Samson CT16 Owner's Manual

Owner's Manual
Introduction
Congratulations on the purchase of your new Samson
CT16 clip-on tuner! Combining precision tuning with a
vivid LCD display, the CT16 makes tuning your instru-
ment easier than ever. The integral clip and dual 360°
ball-joints allow for maximum visibility at any angle, and
make the tuner perfect for use with guitars and basses,
as well as stringed, woodwind and brass instruments.
The CT16 has a piezo sensor, which uses the vibrations
of your instrument to tune which makes the CT16
ideal for tuning in noisy environments. The CT16 is the
ultimate accessory for every instrument case, gig bag,
or back pocket. We suggest that you take some time to
go through these instructions to fully understand how
we've implemented a number of unique features, and to
get the most out of your Samson CT16 tuner.
CT16 Controls and Functions
Power
Clip
Battery Door
LCD Display
Tuning Mode
Flat/Transpose
String number
Copyright 2013, Samson Technologies v2
FLAT
A440 Calibration
LCD Display
Meter
Reference
Pitch
Note Name
Tuning Your Instrument
1. Attach the CT16 to your instrument.
2. Press and hold the Power/MODE button to turn on
the tuner. When the tuner is powered on, the display
will light.
3. Select the tuning mode by tapping the Power/MODE
button. The current mode will be displayed: C (chro-
matic), G (guitar), B (Bass), V (Violin), U (Ukulele
C and D tunings). When the CT16 is set to an instru-
ment mode, the tuner displays the string number
and note name closet to the note played.
4. If necessary, adjust the calibration by pressing the
CALIB button. The CT16 comes from the factory
set to 440 Hz (A440). See Adjusting the reference
pitch below for more information on changing the
calibration.
5. Play a single note on your instrument. The display
will show the name of the note. If in an instrument
mode, the display will also show the string number
closest to the pitch detected by the tuner.
6. While the note is being played, tune your instrument
so that the meter points to the center position and
the display back light changes to green. If the note
is flat, the meter will point to the left side of the
display. If the note is sharp, the meter will point to
the right side of the display.
7. Tune your instrument to the correct pitch so that the
desired note name appears. Repeat this step for each
note or string to be tuned.
Adjusting the reference pitch
The Samson CT16 comes from the factory with the
reference pitch set to 440 Hz (A440), which is the general
tuning standard for musical instruments. If necessary,
the reference pitch can be adjusted to any frequency
between 410–450 Hz. To adjust, press the CALIB button;
Battery Door
the reference pitch will increase by 1 Hz increments.
Note: The reference pitch will be stored even when the
power is turned off. If the battery is removed, the refer-
ence pitch will reset to the factory default (440 Hz).
Flat tuning
The CT16 comes from the factory set to concert pitch,
which means that the tuner displays the note "A" when
A440 is played on an instrument. The CT16 can also
transpose down two semi-tones below concert pitch.
This is perfect for drop tuning guitars, or to use with
non-transposing instruments like a B♭ clarinet. Press
the FLAT button on the back of the tuner to lower the
relative pitch. The tuner will lower a half step each time
the button is pressed, and the display will indicate one or
two flats (♭). To return the tuner to concert pitch, press
the FLAT button until no flats (♭) are visible.
Note: The transpose setting will be stored even when the
power is turned off. If the battery is removed, the setting
will reset to the factory default.
Tips for tuning stringed instruments
For best results when tuning a stringed instrument, use a
light to medium plucking volume. Strings will usually go
sharp after the initial attack. Plucking the strings too hard
will emphasize this effect.
Pluck the string with the flesh of your thumb. This will
produce a note with fewer overtones for the tuner to
process than when using your fingernail or a pick.
If the note is not registering, or the display jumps be-
tween notes, try muting the other stings to eliminate any
sympathetic vibrations.
It is recommended that you tune up from a flatter pitch.
This reduces any slack in the instrument's tuning pegs.
If you go too far, loosen the string tension and tune up
again.