Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Lets all drool over your stuff :)

Moderators: Slowy, Capt. Black

Post Reply
User avatar
Slowy
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 22638
meble-kuchenne.warszawa.pl
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:13 pm
Location: Orcland
Has liked: 1011 times
Been liked: 2465 times

Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by Slowy »

I have 2 TC Polytunes; a full size white one that is about a year old and a black Mini.
Couple of things I'm wondering about:

The full size one needs an input jack before it will switch on. The Mini doesn't. This is good because I can power up my board and amp with the tuner muted and plug my guitar in later. With the full size one, I have to plug in the lead to mute it before plugging in the amp.

Also, I get times when it just won't give me a single note reading. Sometimes it stays in poly mode and other times it enjoys telling me my B string is tuned to E..nearly. These things can be replicated somewhat by having the guitar volume too low so let's assume I know this and have the volume on full.

Anybody else seen stuff like this? Am I missing something?
And we don't talk about software updates. The 12 month old one was a replacement for one that got bricked as I carefully followed the update instructions. :x
Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who so survive.

User avatar
sizzlingbadger
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 8241
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:12 am
Location: Wire Wrapper
Has liked: 1200 times
Been liked: 1398 times

Re: Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by sizzlingbadger »

Tube amp and guitar tones straight from 1958… amazing how believable the sounds were back then, even without the modellers...

User avatar
calling card
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 4279
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:56 am
Location: Hoodoo dump, BOP
Has liked: 855 times
Been liked: 274 times

Re: Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by calling card »

Get one of these, sorted.

Image
Last edited by calling card on Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
2024; I have explored the extent of the perimeter dome, there is no escape. I am become Morpheus

User avatar
Slowy
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 22638
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:13 pm
Location: Orcland
Has liked: 1011 times
Been liked: 2465 times

Re: Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by Slowy »

sizzlingbadger wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:16 am viewtopic.php?p=955864#p955864
Don't want to swap, want to understand the characteristics and apparent differences in what I have.
Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who so survive.

User avatar
Slowy
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 22638
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:13 pm
Location: Orcland
Has liked: 1011 times
Been liked: 2465 times

Re: Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by Slowy »

calling card wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:36 am Get one of these, sorted.

Image
:roll: Bloody big tuner!
Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who so survive.

User avatar
Kris
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 4087
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 1:52 pm
Location: Under a bridge,somewhere in chch.
Has liked: 124 times
Been liked: 386 times

Re: Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by Kris »

Cant say i ever had that issue,only that the poly function was absolutely useless. Personally i think its a curse that will only be remedied by changing brands or some kind of blood magic.
My poly clip is fantastic,but they dont like loud enviroments

User avatar
jeremyb
Chorus of Organs
Posts: 40878
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:03 am
Has liked: 7685 times
Been liked: 4157 times

Re: Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by jeremyb »

Is one set to true bypass and the other not perhaps?
Slowy wrote: That's the problem; everything rewarding is just such hard work. Regret takes much less effort.

User avatar
Slowy
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 22638
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:13 pm
Location: Orcland
Has liked: 1011 times
Been liked: 2465 times

Re: Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by Slowy »

Kris wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:41 am Cant say i ever had that issue,only that the poly function was absolutely useless. Personally i think its a curse that will only be remedied by changing brands or some kind of blood magic.
My poly clip is fantastic,but they dont like loud enviroments
It seems the only thing the poly function really does is give you a quick indication of which strings need attention.
Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who so survive.

User avatar
Slowy
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 22638
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:13 pm
Location: Orcland
Has liked: 1011 times
Been liked: 2465 times

Re: Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by Slowy »

jeremyb wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:42 am Is one set to true bypass and the other not perhaps?
:think: Interesting........
Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who so survive.

User avatar
bender
Darth Fader
Posts: 11838
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 12:46 pm
Location: Dorkland
Has liked: 415 times
Been liked: 1010 times

Re: Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by bender »

Slowy wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:37 am
sizzlingbadger wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:16 am viewtopic.php?p=955864#p955864
Don't want to swap, want to understand the characteristics and apparent differences in what I have.
Dammit.

User avatar
robthemac
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 8518
Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2019 3:47 pm
Has liked: 1102 times
Been liked: 1419 times

Re: Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by robthemac »

If you play a single string on a guitar, there will be overtones, so you're tuner might be recognizing them. I think they're usually fifths rather than fourths, though. Would make more sense if your E sting was showing up as a B. Every tuner I've had does this to an extent.

And in terms of needing a lead to be plugged in, this is why I had my tuner second on my board, not first. Obviously you don't want it after a flanger or a tape delay, but a boost or light OD won't impact on it's function as a tuner.
Jops wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 7:46 am Spring is the comic sans of reverbs anyway.

User avatar
Slowy
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 22638
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:13 pm
Location: Orcland
Has liked: 1011 times
Been liked: 2465 times

Re: Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by Slowy »

robthemac wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:48 am If you play a single string on a guitar, there will be overtones, so you're tuner might be recognizing them. I think they're usually fifths rather than fourths, though. Would make more sense if your E sting was showing up as a B. Every tuner I've had does this to an extent.
Good point Robbie and you may well be right about the E reading as a B. (I'm old and confused)
So you're saying I should replace my resonant, harmonically rich solidbodies with plywood Ashtons?
Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who so survive.

User avatar
robthemac
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 8518
Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2019 3:47 pm
Has liked: 1102 times
Been liked: 1419 times

Re: Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by robthemac »

Slowy wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 10:02 am
robthemac wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:48 am If you play a single string on a guitar, there will be overtones, so you're tuner might be recognizing them. I think they're usually fifths rather than fourths, though. Would make more sense if your E sting was showing up as a B. Every tuner I've had does this to an extent.
Good point Robbie and you may well be right about the E reading as a B. (I'm old and confused)
So you're saying I should replace my resonant, harmonically rich solidbodies with plywood Ashtons?
No, I'm saying you should replace them with a sine-wave generator.
Jops wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 7:46 am Spring is the comic sans of reverbs anyway.

User avatar
jeremyb
Chorus of Organs
Posts: 40878
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:03 am
Has liked: 7685 times
Been liked: 4157 times

Re: Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by jeremyb »

robthemac wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:48 am If you play a single string on a guitar, there will be overtones, so you're tuner might be recognizing them. I think they're usually fifths rather than fourths, though. Would make more sense if your E sting was showing up as a B. Every tuner I've had does this to an extent.

And in terms of needing a lead to be plugged in, this is why I had my tuner second on my board, not first. Obviously you don't want it after a flanger or a tape delay, but a boost or light OD won't impact on it's function as a tuner.
I’ve seen this happen with old strings too, have you changed them recently Slowy?
Slowy wrote: That's the problem; everything rewarding is just such hard work. Regret takes much less effort.

User avatar
Slowy
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 22638
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:13 pm
Location: Orcland
Has liked: 1011 times
Been liked: 2465 times

Re: Polytune: Maybe I just can't drive it.

Post by Slowy »

jeremyb wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 10:18 am
robthemac wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:48 am If you play a single string on a guitar, there will be overtones, so you're tuner might be recognizing them. I think they're usually fifths rather than fourths, though. Would make more sense if your E sting was showing up as a B. Every tuner I've had does this to an extent.

And in terms of needing a lead to be plugged in, this is why I had my tuner second on my board, not first. Obviously you don't want it after a flanger or a tape delay, but a boost or light OD won't impact on it's function as a tuner.
I’ve seen this happen with old strings too, have you changed them recently Slowy?
Another interesting point. I'm due some new strings.
Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who so survive.

Post Reply