Seiko STX2 Clip-On Chromatic Tuner
• Tuning Range: A0 - C8
• Calibration: 435 Hz - 446 Hz
• Compact design for portability
• Excellent, precise tuning
• Sensitivity-Modulate function blocks out background noise when tuning in noisy areas
Seiko has long been known for portable electronics, most notably for wristwatches. For many of us, our first digital watches in the ’80s bore their name. The company’s STX2 clip-on tuner actually has a similar look of their timepieces of yesteryear, along with near pinpoint accuracy.
One of the STX2’s biggest strengths is its ability to be folded up into an easily pocketable unit. The look is delightfully retro, right down to the tuner’s nine individual tuning indicators. The clip is only about an inch longer than the tuning display itself, and it attached firmly to both guitars with ease. Inside the clip is a thick strip of rubber that fits snugly against a headstock, which helped with the clip’s tight coupling.
Tuning accuracy with the Seiko was excellent on both the Tele and Martin. I was even able to pick up some intonation issues with the tuner after I plucked a harmonic on the Tele’s 6th string at the 12th fret. This was after I engaged the built-in sensitivity modulation function (which was designed to block out background interference like tuning in a noisy room) but it still stood out as being pretty extraordinary nonetheless. Being able to detect an intonation issue like this with a simple clip-on tuner is normally unheard of.
The STX2 could be positioned pretty much any way I wanted, except I couldn’t twist the tuner readout around. Luckily, the readout was mounted on its own slider clip, allowing me to pop it out, flip it, and slide it back in, albeit with a little more effort than it should have required.
Street: $44.99
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