St-200 Stomp Box Strobe Tuner Review

The ST-200 Stomp Box Strobe Tuner by Sonic Research Inc. is a great tuner and highly recommended.  See below for my experience with it.

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When I first started out, it was suggested by a few guitar players that I should get a Boss tuner.  At the time, and with the limited money at hand, I found an used Boss TU-12. 

It worked good and stayed with me for 30+ years.  At the time, I was playing a four string Gibson EB-3 and the TU-12 tracked each string very well.  The battery lasted pretty good but I do remember a few gigs where a mad rush for a 9 volt made up the pre-gig time slot.  I think I used an AC adapter for a few years but those would get lost or the power cable would break - so the 9 volt was usually the power source.

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However, when I made the move to a five string, the tuner would not track the B string as well as the other strings.  I ended up always tuning the four high strings with the tuner and tuning the low B by ear.  Not too large an issue but kind of a drag. 

I believe Boss came out with a bass tuner and a look at their site today shows a tuner that can tune a six string bass...

So they have improved.  There might have been a bass tuner back when I started on the five string but I didn't become a member of the bonehead club for nothing - I either never looked or never thought of tuning enough to warrant the purchase.

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So...flash forward to last year...and my 30+ year tuner finally gives up its ghost.  It wasn't mistreated but 30+ years in a gig bag getting thrown in with cords, DI boxes, tools, and a guitar stand - I'm actually surprised it lasted as long as it did.  I got it used too. 

So, I do like Boss gear.

However, after some research and talking with few guitar players, I decided on the ST-200 Stomp Box Strobe Tuner by Sonic Research Inc.  The tuner has great reviews on Amazon and music sites.

[side note - I find that I use Amazon more and more just for the reviews.] 

I love this tuner.  I've been using it for nine months and its been fantastic.

• It tracks all strings very well, even the low B string.  To me, this is the killer feature.
  
• The battery life is, well, I'm still on the first battery so I can't give a life span estimate yet. I think "fantastic" cover it.
  
• Its rugged.  I keep it in a box in my gig bag but the thing is built like a tank. 
• It has the ability to change tuning to other-than 440 but I haven't needed it yet. 
• Its quiet, however, I use the tuner out on my Eden WT405 and I don't run a return from the tuner so I haven't actually tested the output signal.
• Everyone says its accurate but I have yet to find a tuner that isn't.  I haven't tested it against software or other hardware so I won't comment on just how accurate it is.  My basses are in tune.
  

When I asked guitar players, who are heavy stomp-box pedal users, if they had to limit to a single pedal, which one...they answer with the ST-200. 

As its my only pedal, I agree.

Highly recommended.