Boutique tuning pedals?

[Alfie]

This may sound dumb, but are there any boutique tuning pedals? I like my pedals in daunting boxes, the sort of thing where if there was a nuclear war I would be safe in the knowledge that at least my pedal board would survive. I also like pretty pictures on my pedals, manufacturers such as Catalinbread, MG Music and of course Z Vex. The problem is that tuners look boring and they look cheap and plasticky. Frankly they lower the tone of my board. I don't want something easy to use and practical, I don't want flash digital displays. I suppose if I am being honest I don't really care if the little bugger is in tune or not. I just want a colourful metal box with a great big flashing LED that lets me know if I sound good.

Anyone got any ideas?

[JanusZarate]

Do you really know what you're asking for? Analog tuning is ancient history for a good reason.

Anyhow... not all tuner pedals are "plasticy," "cheap-looking," or mess with your tone. The best ones are mainstream products.

One good example is the Korg DT-10. So what if it's not true-bypass? The buffered bypass doesn't mess with your tone, and the tuning accuracy is stellar. Plus, it's built to be solid as a rock, unlike cheaper plastic tuners. It's unquestionably superior to the Boss TU-2 in every aspect except size and price (it's slightly larger than a Boss pedal).

Then there's the Planet Waves CT-04, which could kill a grown man if you chucked it at his head. Seriously, that thing's HEAVY and solid. Plus, it has a bigger-than-average note display, and happens to be true bypass.

And let's not forget the only true "boutique" tuner out there: the Peterson Strobostomp pedals. Best accuracy on the market, and innovative displays. Plus, it's funky looking, but solidly built. It's also expensive.

And no tuner will tell you if you sound good - only that you're in tune.

Maybe what you really want is a rack tuner? Then you don't have to look at anything on the floor to tune, and you can satisfy your aesthetic obsessions.

[Alfie]

I reckon the Korg stuff is probably the best looking stuff. But I do like the idea of killing a grown man with a tuner

I reckon the best way forward is to stick with tuners that are helpful... and to hire a little man, stick him inside a stomp box and whenever I stomp he can tell me that I sound good.

[JoshC]

Yeah even without the pictures the DT-10BK with blue led's is pretty freakin hot.

[Higgie]

Originally Posted by JoshC

Yeah even without the pictures the DT-10BK with blue led's is pretty freakin hot.

Mhmm, arguably the best looking tuner ever made, IMO.

Also, Boo, when you take into account that the TU-2 has jacks on the side, when it's plugged in it takes up the same amount of board real-estate as the DT-10 does, since it's jacks are on the top.

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by Higgie

Mhmm, arguably the best looking tuner ever made, IMO.

+1

Originally Posted by Higgie

Also, Boo, when you take into account that the TU-2 has jacks on the side, when it's plugged in it takes up the same amount of board real-estate as the DT-10 does, since it's jacks are on the top.

That's not necessarily true, if you're using those little 1/4" pedal couplers. Then you've actually saved space...

...but that's assuming your next pedal is a Boss pedal.

[Higgie]

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

+1



That's not necessarily true, if you're using those little 1/4" pedal couplers. Then you've actually saved space...

...but that's assuming your next pedal is a Boss pedal.

Yeah...but who uses more than 1 Boss pedal anyway?

[NKUSigEp]

Originally Posted by Alfie

This may sound dumb, but are there any boutique tuning pedals? I like my pedals in daunting boxes, the sort of thing where if there was a nuclear war I would be safe in the knowledge that at least my pedal board would survive. I also like pretty pictures on my pedals, manufacturers such as Catalinbread, MG Music and of course Z Vex. The problem is that tuners look boring and they look cheap and plasticky. Frankly they lower the tone of my board. I don't want something easy to use and practical, I don't want flash digital displays. I suppose if I am being honest I don't really care if the little bugger is in tune or not. I just want a colourful metal box with a great big flashing LED that lets me know if I sound good.

Anyone got any ideas?

I'll +1 ya on that! I like cool-looking boxes that feel like they'd survive WWIII but I'd also like for it to work or sound good or be in tune or whatever. My suggestion is to find someone to re-house an already manufactured tuner. Like take a Boss TU-12H and have a new box made for it. It's not hard if you got the right tools and parts.

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by NKUSigEp

I'll +1 ya on that! I like cool-looking boxes that feel like they'd survive WWIII but I'd also like for it to work or sound good or be in tune or whatever. My suggestion is to find someone to re-house an already manufactured tuner. Like take a Boss TU-12H and have a new box made for it. It's not hard if you got the right tools and parts.

I don't get it. Do you guys NOT realize that such awesome tuners already exist?

Case in point:

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

And let's not forget the only true "boutique" tuner out there: the Peterson Strobostomp pedals. Best accuracy on the market, and innovative displays. Plus, it's funky looking, but solidly built. It's also expensive.

+1

that's the only tuner i think of when i think boutique

[Silent Fly]

Regardless tuners, there is one thing that I can't understand. Why do hand-made pedals (aka "boutique") have to be better than industrial pedals?

I studied electronics and I had the chance to see some of the diagrams of the so called "boutique" pedals. In some cases, IMO the only thing they have in common with boutiques are prices.

Without naming specific brands, I have seen effects with $20 of components, design almost entirely copied from the net and limited functionalities, selling for $200.

I don't blame companies that do this - every commercial organization sells to the maximum possible price. I am only warning bass players that "boutique" pedals often means only "boutique prices" without a corresponding "boutique quality".

(end of the rant - sorry)

[bongomania]

It's true, you have to go on a case-by-case basis, and give your business to builders who actually give a quality result for the money.

I can't believe how many home-brew pedals I see advertised with "we use only the very finest quality parts, such as a 3PDT switch and Alpha pots..."

Anyway, my Peterson Strobo was worth the money to me, but I'd probably buy a Korg if the Peterson broke.

[Silent Fly]

Originally Posted by bongomania

It's true, you have to go on a case-by-case basis, and give your business to builders who actually give a quality result for the money. (...)

Absolutely. +1

Originally Posted by bongomania

Anyway, my Peterson Strobo was worth the money to me, but I'd probably buy a Korg if the Peterson broke.

I have a Peterson Strobostop as well and I use it only for recordings or for setting up basses/guitars. In my pedalboard I have a Artec "Big Dots" not the best tuner in the world but I can see it from a mile away

[Alfie]

Originally Posted by Silent Fly

Regardless tuners, there is one thing that I can't understand. Why do hand-made pedals (aka "boutique") have to be better than industrial pedals?

I studied electronics and I had the chance to see some of the diagrams of the so called "boutique" pedals. In some cases, IMO the only thing they have in common with boutiques are prices.

Without naming specific brands, I have seen effects with $20 of components, design almost entirely copied from the net and limited functionalities, selling for $200.

I don't blame companies that do this - every commercial organization sells to the maximum possible price. I am only warning bass players that "boutique" pedals often means only "boutique prices" without a corresponding "boutique quality".

(end of the rant - sorry)

I agree, all those who get a circuit of runoffgrove or some place like that, then modify it slightly and decide to set themselves up as boutique designers, then thats a bit rubbish.

But if they put that design into a pretty box, not just some metal tin with a bit of scrawled on writing, then thats a different story. Even if boutique and industrial pedals are the same sound wise, I would be willing to pay hugely inflated prices for a cool box, and IMO the pedals you get in your everyday music store look dull.

I want to spend lots of money on a work of art... and then tread on it repeatedly .