Accepting that there is no such thing as a perfect instrument (the more you get to know them the more you discover their weaknesses and indiscretions) I would say that I am pretty happy with my main instrument (guitar).
Oh, and I have a chromatic tuner (Boss TU-12) that I have had since the mid eighties - I won it in a competition. It's very accurate and helped me identify a nut problem recently (the high point in the slot for the B string was not quite at the front of the slot, causing intonation problems as well as high pitched zing).
Sometimes my harp works and sometimes it behaves like it really can't be arsed. I think it's probably really my mood, and I'm imagining the instrument is responsible. But definitely, some days it will tune perfectly, other days it just won't cooperate.
I have a beautiful violin that I think has a lovely sound, with the best quality strings I can afford, a Boss TU 12 (bought early eighties and following a recent check with some very fancy tuning kit spot on) chromatic tuner.
I use the tuner as a 'start', for as another contributor would say 'use your ears' for the best result although I have to admit that some days I reckon the ears are stuffed with cotton wool and the fingers are made out of sausages and nothing is right.
Just have to play through it. Tomorrow is another day
Anyway, as somebody put it the other day - tuning is an agreement between musicians.
Although a restless and relentless tone chaser in the past, I have to admit I'm very happy with my current instruments, although they are all subject to operator error.
i love my violin, it's just getting around the "keeping your fingers on top of the string" thing. And changing to F# and C natural on D and A strings from normal F's and C's has always been a problem for me
I wouldn't trade my fiddle for anything I can imagine!
Now I couldn't have said that of my first one.
And the one I have now is NOT the most expensive fiddle in the world. I just was incredibly lucky to have the help of a knowledgeable "violin man," Dalton Potter of Potter's/Weavers violins -- in selecting and finishing the "block" it was made from. This was a long time ago, when the fiddle shop was still Bill Weaver's (Bill Weaver now only handles extremely expensive stringed instruments and Dalton has the Violin House.
hey Marco, are you talking about a flute? if i play mine into a tuner i'm not always happy but when i play with other instruments i seem to adjust and ply in tune .
I'm happy with my instruments, but largely *because* I have a chromatic tuner. It would take *years* of practice to learn to tune a harmonica without one.
I like my one row melodeon. It doesnt need tuning (at least I don't think so!), and although it is a "limited" instrument, I am vastly more limited than it is!
As long as I don't expect my silver Boehm to sound like my wooden simple system flutes and vice versa, I am fine. But check this video clip out. http://www.forbesflutes.com/index.html
Kevin Crawford on a delrin-polymer. Man! I'll take one of those!
Chromatic tuners are great in a noisy pub when you can't even hear what your instrument's playing - with the harp you can't easily move and I don't see why others should suffer - so I run my tuner from the built-in harp pickup. So they are useful things - especially with an instrument that's sensitive to temp / humidity and sends the tuning all over the place...
Are you happy with your instrument?
Are you happy with your instrument?
If you are, don't buy a chromatic tuner.
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by gian marco
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
I am very happty with my instrument ,its the strings that are the bother
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by bazouki dave
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
whoops I should say happy
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by bazouki dave
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
I love my instruments and my strings are ok... my problem lies with my arms and fingers.
Either that or my ears are out a bit!
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by session savage
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
Accepting that there is no such thing as a perfect instrument (the more you get to know them the more you discover their weaknesses and indiscretions) I would say that I am pretty happy with my main instrument (guitar).
Oh, and I have a chromatic tuner (Boss TU-12) that I have had since the mid eighties - I won it in a competition. It's very accurate and helped me identify a nut problem recently (the high point in the slot for the B string was not quite at the front of the slot, causing intonation problems as well as high pitched zing).
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by DonaldK
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
Lovely instrument it's what I (can't) do with it...
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by minijackpot
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
Sometimes my harp works and sometimes it behaves like it really can't be arsed. I think it's probably really my mood, and I'm imagining the instrument is responsible. But definitely, some days it will tune perfectly, other days it just won't cooperate.
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by Mark Harmer
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
I have a beautiful violin that I think has a lovely sound, with the best quality strings I can afford, a Boss TU 12 (bought early eighties and following a recent check with some very fancy tuning kit spot on) chromatic tuner.
I use the tuner as a 'start', for as another contributor would say 'use your ears' for the best result although I have to admit that some days I reckon the ears are stuffed with cotton wool and the fingers are made out of sausages and nothing is right.
Just have to play through it. Tomorrow is another day
Anyway, as somebody put it the other day - tuning is an agreement between musicians.
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by john knoss
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
Hey GM, what's with the 'chromatic tuner'?
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
Although a restless and relentless tone chaser in the past, I have to admit I'm very happy with my current instruments, although they are all subject to operator error.
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by drone
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
i love my violin, it's just getting around the "keeping your fingers on top of the string" thing. And changing to F# and C natural on D and A strings from normal F's and C's has always been a problem for me
but like i say, that's ME, not the violin
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by jack.rowe
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
I wouldn't trade my fiddle for anything I can imagine!
Now I couldn't have said that of my first one.
And the one I have now is NOT the most expensive fiddle in the world. I just was incredibly lucky to have the help of a knowledgeable "violin man," Dalton Potter of Potter's/Weavers violins -- in selecting and finishing the "block" it was made from. This was a long time ago, when the fiddle shop was still Bill Weaver's (Bill Weaver now only handles extremely expensive stringed instruments and Dalton has the Violin House.
Anyay --- I think it has a lovely quality.
Linda
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by Fid42
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
I'm very happy with my guitar, and I have to admit that, when playing with three other guitarists, I'm very happy with my chromatic tuner.
I am less happy with my bouzouki, but ask me again in a few weeks when I expect to have have my new Phil Crump bouzouki.
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by Ginepro
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
hey Marco, are you talking about a flute? if i play mine into a tuner i'm not always happy but when i play with other instruments i seem to adjust and ply in tune .
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by Dont
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
tuners are designed to tune the vibrations of strings for wind instruments they are only a rough but useful guide nothing is as good as your ear
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by redness1
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
I'm happy with my instruments, but largely *because* I have a chromatic tuner. It would take *years* of practice to learn to tune a harmonica without one.
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by robharper
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
I like my one row melodeon. It doesnt need tuning (at least I don't think so!), and although it is a "limited" instrument, I am vastly more limited than it is!
# Posted on February 9th 2008 by PatrickJWK
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
Sure, I am happy. And considering the money I spent, I'd lie to both you and my wife if I weren't.
# Posted on February 10th 2008 by the dawn
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
As long as I don't expect my Boehm to sound like my wooden simple system flute and vice versa. But check out Kevin
# Posted on February 10th 2008 by red_tiger
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
As long as I don't expect my silver Boehm to sound like my wooden simple system flutes and vice versa, I am fine. But check this video clip out. http://www.forbesflutes.com/index.html
Kevin Crawford on a delrin-polymer. Man! I'll take one of those!
# Posted on February 10th 2008 by red_tiger
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
Whoops. I got a little excited!
# Posted on February 10th 2008 by red_tiger
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
My pipes are ok, but I can think of a few makers I'd prefer to have a set from! I have no use for a chromatic tuner however.
# Posted on February 10th 2008 by meemtp
Re: Are you happy with your instrument?
Chromatic tuners are great in a noisy pub when you can't even hear what your instrument's playing - with the harp you can't easily move and I don't see why others should suffer - so I run my tuner from the built-in harp pickup. So they are useful things - especially with an instrument that's sensitive to temp / humidity and sends the tuning all over the place...
# Posted on February 11th 2008 by Mark Harmer