TAMA Rhythm Watch RW30

This may be OK for a drummer, but it is just too much for just a guitar practice metronome. 99% of guitar players do not have any use for much more than a simple single note/sound/ tick or maybe a note and backbeat. The good thing that I really liked was the dial type control that adjusts the tempo. It is much better than the kind with the button that you have to hold down as it s-l-o-w-l-y works it"s way around to the desired tempo. The down sides were it is hard to hear. Even with the volume all the way up. The other bad thing is that it only lasted about three months and then quit working completely.

Been searching for a new metronome to use for guitar practice. Would really prefer a rechargeable unit, but the only one I could find ended up being annoying in its own way. Jumped on this and it has quite a bit going for it. The dial makes it easy to get to a new speed quickly, has the ability to load up different beats, loud enough for me to hear. The downside for me is that all the clicks are the same. So when I set it to use something like 1/8 notes, they all sound the same except for the 1. So it is very hard to figure out when I'm on a numbered beat versus being on an "&" beat. Similar for the other beat patterns.

This review of the Tama Rhythm Watch 30, Metronome, covers just a few of its major functions. I am 66 years old and have always had an interest in music. I am also very experienced in electronics. I use the Tama R.W.- 30, Metronome for drum and guitar practice. The Metronome: The unit is, 4 5/8" Tall x 2 3/8" x Wide x 13/16" Deep. The case is made from hard plastic. Two (2) (AAA) Batteries are included. Its small size makes it easy to place near buy when practicing or carry in a shirt or jacket to lessons or sessions. Operation: The unit is turned On or Off by holding down a small Power button on the left for 2 seconds. The 1 13/16" Wide x 5/8" High, function display window uses a yellow back light for LCD (liquid crystal display) numbers and function symbols. The yellow back light turns on when you turn the unit On, push any button or turn the Tempo wheel. To conserve power, the yellow back light turns off 14 seconds after any mode change, while the LCD numbers and function symbols all remain visible. Turning the Tempo wheel (on the right) selects beats from 30 to 250 per second, in one beat steps, as Red and Green LEDs blink to beat notes. The Beat/Sound, Start/Stop bar is at the bottom of the Metronome. The unit has two sounds, one is a Beep the other is a Tock. The sound level (volume) adjustment wheel is on the left side. The maximum volume is loud enough for me, but if you really wanted the sound louder I suppose you could run an audio cable from its earphone jack (on the right side) to your stereo/mono amplifier and make the Beeps or Tocks as loud as you wanted. Though at high volume levels you wouldn't be able to hear your instrument played! The 1/8" earphone jack is a Mono (1 channel) output. If you need to hear the Beeps or Tocks in a Stereo (2 channel - right/left) headset, place a 1/8" Mono to Stereo, adapter plug, in the earphone jack. Overall, the Tama R.W.- 30, Metronome is a very good device, easy to use and works as designed.

Just what I needed

It's better than a cheepie metronome and probably not as good as the Dr Rhythm or the Rhythm watch. Really, with all the iphone metronomes, and every other app based metronomes out there, this one is small, has some cool features including the tempo wheel and fits in your guitar case easily. Who's going to carry around a bigger metronome anyway? Every great guitar player (that I respect) I know talks about practicing with a metronome so this is as good as it gets for a portable.