Peterson 490ST Strobe tuner....good?

[Robert Bergantino]

Your comments regarding Verituner are right on the mark. What a wonderful
precision instrument it is!

Bob Bergantino,RPT
Willoughby Hills, Ohio
----- Original Message -----
From: "SUSAN P SWEARINGEN" <ssclabr8@flash.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2002 6:55 PM
Subject: Re: Peterson 490ST Strobe tuner....good?


> How exactly do you tune with the 490ST?  I used to have one and the major
> problem is that it only provides preset stretches.  Your chances of having
> one of these preset stretches matching the inharmonicity of the piano is
> about the same as winning the lottery.
>
> The only reason I would ever suggest someone purchase a 490ST is when they
> are a beginner.  It can help you learn to set a temperament aurally.  It
can
> also help you learn to tune unisons aurally.  But, unless you have good
> aural skills and are just using the 490ST as a reference and occasional
> check, I can't see it being much help in an actual tuning in a client's
> home.
>
> I used it a an electronic tutor as I was learning aural skills.  I tried
> using it to tune a clients console piano and while the temperament came
out
> reasonably well, the extreme treble and bass came out horrible.  Retuning
> using more or less pre-programmed stretch didn't do much to correct the
> problem.
>
> With all due respect to Peterson, I don't see how they can claim this is a
> true ETD.  To me, an ETD has the ability to measure the inharmonicty of
the
> piano and make pitch recommendations based on these individual
measurements,
> not pre-programmed stretch tables.  The Peterson model does allow you to
> program in your own stretch settings but how in the world do they expect
you
> to get this data?  When I was still learning, I called Yamaha and talked
to
> a tech trying to get their stretch listings on the U1 so that I could
> program them into the 490ST.  Yamaha understood what I was trying to do
but
> politely informed me that stretch listings were not available and, in any
> case, would not be exactly the same even on the same make and model piano.
> All the more reason to have an ETD that measures each individual piano -
> like the Accutuner, Verituner, or Cybertuner.  All three of these are
great
> instruments.
>
> I should have done more research before I spent the $600 on the 490ST.  I
> was able to learn from it but I would have been much better off saving up
> for a Verituner or SAT right from the start.
>
> Anybody agree or disagree with my comments?  Please share.
>
> Corte Swearingen
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "egzakto" <egzakto@charter.net>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2002 8:48 AM
> Subject: RE: Peterson 490ST Strobe tuner....good?
>
>
> >
> > Hi James:
> >
> > I have the 490ST model, and my only complaint would be the size of the
> > machine.  It's hard to just place it anywhere on the piano, like the
> > smaller ETDs.
> > Other than that, I'm pleased with it, but I only use it when tuning in
> > noisy environments or when my ears aren't at 100% (due to a cold, etc.)
> >
> > Barb McHugh
> > Johnstown, PA
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>