are strobe tuners really better?

funkybass · #1 12-25-2008, 01:13 PM

I want to start setting up my own basses, and it was recommend to me to get a strobe tuner for accuracy. I dont really want to spend 200 on a peterson strobe tuner, but I found a planet waves for about 100. Would the planet waves be ok, or should I shell out the cash for the peterson?

JustDavid · #2 12-25-2008, 02:04 PM

I'm quite happy setting up basses with any decent (repeatable) & accurate (+/- 1 cent) tuner. I'd buy a strober at the drop of a hat if I felt I needed one, & I haven't yet.

cynical1 · #3 12-25-2008, 02:15 PM

I'm with JustDavid on this one. If it's just your basses, and you have a decent accurate tuner available, I'd pass on the strobe tuner.

If you plan on going into business, then of course, you'd need to drop the coin for a professional strobe tuner.

Just my 2 cents...adjusted for inflation...

Happy Trails

Cynical One

J.D.B. · #4 12-25-2008, 02:35 PM

I picked up a strobe tuner For a good deal over the summer(80 bucks). Noticeably more accurate than the Yamaha 250 I'd used for years. +/-.1% vs. close to +/-2%. I like the accuracy, especially when setting up my fretless. To me the intonation is the most critical part of the set-up and the extra money for the strober I consider well spent. Simply a better tool for the job.

Josh

bongomania · #5 12-25-2008, 02:44 PM

Strobe tuners really are better for setup and intonation. Yes, a highly accurate non-strobe is fine, and works fine; but if you want "better", then yes a good strobe is better.

For better performance than either the Planet Waves or the Strobostomp, at a price halfway between them, check out the Sonic Research Turbo Tuner. There are threads about it here on TB, and it is honestly the best performance per dollar I've seen from any tuner.

JustDavid · #6 12-25-2008, 05:00 PM

How will a strobe tuner let me set up more accurately than a basic +/- 1 cent Korg? Are we talking atom-splitting difference or is there a really strong difference?

I'm not disagreeing; I just don't (yet) see the point for a strobe.

202dy · #7 12-25-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustDavid

How will a strobe tuner let me set up more accurately than a basic +/- 1 cent Korg? Are we talking atom-splitting difference or is there a really strong difference?

I'm not disagreeing; I just don't (yet) see the point for a strobe.

Are strobe tuners really better?

Yes. They are. A strobe tuner is inherently more accurate. It allows the user to fine tune the intonation not only for the octave but to modify the intonation to take into consideration the other nodes of the string. Used properly it can sweeten commonly used key signatures.

Do you need one?

Maybe. It depends on your ears. If you can hear the fine differences then a strobe is for you. If you can't then it probably isn't necessary.

One thing is for sure. Very few of the people in your audience will be able to hear the difference when you take a solo. In a live mix that number will drop to virtually none.

bongomania · #8 12-25-2008, 10:26 PM

I agree with all that. Also my general thinking is: as we play, as the room and the instrument change temperature, and as we play in different neck positions often with different action height, the intonation will go out slightly. It's almost unavoidable. So the best thing to do is start with the most insanely accurate intonation possible given the fret system, and the variations named above will make less of a difference. If you start off with a "close enough" intonation and it goes out from there, you run the risk of only being "close enough for rock'n'roll", and not really in tune.

JustDavid · #9 12-26-2008, 09:38 AM

Thanks folks.

I do get that multi-point intonation (multiple frets) is a better method than single point (12th fret only).

And I get the benefits a more accurate instrument offers. And the downsides; increased accuracy tends to be costlier & less robust.

I don't yet see how greater accuracy than 1 cent is worth spending money on compared to say a fret crowning file or a nut file.

**KJung** · #10 12-26-2008, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Strobe tuners really are better for setup and intonation. Yes, a highly accurate non-strobe is fine, and works fine; but if you want "better", then yes a good strobe is better.

For better performance than either the Planet Waves or the Strobostomp, at a price halfway between them, check out the Sonic Research Turbo Tuner. There are threads about it here on TB, and it is honestly the best performance per dollar I've seen from any tuner.

Thanks for the tip! I never heard of those tuners. They look great. I just ordered one up!

I agree that for most purposes, a good quality standard tuner is fine. However, it can be quite an eye opener to tune your bass (much less intonate it) with a 'standard' tuner, and then recheck it with a strobe tuner like the Strobostomp

The Strobostomp is a bit bulky to carry around on gigs, so that Sonic unit (either the little plastic one or the footpedal) looks VERY cool.

**Joshua** · #11 12-26-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

For better performance than either the Planet Waves or the Strobostomp, at a price halfway between them, check out the Sonic Research Turbo Tuner. There are threads about it here on TB, and it is honestly the best performance per dollar I've seen from any tuner.

At least per the specs, the performance of the SRTT falls short of the Peterson.

Of course that doesn't mean it's not excellent at what it does (and plenty for most anybody wanting to do their own intonation nit-picking)...

Joeykun · #12 12-26-2008, 10:22 AM

I use the Peterson StoboFlip at home for setups, intonation, etc.
Live I use the Korg ToneWorks rackmount.

The Peterson is an amazing little strobe tuner. I highly recommend it!

bongomania · #13 12-26-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua

At least per the specs, the performance of the SRTT falls short of the Peterson.

You missed a decimal place. Peterson: .1 cent ... Turbo: .02 cent

Also, I A/B'd them with a few different instruments and tunings, and each time found the Turbo was faster to respond to minute changes, and had an easier time grabbing on to very low frequencies. That was my experience/perception anyway.

**Joshua** · #14 12-26-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

You missed a decimal place. Peterson: .1 cent ... Turbo: .02 cent

Also, I A/B'd them with a few different instruments and tunings, and each time found the Turbo was faster to respond to minute changes, and had an easier time grabbing on to very low frequencies. That was my experience/perception anyway.

My bad communication, it was the sum of the features I was referring to in my post. The human ear would never hear the difference in the accuracy between the tuners.

The display alone imo makes the Peterson worth the $...

georgestrings · #15 12-27-2008, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua

The display alone imo makes the Peterson worth the $...

I agree - that was the main reason why I bought my Strobostomp - trying to use a TU-2 on a bright sunny day during an outdoor gig is an exercise in futility...

- georgestrings

**Joshua** · #16 12-27-2008, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgestrings

I agree - that was the main reason why I bought my Strobostomp - trying to use a TU-2 on a bright sunny day during an outdoor gig is an exercise in futility...

- georgestrings

Yup, and I'll add (in my own overly-simplified way) that the type of display (the multiple rotating discs) simply nails "in tune".

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Strobe tuners really are better for setup and intonation. Yes, a highly accurate non-strobe is fine, and works fine; but if you want "better", then yes a good strobe is better.

For better performance than either the Planet Waves or the Strobostomp, at a price halfway between them, check out the Sonic Research Turbo Tuner. There are threads about it here on TB, and it is honestly the best performance per dollar I've seen from any tuner.

But I'm afraid I detracted too much from this valuable post. Firstly, if you want "right on", one's only choice is a strobe (excepting y'all with crazy perfect pitch).

Secondly, the SRTT is an excellent value and I'm sure would work great for all my needs. I simply prefer the Peterson.

Zooberwerx · #17 12-27-2008, 09:56 AM

I'm using the Peterson VS II (yep, I carry it to gigs). Probably overkill but I bought it 4 years ago so what the heck? What I really need to do is verify the accuracy of the guitarists' tuners or set up a central tuning station. I'm also still a slave to the harmonic / 12th fret method of intonation. Old habits die hard.

Riis

Darkstrike · #18 12-27-2008, 09:57 AM

I have a Strobeflip, incredible really, intonation and tuning were never so easy, sadly it fell off a dresser like 2 foot off the ground and no longer works, I'm loath to pay the price for another.

davecheng · #19 12-28-2008, 11:36 AM

Just found this video comparing the Strobostomp to the stomp box Turbo Tuner ST-200:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bY9H7ec6_0

Look how fast the Turbo Tuner tracks notes towards the end of the video! Needless to say, I now have one on order...

**KJung** · #20 12-28-2008, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davecheng

Just found this video comparing the Strobostomp to the stomp box Turbo Tuner ST-200:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bY9H7ec6_0

Look how fast the Turbo Tuner tracks notes towards the end of the video! Needless to say, I now have one on order...

Thanks for posting that. Man, half the size, quicker note detection, seemingly just as accurate if not more-so, and $50 cheaper than the very nice Strobostomp. It also looks much more 'road worthy'. That's a no brainer right there!

I ordered one last week. Excellent. And, given my gear headedness, I also ordered the smaller plastic model with the microphone, which also looks awesome for running out of a 'tuner out' on a head.

Thanks!