Favourite Guitar Tuning Pedals and Devices of different sizes
I will start this off by saying that this is mostly an excuse to feature the gorgeous Gold 75th Anniversary Limited Edition of the Peterson StroboStomp Tuner - a pedal which I am never likely to use, but which I would still really quite like to own! I’m not about to sacrifice a whole pedal-chain slot for a tuner! - and where I mostly prefer to use my Roadie 2 Automated Tuning Peg Tuner (more of that later), and my two Headstock Clip-On Tuners - the Peterson StroboClip, and TC Electronic PolyTune Clip.
I’ve included a variety of Tuning devices here at different sizes - as I know some of you weirdly like bigger pedals! While it’s quite evident that the Peterson StroboStomp has the ’biggest’ and clearest display.
When I did have Tuning Pedals in the chain - those were always TC Electronic PolyTune Minis - although I was determined to get in a Sonic Research TurboTuner Mini too - which never quite happened.
In fact that’s the only gap in Peterson’s collection really - if you value accuracy and easy visibility - then Peterson StroboStomp tuners are the best - would be nice to have one in a Mini size too some day!
The various Tuners pictured are :
- Peterson StroboClip - $59
- TC Electronic PolyTune Clip - €49
- *Roadie 2 Automatic Guitar Tuner - $109 (*prefer pistol grip of V2 vs V3 format)
- TC Electronic PolyTune 3 Mini Noir - €95
- Sonic Research ST-300 TurboTuner Mini - $139
- Peterson StroboStomp 75th Anniversary Gold Limited Edition - $199
- Korg DT-10 RW Rare Wood Edition - discontinued - circa £150 when new
- Carl Martin Guitar Tuner - €135
As I mentioned before I really only use the first 3 listed nowadays - and mostly the Roadie 2 Tuner which is much more comfortable to hold (with its pistol-like grip) vs the current tubular Roadie 3! The Peterson StroboClip is largely attached to my Stagg Electric Cello - while the TC Electronic PolyTune Clip only get used very occasionally.
Here follow the individual details :
Peterson StroboClip - $59
Features :
- True Strobe 0.1 Cent Accuracy
- High-Definition Backlit Display
- Wide Viewing Angle
- Visible In Direct Sunlight
- Sleek, Stealthy Design
- Adjustable Hz Calibration
- Drop Tuning and Capo Settings
- Over 50 Sweetened™ Tunings!
TC Electronic PolyTune Clip - €49
Features :
- PolyTune technology enables you to tune all 6 strings simultaneously
- Strobe tuner with ±0.02 cent accuracy
- Display is extremely bright and easy to read
- Adaptive display ensures optimum readability regardless of the position of the PolyTune Clip
- High-quality robust stainless steel clip
- Suitable for flat tunings and tuning with a capo
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 25 x 60 x 28 mm
- Weight: 32 g
- Powered via a CR2032 button cell battery (included)
Roadie 2 Automatic Guitar Tuner - $109
Features :
- Motorized automatic tuning
- Works with acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 7 string guitar, 12 string guitar, ukulele, mandolin, banjo
- Optional companion app via Bluetooth (can work fine without it)
- Works in quiet or noisy environments
- Re-stringing mode to quickly remove strings
- Rechargeable battery with USB-C charging cable included
- OLED screen with haptic feedback
- Capo setting to tune with a capo on
- Built in flashlight
- Listening accuracy 0.1Hz
TC Electronic PolyTune 3 Mini Noir - €95
Features :
- Polyphonic tuner and buffer
- Bonafide buffering gets the sound through long cable runs and multiple effects
- Polyphonic tuning makes it possible to tune all the strings simultaneously
- Fast chromatic tuner with 0.5 cent accuracy
- Precise strobe tuner with ± 0.02 cent accuracy
- "Always on" mode provides pitch detection even when the Polytune 3 is not muted
- Automatic brightness-adaptive 109-LED display
- Automatically switches between polyphonic and monophonic mode
- Footswitch: On / Off / Mute
- Connections: Input (6.3 mm jack), Output (6.3 mm jack), Power adapter connector (coaxial connection 5.5 x
- 2.1 mm, negative pole inside)
- Current consumption: 100 mA
- Power supply with a 9 V DC power adapter (not included, suitable power supply: Art.409939)
- True bypass
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 51 x 45 x 93 mm
Sonic Research ST-300 TurboTuner Mini - $139
Features :
- A True Strobe Tuner in a Mini Stompbox Format
- Super bright LED display readable in direct sunlight
- Pop-Free True Bypass
- Muted output with quiet relay switching
- Chromatic and guitar/bass modes
- Fully programmable for alternate tunings and temperaments
- USB port for ease of customizing
- Extreme accuracy: ±.02 cents guaranteed
- Rugged die-cast aluminum case
Peterson StroboStomp 75th Anniversary Gold Limited Edition - $199
Features :
- Limited Edition - limited to 7500 units worldwide
- This special anniversary edition comes in a unique gold finish with a special gold display colour option and a special gold braided micro USB cable
- With large HD display
- Store different tunings in different colours for easy recall
- True Strobe with ± 0.1 cent accuracy
- Over 100 sweetened tunings with USB connection for custom tuning
- Calibration: A = 391 Hz to 490 Hz
- Switches: Menu up/down, +/-
- Status LED
- Display: HD Colour Display
- Footswitch: On / Off / Mute
- True Bypass
- Input: 6.3 mm jack
- Output: 6.3 mm jack
- Power supply connection: Barrel connector 5.5 x 2.1 mm, negative polarity inside
- Power supply with 9 V battery or via 9 V DC mains adapter (not included in delivery - suitable mains adapter: Art.409939)
- Current consumption: 85 mA
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 66 x 129 x 54 mm
- Weight: 397 g
- Includes precise hook and loop fastener pad for fixing onto a pedalboard
Korg DT-10 RW Rare Wood Edition - discontinued - circa £150 when
Features :
- Floor-type chromatic tuner optimized for guitar and bass players
- Simple and stable design with a rugged body
- Easy to read 13 point LED display and note name display
- 16-segment note display for excellent visibility even on dark stages
- Flat-tuning up to seven semi-tones. Tune down to A!
- Detection range of E0 (20.60 Hz)--C8 (4186 Hz)
- 438 - 445 Hz calibration adjustment
- Two Selectable Outputs (Bypass and Tuner out)
Carl Martin Guitar Tuner - €135
Features :
- Pro-Series Chromatic & Strobe Pedal Tuner,
- Die-Cast metal housing
- Switches for Calib und Note
- Controls for Tone, Drive, Boost und Level
- Status LED’s for tuner center frequency
- LC Display
- Circle of LED indicators for Strobe Mode
- Mute and Bypass footswitches
- In/Output: 6.3 mm mono jacks
- Power: Optional AC adapter 9V DC min. 100 mA, 2,1 mm x 5,5 mm barrel plug, (-) center
- Dimensions: (L x W x H) 120 mm x 95 mm x56 mm
- Weight: 420g
Final Thoughts
I know lots of you still like using Tuning Pedals - where I think I have you covered there - while increasingly players are preferring to rely on headstock clip-ons. I'm aware that it's important for certain performers to be able to check on the fly - as to whether they're still in tune - where an always-on floor-based pedal makes the most sense.
Real Estate is increasingly precious nowadays - and even though the Peterson Compact StroboStomp is the class leading pedal - I still personally would not want to go above a mini enclosure - where in the past I mostly relied on a TC Electronic PolyTune 2 Mini - while the latest version is now 3!
I still feel that Peterson will need to fill the gap eventually and produce a StroboMini - as so many players prefer that size format. I personally as mentioned would forego the added benefits and fidelity of the compact StroboStomp for something smaller!
It's also interesting to see how well these devices use their real-estate - and while significantly smaller than the Korg DT-10 RW pictured, and the Carl Martin Guitar Tuner - its display is actually bigger and more readable / visible.
The StroboStomp is the one to beat - particularly the LE Gold Edition - which has a $50 premium over the standard issue. I really want one of those gold ones for the reference collection - but I know that I won't use it. Probably the best thing for me is the Roadie 2 for weekly tune-ups, and the StroboClip semi permanently attached to the headstock to monitor ongoing tuning fidelity. I don't perform - so I don't need to worry if it's a touch naff having your Clip-on Tuner semi-permanently attached - in fact - most I don't bother and just rely on a Rodie 2 tune-up every week or so.
What are your own preferences?
