Instructions for an Ibanez GU20

An electronic tuner takes some of the work out of playing an instrument.

Any guitarist or bass player knows tuning his or her instrument is a basic skill that requires almost as much practice as actual playing technique. Once you understand them, electronic tuners like the Ibanez GU20 make tuning a quick and simple task. Learning how to use the tuner, however, can prove a challenging undertaking. The GU20 bass/guitar tuner is a flexible device that can produce confusing results until you master the basic functions.

Instructions

Automatic Mode

1. Turn the unit on. Press and release the "Power" button located below and to the left of the display screen.

2. Press the "Mode" button to select bass or guitar in automatic tuning mode. Watch the liquid crystal display (LCD) to determine which mode is selected with each button press. Initial startup mode for the GU20 is automatic guitar.

3. Pluck the instrument's lowest pitched string. Watch the LCD needle display -- as well as the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) above the display -- to determine whether the note is sharp or flat. The string and pitch the tuner is attempting to match shows in the lower-left corner of the display. Adjust the pitch of each string to bring the display needle to zero and illuminate all three LEDs.

Manual Mode

1. Prepare the tuner following the first two steps of the previous section.

2. Press the "Adjust" button until the unit displays the number and pitch of the string you wish to tune.

3. Pluck the string. Adjust the string's pitch until the tuner's needle points to zero and all three LEDs are lit.

Tips & Warnings

• The GU20 has instrument cable input and output ports, as well as a microphone. The microphone is turned off when an instrument cable is inserted in the input port. The output port allows you to leave the tuner connected to the instrument while playing through an amplifier. Turn the unit off to prevent it from amplifying the generated hum.

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• You can also use this tuner to generate a reference to tune by ear. Press the "Sound" button to automatically switch the tuner to manual guitar mode. Pressing the "Function" button at this point changes the generated reference note. This function is not available for bass guitars, however.

References

• Ibanez: Guitar & Bass Auto Tuner User's Manual