I have multiple models of Snark pedals that ride around on various instruments. The thing I really like about this model is the clamp. It seems like it will be much less prone to breaking than most of their tuners. What I don't like is the accuracy when tuning on stage. It only gets you close, but not quite there.

There is a warning with the instructions about it removing the finish on certain types of guitar finishes. I am not sure if that includes either my Martin or Taylor and I haven't found a source to determine if I can leave it one without a problem.

Solid clamp works well, very accurate and easy to read in all but outside conditions. This replaced my former tuner that had a broken clamp. The device still works fine and is one up one this unit because it is black LED against a backlit background; red out of tune, green in tune with needle pointer. This unit is good but it's only 4 stars because it is hard to read outside.

Clip on tuners have become commodities, that is, they pretty much all work the same with the same accuracy. (They're now much like wristwatches, where even the cheapest watch has a movement that's as accurate as the most expensive watch, or ballpoint pens, where they all use the same cartridge, differing mostly in what holds it.)

There are differences but they tend to be small, mostly revolving around shape and additional features that rarely (if ever!) get used except to get in the way. Don't you just like the tuners that cycle through G,V,U,B,C or switch between mic and clip(*) if you hold the 0/1 button too long only to make you wonder why the tuner is misbehaving? But, I digress... Despite a drawerful of clip on tuners, I'm a sucker for a new tuner, especially Snarks. Here's a new model, so I had to check it out.

What is a tuner brand to do to distinguish itself from the pack? Complacency can be deadly. Consider the original Intellitouch, It never responded to users complaints about how it failed to register the bass end of many dreadnought guitars. It didn't have to. It was the only game in town. Don't like it? Too bad. Where are you going to go? The Intelli tuner, which solved the Intellitouch's problems at half the cost, ate Intellitouch's lunch. The company (OnBoard) is still around with a wide variety of models, but I can't recall the last time I saw one. (I attend a bunch of festivals each year.)

Which brings us back to Snark. Despite looking like a mushroom has sprouted from one's instrument and a neck that was prone to snapping, they've now taken over to the point where a festival looks like it's populated all over with...instrument sprouting mushrooms! However, complacency is a bad thing, which is why Snark has already lost much of the fiddle market (http://www.amazon.com/DAddario-NS-Micro-Violin-Tuner/dp/B00L1LL7DQ) and is slowing losing the ukulele market (http://www.amazon.com/DAddario-NS-Micro-Clip-On-Tuner/dp/B005FKF1PY) to D'Addario's micro tuners.

The HZ1 is Snark's latest entry into this crowded field. It has a slightly smaller size than other Snarks. It improves on previous models in two ways:
* The neck socket seems much more sturdy that that of earlier Snarks. It gives the impression that it will not break as easily.
* The clamp has no rubber foot on the clamp to lose. I've seen one review that the clamp can slip off easily. That is not my experience. I'd urge that reviewer to call D'Addario for a replacement.

Then, there's the ridiculous. The HZ in the model's name refers to Hertz. The unit can display the frequency with which a string is vibrating by pressing a button on its back. I call this gimmick ridiculous for two reasons. First, if the tuner is used properly by tuning a string so that ONLY the green center bar is visiible, the string will be at the proper pitch. I didn't find that the Hertz display allowed me to tune any more accurately. Second, is that it display Hertz! In order to use it properly, you;d either have to memorize the proper frequency for each string (E=82.4, A=110.0, D=146.8, G=196,0, B=246.9, E=329.6), values that just roll off the tongue...NOT...carry a card with you, or enter the data into one's cell phone.

Overall, a very nice Snark tuner. I've asked myself if this is the tuner I'd choose if I were starting all over, that is, one for each instrument and case. It doesn't have a tap tuner, which I have used...rarely, but used, but yes, some of them would be the HZ-1. I like it!

(*) Is there *anyone* who has *ever* put a clip on tuner into mic mode intentionally?

I have a couple of OTHER [Regular] SNARK Tuners, but, the CLIP BROKE on the black one... :o(
So, I searched for an "UNBREAKABLE CLIP SNARK", and, THIS "SNARK HZ1" came-up!
And, it's great!
It seems to be made of ABS (the so-called "High-Impact Plastic"), BTW.
When I purchased it, [12/15/20], it was just $14.84, which is only a couple bucks more than I payed for the broken one, which, BTW, is WORTHLESS, now!
FYI, I haven't had any luck using the HZ-function, yet... Though, I believe I was trying to tune Low E to High E, whereas, I've since noticed that it requires you to tune High-to-Low, instead... So, it was user-error.
But, it might be a very useful feature, sometimes. (Like, when setting your Intonation...)

In any case, It's a GENUINE SNARK TUNER, THAT WON'T BREAK THE CLIP!
AND, it's VERY EASY TO READ, too!!! Even better than the original model's display!

I would definitely recommend it to a friend.
(And, FYI, I've been playing guitar since the mid 1970s, with more than 30 CDs of Original Music.)
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Peace.