Customer Reviews

Qwik Tune - Snark All Instrument Clip On Tuner

5 star:		(72)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I finally decided to buy a clip on tuner as I have a few acoustic guitars including a 12 string that don't have built in tuners like the more modern electro-acoustics.
This tuner works extremely well as far as tuning is concerned.I've checked the readings on an electric guitar plugged into my Line6 Podfarm and the readings coincide on every string.
As it is a chromatic tuner it is also extremely useful when using alternate tunings or a capo.
I no longer have to silence every other noise in the room when tuning as the tuner works by sensing the vibration of the string through the headstock.If required the built in mic can be used instead.It is slightly fiddly to clip onto my Ovations due to the shape of the headstock but a secure clipping point can be found with a little experimentation.This may be more of a problem on other guitars with unconventional headstock designs but this would probably be the case with most clip on tuners.
The design is a refreshing change from the more common rectangular/square designs of most of the competition and the build quality including the clip mechanism appears to be excellent.
I will add a further comment at a later date concerning the battery life as I've only been using the tuner for 4 days at the time of writing this review.I'll be using the tuner nearly everday so I'll soon find out how long the supplied battery lasts for.When it expires it will be fitted with a Duracell so I'll be able to do a comparison between the two.
A definite 5 star product!

14 MAY 2011 Update on battery life:
4 months of use (approx 20 mins a day on average) and the original battery is still going strong showing 3.1 volts on my voltage meter.

My trusty Intellitouch PT1 suffered from a fractured hinge joint [a known weak spot] that couldn't be replaced or repaired so I started to look round for a replacement and decided to give the Snark a try. This device really does live up to its claims. Attachment is secure, tuning response is very quick and the display is clear and ergonomic in the way that it is easy to read. The Intellitouch could never reliably lock on to the notes quickly enough to track a note as you tune it - this meant that tuning was a multi step process - pluck, check, tune, pluck, check, tune etc until the arrows matched. With the Snark I get a real sense of where the tuning is - not just high or low and can see the note come into tune on the display as I turn the tuning key. For slight out of tune situations the whole process is very quick - pluck, tune, done! Highly recommended, although I expect I'll be changing batteries more often than the once every 5 years that the Intellitouch required.

I have one of these nice looking (slightly more funky than most others) tuner for my banjos and guitars. Will probably buy more.

They are flexible enough to be mounted almost anywhere with nice padded feet and a double ball joint mount that swivels all ways.

Go buy.

I shall keep this shortish and sweet.This is a mighty fine tuner and a doddle to use. Clip it on to your headstock,turn it on, make sure you're in vibration mode (the tuner has a mic setting as well) and away you go.
Until a few weeks ago I was a long time standard tuning guitar player,I'd stray into alternate tunings occasionally but always a hassle,I've a good ear but not that good and retuning would take me an age every time.Since I bought the Snark the world of alternate tunings has been a revelation to me and I'll go as far as to say that this tuner has actually helped improve my playing.
This particular tuner is for all instruments. I've only tested it out on guitars, Spanish, steel string and resonator but I bought it in case I need to pass it over to someone on another instrument at a jam (be warned, you might not get it back!)

The display is very easy to read and good in low light conditions so if you're a performer or just like hanging out in the dark you're good to go.
The only reason I'm not giving this five stars is that the finish on otherwise excellent ball socket swivel design which allows you to position the display was flaking away slightly on the ball nearest the clip before I'd even swiveled it. Shame,but maybe I just got a slightly flaky one off.
The clip is good,strong and rubberized so shouldn't mark your instrument though I wouldn't leave it in place permanently.
Warning- Don't tune your guitar and then forget the Snark is in place and switched on. If you get into playing for a while I suspect you'll flatten the battery pretty quickly.

I have used tuners since they were the size of a brick and needed total silence around me to achieve the desired effect. Until recently I used one which shall remain nameless, but looked like a wing mirror on my guitar head. Somebody went home with my tuner in his pocket so I needed a replacement, and was recommended the Snark by a good friend. What a good friend he is !!! This is the most "all singing, all dancing" little thing - looks like a Darlek, but has so much built into it that you could be forgiven for mistaking it for a Tardis !! How they fit into a unit this size a very fine tuner, a metronome, battery monitor, facility to tune to a fixed instrument (i.e. a piano), back-light, and much more that I haven't found yet, baffles me. But that is probably why I need a tuner in the first place.!! If you are looking for an electronic tuner you can't go past this one, and its not the most expensive on the market either !!!

Bought one of these about 5 months ago and I have been very pleased.

Clear display, red is flat, yellow is sharp and green is tuned!
The clear bright display makes tuning easy.
Seems very accurate (though I'm not sure how accuracy is measured) and unlike my Korg clip on it doesn't require me to mute strings I'm not tuning. (The Korg seems to get a bit over excited by the harmonics)

Works well on my Ukes and my banjo.

Still using the original battery.

I've tried three clip-on tuners and of those three this is the one I'd buy again.

Edit:
No indication of battery failure other than it stops responding to higher notes!
Just beware, still super gizmo.

This tuner is just excellent. The display has orange-shaped segments in a semi-circle; the segments light up to show you how far you are sharp or flat. Other tuners I've used have been so sensitive that the display oscillates backwards and forwards as the note builds up and dies away. This one is much better - there is a certain amount of flicker, but it quickly stabilises. It is really easy to use, fast and very accurate.

I also like the "jaws". They open wide enough to fit nicely on the headstock of my guitar (classical, the headstocks of which are perhaps wider than on other guitars ?). They are also rubberised so I'm not worried about damaging the wood or veneer.

I just wish that it came in a carry case or small box. It's a really small, compact unit, and would move around a lot in the storage well of my guitar case. A box would protect it. I can see however that it would be difficult to provide a box that's useful for every user as the unit varies a lot in shape depending on the angle you choose (and I like to leave mine unaltered at the angle that's easiest for me).

I am very happy with my purchase.

Good product, very accurate with either mic or vib setting. Easy to use but seems a little heavy on battery. Recommended.

Qwik Tune - Snark All Instrument Clip On TunerThis little gadget does exactly what it is supposed to do and it looks good I havent had time to check the battery life but so far so good

I bought this tuner as a replacement for a standard chromatic tuner/metronome. This clip on tuner worked really well for about 2 months, and I was really happy with it. I play both Guitar and Clarinet, and this worked well for both, perfect for taking to gigs.
Then I fell less than a foot of my guitar flight case. The ball-and-socket clip on the back snapped, and the tuner stopped turning on. I've tried taking out the battery, and then trying again, etc etc... I would have hoped that a product meant for on the go would have a little more durability than this. I think I'll go back to a more conventional tuner from here on, at least I know those won't break after a little drop any more.
If you know that you'll be incredibly careful with the tuner, never drop it once, then this is a good one for you. If you're normal like the rest of us, and are prone to the occasional accident, get an old style one.