Peterson StroboClip SC1 Tuner

I have known of Peterson's tuners for a year or two, and admired their flexibility and variety of tuning schemes. But as I am primarily a violin player they were all overkill for what I wanted.

However one of the string quartets (purely amateur) that I play in has been having significant tuning issues. So much so that I researched tuners again and found the StroboClip (I don't think it had been available when I looked last). Its crucial advantage over other clipon tuners is that it can sweeten the tunings for various instruments (far too many to list) and in the case of string instruments was said to tune in perfect fifths. I had my doubts (equal temperament tuners can be worse than useless for strings playing without a piano) but thought it would be worth trying.

It works really well. It is very sensitive to small variations in pitch, so bowed intruments must be played with a smooth steady bow to ensure a stable pitch (it's very instructive to see how the pitch varies with changing bow speed, pressure and contact point). The sweetened fifths seem spot on, and the overiding benefit has been that the tuning in the quartet has improved immeasurably (particularly noticeable between viola and cello, potentially a difficult match). Because it reacts fairly quickly, it is also helpful in confirming (or not) the pitch of any note you play.

It has done everything I want and is well made, seemingly robust and supplied in a metal case with shaped foam protection.

This is a superb tuner. It is simple to use. I use it mainly to tune a 5 string banjo. The sweetner allows me to tune the banjo with tremendous accuracy and has made a very noticeable improvement to the sound of my instrument compared to other clip-on tuners I have used.

Well worth the extra cost.

It arrived promptly and well packaged by Andertons.

Far more accurate than other clip on tuners I have used.

A vast improvement on other clip-ons which particularly don't seem to like to register the lower strings. I have tried a lot of clip-ons and once 'tuned' they may have been accurate (but I now doubt it) but all needed to be tempered afterwards to get them to sound right... the 'sweetened' setting on the Peterson gets it right first time. Open tunings also sound perfectly intonated. Accuracy may be one thing but it's fair to say I was staggered at the tempered sound achieved without any fiddling about.

The strobe display seems a bit alien if you are used to a needle display but only takes 5 minutes to become familiar. You need to be a lot gentler / finer with the

machine-heads than with other clip-ons which simply proves the difference in accuracy.

On the downside, the subsidiary menu display information is very small and in a very fine typeface which means I still have to put my glasses on to select the appropriate module, although the actual strobe reading is large and very easy.

I also dislike the 'chrome' finish which to me looks cheap and stands out if you want to leave it on the headstock at a session but that is purely personal and may not be an issue for anybody else.

OK, it's twice the price of a 'standard' clip-on but after 10 minutes of use I have absolutely no regrets as the performance is superb and I am trading off the extra cost against the wasted time and aggravation I have previously experienced.

Superb tuner from Peterson. Loads of different tuning options for various instruments. Dead easy to use, though you do have to be a bit more gentle using your tuning heads due to this units sensitivity. Once you get used to it, it's a doddle. My guitars & mandolins somehow sound "more" in tune & sweeter than when tuned with a standard floor or headstock tuner. A bit pricey, but well worth it! If you're serious about tuning, get one of these little gems.

delighted with your prompt delivery. The Peterson clip strobe tuner performs excellently-it is more accurate thaqn the LCD meter types, & with the different tuning modes available is extremely versatile - also liked the fact that it is of metal construction, which should make it more durable.

All in all - top marks