The Planet Waves Tru-Strobe Pedal Tuner is a stage tuner pedal built around true strobe tuning. Planet Waves announced it in January 2010 as "the ultimate stage tuner," a pedal-housed version of the company's Tru-Strobe Table tuner, with a list price of $149.99 at launch1. It sits in the strobe corner of the tuner pedal field, alongside pedals like the Peterson StroboStomp HD and the Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-300 Mini.
Strobe accuracy and how it reads
Planet Waves says the pedal "offers true strobe accuracy (not a simulation) that will ensure precision tuning up to +/- .1 of a cent"1. A strobe tuner works differently from the LED-needle designs common on pedalboards: the display shows tuning drift directly, which is why a tenth-of-a-cent figure is meaningful for intonation work and setup.
The display is a circular readout the company describes as "extremely simple, user-friendly," backed by a large back-lit LCD. Planet Waves states the readout "can be seen on dark stages and equally well in full sunlight," a point it says was a deliberate adaptation for players who gig outdoors as well as in dark clubs1.
Tuning modes and calibration
- Six de-tuning modes for players using drop-tunings1
- Buzz Feiten tuning system support1
- User-adjustable calibration from A400 to A4991
The drop-tuning and Buzz Feiten modes are described by Planet Waves as adaptations "to meet the market needs," added when the table tuner was reworked into a pedal1.
Bypass and build
The pedal uses what Planet Waves calls "ultra-quiet, true bypass wiring to keep the instrument's original tone in tact," so the guitar's signal passes through unaltered when the tuner is out of the circuit1. The housing is a heavy-duty die-cast design in a conventional pedal format, meant to live on a pedalboard rather than a desktop1.
From the table tuner to the pedal
The Tru-Strobe Pedal Tuner is, in Planet Waves' words, "the answer to the Tru-Strobe Table tuner": the same strobe tuning approach moved into a floor unit1. The design is credited to Robert Cunningham, Planet Waves Product Design Specialist1.
"We chose to make other adaptations, as well, to meet the market needs, such as the backlit LCD which is visibale on both dark stages and during daylight gigs."
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Questions
Is the Planet Waves Tru-Strobe Pedal Tuner a real strobe tuner?
Planet Waves says it offers true strobe accuracy, not a simulation, with precision tuning up to plus or minus .1 of a cent. It is the pedal version of the company's Tru-Strobe Table tuner, built into a heavy-duty die-cast pedal housing for stage use.
How accurate is the Tru-Strobe Pedal Tuner?
According to the company's announcement, the tuner ensures precision tuning up to +/- .1 of a cent. Users can also adjust the calibration range from A400 to A499 to match different reference pitches.
Does the Tru-Strobe Pedal Tuner have a drop tuning mode?
Yes. The tuner employs six de-tuning modes for players using drop-tunings, and it also supports the Buzz Feiten tuning system, adaptations Planet Waves says were added to meet market needs.
Is the Tru-Strobe Pedal Tuner true bypass?
Planet Waves says the pedal incorporates ultra-quiet, true bypass wiring to keep the instrument's original tone intact when the tuner is switched out.
Who designed the Tru-Strobe Pedal Tuner?
The tuner was designed by Robert Cunningham, Planet Waves Product Design Specialist, according to the company's announcement of the product.
Can you see the Tru-Strobe display in daylight?
Planet Waves says the readout is exceptionally clear, with a large back-lit LCD display that can be seen on dark stages and equally well in full sunlight, so it works for outdoor daytime gigs as well as dark club stages.
Sources (1)
- Planet Waves Introduces New Tru-Strobe Pedal Tuner, Premier Guitar, 2010-01-07
