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I think I'm about to be in the market for a tuner to use for setup work (and in the immediate future, fine-tuning an old Wurlitzer electric piano). I'm leaning towards the Peterson VS-II. Any thoughts or suggestions, firsthand experience with the VS-II?   Is it adequate for intonation work? Other tuners I should look at?

I know there was another thread about a software version of this type of tuner, but I think I'd rather not be tethered to a PC.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

I have the VS-II and find it very nice to use. It seems pretty accurate as well to my tired old ear. I bought the pickup that clamps on the peghead and I would recommend using it as it is only $10 or so. I bought mine from here for $219 which is the best price I could fine. I think a true strobe may be easier to use and a little more accurate at about twice the price or more.John How38649.467349537

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I adore my VSII I would like the bench top model but it is 2 1/2 times as much, but is a true strob vs. an electronic simulated strob. Peterson has resently released a software strob tuner for windows at about $80. I have not tried it so I don't know how well it works. It would seem to me that the accuracy would be dependent on your sound-card.

I have the older VS-1 which is ok for me but, Does anybody know what improvments they made on the VS-II ?

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Petersen 490st Is a Piano Strobe tuner that is great. A little more expensive but is worth it. Lifetime/onetime purchase. The vs-1 or ii are digital and not "real" strobe tuners.

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

This brings up a question I had once before but did not ask. if a digital program is able to generate via accurate algorithms a digital display of a strobe pattern that equals the accuracy of a mechanical disk strobe. Why is the digital version not a true strobe?
My contention is that a strobe pattern does not need to be mechanical disks to be a strobe.

Dave what is the accuracy rating on the 490st? I have the specs at home but I am at work. It vary well be more accurate but in my opinion a digital display does not preclude VII from being a strobe tuner.

No offence meant here in any way. Lord knows I want a 490st bad. I’m just wonder if others feel that digital means not a true strobe
MichaelP38649.651712963

I'm a big fan of crying once and buying the right tool the first time... But the VS-II specs list accuracy down to 1/10 cent. I'm assuming a slight change in humidity/temp is going to change things by more than that anyway (?). Just because I can measure to a fine tolerance doesn't necessarily mean I can build it and make it stay that way. I don't know if I could justify spending two and half times the cost of the VS-II (which is already a chunk of change) for a 490ST.letseatpaste38649.6915972222

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

temp and humidity will change the instrument but not the tuner. I love my VSII.

the campbell unit is also a slightly higher priced, but true strobe tuner.

Thanks for the comments everyone, I ended up going with my original instinct and ordering the VS-II. It was nice to know that people who owned it were satisfied with it. I followed John's tip and got the $10 clip-on mic, too.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

[QUOTE=MichaelP] This brings up a question I had once before but did not ask. if a digital program is able to generate via accurate algorithms a digital display of a strobe pattern that equals the accuracy of a mechanical disk strobe. Why is the digital version not a true strobe?
My contention is that a strobe pattern does not need to be mechanical disks to be a strobe.

Dave what is the accuracy rating on the 490st? I have the specs at home but I am at work. It vary well be more accurate but in my opinion a digital display does not preclude VII from being a strobe tuner.

No offence meant here in any way. Lord knows I want a 490st bad. I’m just wonder if others feel that digital means not a true strobe
[/QUOTE]

Hi Michael,
Thanks Again for all your Help on the FP.
The way it was explained to me...I don't know if I can explain it properly, But I will try, is that the "real Strobe" is generating the actual "strobe" using several wheels. This is where the accuracy comes in. The digital strobe is generated via whatever liquid crystal do hickey, but not by the wheels...SO? Well I was told that the human eye reads the real strobe better since it can see subtle differences in the strobe which are not being produced on the digital. I have both...I like Both...but Like the 490st more/better. I also think it is more accurate even though it is rated by Petersen as the same in accuracy...(one one thousandth of a semi tone?). It's just something you have to try, to see what I mean.

p.s. Also, for what it is worth... the Guys at the Buzz Feiten camp feel the same way. They do a lot of work with intonation...all day long. I know that Buzz has a Korg model out that is l.e.d. but I believe that was more of a marketing/get more techs on board type deal. You know... something the public can buy for $79 to tune up. They also created two levels of technicians - Level I - Electrics only, and learn by video. Level II - all stringed instruments taught by Buzz and Greg in their shop. When I went... it was real Strobes ONLY. Probably still that for the Level II's.

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"