Peterson StroboClip Strobe Tuner Review

[Scott Peterson]

Peterson (no relation) sent me a StroboClip SC-1 Strobe Tuner to review.



I've been a strobe tuner guy since the early 90's. I owned a Peterson 490 and did my own setups and intonation with it for years. With the advent of the digital equivalents, I've owned pretty much all the Peterson strobe tuners - including the VS-1, Strobo-flip, Strobo-Soft, Strobo-Stomp and Strobo-Stomp2.

I've owned a lot of tuners over the years - Boss, Korg, Planet Waves. I've tended to be drawn to the accuracy of the strobe tuners - both mechanical and 'virtual' digital versions when I could. Accuracy matters to me; the more the better.

Peterson has always been 'the' strobe tuner guys, for decades now. There are alternatives of course, but I've never been let down by a Peterson tuner. 1/10th of one percent is insanely accurate while still being user friendly. The other huge advantage in my book has always been the 'sweetened' tempered tunings offered built-in. No other line of tuners has ever come close to the range of sweetened tunings, stock, with the offsets already preset.

One knock the Peterson's have always had against them is the price. Quality costs money. Feature sets cost money. The way I look at it, these are investments in my tone and help me to perform music the way it was meant to be heard. You could use this tuner on virtually anything with strings and do it anywhere - plugged in or not. It works in the noisiest atmosphere, no problem. Very cool.

Their hardware line has never had a clip-on tuner. Now, with the Strobo-Clip, that is no longer true. And this clip on tuner is as small as they come and it's accuracy puts it first in class with everything else going.

Why a clip on tuner? There is not a guitar or stringed instrument you can not tune with the Strobo-Clip now. Unplugged electric, unplugged acoustic, banjo, mandolin, any drop temperament tuning including Buzz Feiten tuning, eastern temperament settings, and more. Thirty(!) sweetened temperament presets.

Here's a feature list from their site:

• Smallest Multi-Temperament Tuner
• 1/10 Cent Accurate
• Smooth, Real-Time Display
• Alternate Temperament Presets (Including Buzz Feiten Tuning System®)
• Includes Eastern Temperament Presets
• Drop/Capo Setting
• Adjustable Key
• 28 Exclusive Peterson Sweeteners™/Temperaments
• Adjustable Concert A Reference: 400Hz to 490Hz
• Auto Sleep And Power Off For Battery Saving
• Low Power Consumption
• Virtual Strobe™ Patented Technology

This thing streets at $70. That's not cheap by any stretch compared to other clip on tuners, but keep in mind that this is a very easy to read (both bright and real time smooth), very small, aluminum cased, very light, simple to use and accurate to an extreme. If your music matters to you, then playing in tune - REALLY in tune - matters to you. Then 'good enough' tuners just don't cut it.

So, yea, it's accurate. It's very easy to read - the display is very bright, but is also readable in direct sunlight. Outdoor festival gigs are no issue. The strobe itself is very smooth and easy to work with; my 13 year old son uses it on his guitar all the time and had no experience with a strobe tuner ever. I told him to just 'make the spinning line stop moving..." and he was off, no questions asked past that.

The 'claw' it uses to grab the instrument have durable rubber on it - no issues with scratching your guitar. It's a simple thing to latch on to any instrument - just find some room on the headstock and grab on. It is very ingenious in that you can easily adjust it so it is easy to read - no matter where it is connected to the guitar headstock.

There are just a power button and then three buttons on top. "+", "Menu", and "-". Pretty simple. Pressing Menu takes you through the options, then you change them with the + or - key.

There is a 'sustain' mode which is for 'percussive' short attack stringed instruments like a banjo. I have to take their word for it on that, I don't have one handy to try.

It automatically shuts itself off if you forget. I've used it on my electrics, on my acoustics, on a Taylor Baby acoustic, on my kid's mini strat - locked up on the note fast, easy to dial into tune... boom done.

It runs on a single CR2032 watch battery, which I've seen available at the local supermarket (Kroger).

I really like how small the tuner is - here's a shot of it on the guitar for reference:



It comes in a cool aluminum can, and you can use this as a protective case if you want to.



For me, this thing is great. Small, easy to use, totally accurate as you can be and the sweetened tunings - which I've been a believer in for years - are all in there. It locks on the note fast, and works in real time. No jumpy display.

I have to tell Peterson this isn't coming back... I'm buying this thing.

[re-animator]

cool review. i love their sweetened tunings, especially on acoustic guitar. so do you leave it clipped on, or just clip it on when you tune?

[Scott Peterson]

Originally Posted by re-animator

cool review. i love their sweetened tunings, especially on acoustic guitar. so do you leave it clipped on, or just clip it on when you tune?

You could leave it on, but I have been just clipping it on and using it... then putting it aside. It's really small, so it takes up zero room... but I'm not a big 'leave it on the headstock' guy.

[btmish]

I really dig mine! It's a SWEET tuner.

[dorfmeister]

Is it pretty robust or easily breakable?

[Scott Peterson]

Originally Posted by dorfmeister

Is it pretty robust or easily breakable?

It's metal - and the plastic used in the 'claw' is seemingly very sturdy. It's worthy of the price tag IMHO. You'd be really hard pressed to break it frankly.

[dorfmeister]

Originally Posted by Scott Peterson

It's metal - and the plastic used in the 'claw' is seemingly very sturdy. It's worthy of the price tag IMHO. You'd be really hard pressed to break it frankly.

That is all I need to hear. I'm sold.

[iwansoebardi]

THanks Mr Peterson
Excellent review. Answered a lot of questions I had in my head. Will order one now!!
REgards
Iwan

[Andy J.]

I'd love to have an extra tuner around the house thats NOT velcroed on my board, this looks pretty good. Could a clip-on like this be used for setting the intonation, as well? That's what I'd mostly need an extra tuner for.

[thetangmang]

Originally Posted by Andy J.

I'd love to have an extra tuner around the house thats NOT velcroed on my board, this looks pretty good. Could a clip-on like this be used for setting the intonation, as well? That's what I'd mostly need an extra tuner for.

I'm curious about this too. I was hoping to have an off-board tuner with the convenience of a clip-on for intonation and for quick tunings when playing.

[Scott Peterson]

Yes it is accurate enough to do so - same accuracy as other Peterson strobe tuners. 1/10th of 1% accurate.

You could indeed set your intonation; but note that the clip on tuners do not hold the note for as long as the type you plug into do. Just means you'll have to hit the note a few more times, but trying to be realistic.

[John Thigpen]

I have really wanted one of these since they came out, as I know all the Peterson tuners are great quality, but I've been spending very little lately, even when this tuner is very inexpensive for it's features.

I did buy two Snark tuners for $5 each, plus $8 each for shipping, and I'm very pleased with the quality and accuracy, and its tuning stability. It doesn't have the features of the Peterson, and I'm sure it won't last as long, but it could be a low cost alternative if you don't need the features.

John

[thetangmang]

Originally Posted by Scott Peterson

Yes it is accurate enough to do so - same accuracy as other Peterson strobe tuners. 1/10th of 1% accurate.

You could indeed set your intonation; but note that the clip on tuners do not hold the note for as long as the type you plug into do. Just means you'll have to hit the note a few more times, but trying to be realistic.

Thanks, Scott! I'm ordering it now thanks to your review!

[A440]

thanks for the review Scott. I have one of the early Intellitouch tuners and have been contemplating picking up another headstock tuner (my old Boss TU-12 is on it's way out)

My only complaints with the Intellitouch is that outside vibrations onstage can cause tracking problems. Glad to hear that the Peterson is not prone to this.

[daddyo]

Originally Posted by John Thigpen

I have really wanted one of these since they came out, as I know all the Peterson tuners are great quality, but I've been spending very little lately, even when this tuner is very inexpensive for it's features.

I did buy two Snark tuners for $5 each, plus $8 each for shipping, and I'm very pleased with the quality and accuracy, and its tuning stability. It doesn't have the features of the Peterson, and I'm sure it won't last as long, but it could be a low cost alternative if you don't need the features.

John

$5 each? Where? I paid $19 for my Snark. great tuner.

$70 for a clip on acoustic tuner is too much for my needs.