D'Addario Introduces NS Micro Tuner

[coletrickle]

I've had generation one for several years now and have not had to change the battery once, have not had issues with tuning in noising environments and have not had issues with marking on my mando. I leave it on all the time. It just nice to have it stay with the instrument when I need it. I like the additional features on this one...although not sure I need them all. I need to replace an old tuner anyway...so might be looking into this.

[AlanN]

Looks like Amazon has it for 9 clams. Is this the latest one?

Planet Waves PW-CT-12 NS Mini Clip-On Headstock Tuner

[Scott Tichenor]

I like to see opinions pared with data. Here's amazon's user based review of the Mini NS:

Reviews - 4.4 out of 5 stars (220)

5 star - 143
4 star - 42
3 star - 21
2 star - 5
1 star - 9

[Scott Tichenor]

Looks like Amazon has it for 9 clams. Is this the latest one?

Planet Waves PW-CT-12 NS Mini Clip-On Headstock Tuner

No, not even the same name. New one is Micro, the one you're looking at is Mini.

[Nick Triesch]

Original NS mini is the best tuner I have ever used. The reason I leave it on my mandolin is that it is so small and secure...why not? I will buy the new generation!!! Nick

[terzinator]

Love my mini. Stays on the headstock always. Because, well... mini.

Looking forward to trying the micro. Because, well... micro.

[WireBoy]

i love my NS Mini. i have several. i have been putting them on all my instruments. small, un-obtrusive, easy to use, work great and CHEAP! I bought a few more from Dietze a few weeks ago. i just checked out the Planet Wave's NS Micro promo page. I notice, under Buy Now, that PW is using the same model number as the NS Mini (PW-CT-12) and at a higher price. does the Micro usurp the Mini? and does it take over the same model number too? i don't see the Mini still listed in their tuner lineup. I'd like to try a Micro, but I'm a bit wary of using the Mini's model number to order it maybe their www site needs a bit more proof-reading...

[Dr H]

Ron McMillan said: "With the original Mini, the need to remove is no longer there. No need to protect the proud lines of the headstock, no need to protect the headstock logo, no need to worry about your tuner hitting another person's instrument or snagging on another player's sleeve. No need even to remove when the mandolin goes in the case."

Cool. So I just leave this on my mandolin, and I can tune the mandolin, the guitar, the bass, the charango, the mandola, the 12-string, and the tiple all from the mandolin?

Now that -is- worth $32.

[ddawson2010]

Ron McMillan said: "With the original Mini, the need to remove is no longer there. No need to protect the proud lines of the headstock, no need to protect the headstock logo, no need to worry about your tuner hitting another person's instrument or snagging on another player's sleeve. No need even to remove when the mandolin goes in the case."

Cool. So I just leave this on my mandolin, and I can tune the mandolin, the guitar, the bass, the charango, the mandola, the 12-string, and the tiple all from the mandolin?

Now that -is- worth $32.

Dr H - if you can do that, we'd like a video for sure -

Don Dawson
Product marketing specialist
D'Addario / Planet Waves

[JFDilmando]

be careful when you are at their site and you click on buy it now.... all the sites they offer are giving you the "MINI" NOT the "MICRO"....

the mini is the previous version.... I have yet to see where one can actually buy the micro....

[Justus True Waldron]

I've gotta admit I'm pretty amped for the micro. I bought a mini when they first came out and it's been on my mando headstock ever since. I've had to replace the battery once in that time, although I think that was mostly because I accidentally left it on for a while. I've never had an issue with it in a loud jam, or otherwise - and I've been in some loud jams.

My one gripe with it was that it wasn't quite accurate enough to tune the string pairs perfect, but it gets close. I tune the top string to the tuner then the bottom by ear, and after getting used to that I've never had an issue. I use it on stage all the time like that. Since the micro is supposedly more sensitive I'm hoping this might no longer be needed. I for one think having a metronome right there might encourage me to actually practice with a metronome more...

I love that it is right there, and always right there. I own a snark too, but I can't tell you where in the world it is right now. My ns mini however is right where it always is. And since most people don't even see it on there, I never have people asking me to borrow it - which means I'll never loose it. Basically I'm just psyched to try the micro...

[mrmando]

I'll wait for the Nano.

How long before we see an instrument with the tuner built right into the headstock, or into the onboard preamp?

[David Lewis]

I'll wait for the Nano.

How long before we see an instrument with the tuner built right into the headstock, or into the onboard preamp?

Not long at all...


http://www.crafterusa.com/guitar/m85-rs/

[ddawson2010]

Please be aware that the Micro isn't a "NEW" product" so much as an update to the Mini - the model number is the same. PW-CT-12. So you'll want to be sure that you're being shipped (if purchasing online) the updated version. Orders are just leaving our building in NY this week. So some stores will already have them but it will take time for all retail and e-tail locations to have the Micro version.

Don Dawson
Product Marketing Specialist
D'Addario / Planet Waves

[JCook]

I've got two of the NS Mini tuners (not the new Micro version) and I keep them on two of my guitars. I find them very good. I've had them for about two years, and have only changed the battery in one of them once. Haven't had any problems in loud environments; the work by vibration from the headstock, so room noise shouldn't affect them, and it doesn't seem to. The only problem I've noticed is that sometimes the low E string doesn't register well, or not at all. Then I tune the other strings and come back to the E and it usually works. Don't know why that is. But I really like these tuners. Now I want one of the new Micro ones, to see if the bass sensing has improved, but I also like the visual metronome idea.

Jack

[ddawson2010]

I've got two of the NS Mini tuners (not the new Micro version) and I keep them on two of my guitars. I find them very good. I've had them for about two years, and have only changed the battery in one of them once. Haven't had any problems in loud environments; the work by vibration from the headstock, so room noise shouldn't affect them, and it doesn't seem to. The only problem I've noticed is that sometimes the low E string doesn't register well, or not at all. Then I tune the other strings and come back to the E and it usually works. Don't know why that is. But I really like these tuners. Now I want one of the new Micro ones, to see if the bass sensing has improved, but I also like the visual metronome idea.

Jack

Jack - sometimes there can be a resonant feedback that the piezo element struggles with - if you move the tuner slightly one direction or another (when available), it seems that the placement allows that frequency to register in a more fundamental way. This is somewhat emperical in that we've seen this happen - we've relocated the tuner and the problem seems to resolve itself.

[Ron McMillan]

Please be aware that the Micro isn't a "NEW" product" so much as an update to the Mini - the model number is the same. PW-CT-12. So you'll want to be sure that you're being shipped (if purchasing online) the updated version. Orders are just leaving our building in NY this week. So some stores will already have them but it will take time for all retail and e-tail locations to have the Micro version.

Don Dawson
Product Marketing Specialist
D'Addario / Planet Waves

It seems to me that not even changing the model number is a needless recipe for confusion. Why on earth not give it a new number so that people don't get something other than what they think they are ordering? People here are already confusing the two models. It is a different (updated) tuner, in a different housing with new features - so why no new model number?

[Ron McMillan]

Ron McMillan said: "With the original Mini, the need to remove is no longer there. No need to protect the proud lines of the headstock, no need to protect the headstock logo, no need to worry about your tuner hitting another person's instrument or snagging on another player's sleeve. No need even to remove when the mandolin goes in the case."

Cool. So I just leave this on my mandolin, and I can tune the mandolin, the guitar, the bass, the charango, the mandola, the 12-string, and the tiple all from the mandolin?

Now that -is- worth $32.

See above mentions by Scott and others about having one on each instrument. The Mini is so cool and so unobtrusive you'll not want to take it off. I do like your idea of tuning other instruments at the same time. Maybe we can ask PW to introduce a coffee-maker and a Sat Nav in the next model.

[Phil Goodson]

I've had generation one for several years now and have not had to change the battery once, have not had issues with tuning in noising environments and have not had issues with marking on my mando. I leave it on all the time. ....

This seems to be an individual instrument issue. I've had a mini on a couple of mandos for over a year with NO marks on the headstock finish. But I've had them on others that left a white discoloration (within an hour or so) that DID NOT fade with time and had to be polished out.

Fresher varnish finishes seem to be the most sensitive, as expected.
Just my experience. (I DO like the tuner though.)

P.S. I've wondered why the top of the clip that shows from the front of the headstock couldn't be designed as a tight wrap-around design that wouldn't break the 'skyline' of the headstock outline. It would then be almost invisible.

[Bill Baldridge]

Cool. So I just leave this on my mandolin, and I can tune the mandolin, the guitar, the bass, the charango, the mandola, the 12-string, and the tiple all from the mandolin?

Now that -is- worth $32.

Last night I tuned a friend's guitar with my mini by touching the neck of my mandolin to the neck of the guitar.

[Scott Tichenor]

See above mentions by Scott and others about having one on each instrument. The Mini is so cool and so unobtrusive you'll not want to take it off. I do like your idea of tuning other instruments at the same time. Maybe we can ask PW to introduce a coffee-maker and a Sat Nav in the next model.

True I own that many but I don't leave them on the instrument when they're in the case. I have that many for convenience so there's one in the case all the time. I gig and rehearse with others pretty regularly so not having to move them from case to case is a convenience. I know there are people that have reported issues with them left on and finish, etc., but it hasn't bothered my Nugget or my '23 Gibson snakehead and I know plenty of others with my experience. If you have an instrument with a soft or brand new finish, maybe not a good idea to leave it on. This isn't rocket science. I have left them on accidentally for a few days without issue and have never replaced a battery, ever, after several years of use. As far as cost, whatever works for folks. $32? I spent a heck of a lot more than that on dinner with my wife last night.

[terzinator]

P.S. I've wondered why the top of the clip that shows from the front of the headstock couldn't be designed as a tight wrap-around design that wouldn't break the 'skyline' of the headstock outline. It would then be almost invisible.

The unit is actually two parts: the tuner and the clip/mount. The tuner fits into the mount like a nail fits into a keyhole mount on a mirror or shelf or similar.

I have a perverse desire to cut the clip/clamp off the mount and attach the mount to the back of the headstock with double-stick tape. THAT would be stealth. Perversely stealth.

[Ron McMillan]

If I hadn't taken the Mini off the Mix A4 just now to check, I wouldn't know that it has not marked the finish in any way. Mine is a permanent fixture on there - or will be at least until I get my hands on a Micro.

Damage to finish is definitely an issue with some clip-on tuners. The spring on my Snark is so strong that it damaged the finish on my F5 copy. But that was my fault, as the headstock had been refinished only a couple of months before, and the surface hadn't properly cured. I polished that mark out as instructed by Cafe advisors, let the finish cure for another two or three months, and now have no issues with the Snark. Not that the Snark escapes from the drawer very often now.

ron

[greg_tsam]

$32? I spent a heck of a lot more than that on dinner with my wife last night.

This, of course, is relative to your hourly wage and bank account.

[Goodness]

I have the new NS Micro and I love it. Before I got it I was using ClearTune on my iPhone. The NS Micro is simple and accurate and always there and ready to go.