D'Addario Introduces NS Micro Tuner

[NewsFetcher]

The Mandolin Cafe has posted the following news release:
D'Addario Introduces NS Micro Tuner

D'Addario and Planet Waves is proud to announce the launch of the new NS Micro Tuner, the next iteration in its family of clip-on, headstock tuners.





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[greg_tsam]

I had a Mini Tuner for a month before I gave it away. It was unresponsive and inaccurate in a noisy, jam environment. The snark is much better and i clip it on upside down so most can't see it. The best selling point for the mini is it's diminutive size. Too bad it's not a very good tuner.

[D C Blood]

Greg..that might have been the first generation of mini-tuners..I did the same thing, gave it a fair trial, then gave it away. This new one will get the same chance...

[greg_tsam]

Greg..that might have been the first generation of mini-tuners..I did the same thing, gave it a fair trial, then gave it away. This new one will get the same chance...

Yea, I'm not biting on this one unless I get a discount like a $20 gift certificate from Musician's Fiend.

[Paul Statman]

Still too busy (because they can?). Maybe if they would simplify the tuner to be just a tuner. A440 only. ON/OFF switch as the only button. Less unused knobs and whistles, as far as my use goes. I don't remember the last time I used, needed, or felt the lack of metronome and other tuning modes on any tuner.

[Ted Eschliman]

I have the latest incarnation of the PWCT12 NS Mini on all my mandolins (three color, green/yellow/red). I've found it to be completely responsive, even in loud environments. I won't use anything else.

[greg_tsam]

I guess the benefit of owning your own music store, Ted, is you get to play with all the latest gear. What was your take on the previous model?

[Russ Jordan]

My experience with the original Mini tuner is positive, it works great.

[Bill Baldridge]

I am very happy with the original Mini tuner. I have a blue, a red, and a black Snark, but keep returning to the mini.

[Ted Eschliman]

I like the original one, too. This seems to track better, and having the 3rd color that lets you know you're getting close makes it more intuitive. I especially like how stealth it is. I leave them on my mandos permanently. Never have to look for a tuner now.

[John Flynn]

I like the original also. I bought a second one. They work fine for me even in noisy performance environments. I have used them on electric bass, mandolin and OM and gotten all good results. I leave them on all the time. Great product.

Only one problem: Now I want two of the new ones!!! No problems with the old ones, I just like the latest and greatest. Also, I think the "flip screen orientation" button may be useful.

[Scott Tichenor]

One of the original minis each for my mandolins, one for the daughter's uke, one for my wife's 1947 Martin D-18. Love them, work great. Looking forward to testing this one out.

[greg_tsam]

To those that like the original, you must not have been in noisy environments. Mine failed to lock on and read accurately when the Snark had no problems. I was in a loud jam, surrounded by banjers. The Mini just couldn't keep up. I love the stealth factor but it's gotta work as a tuner first before looking cool by not being seen Maybe Dietz Music could send me a "test" model?

[Russ Jordan]

I have used the Mini plenty in noisy environment--no problems.

[Scott Tichenor]

To those that like the original, you must not have been in noisy environments.

Glad to see you've been to all my gigs the past few years.

[Mike Floorstand]

Still too busy (because they can?). Maybe if they would simplify the tuner to be just a tuner. A440 only. ON/OFF switch as the only button. Less unused knobs and whistles, as far as my use goes. I don't remember the last time I used, needed, or felt the lack of metronome and other tuning modes on any tuner.

This one doesn't even have an ON/OFF switch

[Dr H]

Not sure why anyone would leave a tuner on an instrument all the time.

I don't leave capos on when I'm not using them; I don't leave audio cords plugged in if I'm playing acoustically; why would I leave a tuner on if I'm not tuning?

You clip-on, tune, remove, and play.

[Russ Jordan]

Not sure why anyone would leave a tuner on an instrument all the time..

I have had my Mini on a varnished mandolin for a year and see no marks. Why not leave it on? I don't lose it, and its there when I need it.

[greg_tsam]

Well if all you fine folk say it's the bee's knees then I'm glad to hear it.

[j. condino]

I have one of the original minis that I bought about three months ago. When it works, I like it a lot, but it seems to eat batteries in about three days. I follow the directions, I turn it off every time, and still dead in three days....after four weeks of this, it sits in the unused obsolete electronics drawer..

One of the nice things about all of the recent tuners is that at the rate they keep shrinking, we'll likely be able to buy one that is just a featherweight thin adhesive strip in a couple of years. What I'd like most of all is a tuner that actually works, when you need it to work, and was built to military spec standards. I wanna be able to step on it, have it fall on the ground, cold weather, hot weather, waterproof , and all the rest of the day to day use that I put them through. All of the tuners I find seem to have the number one concern of a cheap price rather than a working tool; $20 each three or four times a year is no bargain. Do any of the people who design these things actually hang out with real musicians who drink and smoke and yell and laugh from deep down inside and generally ruckus about playing music all night long like all of my friends and customers do? We're not exactly a delicate crowd...

j.
http://condino.com

[Ron McMillan]

I had heard that there was a new Micro Mini in the works, and am glad to see it is here and that it looks even better than the original.

I have had the original for more than a year. It sits permanently in place just north of the nut and behind the headstock where it is not unseemly, doesn't spoil the look of the instrument, is away from threatening the maker's logo (and from the threat of being broken against another player's instrument) - and doesn't even need removed when the instrument goes in a case. The placement of this tuner is the main key to its appeal. I'm pleased to see that the clip mechanism has had some attention, and impressed that a metronome function is now included.

I live in north Thailand, so finding a dealer who stocks them might be an issue, but I can foresee one or two of these new tuners in my near future - and even more time spent in a drawer for my now redundant IMT and Snark tuners.

ron

[Ron McMillan]

Not sure why anyone would leave a tuner on an instrument all the time.

I don't leave capos on when I'm not using them; I don't leave audio cords plugged in if I'm playing acoustically; why would I leave a tuner on if I'm not tuning?

You clip-on, tune, remove, and play.

Actually DH, I think you mean you do that. 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. Apples and oranges.

[John Flynn]

I have one of the original minis that I bought about three months ago. When it works, I like it a lot, but it seems to eat batteries in about three days...

...What I'd like most of all is a tuner that actually works, when you need it to work, and was built to military spec standards.

I wonder if your mini isn't defective. I have rehearsed and performed weekly with mine for most of two years and I am just about to put the third new battery in it.

I get what you're saying about military spec standards, but having worked in military procurement, I have to say that if a tuner were really MIL-SPEC, it would cost hundred of dollars. Remember the famous $400 hammer?

[Russ Jordan]

or could grandcanyonminstrel have gotten a bad batch of batteries? My batteries seem to last just fine too.

[Bill Baldridge]

I don't expect a lot of Quality Control in $20 tuners. That being said, I have had no issues with battery life on my mini. I prefer it in a load jam. I have it sitting right behind the nut and it seems to isolate my mandolin better than one sitting out at the top of the headstock.