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Topic: Steel guitar tuners? |
Ron Sodos
From: San Antonio, Texas USA
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Posted 24 Nov 2016 11:24 am
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What kind of tuners do you guys use? |
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Brett Lanier
From: Madison, TN
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Posted 24 Nov 2016 11:31 am
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Peterson Stroboplus HD when the room is loud. An E and a C tuning fork when I can hear myself. |
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Lane Gray
From: Topeka, KS
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Posted 24 Nov 2016 11:46 am
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I use the Android app Cleartune, with the Peterson adapter cable.
I don't like the very concept of the programmable tuners: a tuner that tells me that 17 cents flat is zero just kinda troubles me.
Back when I used a complex chart, I still left it in ET mode, and pointed the needle to the proper value. _________________ 2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Randy Owens
From: West Central Indiana, USA
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Posted 24 Nov 2016 12:15 pm
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I like my Peterson Stroboflip. _________________ 2003 Mullen Royal Precision, Walker Stereo Steel, Ampeg G-15, Telonics FP-100 |
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Ron Sodos
From: San Antonio, Texas USA
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Posted 24 Nov 2016 12:31 pm Tell me more about the Peterson adapter cable.
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Does it work with an Android tablet. The Peterson website says it works with ipads and iphones. Doesn't mention Android. |
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Lane Gray
From: Topeka, KS
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Posted 24 Nov 2016 12:38 pm
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Android and Apple use the same TRRS assignment
When Peterson started marketing the cable, they had no app for Android. _________________ 2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Richard Sinkler
From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 24 Nov 2016 12:51 pm
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Peterson Strobo-Flip. I do have the adapter that lane mentions and a tuner program on my phone as a backup. _________________ Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Ron Sodos
From: San Antonio, Texas USA
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Posted 24 Nov 2016 1:43 pm Strobo flip
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I watched a YouTube on the strobo flip.
The guy said he used the Newman presets. Is it easy to adjust the frequencies so custom settings. Also what about raises and lowers. |
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Paddy Long
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 24 Nov 2016 3:51 pm
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Petersen HD, or my Stroborack depending on which rig I am playing through. _________________ 14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
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Len Amaral
From: Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 24 Nov 2016 7:02 pm
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I still use the Boss TU-12 tuner after all these years with the Jeff Newman compensated tuning chart. |
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Pete Burak
From: Portland, OR USA
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Posted 24 Nov 2016 7:47 pm
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TU-12 for the S12U. |
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Carl Kilmer
From: East Central, Illinois
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Posted 24 Nov 2016 8:07 pm
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I've been using the Peterson Strobo-Flip for years and it's
been the best one I ever used. Never had any problem with it. _________________ aka "Lucky Kay"--Custom built Rittenberry SD10 3X5, Walker S/S, NV-112, and Hilton Pedal |
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Bruce Derr
From: Lee, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 25 Nov 2016 6:42 pm
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For a long time I've used Seiko tuners, the SAT800 and some others, with a numeric Cents display that makes it easy to temper any string however much you want. Seikos are getting hard to find. I think the SAT501 is the current chromatic model.
I've never tried a programmable tuner. I did just pick up a Turbo Tuner but I haven't yet put in a custom tempered tuning for steel. |
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Keane Eng
From: Alberta, Canada
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Posted 25 Nov 2016 8:26 pm
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Peterson iStrobosoft app for iOS... because it lets me use my iPhone's giant screen, is super fast and digital, customizable, and most importantly, displays +\- cents.
Hooked up as follows...
Guitar > 3' cable > Y-cable splitter > Passive volume pedal with 1 x Input and 1 x Output
Other Y-cable splitter female jack > 2' 6" cable with 1MΩ resistor added between Tip and cable centre lead inside one of the two plugs > Peterson Adapter Cable > Apple IPhone 4 > Peterson iStrobosoft app for iOS
I don't know of any difference between the iOS version and the Android version.
If you're thinking of making your own Peterson Adapter Cable like I did, the Peterson cable isn't just a simple mono 1/4" female to 4-conductor 3.5mm male adapter cable. The input is isolated from the Microphone output, and the input impedance is very small (~25kΩ). All the power to you for making your own, but I elected to just buy Peterson's. The low input impedance is significant because it is low enough to cause an audible loading effect on a passive, shared guitar signal. If your signal going to your tuner is buffered, or is sent through a higher resistance than your guitar signal, then there should be no audible loading effect.
The 1MΩ resistor has been discussed on the Forum, here:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=173031
...It helps minimize the effect of loading due to passively splitting the guitar signal between the volume pedal and tuner. It effectively shares a tiny fraction of the guitar's output signal rather than an equal share, so that the effect on the guitar signal is negligible. A 500kΩ resistor is not quite enough; you may still hear a loading effect. 2MΩ is unnecessary, or rather, you risk not sending your tuner ample signal.
The Y-cable splitter allows me to use a volume pedal that doesn't have a dedicated Tuner output. The Tuner output on passive Ernie Ball volume pedals is just a tap directly off the Input signal, and will cause a loading effect and drop in volume and tone if connected to a tuner with a low input impedance. By having the 1MΩ resistor as part of the cable instead of the volume pedal's Tuner output, I don't need to modify my volume pedal, or use the same/modified volume pedal all the time.
I haven't purchased any of the iStrobosoft Sweeteners, yet I still try to follow the Jeff Newmann tempered tuning system, and iStrobosoft's cents display feature allows me to.
My favourite part though, is using my iPhone's giant, fancy display for a tuner.
I think they have a newer or better one out now, but I use an IK Multimedia iKlip Mini to mount the iPhone right next to my right wrist, behind the guitar, at the top of the right-rear leg, angled directly at my face.
Apologies for all the gory detail, but maybe someone finds this useful.
Peterson Adapter Cable:
https://www.petersontuners.com/shop/item/Adaptor-Cable-for-Mobile-Devices
IK Multimedia iPhone mount:
http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/iklipmini/ |
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Dan Beller-McKenna
From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2016 4:25 am
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Sonic Research ST-200.
I used the Cleartune app on my phone for a few years. It works pretty well, but I had trouble with the adapter (bought multiple new ones, different brands, etc.) with my last two iPhones. I still have it for rehearsal or for my acoustic instruments in a pinch, but I couldn't trust it to pick up the signal through the adapter in a noisy gig environment. Also didn't know where to situate my phone if I left it plugged in.
I've never had one of the Petersons to compare to, but the Sonic Research works perfectly. I chose the larger floor/stomp version because I already have two things clipped to the leg of my steel. It runs in line from my volume pedal to my multi-stomp with no signal loss, and it allows for muted tuning at any time.
As on Cleartune, I use the Sid Hudson offsets.
Very happy with this set up. |
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