Peterson Tuners

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 23 Feb 2003 7:15 pm

I am interested in purchasing a strobe type tuner. I have been looking at the "Precision Strobe tuner" which I really like. But I would like to know what you fellow think of the Peterson V-1. I am particularly interested in those who use it to tune ALL the strings while using it; along with out of tune pedal and knee lever changes.

Please be candid and give me all the pros AND cons you can think of.

Thanks,

carl

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 23 Feb 2003 9:23 pm

Carl,

Glad to give you my opinions. I have been using this rascal about a year now. I get good service with the battery. (It comes with a power supply) No problems.

I use it most everyday for tuning six string and 12 string acoustic guitars, especially in alternative tunings and slack key. I use it to check and adjust intonation of my fretted guitars. Really need strobe for that.

All my steel playing is without pedals. T8 Fender Stringmaster that I constantly torture. For A6 I tune all strings to JI. I use the chart in the Peterson manual, that shows the offsets from ET. For example, I tune the two A roots with zero offset. The thirds are tuned with -13.7c offset, the fifths with +2.0c, and the sixths with -15.6c offset.
All of those figures are from Peterson's manual. This will give "no beats".

Now, the meter has a Just Intonation temper programmed in, but it I found it difficult to use. So I offset the intervals manually as above.

For E13 (Leon Mc) I tune ET. As this is a strum tuning for me, this seems to work.

The tuner mucks up the tone, so don't leave it in line.

I discovered that a contact mic (suction cup) that I use on resonators and acoustic guitars, works fine on the T8. Stick it to the wood.

The tuner is very sensitive to input signal strength, when the guitar is plugged in. I find that brushing the string with my finger ever so lightly, works the best. At the same time, mute as many other strings as you can. A sharp attack with a pick or fingernail is too much.

A piano that we use sometimes sounds good but is "flat". About 4 Hz flat at A above middle C. I offset the VS1 first to the piano. Then tune my dobro or steel. Then I set the VS1 to "Guitar" temper. The six string guitars tune to that. It has helped our sound.

I hope this helps. The VS1 will allow one to tune up quickly and quietly, to any amount of offset you wish.

Hope this helps.

Ron

------------------
Stringmaster T8, Benoit 8, National Tricone

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 24 Feb 2003 8:07 am

Thank you sooo much Ron,

If you set the tuner for JI offset (like you mentioned), does the setting survive a power off/power on situation?

What I am asking is this; can you set it for JI, then simply turn it off and come back later and turn it on, plug it into your guitar and it automatically is set for each JI note you want on your guitar. OR, do you have to reoffset it for JI each time you turn the power on and off?

Also, is it auto ranging? That is, will it display what ever note AND octave you have picked without you having to touch the tuner for each string you pick?

Finally, when a given string is dead on, is the strobe real clear, or does it tend to be a little fuzzy. And are the black marks real distinct and bright?

Thanks for your help,

carl

Scott Swartz · Post by **Scott Swartz** » 24 Feb 2003 8:14 am

Carl,

I happen to own both a VS-1 (the digitally simulated strobe tuner, I think that's the one you meant), and also a 490ST, which is a real strobe that can store both temperments and/or stretched temperment (for instance 10th string B 4 cents sharp, and the 5th string B 6 cents sharp).

The reason I bought a VS-1 is to have an accurate portable tuner for my 6 string guitars. For equal temperment applications, the VS-1 works as well as the twice as expensive 490 series in my experience, the accuracy and ease of use are identical even though the technology is different. The VS-1 is bigger than a typical tuner, but still fits in a guitar case.

There was a post about Peterson adding the capability to save temperments to the VS-1, and if that comes to pass and depending on exactly how it works, I could live with the VS-1 for steel. The currently manufactured VS-1 is much more cumbersome to use than a 490 for steel, since you have to individually set the offset for each note everty time you use the tuner. Do-able, but not practical IMO.

The 490 auto senses the notes (like any chromatic tuner) but it remembers that Es are 6 cents sharp, G#s are 8 cents flat, etc., so tuning is as simple as pluck the string and watch the wheel. You do have tohit a few buttons to get it set to the right stored temperment, but this only takes a few seconds.

If you picky about tuning but want to be able to tune fast and easy, the 490 series is the best device available.

One more thing, the 490 will store many custom temperments, so you can have both an E9 and C6 temperment stored (as you would typically want for a D10), but you could also store different temperments for different guitars to account for cabinet drop differences.

If Peterson implements a good temperment storage system on the VS-1, then the price and portability of it would make a better overall choice, but if not then the 490 is the way to go.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 24 Feb 2003 8:24 am

Carl,
You can see several octaves at once. Many people consider this the primary advantage of a strobe tuner. So if a string's 8th harmonic is sharp, and 4th harmonic is flat, the display would show the 8th harmonic moving to the right, and the 4th to the left. In other words you can see the strings' inharmonicity.

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 24 Feb 2003 12:17 pm

Carl,

Scott's explanation and experience are right on target. A strobe with lots of memory solves many problems.

If you set the tuner for JI offset (like you mentioned), does the setting survive a power off/power on situation?

Wellll, kinda. It will not remember custom settings of individual notes. It will remember things like auto/manual, A=4??, and a factory temperment. (about 6 to choose from; ET, JI, Guitar,...)

Also, is it auto ranging? That is, will it display what ever note AND octave you have picked without you having to touch the tuner for each string you pick?

Yes

Finally, when a given string is dead on, is the strobe real clear, or does it tend to be a little fuzzy. And are the black marks real distinct and bright?

Yes

In my case, I use only three offsets. I have them memorized, and can move thru them quickly. Roots, thirds, fifths, sixths.

Would be good if the VS1 would remember custom offsets. But...

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 24 Feb 2003 2:39 pm

Thanks loads gentlemen. This is precisely what I was after. I appreciate your candor and information. I am very close to deciding to purchase the "Precision Strobe Tuner". So my questions (which were answered-thank you) and the answers to same are helping me decide.

Which ever tuner I decide on, it is going to be installed in the rear pad of my U-12 on a double body with a three way switch, IE:

Forward-- PU goes to the output jack on the guitar.

Center-- Pu goes to the jack AND the tuner.

Rearward-- PU goes only to the tuner.

Incidently this switch is very hard to find. It is a double pole-double throw that is called an "on-on-on". Most do not know they exist. They were designed for this type of situation.

I will mount this switch also in the padded neck. So size and shape is important to me. I fully expect to use only the face plate and circuity of whichever unit I decide on. This should conserve space and make it look built in.

So thanks ever soo much again. By the way Peterson will be shipping a new updated version of the VS-1 begining in March. But I do not know all the features it has. I am in the process of trying to find out now. It is called a "V SAM". Which stands for "Srobe-Audio-Metronome". So sounds pretty good. Now if it has auto ranging and memorized offsets, I may buy it; if it can fit in my pad. I will let you know.

God bless you all,

carl

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 24 Feb 2003 4:39 pm

Incidently this switch is very hard to find. It is a double pole-double throw that is called an "on-on-on".

Carl, the switch you are describing is exactly the same switch used for the neck selector switch on double neck steels. If you look around at the switches on different steels, I'm sure you'll find on to fit your needs, and you can just buy one from them.

Jerry Fessenden uses a mini DPDT center on switch on his that should do the trick. I've also seen deep switches that take a 1/2" (15/32" actually) hole but will work through 1" of wood. As I recall, these switches are used on a Les Paul. Seems like these are made by SwitchCraft, but it's been so long I don't recall for sure.