Official Luthiers Forum!

While in the tuner market, I've been doing some research (currently looking at the Sonic Research Turbo Tuner) and it seems that there are many people (luthiers included) that simply don't believe in shelling out the money for a strobe or virtual strobe tuner. Their argument primarily seems to lie in the fact that due to the nature of an instrument, tuners, and strings, it's impossible to accurate preserve tunings to a fraction of a percent anyway. This coupled with the fact that it's unlikely that you'd be even able to hear such small deviations leads them to feel that while a strobe tuner may technically be more accurate, it is of no more PRACTICAL use than other tuners.

Personally I am still planning to purchase a strobe tuner (or virtual strobe tuner), but I was really wondering what how the people on the forums here felt about the matter. Do you use a strobe tuner, needle point tuner, etc.? Do you feel it makes a significant difference?

I use a shareware digital tuner on my PC.

never had a strobe, never wanted one.

apparently Stradivarious and CF Martin didn't use them and i KNOW that George Lowden doesn't either.......

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I spent the $99 for Peterson strobosoft 2 and have it on my laptop, as you say it may be a little overkill on accuracy but I got it to use for setting intonation and the tap tuning feature. My only complaint so far is I need to get a clip on pickup for acoustic guitars as the background noises are a little distracting. Of the many things I have purchased since starting guitar building it is right near the top of the list in value and usefulness. The light version without tap tuning and a few other features is $49. Either can be downloaded from the Peterson web site.

Anyone at Kalamazoo this weekend wanting to check it out, I will have the laptop with me and feel welcome to ask.

Well worth the price

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
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here is the deal in a nut shell. the Petersons accuracy is super! Very hard to beat. most chomatic digital tuners have a very large accuracy tolerance (+or- 4c) that a total possible varance of 8c. Plus most display the reading by means of a series of LED lights. This in its self is a poor way to display a reading. you can never tell just how fat you are off.

Petersons stobes have a tolerance of + or - .5c that is a total possible varance of 1c.

Now the accracy of Peterson stobes speaks for its self but if you need to conserve funds. get a good quaility analog (swing arm) meter. At least with a swing arm you get a good indication of where you are within the given tolerance range much better than with a digital.

Well said, Mr. Payne. I've got an older Korg with a needle that I rely on. I would, however, like to own a strobe when I grow up. Why not be as accurate as possible? It's not like the virtual strobes are all that expensive.

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

is a strobe necessary? absolutely not. as someone pointed out above fine instruments have been built for centuries without them.

that being said, i find my old peterson true strobe a world of help when setting intonation. very nice to have, but i managed for 20 years or so without one.