What's a good tuner/pedal for accuracy for intonation?

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Matt300ZXT

Matt300ZXT

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I don't think my lil Snark tuner that clips on the headstock is going to be accurate enough to really gauge intonation when I tweak my guitars, and I do not want to drag my rack out of the spare room that's pull of heavy power amps and all to use my Korg rack tuner, so as an excuse to spend some money on a new toy, what is a good tuning pedal that'll be good and accurate for keeping things in tune and intonated? It'll be getting buried under gain, and I don't have the greatest ear in the world, but still....an excuse to get a new toy.
 
Sonic Research ST-300 pedal. Inexpensive and literally 10x more accurate than anything short of a pro level strobe tuner. For general tuning such accuracy isn’t necessary but it absolutely is for setting intonation IMO.
 
Looks like on paper, the Polytune is as accurate as the Peterson.

https://www.tcelectronic.com/product.html?modelCode=P0CM0
I have the Polytune myself. I have not had the Peterson, but I did have a Planet Waves Tru Strobe Pedal Tuner, and it was a major PITA. My guitarist always joked that my tuner had anxiety, LOL.

How do you guys who own the Peterson think the buffer is? Because the buffer (selectable to be on or off) on the Polytune) is marvelous. Miles above the TU-3 (which I also have).
 
I have a Peterson Stroboplus which is basically the non-pedal version of the Strobostomp above. They work great for intonation.

Just be aware that they sense what octave you are playing. That's not an issue for normal tuning but if you are tuning/intonating to offsets you have to use the open note to compare to the fretted note. Not a 12th fret harmonic. If you use the 12th fret harmonic it will sense the higher octave and try to tune to the 12th fret offset instead of the open note offset.
 
Rex Rocker said:
Looks like on paper, the Polytune is as accurate as the Peterson.

https://www.tcelectronic.com/product.html?modelCode=P0CM0
I have the Polytune myself. I have not had the Peterson, but I did have a Planet Waves Tru Strobe Pedal Tuner, and it was a major PITA. My guitarist always joked that my tuner had anxiety, LOL.

How do you guys who own the Peterson think the buffer is? Because the buffer (selectable to be on or off) on the Polytune) is marvelous. Miles above the TU-3 (which I also have).
Click to expand...
I have a Polytune 3 and I prefer my old Boss tuner to it. It's about the display, the Boss is easier to use. But the Peterson is next level imo.
 
thegame said:
Incorrect. The SR is accurate to within 0.02 cents.
Click to expand...
I'm just going off their site:


Screenshot 2023-05-30 at 7.36.37 AM.png


*EDIT* Oh, my bad. You're totally right!
 
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SpiderWars said:
I have a Polytune 3 and I prefer my old Boss tuner to it. It's about the display, the Boss is easier to use. But the Peterson is next level imo.
Click to expand...
I have both, and I agree, the display on the Boss is easier to read. But the Polytune isn't bad, either, IMO. I NEVER use the polyphonic tuning, personally. Whenever I try it, tuning always come a bit off. But it works fine in chromatic tuning, IME.

And I assume you have the TU-2? I have the TU-3, and the buffer in it is ATTROCIOUS. I do remember reading people like the TU-2 better for that reason. Or maybe the TU-3W where it has an improved buffer that you can turn on or off.
 
Hmm, I kinda dig the Turbo Tuner, I didn't even know it existed until you guys mentioned it. I watched a video comparing it to the Peterson and it tracks faster, and even though that's not really all that important for bedroom playing, it's arbitrary comparisons like that which make me choose a certain product lol

I did notice people on Reverb are selling used 200s for more than new 300s, and used 300s for more than new 300s. I think I'll play it safe and order it direct for cheaper.
 
thegame said:
Sonic Research ST-300 pedal. Inexpensive and literally 10x more accurate than anything short of a pro level strobe tuner. For general tuning such accuracy isn’t necessary but it absolutely is for setting intonation IMO.
Click to expand...
I'll second that ..... love mine !
 
Rex Rocker said:
I have both, and I agree, the display on the Boss is easier to read. But the Polytune isn't bad, either, IMO. I NEVER use the polyphonic tuning, personally. Whenever I try it, tuning always come a bit off. But it works fine in chromatic tuning, IME.

And I assume you have the TU-2? I have the TU-3, and the buffer in it is ATTROCIOUS. I do remember reading people like the TU-2 better for that reason. Or maybe the TU-3W where it has an improved buffer that you can turn on or off.
Click to expand...
Yes it a TU2 I bought in the 90s I think.

Now I want to try that one @thegame mentioned for a pedal. I found that even though I don't always need it for to tuning I always want a "kill signal" pedal between my guitar and amp so I can easily switch guitars/etc. And since I'm not digging the Polytune I might swap it out. I use the strobe to help me offset my tuning for certain songs (basically tuning the B string flat).
 
If you have an iPhone or iPad, get the $10 Peterson istrobosoft app. Best $10 investment in a decade
 
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