tuner picking up your instrument:

pluck the strings with a finger(i.e. thumb) instead of a pick. Sometimes you get more of a fundamental tone with bare fingers and the tuner responds better.

[mmukav]

Here's the other things I've found are helpful using this type of tuner:

1--pick the string very lightly. Sometimes a hard-plucked string seems to overwhelm the device.

2--experiment with placement of the device to the headstock.
It seems to work better for me when placed more on the 'bass' side of the headstock.

3--try to dampen the strings except for the one you're trying to tune. The sympathetic vibrations seem to mess it up.

4--also dampen all strings prior to plucking the one you're tuning. This seems to help also.