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I have a dilemma. I’ve planned on getting a strobe tuner for some time. I’ve used some nice tuners in the past, but I’ve realized that strobe is the way to go for set-up and really all playing in general. The digital strobes are so affordable and portable compared to their 20lb high school band counterparts that I can’t put it off any longer. So I decided I’d get the Peterson VSII. Then I got to thinking that I’d probably love it so on my bench that I’d want to use it live. Then I’m stuck either taking the VSII out to shows or buying a strobostomp. I really don’t want to spend the money on two strobe tuners, so I thought I’d get your thoughts. Have any of you used the strobostomp on a setup bench? Will I miss the extra VSII features? Do any of you gig with the VSII? I have an extra output to patch the tuner to, so I don’t have to put it in my main signal path. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your time.

Wes

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Tommy P. Tue, 03/14/2006 - 18:55

I agree with bewarethanatos, its a matter of features. For studio the VSII, for live, the Strobostomp has no peers...

The Srobostomp is true bypass(with internal dip switches set accordingly). In another mode, you give up true bypass but gain a decent XLR balanced direct out.
Downside of the stompbox are the plastic input and output jacks soldered to the circuit board. If you move around a lot onstage your guitar cord plug will eventually get noisy in the Strobostomps input jack. Lashing the cable to your pedalboard will make it last a little longer. Hopefully Peterson will revise the design and chassis mount switchcraft jacks. They also need to brighten the displays a little, because they're hard to see in bright sunlight.

There is a stand mounted bracket for the VSII, so taking it out to shows won't be too bad.

I may have to modify my Strobostomp with new jacks, its taken a beating
over the past two+ years. Still my fav piece of gear. 8-)