Post by teleric on Jun 3, 2010 7:02:14 GMT -7
I downloaded the TC Electronics Polytune iphone app (thanks for the heads up mostrummer) and had a chance to put it thru the paces last night vs. the Peterson strobe tuners (I've got a strobo flip on my pedal board & have the Peterson strobe tuner app for the iphone). Here's my observations:
The Peterson strobe app (and stroboflip/strobostomp) are more accurate than the Polytune. If you tune 1st with the Polytune in either mode - 1 string @ a time or polyphonic mode (strum all strings), and then go to the Peterson, all the strings will show up sharp/flat to some degree. Bottom line is the Peterson is more accurate.
Where the Polytune shines is on guitars where the tuning is not as stable due to a tremolo bridge, vintage string trees on the peghead, some "flex" in the neck - the type of guitar where as you tighten one string, the other strings get a little flat. Think fender strat tremolo bridge.
The Polytune's polyphonic tuning mode makes tuning on a strat a breeze as you can see the changes in all strings as you tweak the individual tuner knobs. It's much easier to get a good balance between strings in the polyphonic mode.
In short, both the Peterson & the Polytune have there niches. If I'm using a '59 neck with a stop tail bridge, I'd probably go with the Peterson. If I'm playing a strat, the Polytune would get the nod.
Also, if you're going to use either the Peterson or the Polytune iphone apps, I'd recommend getting the "dongle" cable from peterson's website that lets you plug your guitar straght into your iphone. Great for noisy environments & only $12. It works with both apps.
Just my .02. As they say, YMMV.
The Peterson strobe app (and stroboflip/strobostomp) are more accurate than the Polytune. If you tune 1st with the Polytune in either mode - 1 string @ a time or polyphonic mode (strum all strings), and then go to the Peterson, all the strings will show up sharp/flat to some degree. Bottom line is the Peterson is more accurate.
Where the Polytune shines is on guitars where the tuning is not as stable due to a tremolo bridge, vintage string trees on the peghead, some "flex" in the neck - the type of guitar where as you tighten one string, the other strings get a little flat. Think fender strat tremolo bridge.
The Polytune's polyphonic tuning mode makes tuning on a strat a breeze as you can see the changes in all strings as you tweak the individual tuner knobs. It's much easier to get a good balance between strings in the polyphonic mode.
In short, both the Peterson & the Polytune have there niches. If I'm using a '59 neck with a stop tail bridge, I'd probably go with the Peterson. If I'm playing a strat, the Polytune would get the nod.
Also, if you're going to use either the Peterson or the Polytune iphone apps, I'd recommend getting the "dongle" cable from peterson's website that lets you plug your guitar straght into your iphone. Great for noisy environments & only $12. It works with both apps.
Just my .02. As they say, YMMV.
