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Average Price: $130
High-end/Boutique
$50
$101+
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Budget
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High-end
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Description
• A True Strobe Tuner in a Stompbox Format • True bypass / muted output • Instant tracking • Extreme accuracy: ±.02 cents • Rugged die-cast aluminum case
Product specs
| Brand | Sonic Research |
| Model | ST-200 Strobe Turbo Tuner |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 2010s |
| Categories | Tuner Pedals |
FAQs
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How accurate is the Sonic Research ST-200 Strobe Tuner?
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The Sonic Research ST-200 Strobe Tuner is highly accurate, with a precision of ±0.02 cents, making it ideal for professional musicians who require exact tuning.
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Is the Sonic Research ST-200 suitable for both guitar and bass?
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Yes, the Sonic Research ST-200 is suitable for tuning both guitar and bass, offering precise tuning capabilities for a variety of stringed instruments.
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Does the Sonic Research ST-200 Strobe Tuner work well in live performance settings?
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The ST-200 is designed for optimal performance in live settings, featuring a bright LED display that is easily visible on stage and a durable build to withstand rigorous use.
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What power supply does the Sonic Research ST-200 require?
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The Sonic Research ST-200 Strobe Tuner can be powered by a standard 9V DC power supply, commonly used with most pedalboards.
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How does the Sonic Research ST-200 Strobe Tuner differ from chromatic tuners?
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Unlike chromatic tuners, the ST-200 uses a strobe display for more precise tuning, allowing musicians to achieve greater accuracy with a visual representation of pitch deviations.
Reviews
PROS
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Extremely accurate and fast note recognition
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Durable construction, built to last
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Superior for intonation setup work due to precision
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Offers "sweetened" tunings for enhanced sound quality
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Outperforms other tuners in picking up low notes
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Simplicity in design makes it user-friendly
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Recognized as the best by professionals for its accuracy
CONS
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Lacks a built-in buffer or power supply chain
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Hard to see in high light situations
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Missing features like silent footswitch activation and 9v output found in competitors
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Power input placement can be inconvenient for pedalboard setup
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Some units may have issues finding the note to tune to
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Sonic Research ST-200 Strobe Tuner.
Features and functionality
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The ST-200 tuner uses spinning LEDs to indicate tuning precision, with clockwise indicating sharp and counter-clockwise indicating flat.
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The tuner is extremely precise, making it ideal for perfecting guitar intonation and improving overall musicianship.
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It's noted as the fastest tuner available, without unnecessary multi-string modes that can complicate tuning.
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The full-size ST-200 permits continuous sound output during tuning, unlike the mini version which mutes the signal.
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The ST-300, a successor, features faster note detection, an updated display, and a relocated power socket for enhanced user experience.
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The full-size ST-200 can be set to allow signal pass-through for pitch monitoring mid-song, muting only when the switch is engaged.
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The mini version lacks the ability to monitor pitch while playing, only allowing for silent tuning when activated.
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User experience
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Owners find the ST-200 to be a long-term investment, with some having used it for over 15 years without issues.
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Some users prefer the mini version for its compact size and ability to operate without a power supply.
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Transitioning from a Snark to the ST-200 provides a significant upgrade in tuning precision, as noted by several users.
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The full-size pedal is roughly the size of an MXR or Electro Harmonix pedal, offering a compact footprint for pedalboards.
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Use cases and applications
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The ST-200 is favored by musicians like Walter Becker for its precision in tuning.
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Value and pricing
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One owner snagged a used ST-200 for $75, significantly lower than typical listings, indicating potential for great deals in local marketplaces.
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Comparisons
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Compared to the TC Electronic Polytune, users consistently rate the ST-200 as superior for tuning accuracy.
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5.0 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 11 Ratings
72
Worth every penny.
This thing makes every guitar sound better because of its extreme accuracy. It picks up low notes far better than almost any other tuner. The only thing about I don't like is that the power input is on the side, instead of the top, so it can be a bit of a pain to get another pedal snugged right up to that side of the tuner.
123
Once you get used to it, there's no going back.
Used a chromatic tuner all my life. But the strobe tuner's accuracy is pretty visible. A/B'ed it with other tuners, and this always comes on top. Love it and won't ever leave it!
606
Artist usage
Add artist
In an Instagram post by user droff, Nigel Hendroff's pedalboard features the Sonic Research ST-200 Strobe Tuner, highlighting its role in his setup.
On Matt Schofield's website, he says, "Firstly I go into a Sonic Research St-200 strobe tuner. It’s the most accurate, compact and reliable stage tuner I’ve found."
In this Facebook post, Erin shows his January 2016 pedalboard, which introduces a new strobe tuner by Sonic Research on the bottom-right corner.
The pedal can be seen in this shot of Sterenberg's pedalboard on the lower level all the way to the left. Sterenberg also discusses it in the Six String Stories interview with the alternative press.
In this Reddit post, Nick states that he uses the Sonic Research tuner at the end of his chain.
Pedalboard used in conjunction with Marshall:
"My live ‘board is pretty simple - essentially just a tuner, an octave pedal, and a couple of subtle boost pedals. 90% of the core sound is from the guitar and amp, then a clean boost is used just to push the amp a bit harder into overdrive. I use the guitar volume for most of the tonal variations.
Main pedals used are as follows:
Free The Tone FINAL BOOSTER - Fantastic clean boost… the great thing is when set at zero and kicking it in there no tonal/level change whatsoever - it only adds to what’s already there. Has a nice natural sounding buffer in it too.
Sonic Research ST-200 Tuner - Accurate and reliable strobe tuner that works great especially for the ‘half a step down’ tuning I use. Easy to see on dark stages too!
T-Rex ALBERTA - Nice subtle tubescreamer type pedal, smoother and warmer sounding than the classic TS pedals. Normally just kicked in now and then with the Strat
T-Rex OCTAVIUS Octave pedal with switchable clean boost - This is great and is used mostly with the old cello slide guitar. The guitar has a really low output so the extra boost on here works perfectly to beef things back up
Voodoo Lab PEDAL POWER 2 PLUS - Silent, super reliable and efficient power supply!
Brightonion Pedals TRUE BYPASS LOOPER - Any pedals that aren’t true bypass run through this, plus it keeps things nice and easy to switch on and off during a gig as every thing is at the front!
Other pedals I use now and then… Klon Centaur, JHS Charlie Brown, Free The Tone Red Jasper, ZVEX Box Of Rock"
-Aynsley Lister
In a Rig Rundown conducted by Premier Guitar and hosted by Perry Bean, it was confirmed that guitarist Vadim Taver uses the Sonic Research ST-200 Strobe Tuner as part of his pedalboard setup.
A photograph of Masaaki Yaguchi's pedalboard, featured in an interview from "Guitar Magazine Japan," confirms the use of the Sonic Research ST-200 Strobe Tuner.
In this video Johnny Stachela says:
Pedalwise, we just got this tuner, Sonic Research Turbo Tuner, which in my opinion is the most important effect pedal you could ever have because being in tune is very important and I like this one because it is extremely accurate and it doesn't affect the sound at all.
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Sonic Research ST-200 Strobe Tuner, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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