Musicians often joke that some other instruments are always out of tune. A popular joke is:
 
Q: What’s the difference between an alto trombone and a chainsaw?
A: You can tune the chainsaw.
 
The joke has been cited in print since at least 1993 and has been told about many different instruments.
 
“What is the difference between a saxophone and a chainsaw?”/“It’s all in the grip” is a related chainsaw joke.
     
 
Google Groups: rec.music.classical
Musical jokes
“Vinay K. Chaudhri”
7/31/92
(...)
What’s the difference between a chain saw and an accordian? 
The chainsaw has a dynamic range…
 
What’s the difference between a saxophone and a chainsaw?
The grip.
(...)
What’s the difference between a lawn mower and a saxophone?
Vibrato.
 
What’s the difference between a lawn mower and a saxophone?
You can tune a lawn mower.
 
What’s the difference between 50 saxophones and 50 lawnmowers?
The lawnmowers are better in tune.
(...)
What’s the difference between a chain saw and a viola?
If you absolutely had to, you could use a chain saw in a string quartet.
       
Google Groups: rec.music.classical
finally - the joke list. . .
susan poliniak
11/10/93
(...)
Q - What’s the difference between an alto trombone and a chainsaw?
A - You can tune the chain saw.
 
Google Groups: rec.humor
Need banjo jokes, please!
Brian Gordon
9/21/94
(...)
>      Q.  What’s the difference between a banjo and a chain saw?
>
>      A.  A chain saw has a dynamic range.
A2: You can tune a chain saw.
 
Google Groups: rec.arts.marching.band.college
Band Jokes
Scott Rankin
1/8/95
(...)
What’s the difference between a chain saw and a soprano sax
-You can tune a chain saw
 
Google Groups: rec.music.bluenote
Let’s have some more music jokes!
Doug Sprei
9/13/95
(...)
Q: What’s the difference between a chain saw and a jazz saxophonist?
A: You can tune a chain saw.
 
Google Books
The Accordion in the Americas:
Klezmer, Polka, Tango, Zydeco, and More!
Edited by Helena Simonett
Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press
2012
Pg. 41:
What’s the difference between a bagpipe and a chainsaw?
You can tune a chainsaw.
 
Twitter
MusicianHumor
‏@JokesBoutMusic
Q: What’s the difference between a saxophone and a chainsaw?
A: You can tune a chainsaw.
3:11 AM - 21 Jan 2015