Lots of electronic tuners out there available, and with some prices less than the cost of a good pizza, there's never been a better time to own more than one. (One in each case, right?) This means you can pack one that sits big and bulky on your studio desk, or a tiny one that transports with you easily in your case. We're keen on the ones that clamp to a headstock like the Snark tuner or the Planet Waves PW-CT-10. We especially like the latter because it lays more stealth than the brightly colored competitor, allowing the player to tune--not the audience.

Planet Waves just introduced yet another winner at the recent Winter NAMM show, the NS Mini Headstock tuner. Not much larger than the camera/watch battery that powers it, the unit can lay discreetly behind the headstock, and triggers green/red like its bigger sister. These will be available in September, and we'll be excited to see them. Street price is expected to be around $22. (You can buy them here for $17.99)

From the manufacturer's website:
"The NS Mini Headstock Tuner precisely tunes a wide variety of stringed instruments while its low-profile design blends with the aesthetics of your instrument, concealing it from your audience. The highly sensitive piezo transducer and backlit display allow for easy and accurate tuning in noisy, dim or well-lit environments, where other tuners fail. Enjoy effortless and inconspicuous tuning with the NS Mini Headstock Tuner."

*Low profile compact design
*High sensitivity piezo pickup allows for accurate tuning
*Easy to read display in both well lit & dark environments
*Adjustable calibration between 430hz and 450hz

Posted by Ted at August 14, 2011 6:19 AM