The Peterson StroboStomp 2 is a strobe tuner pedal designed for floor or pedalboard use. Guitarist's review, published on MusicRadar, describes it as appearing "admirably rugged with numerous stage-friendly features", and its verdict is straightforward: "If you want the best tuner around, the Strobostomp 2 is probably it."1
What it does for your sound
A strobe tuner works differently from the needle or LED tuners most players start with: the StroboStomp 2 uses a virtual strobe display, which Guitarist's reviewer found "both clear, easy-to-use and very accurate", and judged more accurate than a conventional tuner.1
The pedal's face is kept simple: "a clutter free face with just a single footswitch and two visible buttons sunk into the casing, below the display".1
Sweetened tunings, drop tunings and calibration
Where the StroboStomp 2 differs most from a conventional pedal tuner is in its tuning presets. It carries 17 Peterson 'Sweeteners', which Guitarist describes as "less 'angry' alternatives to equal temperament tuning", and you can "input another four sweetened tunings of your own design".1
It also covers non-standard playing situations:
- Drop tunings down to four half steps1
- Capo'd tunings up between the first and seventh frets1
- Wide calibration between A=390Hz and A=490Hz in 0.5Hz increments1
On stage
Guitarist's review counts a DI output among the pedal's "numerous stage-friendly features", alongside its three operating modes including 100 per cent true bypass.1
What reviewers said
Guitarist's review on MusicRadar is the published verdict on record for this pedal, and it is positive on accuracy above all1:
"If you want the best tuner around, the Strobostomp 2 is probably it."
The same review praises the virtual strobe display as clear, easy to use and very accurate, and calls the pedal admirably rugged.1
Peterson has since released other strobe tuner pedals, including the Peterson StroboStomp HD, the Peterson StroboStomp Mini and the Peterson Stomp Classic, alongside the original Peterson StroboStomp.
Videos
Peter Hamm
Questions
Does the Peterson StroboStomp 2 have true bypass?
Yes. Guitarist's review describes the StroboStomp 2 as running in three modes, including 100 per cent true bypass. That means you can set it to take itself entirely out of the signal path when you are not tuning, or use one of its other modes if you prefer the pedal to stay in the chain.
Can the StroboStomp 2 run on a battery?
Yes. Guitarist's review lists both battery and adapted mains powering for the StroboStomp 2, so it can run from a battery or from a mains adapter.
What are Peterson Sweeteners?
Sweeteners are Peterson's alternatives to equal temperament tuning, adjusted so chords and strings sound less 'angry' in the words of Guitarist's review. The StroboStomp 2 carries 17 of these Sweetened tunings, and you can also program four Sweetened tunings of your own design into the pedal.
Can the StroboStomp 2 tune to drop tunings or with a capo?
Yes. Guitarist's review says the pedal handles drop tunings down to four half steps and capo'd tunings up between the first and seventh frets, so players who detune or capo can tune accurately without working around the pedal.
Does the StroboStomp 2 have a DI output?
Yes. Guitarist's review counts a DI output among the StroboStomp 2's numerous stage-friendly features, which lets the pedal feed a direct box or mixing desk as well as an amplifier.
What is the calibration range of the StroboStomp 2?
Guitarist's review gives the StroboStomp 2 a wide calibration range between A=390Hz and A=490Hz in 0.5Hz increments, so it can be matched to instruments, other tuners or ensembles that do not play at standard concert pitch.
Sources (1)
- Peterson Strobostomp 2 Tuner review, MusicRadar, 2008-01-11
