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Thread: Which Snark?

  1. #1

    Default Which Snark?

    Hi folks,

    any idea which of the 47 different models of Snark headstock tuner are best suited to our fine instrument?

    Or any other suggestions?

    thanks in advance for any pointers

    Tim

  2. #2
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    My vote is Peterson stroboclip hd
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  4. #3
    F5G & MD305 Astro's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I have the red and the black.

    The black is my favorite. It homes in fast and its easy to read.
    No matter where I go, there I am...Unless I'm running a little late.

  5. #4
    fishing with my mando darrylicshon's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I have a Snark SN-5 which I let my other half use she loves it. But I use a tc electronic polytune. I do have other marks I use the red one sometimes, I forget which case it's in. I try to keep a tuner in each case I use regularly so I have atleast 20 clipon I found the Fender® FT-1620 to be easy and good I have 4 of those
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  6. #5
    Gibson F5L Gibson A5L
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I love hanging out with mandolin nerds . . . . . Thanks peeps ...

  7. #6
    ************** Caleb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I agree it's a little overwhelming trying to decide which tuner. I don't get why they don't make two or three of them, the differences being the size. I asked for a "red one" for Christmas. The freebee tuner I got from the Reverb.com booth at a guitar show is about wiped out. It works fine, and it was free, so I'm sure the red Snark will be an upgrade.
    ...

  8. #7
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    UsallyPickin’s link didn’t work but I think this was what was intended https://www.amazon.com/Snark-ST-2-Mu...dp_ob_title_ce

    I’m also confident that I’ll get one from Father Christmas

  9. #8
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    ST-8 would get my vote. Like the way it works. Especially in a jam or at a show. Have one on each of my main mandolins. Oh, and I also have Peterson, Polytune, Korg Sledgehammer Pro, and a few others.
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  10. #9
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I use the red one 'cause it has a mic, which is better for tuning my Autoharps, than trying to clip a non-mic tuner on somehow.

    If you don't need that feature, I've heard good things about the newer black ones.
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  11. #10
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I have 2 Red Snarks which work superbly well,
    Ivan
    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
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  12. #11
    Mediocre but OK with that Paul Busman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I like the D'Addario Planet Waves micro tuner. It tucks in to the back of the headstock and is nearly invisible from the front of the instrument.It's small enough that you can leave it on the mandolin all the time, even in the case. I have three of them, two on mandolins, one on a tenor banjo, so I never have to worry about forgetting my tuner.People might argue it's not as accurate as others, but it's accurate enough for my ears. I've used it on mandolin and tenor banjo in band gigs and sessions and the tuning was fine.
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  14. #12
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I also like the red one.

    I also bought a Peterson.

    f-d
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  15. #13
    ************** Caleb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I got a "red one" for Christmas. Best tuner I've ever used. Serious quality and accuracy.
    ...

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  17. #14
    Struggle Monkey B381's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I have a snark and it's beginning the fated breaking at the swivel connection.

    I just bought two dadarrio micro ns tuners....LOVE these things. Small and can leave them on all the time.

  18. #15
    Registered User bruce.b's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I like the micro tuners more too.

  19. #16
    en kunnskapssøker James Miller's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    Have two: Black SN-8 clip-on Super Tight All-Instrument Tuner & a Red SN-4 All Instrument Tuner with Mic & Metronome (also has a 1/4" jack for tuning with amps).

    SN-8 I clip on most all the time, though the SN-4 was a new acquisition that has a broader range of tuning than the SN-8. The SN-4 uses 2 AA batteries whereas the other uses a CR-2032 button battery. Like them both, although I also play didgeridoo, overtone flute, and a few other percussion instrument - so the SN-4 gives me a broader range of tuning, and is really helpful in using vocals with the didgeridoo.

    Only think about the SN-4 is keeping it from falling over. Wished could put a camera mount on it to adjust to various angles.
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  20. #17
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    From B381 - "....beginning the fated breaking at the swivel connection.". Why is it doing that ?. I've had my 2 Reds for 4 years now & they're perfect !. I don't leave mine on the headstock,i tune up & then they go back in the mandolin cases. Even when i'm ''playing out'',i use one (if i need to), & then i put it in my shirt pocket out of harm's way,
    Ivan
    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
    Lebeda F-5 "Special".
    Stelling Bellflower BANJO
    Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
    Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.

  21. #18
    Unfamous String Buster Beanzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I like the black one. I have one red, one black and a tuning fork.
    The black one seems to get most use, as I had to glue up the little flanges on the ball-joint of the red one, which were beginning to splay and crack.
    The black one shows no sign of any plastic fatigue yet & they’re about the same age. Possibly something in the plastic is different?
    The tuning fork is good for my cello or mandoloncello as the tuners can be a bit uncertain on those longer scale instruments.
    I normally just tune the A anyway then do the rest from that as the ear is the final arbiter when tuning.
    Eoin



    "Forget that anyone is listening to you and always listen to yourself" - Fryderyk Chopin

  22. #19

    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I have two - a red and a bright blue. Both very good. Have had them for around 4-5 years, still going strong and no signs of breakage (famous last words!). Both accurate, but the blue is possibly just a tad better in a loud jam? Used on both mandolin and guitar, and great for both.

    Interestingly, my wife recently got one of the Planet Waves nano tuners. Small, accurate and discreet. But there's one thing that drives me nuts with it - it's got a sympathetic frequency with the mandolin and there's this annoying little buzz coming from the headstock every time it's attached. Don't know if anyone else has experienced this and if there's any way around it?

  23. #20

    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I had a Snark that (1) had a spring so tense it damaged the headstock finish on both sides, and (2) turned to mush - the red plastic degraded and came away on my fingers.

    I'm another convert to the Planet Waves Micros. Excellent product that can stay on the headstock at all times (no need to remove for putting the instrument in the case) while being barely visible to others.

  24. #21
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    The only one I have ever used, is the SN-8. Got three.
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
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  25. #22

    Default Re: Which Snark?

    None of them. Buy a tuner that's accurate and won't break. Speaking from my experience with them.
    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
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  27. #23
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    Along those lines, My 'Ham Sandwich' answer ; Intellitouch PT 10..
    writing about music
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  28. #24
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    I had a red Snark and a black one. On both, after only a year and some change, the screens slowly faded so dark you couldn't read them.

    I read (somewhere) that it was a problem others where having and there was some hack to get them to work again. My solution was... throw it away and look elsewhere.

    Im using the D'Addario NS micro now and so far so good.
    Last edited by Zach Wilson; Jan-01-2018 at 5:17pm. Reason: Spelling

  29. #25
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    Default Re: Which Snark?

    D'Addario NS micro gets my vote. But if you can't stomach the $13 outlay, the Reverb $5 tuner works great https://reverb.com/item/204704-reverb-clip-on-tuner

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