Rack tuner

rpetersen · Post by **rpetersen** » 16 Dec 2002 5:21 am

I am seriously thinking about adding a rack tuner - Any suggestions?
thanx.........Ron

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Ron Petersen &
The Keep'n Tyme Band

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 16 Dec 2002 8:00 am

Here is one man's opinion.
I am using a Peterson Auto Strobe R490 rack mount.
The unit has many common temperments. It can be programmed. You can have about 60 different user defined temperments.
+/- xx.1 cent settings. Accurate to +/- 0.1 cent.
Automatic note recognition.
You can touch up a steel tuning fast! Once the unit is set to the temperment you want, you do not have to touch it. Easy to read. Very handy for setting intonation on fretted instruments.

Things I don't like:
2 rack space.
Like every tuner I have tried, it will hurt your sound, if you leave it in line. I plug in, tune, and unplug.
It is expensive, though I bought mine used for about $300.

The Peterson VS1, virtual strobe tuner, is very accurate, easy to read, but it is not programmable. Can do any amount of tempering in 0.1cent increments. It is not a rack unit. Looks like a large voltmeter. It is also a tone sucker. At $200 it is the best all around, I think. Has many common temperments, and a proprietary guitar (6string) temperment that I like.

I don't know about the KORG.

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 16 Dec 2002 11:39 am

The VS-1 is great, but, as Ron mentioned, is not rack mounted. I used to have a Korg DTR-2 and it worked very well for me -- very stable and readable. I stopped using a rack after it got too full to have room for a tuner (and too heavy to carry), so the VS-1 is a good fit for me. I can't even program my VCR, so I doubt a programmable tuner would do me much good.

I would never leave a tuner in the signal path, but that is my personal preference.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 16 December 2002 at 01:15 PM.][This message was edited by Larry Bell on 16 December 2002 at 01:16 PM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 16 Dec 2002 1:11 pm

i have a Korg DTR 1 and am quite happy w: it !

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Steel what?

Sam Minnitti · Post by **Sam Minnitti** » 16 Dec 2002 3:14 pm

I was thinking of getting a VS1. I thought you could store custom settings?

rpetersen · Post by **rpetersen** » 17 Dec 2002 11:57 am

Thanx for the replys - helps me with some ideas.

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Ron Petersen &
The Keep'n Tyme Band

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 17 Dec 2002 12:18 pm

I have a Korg DTR2 in my rack (not in-line) and it satisfies my needs. I only use a tuner to quickly run strings up to 440....Using 440 as a starting point I then tune each string by ear. www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 17 December 2002 at 12:19 PM.]

rpetersen · Post by **rpetersen** » 17 Dec 2002 4:38 pm

Thanks Gene - That's what I'm thinkin' about doing - I usually tune to 440 and drop my G#'s to 438 and call it good!!!!!!!
That will probably cause a controversy - But it works for me.

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Ron Petersen &
The Keep'n Tyme Band

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 17 Dec 2002 6:41 pm

The Peterson VS1, a handheld meter-like tuner will hold some settings.
Can set A=440, or another reference.
Can choose the temperment from just, Equal, guitar, and others.

A few quirks. All factory tempered scales are adjusted relative to A=440.

The feature I like for steels, is that you can dial in the +/- cents you want for any note, and tune to it. The unit will not remember that setting, when you turn it off.

It is pretty fast.For a non pedal A6 tuning,
A is the root. Tune all the A's straight up.

Tune the thirds 13.7c flat, tune the fifths 2.0c sharp, tune the sixths 15.2c flat and you are done.

This just temper is from Peterson's manuals.
No beats. I promise.

Wayne Morgan · Post by **Wayne Morgan** » 17 Dec 2002 7:04 pm

Hi Larry Bell, Glad you needed the space in your rack, and got rid of the Korg DTR2, I enjoy it.

Wayne

Sam Minnitti · Post by **Sam Minnitti** » 17 Dec 2002 8:33 pm

Ron,

Thanks for the +/- rundown on the VS-1

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 18 Dec 2002 7:50 am

Glad it's working well, Wayne.

Since I've had both the Korg rack and Peterson VS-1, I can tell you that the difference is PRECISION and the Peterson wins that battle, but SO WHAT? I'm a scientist and always prefer reliable, reproducible numbers -- to as many decimal places as possible. BUT . . . it's important to realize that accuracy to 0.1cent CAN NOT BE HEARD. Actually, most folks can't hear 2 cents.

The Korg DTR-1 and -2 are excellent tuners with very good readability, stability, and precision for tuning on stage. I use the Peterson more at home than on stage and find that if my pedal/lever changes are in tune (and they usually ARE), all I have to do is tune the open strings and GO. I still advocate tuning by ear and using a tuner as a reference point. The ultimate destination is the ears of the audience, not the dial on some meter. I've said it before and will say it again: If you SOUND in tune you ARE in tune (as long as you got good ears).

Go for the Korg. It will do the job.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro

Michael T. Hermsmeyer · Post by **Michael T. Hermsmeyer** » 18 Dec 2002 12:36 pm

All the tuners are great... for a starting point. I tune only my e's and c's to a tuner. The rest I tune by ear. All the tuners in the world don't mean a thing once you put your bar on the string. If your ears are good enough to play in tune, then they should be good enough to tune also.
I have used my Boss TU-12 for almost 15 years, out of line, only tuning the e's and c's. I have also used the Korg DT-1 pro, DTR-2 and Boss TU-1 (stompbox). Like I said they are all good. I do occasionally have to calibrate the TU-12, but not very often. I have never had to calibrate the others.
Michael T.

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