Product: Sabine XT-1100 Tuner
Price Paid: US $35 used
Submitted
11/05/1998
at
09:50am
by
Mike Tatro
Email: mtatro<at>concentric dot net
Ease of Use
:
8
Very solid lock on pitch for tuning purposes. However, no manual and box doesn't say what "Calibrate" switch is for.
Small deduction for incomplete documentation of an impossible to understand (without it) feature.
Also, a major deduction for the brain-dead engineering practice of using a non-standard 9V power jack. Arggh! Guys... I write manuals for a living. I know well-thought out engineering when I see it. The power connector issue is too simple not to have got it right during design. Period. IMHO, this one thing detracts from an otherwise impeccable product. Shame.
I would also prefered a letter display so I can better see which pitch is locked in.
Gee, it sounds like I don't like it very much... WRONG! This tuner is the best thing going right now because it's fast, accurate and stable. I use it in spite of its limitations and workarounds.
Sound Quality
:
No Opinion
Not applicable.
I always put my tuners on an A/B selector to completely kill my signal path for silent tuning and to ensure that the tuner doesn't suck my tone while I'm playing. I strongly advise EVERYONE to do likewise.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Cheap plastic case and yes, the battery cover doesn't fit quite right.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I emailed Sabine support about the power connector. They did return my original email with an attitude of "you can work around our by doing this." When it was clear I would've preferred better engineering over workarounds, I didn't get a response.
All in all, the guy I emailed was very congenial and they seem like a pretty sharp bunch of guys (just use the same connectors every else does next time, OK?). I'm sure any "attitude" on their part is at least 50% my doing.
Overall Rating
:
9
Like I said, I use it in spite of its limitations.
Tuners are another area where manufacturers don't seem to be listening real well to musicians. Every musician I know wants true bypass, signal killed when tuning, fast, accurate, stable chromatic tuning circuit and want it powered by standard 9V power (batteries or standard Boss type connector). Yet, not a single tuner has all these features.
Right now, this is your best bet (IMHO).
Also value... $35 for a tuner this fast, accurate and stable is a real bargain. That's why I'm awarding it a 9.
