Guitar tuner?

[WEDGE]

I ran a Boss tuner forever and for some reason a couple years ago dumped it in factor of a TC Electronics polyTune unit. Hate it. If I tune individual strings it seems ok, never fully 'in tune' and when I hit all at once directly after tuning then several show as out of tune. It is supposed to do them all at once.

anyway before I buy another Boss tuner what do you all use, and is there a better, quicker to sense pitch, and more accurate tuning pedal on the market now? I want accuracy first and foremost, I like to be able to set my own intonation with it.

 

[CoreyT]

I own four of those Polytune tuners from TC, with three of them being the II newer one with the brighter display, and the original one I keep at work for playing.
Have not had any tuning issues with mine, and it seems very accurate doing one string at a time, or all of them.

 

[vchizzle]

I have a polytune as well but I usually just tune 1 string at a time with it. I'm in drop C most of the time. Also have a Korg pitch black that I don't like as much. Got away from my old boss tu-2 cause I couldn't see it outdoors in blazing sun very well. Haven't tried a Tu-3.

 

[László]

I use a Peterson Strobe tuner. The pitch resolution is an order of magnitude higher than anything else on the market, regardless of the published specs, which to my ear have proven meaningless.

It just works better.

I've found the closer you get to pitch in the first place, the longer the guitar stays in decent tune during a performance or session. I did try a new Boss tuner and a few others, including the Korg and TC at different points for a second pedalboard I was considering, but wound up sticking with the Peterson.

Some folks are more sensitive to pitch than others, so I certainly won't say that the Peterson is a must-have for everyone. For recording, however, even a slightly out-of-tune guitar drives me completely insane.

 

[WEDGE]

I use a Peterson Strobe tuner. The pitch resolution is an order of magnitude higher than anything else on the market, regardless of the published specs, which to my ear have proven meaningless.

It just works better.

I've found the closer you get to pitch in the first place, the longer the guitar stays in decent tune during a performance or session. I did try a new Boss tuner and a few others, including the Korg and TC at different points for a second pedalboard I was considering, but wound up sticking with the Peterson.

Some folks are more sensitive to pitch than others, so I certainly won't say that the Peterson is a must-have for everyone. For recording, however, even a slightly out-of-tune guitar drives me completely insane.

Do you use the foot pedal version? Is it the same accuracy as their standard model?

 

[CoreyT]

I have one of those Peterson Stomp Strobe ones, I did not care for it.
I know it is one of the most accurate out there, but I like the screen on the Polytune much better.
If I was intonating like this video that just popped up in my subs today from Sweetwater, I would use it.
I have not learned how to do setups yet.
Mine is the same as the one in the video.

 

[vchizzle]

I use the Peterson strobe app when I do set ups and restringing and love it. Not sure if I'd like it for live performances. I feel I'd be fiddling around tuning for too long. Maybe not, but don't wanna spend that much to find out.

 

[László]

Do you use the foot pedal version? Is it the same accuracy as their standard model?

Wedge, I do use the foot pedal version, but also have an older blue one for acoustic guitars. They seem the same to me in terms of accuracy.

I use the Peterson strobe app when I do set ups and restringing and love it. Not sure if I'd like it for live performances. I feel I'd be fiddling around tuning for too long. Maybe not, but don't wanna spend that much to find out.

I am able to use it as fast as I can use a Boss or other tuner. I've used the stomp version for a few years, and the blue one for years before getting the stomp version, so I'm used to it. Just one more item that the more one uses it, the faster one can work with it.

 

[László]

I have one of those Peterson Stomp Strobe ones, I did not care for it.
I know it is one of the most accurate out there, but I like the screen on the Polytune much better.
If I was intonating like this video that just popped up in my subs today from Sweetwater, I would use it.

It probably takes some getting used to. Hard for me to remember because I've been using a Peterson for at least a dozen years.

If you're playing out live, or just messing around at home, any decent tuner works fine, of course. I find that for recording, I need the additional accuracy. If things aren't truly in tune in my rig, I can't stand the results - then again, I'm playing in tracks that often involve keys, strings, and all kinds of other instruments and vocals. So if one instrument's intonation or tuning is off, it really throws me.

You probably also don't need to bother with the direct/balanced output features, sweetened tunings, etc., either.

 

[rugerpc]

You don't have to be a recording professional to want to be as in tune as you can be.

I use both the Peterson strobe and kore rack units which also can be set to 'strobe'.

 

[Brad737]

You don't wanna try out for American Idol and hear "Yo, that was pitchy, Dog!"

I've had good luck with my ST-200 Turbo Tuner by Sonic Research.

https://www.turbo-tuner.com

 

[helmi]

love my polytunes.

 

[gush]

I had a Sabine in my rack and absolutely hated it. Picked up a used korg and I'm very happy with it.

 

[jbird]

Nothing better than a Turbo Tuner!

 

[garrett]

I used an original Peterson Strobostomp for years. Great device and easy to use once you get accustomed to it. Sounds strange to say, but sometimes it was too accurate. There were times in multi-guitar bands where we were all in tune but my in tune was more in tune than theirs.

I've since switched to the Polytune Mini and I love that thing. I rarely tune single strings anymore. Easy to use, small footprint and the tuning has been accurate enough for me.

 

[László]

I've been known to re-tune sample libraries.

I know, I'm weird that way.

 

[WEDGE]

Thanks for all the replies, not sure what to do. Has anyone used the Peterson clip on unit? Is it as accurate? Seems cheap enough if so to do intonations and use a Boss for every day tune ups.

 

[dsenoj]

Thanks for all the replies, not sure what to do. Has anyone used the Peterson clip on unit? Is it as accurate? Seems cheap enough if so to do intonations and use a Boss for every day tune ups.

I have it and really like it when I don't have a tuner that I can plug into. I prefer it to using an iPhone app. It's very accurate but I don't know that you can read it precisely enough to do intonations. It's also easy to accidentally turn on and run the battery down. It takes a CR2032 battery and there's room in the case to hold a spare.

 

[sleary]

I use the poly tune and no problems what so ever

 

[Chrisk-K]

My go-to tuner is a Boss TU tuner that I bought in 1991. I've bought other tuners, but the Boss tuner works best for me.