Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-200

Actually the manual could improve on a few things. The pedal consists of marvelous hidden treasures. For example nowhere is it mentioned what the abbreviation CST stands for. Custom Standard Tuning? Well, as long as I know you can store your own things to it it
s sufficent enough. This is the slots and memories which you can load your own temperament tunings AND open tunings, because they work independently of each other. A little tricky to use when using the these advanced features, you have to learn by heart the "cycle" process of stepping though each parameter before you run back out to the ordinary functions. Can be easy to get lost, but just turn it off and back again, then you're ready to go. And the red led could be a little more detailed with it's cryptic sign for a PLUS sign for example.

Also, the manual says a lot on battery use, and how it works, but NOT if the battery is running just because something is plugged into it. Then I can skip the power adapter on my pedalboard and leave it plugged in all of the time, and the battery is running only when it is on. I suspected this since it can only be turned on when something is plugged in, running on battery. When using power adaptor it can be turned on regardless of anything that's plugged in or not. Regarding all other pedals, the battery comes active when anything is plugged in into the input jack. This ain't stated anywhere in the manual. Apart from these minor quibbles, when tuning regularly, it's as easy as it can be. Visible from all angles, clear readout, and no misinterpretation.

The main thing I use CST store slots for is - of course - learning the tuner to whatever tuning I have! When I am out playing, I may 've forgot a Windham Hill open tuning that I used to know and like to play to. Then just plug the electroacoustic in, pull up the CST3 slot and start to tune. I've educated the unit to learn which strings are on what notes earlier when tuning up to that special tuning. Then I am all set and done without having to memorize that weird DAADDGA tuning or whatever it was. A great feauture - and then some - on a stomp box. Also it can use 7 string basses/guitars, or 9 strings if you like.

If sound quality should be made on a tuner. Yes, sure as h*ll it's important. But in reverse, so to speak. It adds absolutely no sound to the signal chain, and when driven by power adapter no hum, noise, or anything bleeds through. True bypass. And it's muted big time when you tune, i e when it's on. You can turn up the amp pretty loud, but there's no leak through or "bad buffer amp". Silent, silent and then some. And when putting through signal, it's exactly the same as if you've removed the stomp box completely. Well since it has no sound, no colouring, it's the ultimate accolade. This is where it beats P*****n I think, regardless of what they say of true bypass.

Very very much more reliable and cheaper than P*****n strobe stomp tuners, and faster. The display window may be crackled/scratched over time, but anyway it ain't a fragile little LCD display that can pixel out or crack anytime, and get shady in stark stage light. It has a clear "CLONK!" when stepping on the on off button so it's sturdy.

I would use it on a gig without a backup, but don't come forward with any requests for a special Windham Hill tune... :-)

They shipped fast, that's the only thing I knew. I had to pay customs to it, and it's still worth the price. Haven't contacted them, just ordered it through their website. Can't have an opinion on this. They do calibrate them again after a few years (NOTE: IF NEEDED!) , but I think twice about that, sending it over the pool just to get one calibrated.

It's on my pedalboard now. It fitted in just in the empty space that was left. You don't need KORGS large ones, or P*****ns strobe stomps.

I compared this mostly to Korg stompboxes and of course, strobe tuners by P****n. P****n has had a long time a monoply on strobe tuners, but let's face it. Strobe tuners to me are REAL electromechanical things with real physical swirling discs. IRL. As fast as something are completely electronic, virtual or not, LCD, virtual strobe, dots, leds, dits and dats, it's just a matter of how you choose to display it. Nothing else. Some kind of bogus strobe in a peculiar way. This is more accurate than Petersons equivalent though. And way faster, you can tune drums to it of you'd like.

I do have SLIGHT problems with electroacoustic guitars equipped with piezos. On brand new strings the lowest spun strings can track wrongly in chromatic mode - so did Peterson, and Korg too, they jumped wildly - turning down the tone controls and just brush the string with the skinny part of the thumbs remedied this a bit though.

The funny thing I checked out was that the memory places (5 in all) contained by default TrueTemperament offsets for TrueTemperament guitar necks with these wavy frets. Is TT the new Buzz Feiten? A couple of years ago most tuners had this MODE where you could go into BFTS (Buzz Feiten Tuning System) and tune to that if you had that nut installed. But as the BFTS offsets are out now on the internet, feel free to program this like that anyway. TrueTemperament just works with those necks. Maybe BFTS wants to get paid for using their name, and TT too. However, you must have TT necks otherwise this temperament offset will not do. I erased these offsets immediately. Open strings should have right standard equal temperament no matter what neck or bluff feite.. sorry... buzz feiten system you've got.

I also checked the tuner - a tuner that is this accurate - to prove me wrong about the tuning method, that has to do with 5th fret harmonics compared to 7th fret harmonics, and I found no trouble at all, tuning in that way, which everyone says is completely wrong and makes your guitar go out of tune further up the neck/strings. It all depends on how you intonate you guitar in the first place.

For bass this box's even greater. On P*****n I have had numerous problems tracking the A-string since it's close to mains hum frequency. It just jumped and never froze. I always had to tune to harmonics. This one doesn't jump. Maybe it's because it's running on batteries?

Anything I wished it had... hmm, more programmable presets perhaps. Well no. Maybe an envelope tuner function? WTF is this you say. Well when banging hard on ANY open string on ANY bass or guitar - especially the lowest ones - they ALWAYS goes a great deal up in pitch at the first initial attack - which is a sign of that either your instrument has the wrong scale for that tuning and thickness, or you have resorted to too light gauge strings - and on a tuner this accurate, it displays this with no mercy, running very fast to right within a couple of seconds and then settles. At the decay it's even rotating left, showing that it really drops in pitch. Well, all things just within a few cents but anyway. It's a delicate thing to know exactly how much you can brush the strings so it won't go "BOOOIIING" in pitch.. well, to a tuner that is. I don't know if their guitar presets compensate for that. That when it shows the first string it "knows" about that like a greater error margin, but I don't think so.

The basic functionality is very plug-and-play: pop into your chain straight out of the box and it works. It can seem tricky at first because of its responsiveness--a rotating circle tracks left or right depending on whether you're flat or sharp. Because there's no lag, it catches the note decay fast; you can easily tune to the attack or the ring of the note. There are more advanced functions that require carefully reading the user's manual, but the device is simple enough and the manual is well written so that it's not particularly difficult.

True bypass, true mute. Engage the pedal, mutes the signal. No "pop" like some other devices have. No noticeable tone suck, either.

This is one of the unit's real selling points: other true strobe tuners, like the Peterson Strobostomp, are notoriously weak. The ST-200 pedal tuner comes in a strong seeming box that's a lot like an MXR pedal. No problems thus far.

Haven't had to deal with them, but other users have given them positive ratings.

Paid $120 for this thing and can't recommend it enough; it tunes so well and is so easy to use this is a no-brainer. I've used both hand-held Korg tuners and Fender and Boss pedals and the accuracy of this device blows them out of the water. The accuracy you get with a strobe tuner is just so much better, you're biggest problem will be the guitar itself. And the device is accurate enough to do your own intonation at home. In terms of usability, in chromatic mode you can't beat, easily readable on a dark stage. For more advanced functions, the buttons are a bit harder to see (very small, to protect them). But overall, for the price there's no question--don't waste money on anything non-strobe. This device is cheap enough and the accuracy is so astounding...just don't bother.

The ST-200 is the stomp box version and is very easy to set up and use... one jack in, one jack out, and a pwr in that takes the usual 9v ctr neg power supply for pedals. You just watch the lights and when they stop moving around the circle, the string is perfectly tuned. Easier for me to read than the jumping grid on the Peterson Stroboflip. Had to follow the manual to adjust for a sweetened tuning, but was easy to follow and did it fine the first time. The adjustable setting is separate from the regular guitar tuning so I can easily switch back and forth with the small buttons.

There's a battery inside if you don't want to use wall power. You have to remove the back with 4 screws to change it, but you tune pretty fast so the battery should last hundreds of tunings.

Stomp on and your amp is silent while you're tuning... stomp off and you can't tell its there. I never liked the Stroboflip because I and everyone else can hear me tuning

Too soon to tell, but it is well built. Aluminum housing and solid.

Don't know about repairs, but I ordered on line Saturday night and received it in the mail the next Wed afternoon (west coast). That tells me a lot about having confidence in their system. So I gave a 10.

Had a lot of tuners and this is the best on ever. Intonation is also very fast to set. Also the red led lights don't seem to burn into my eyes on a dark stage like other pedal tuners I have used. I'm thinking about getting a 2nd one so I can leave one hooked into my studio stuff all the time and carry the other to gigs... wouldn't want to forget it at home. For my purposes (home and bar gigs),I don't think you can beat this tuner for any price.

This tuner is very easy to use. It is a true stroboscopic tuner, so it tracks without any latency, and I mean none. In chromatic mode you can run up a scale at a good pace and this tuner will track each note.

It's very easy to understand how to use - just watch the rotating leds and keep tuning until it goes still. I found out the limitations of my tuner pegs on my guitar, as this tuner is so sensitive (+/- .02 cent), that my tuner pegs can easily overshoot the "perfect" pitch. However, I get more in tune w/ this pedal then any other, and the sound shows it!

There are a lot of options, with custom tuning available - and the manual does a good job of explaining how to use it.

TRUE hardware bypass - not ******** bypass. You stomp - things are quiet. If you want to hear your guitar through your amp while you tune, you are either:

1. Someone who has never played live
or
2. Retarded
or
3. Both

Very sturdy nice compact little stompbox. It's not cheap and plastic like the Peterson (More accurate then Peterson too!) - and it's made to be stomped on.

Haven't had to use them. But the tuner comes with a lifetime calibration guarantee - any time you feel it is off, you can send it in and they will make sure it is on for free.

Best tuner for the price. Here is a good break down of tuner pedal accuracy:

Boss TU-2: +/- 3 Cent
Korg Pitchblack: +/- 1 cent
Peterson Strobostomp 2: +/- .1 cent
Turbo Tuner: +/- .02 cent

It's science folks, this little unit is more accurate then any of our ears could ever be. Only down side is trying to convince the people you play with to ditch their crappy TU-2's so you don't fall out of tune w/ each other.

No degree required. If you never get into the advanced features, you're still better off than you were with your Boss pedal tuner. And it's very easy - fast acqusition of the note, easy tuning.

True bypass. Also, gets better sound from your guitar because it's now truly in tune! Your guitar WILL sound different! Don't get a Peterson, they're slow. Don't get a Boss, it's not accurate compared to this.

Built like a tank. No, not a tank, a rock! Heavy little aluminium case, very sturdy parts.

I spoke to them over the phone and emailed them for sales advice and these guys were great!

No other tuner for me. I wish I could take back EVERY other tuner I've bought over the years and just get another one of these!

To simply tune a guitar, it's a no-brainer. I opened the box, plugged in my guitar, and began tuning right away with no questions or problems.

The circle of LEDs may take some getting used to, but not much. After tuning two or three guitars with it, I was very comfortable using it.

Keep the manual - you'll probably need it for reference when programming your own tunings and such. The manual is well written and very easy to understand.

It's true bypass, so there's absolutely zero effect on your signal. As picky as I am about tone sucking, I have no problems putting this pedal first in my chain.

When you click the pedal to turn on the tuner, your signal is automatically muted. At first I was wary of this, but it really makes complete sense - you don't need your ears with this tuner, just your eyes - and nobody else wants to hear a guitarist tune up anyway. TRUST THIS TUNER! With it, you won't need your ears to tune anymore.

I haven't owned it long enough to determine it's reliability, but it feels and looks so damn sturdy I'm comfortable giving it a "10" on good faith. All metal enclosure with rock-solid switches. There is nothing flimsy about this pedal - awesome!

Haven't needed it - but the service was stellar. Ordered online Christmas day, received an email letting me know it shipped, and it was in my mail box by the 29th.

After 20 years of using basic tuners, I no longer have to "hope" everything is tuned right. With the ST-200, I KNOW it's tuned. It's not only accurate, it's FAST! Recognizes notes instantaneously. Fantastic.

I Love this tuner - my guitars have never sounded better. All this for less than $130? Wow. If I lost it today, I'd buy another one right away without thinking about it.