The Peterson StroboStomp HD is a tuner pedal from Peterson Strobe Tuners, a company the press describes as a leader in professional tuning equipment for over 70 years1. It is the next version of Peterson's StroboStomp pedal, announced at NAMM in January 2019, and it uses a strobe display that shows pitch movement in real time, so you can settle a string onto pitch rather than chase a needle2.
The HD's headline features are a variable multi-color display, a pop-less true-bypass function, and a buffered output mode, all of which Peterson added in response to user requests2. Premier Guitar's reviewer summed up the experience as "precise intuitive strobe tuning that's void of glitch"3.
What it does: strobe tuning
A strobe tuner works by showing pitch as motion: when the note is flat or sharp, the display's pattern drifts, and when the string is in tune, it appears to stop. The StroboStomp HD doubles the pixel resolution over its predecessor to provide an instant, real-time response to the smallest pitch deviations with zero latency2. For a player, that means the display reacts the moment you turn a tuning key, with no lag between what you hear and what you see.
For context, earlier Peterson pedals carry published accuracy figures of their own:
| Pedal | Published accuracy |
|---|---|
| Peterson StroboStomp (original) | 1/10th of a cent, which Analog Man described as 30 times more accurate than LED and needle tuners6 |
| Peterson StroboStomp Classic | 0.1-cent detection and display resolution guaranteed across the whole tuning range7 |
| Peterson StroboStomp Mini | 0.1 cent8 |
True bypass or buffered output
The StroboStomp HD offers both bypass options, and Peterson revamped the true-bypass switching to provide what it calls a 100% pop-less experience2. In true-bypass mode the pedal effectively shuts the tuner down for direct play through without affecting tone quality, which is the option most players want first in their signal chain2.
The buffered output mode was incorporated to overcome potential tone loss in long signal chains while preserving sonic quality through the instrument range2. If you run a big board with long cables, the buffer keeps your high end intact; if you prefer a fully passive path, true bypass is there.
The bypass choice is the main practical decision the pedal hands you. True bypass gives a fully passive path when the pedal is off; the buffer mode trades that for protection against high-end loss on long cable runs. Pick one before you wire the pedal into your chain.
Display and controls
The multi-color display is LCD-based and LED backlit, with a variable-color backlight that Peterson says is viewable in both direct sunlight and under stage lighting conditions9. Users can select a variety of preset colors that globally change the display color, and you can also associate a color with any specific tuning preset for quick and confident identification at a gig2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Side switches (pair) | Move through and tweak tuning presets, display settings, and other features3 |
| Footswitch | Engages the tuner; in true-bypass mode it effectively shuts the tuner down for direct play through2 |
| Display color presets | Globally change the display color2 |
| Per-preset colors | Associate a color with a specific tuning preset for quick identification at a gig2 |
Premier Guitar's reviewer also noted the build: "this is one really robust pedal that feels like a high-tech mini-brick"3.
Sweetened tunings
Alongside standard chromatic tuning, the StroboStomp HD ships with 135 "Sweetened" tunings, which correct inherent tuning issues with instruments3. Equal temperament leaves every interval slightly compromised, and a sweetened preset offsets specific notes so common chords and open strings sit better against each other. The earlier StroboStomp line took this further with user-programmable tempered tunings6, so players could build their own offsets.
Where it came from
Peterson unveiled the StroboStomp HD at NAMM 2019, in January of that year4. The company announced a $129.99 street price, with shipping to begin in April2; UK availability followed from March at £1194. The HD sits in a long line of Peterson pedal tuners:
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's 2023 review was positive across the board, listing as pros "Fantastic display, precise tuning, huge menu of presets, customization galore"3. The reviewer found the strobe tuning precise and intuitive, with no glitching in the display's response3.
Guitar.com's 2024 review of the Walrus Audio Canvas Tuner used the StroboStomp HD as a comparison point, noting its $149 list price and its current draw of around 85mA5.
How it compares with the StroboStomp Mini
The Peterson StroboStomp Mini is a smaller version of the popular StroboStomp HD pedal10. The two overlap in purpose but differ in the details:
| StroboStomp HD | StroboStomp Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Full-size pedal | Smaller enclosure10 |
| Sweetened tunings | 135 presets3 | 80-plus10 |
| Note range | C0 to A#88 | |
| Accuracy | 0.1 cent8 | |
| Bypass | Pop-less true bypass plus buffered output mode2 |
In short: the Mini saves board space, the HD offers a larger menu of presets and both bypass modes1032.
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Questions
How much current does the Peterson StroboStomp HD draw?
A StroboStomp draws around 85mA, as measured in Guitar.com's review of the Walrus Audio Canvas Tuner, which compared its current draw against the Peterson. That is modest by pedal standards, but it is more than a simple LED tuner, so plan your power supply accordingly.
What are sweetened tunings on the StroboStomp HD?
Sweetened tunings are Peterson's tempered tunings that correct inherent tuning issues with instruments. The StroboStomp HD includes 135 of them, and earlier StroboStomp models offered user-programmable tempered tunings, so you can pick a preset that suits your guitar rather than plain equal temperament.
Can you change the display color on the StroboStomp HD?
Yes. Users can select a variety of preset colors that globally change the display color, and you can also associate a color with any specific tuning preset for quick identification at a gig. The display is LCD-based with a variable-color LED backlight that stays readable in direct sunlight and under stage lighting.
What is the difference between the StroboStomp HD and the StroboStomp Mini?
The StroboStomp Mini is a smaller version of the popular StroboStomp HD pedal. The Mini is rated at 0.1 cent accuracy with 80-plus sweetened tunings and a C0 to A#8 note range, while the HD carries 135 sweetened tunings in a full-size enclosure with both true-bypass and buffered output modes.
Does the StroboStomp HD have any latency?
No. Peterson says the display doubles the pixel resolution over its predecessor to provide an instant, real-time response to the smallest pitch deviations with zero latency, so the strobe display tracks your tuning adjustments as you make them.
Sources (10)
- PETERSON STROBOSTOMP PEDAL TUNER GETS A COLORFUL UPGRADE, MusicPlayers.com, 2019-01-17
- Peterson Tuners Launches the Strobostomp HD, Premier Guitar, 2019-01-17
- Quick Hit: Peterson StroboStomp HD Review, Premier Guitar, 2019-05-03
- NAMM 2019: Peterson reckons its new StroboStomp HD is “the ultimate pedal tuner”, MusicRadar, 2019-01-16
- Walrus Audio’s Canvas Tuner is the tuner you want, Guitar.com, 2024-01-08
- Peterson StroboStomp sold by Analog Man, Analog Man (analogman.com), 2015
- Peterson Releases StroboStomp Classic, No Treble, 2011-01-29
- "This is an excellent, compact pedal that helps you tune accurately and quickly": Peterson StroboStomp Mini review, Guitar World, 2024-09-13
- NAMM 2019: Peterson StroboStomp HD, gearnews.com, 2019-01-16
- Peterson StroboStomp Mini review, MusicRadar, 2024-09-27
