April 2002

GEAR REVIEWS - GUYATONE PT-21 TUNER

This nifty little tuner, sporting its unique shape and application, works on acoustic and electric guitars and has several groundbreaking features that set it apart.

The PT-21 folds in an L-shape and adheres to the top of the guitar. It is operated using three function buttons - Power, Mode, and Select. You start by hitting the Mode switch, then choosing Direct, which senses vibrations from the instrument’s body. With an amplified acoustic or electric guitar, this eliminates many hassles, most notably having to unplug the instrument of click a foot pedal.

Washable sticky pads keep the tuner adhered to the instrument, and with one quick push of a button, you’re there.

The tuner works equally well on a nylon-string classical or steel-string acoustic guitars.

The PT-21 can also tune in the "Mic" mode. The mic can be used with non-vibrating instruments like horns. Reading the bright LED's is easy enough, and the near half-moon display has eight red LED's: four on each side, with a green LED in the center to let you know when you've hit the note.

The LED half-moon also lets you calibrate the PT-21 from A437 to A445 Hz by using the "Select" button. Hertz settings are written above each LED starting from the lower left side (437, 438, 439, etc.).

The auto calibration feature lets you tune the PT-21 to an outside instrument. So if you play along to a piano that's slightly out of pitch, you can quickly and easily tune to it! This does happen, so this is a worthwhile feature.

The auto-off feature maximizes battery life (3-volt lithium) and maintains user confidence.

The Guyatone PT-21 has some innovative features that are useable and very practical. It's a marvelous tool that works equally well for gigging guitarists and the home-alone string bender.