Rattling Tuner

**neil argonaut** · May-20-2012, 4:36am

I recently purchased a clip on tuner for the first time (the Intelli IMT-500) and have hit an unexpected problem with it. The buttons for operating the tuner are quite loose, and whenever I play certain notes, the vibration of the instrument causes the buttons to rattle and creates an annoying buzzing sound, meaning the tuner cannot be left on while playing. Has anyone else experienced this problem with the Intelli or any other tuner? Has anyone got an Intelli which doesn't have this problem? And should I contact the seller and complain or is that just the way they are?

**Paul Busman** · May-20-2012, 7:00am

Mine doesn't do that, FWIW. I'd contact the seller for a replacement, and ask them to check the new one out before they ship it.

**journeybear** · May-20-2012, 8:18am

Well, you could always stop leaving it clipped on the headstock ...

**bmac** · May-20-2012, 9:49am

Hey Journeybear:

We don't need any smart remarks about clip on tuners! They are the new "in thing"... Besides, how else can you prove you have an expensive twelve dollar tuner unless you leave it clipped to the headstock?

I rest my case!!!

**journeybear** · May-20-2012, 10:25am

I'm so sorry. I meant to hit Cancel but instead hit Post. Oh well ...

It was worth it for your reply, which is making me chuckle constantly as I write this. Definitely - show off that tuner!

Yes, it may be just me, but I believe pockets are a real handy place to keep things like tuners and capos and slides and picks and kazoos - all sorts of accessories. A clean headstock is a beautiful thing.

I know, not much help. Sorry ... It does sound defective, but if the vibrating that bothers you doesn't affect the accuracy, it seems a wash. If you bought it online, the cost of shipping it back may not be worth it, though if you bought it from a store, it would be.

**JEStanek** · May-20-2012, 10:58am

Mine does that as do many others (reported here on the Cafe) for those Intelli tuners. A solution is to put some invisible tape over the buttons. FWIW, my $12 Snark doesn't rattle but, as my kids steal them to use on their cellos, I'm often back to old rattle tuner.

Jamie

**neil argonaut** · May-20-2012, 6:58pm

JEStanek, thanks, I'll maybe try some invisible tape then; I tried to find reference to that problem searching threads but must have missed it.
Journeybear, I tend to agree and probably in practice won't leave it on much, but if for whatever reason I want to in some situation, then seeing as the item I purchased is meant to be able to work this way, then I want that to be my decision, and not dictated by some minor fault in the tuner.
As for returning it / asking for a new one to be shipped, might not be so easy as it's come across the atlantic.

**JEStanek** · May-20-2012, 7:49pm

Here is a search that will show others with your/our problem.

Jamie

**Philphool** · May-20-2012, 8:23pm

This is a long standing complaint. The tape trick works.

I find that a tiny tiny drop of rubber cement anywhere along an edge of the buttons works well and is flexible so as not to prevent function of the buttons. To me, a more elegant solution.

**journeybear** · May-20-2012, 10:35pm

Neil - Sorry, didn't mean to rattle your cage

I honestly did hit the wrong button before moving to another thread, thinking it unnecessary to toss a cheap shot at a fellow traveler on this long and winding road - only to check back later and see what I'd done.

Hope you sort this out. I like the rubber cement solution - it would appear invisible, and its flexible nature would allow movement.

**Ivan Kelsall** · May-21-2012, 1:54am

I have 2 of those & no problems with either.I'd definitely return it & ask for another one to replace it - after it's been checked out of course !. I'm on JB's side.I think that these clip on tuners have replaced the un-cut strings that used to adorn headstocks years back.The ones where if you turned around to face the Guitarist,you could get your eye lanced with 6 inches of steel string.They should be removed after use (IMHO) if only because if they do get a hard knock,they could get broken,
Ivan

**JEStanek** · May-21-2012, 8:11am

Quality clip on tuners have really become inexpensive recently. Ones with design flaws (rattles) should just get left in cases or passed along to new players. The Snark is great and around $10-12. There's even this one (Planet Waves NS) that has such a small profile, it isn't even seen from the front of the headstock.

I've spent more on some Wegan plectrums (or TI Strings) than for some of these tuners!

Jamie

**allenhopkins** · May-21-2012, 9:05pm

I tried putting invisible tape on my tuner, but I couldn't find the roll of tape...

**MikeEdgerton** · May-21-2012, 9:49pm

This is known problem with the tuner that has been discussed here since they came out. None of mine rattle at least not so much that I can hear them. I seem to recall someone putting a piece of rubber inside the tuner. I'll see if I can find that thread.

This thread from 2006 mentions it but I can't seem to find the one that has the fix.

**Ivan Kelsall** · May-22-2012, 12:58am

Allen - That's a bit like the concert with the 'Lost & Found'/'The Seldom Scene' & 'The Rarely Herd'. Lots of folk turned up but didn't see anything,

Ivan

**bmac** · May-22-2012, 7:03am

The thinner for rubber cement is acetone... Which is very effective as a varnish remover.

**bmac** · May-22-2012, 7:45am

Where did this "tuner attached to the instrument while performing" come from?? If I recall when tuning forks were used they weren't chained to the headstock during performance... I haven't seen an electric tuner attached to a violin or cello during a performance, but I suppose one could be.....

**allenhopkins** · May-22-2012, 11:52am

Originally Posted by bmac

Where did this "tuner attached to the instrument while performing" come from?? If I recall when tuning forks were used they weren't chained to the headstock during performance... I haven't seen an electric tuner attached to a violin or cello during a performance, but I suppose one could be.....

Hey, let's not go there! Huge long thread(s) -- which I won't bother to search -- about the esthetics and ethics of leaving tuners clipped to instruments during performances, jams, casual encounters, and speed-dating sessions. Some do (including some fairly major performers I've seen), some don't, some criticize those who do, some criticize those who criticize those who do, yada yada.

If people still wanta use a tuning fork, or one of those cutesy little pitch-pipes that used to be ubiquitous, or the "Tune It, Stupid!" app on their I-Phones, well, go for it. Considering the Mayan prophecy of the imminent end of the universe, the melting of the polar ice caps, and the likelihood of an asteroid flattening Branson MO in the next millennium, I got bigger worries...

**Ivan Kelsall** · May-23-2012, 2:34am

Quote - "....Considering the Mayan prophecy of the imminent end of the universe, the melting of the polar ice caps, and the likelihood of an asteroid flattenning Branson...". Ooooooh! - the excitement,

Ivan

**Willie** · May-23-2012, 8:08pm

Speaking of pitch pipes, for some reason some of my family members think they make a nice gift at birthdays and Christmas so I have three or four of them, I have checked them with a tuner to see how accurate they are and none of them are....I`ll have to let my family know to get me a Snark I guess....

Willie

**Gene Korte** · May-26-2012, 9:28pm

The rattling is somewhat "normal" for this product.
Slide open your battery door and slip in a little piece of business card between the battery and the battery door. Problem solved and nothing shows.