Korg Chromatic Tuner CA-30

by Korg

Product Features

• Chromatic auto-tuner with large calibration range: from A-410 to A-480
• Generates 12 chromatic tones in the full calibration range
• A high-sensitivity mic is built-in, allowing easy and accurate tuning of acoustic instruments
• The back of the unit includes a unique arc-shaped "tilt slit" that lets you insert a plastic card for use as a handy stand
• Batteries included

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5 x 2.5 x 1 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• ASIN: B000EE2136
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,538 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #85 in Musical Instruments > Instrument Accessories > General Accessories > Tuning
  • #96 in Musical Instruments > Instrument Accessories > Guitar & Bass Accessories > Tuners

Product Description

This compact chromatic tuner supports a broad range of C1 (32.70 Hz)-C8 (4186.01 Hz), allowing speedy and high-precision tuning of wind, string, keyboard, and other instruments. This tuner is ideal for tuning even low-register notes containing numerous overtones that are often difficult to tune. A high-sensitivity mic is built-in, allowing easy and accurate tuning of acoustic instruments such as ukuleles. A separately sold CM-100 contact mic can also be used to send the vibrations directly to the tuner for even more accurate tuning. Although the CA-30 is small, thin, and light, don't let its pocket-sized body fool you. The CA-30 packs the functionality needed for tuning a wide range of instruments. From studio to stage, tuning is easy and convenient. The back of the unit includes a unique arc-shaped "tilt slit" that lets you insert a plastic card for use as a handy stand.The meter section uses a LCD needle, combining the accuracy of an LCD with the easy visibility of a needle, and providing a stable display. Additional visual feedback is provided by LEDs that indicate pitch deviation.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All you will ever need, August 3, 2005

By 

Tony Thomas (SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL USA) - See all my reviews

Unless you are doing scientific experiments, this is all the tuner any player of guitar, banjo, or fiddle will ever need. I would say other instruments, but these are all the instruments I can play.

A recent thread on the banjo-l list serve about tuners found that most of the hundreds of members of the group felt that the Ca 30 was all they ever needed. This included folks who report having used much more expensive tuners before the CA-30.

I have tried more extensive tuners, especially the Intellitouch which seemed very fashionable when I bought one a couple years ago. However, these tuners are easier to read, sturdier, and truly chromatic. They fit very handily inside even a small violin case or your breast pocket. They also have plug ins for using them with electric instruments or pickups on acoustics.

I would add that sometimes they are not as faithful if the battery is running down. I also find it can be a pain to use them because the dial is not backlit. However, that is something you just adjust to.

I have two guitars and two banjos and a fiddle. I keep two of these plus a Korg that is a version of this basic operation for guitars and basses.

This is all you will ever need and the only way to beat it for the money is to steal one!

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent value -- I have 2 of these., January 3, 2005

By 

sir_isaac_newton (UK) - See all my reviews

I prefer the older model a little more as it has better, more positive buttons - I usually find myself having to press on/off twice. Other than than it is superb. I have one velcro'd to my music stand for my electric guitar -- which I feed from my Marshall practice amplifier's line-out (or the effects line out of my other amp). The other, I use for my acoustic guitar (the tuner has a built in microphone), my son's & for checking the key/chords of tunes (that is a nice benefit of the "chromatic" part of this feature -- it will correctly detect & identify any and all notes). Batteries are cheap/common AAA & usuage is very low (the LCD is not backlit, so power usage is minimal). Stability is comparable to most other tuners including those costing $100 and more.

I recently invested in a Boss TU2 foot pedal tuner. I actually prefer the Boss -- it is brighter (for stage use) and, although technically less accurate than the Korg, provides more stable readings and hence allows very quick tuning. It can also be used as a mute switch and has a strobe feature which I never use. However, this costs about 5x as much as the Korg, uses more power (either wall wart or expensive 9V battery).

In conclusion, the Korg is excellent value at well under $20.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Value, January 28, 2006

By 

John Noodles (A Field in ND, USA) - See all my reviews

I've never owned one of the more expensive chromatic tuners on the market, so I can't compare this Korg to one of those others. I can say, though, that I have no complaints about this piece of equipment. Having used this tuner for a year now (on the same set of batteries), I can't imagine why anyone would need or want one of the more expensive devices. If you want a cheap, effective electronic tuner, this is the one to get.