Strobo-flip anomaly

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 11 Dec 2011 12:48 am

Last night I played a gig at a bar, and I had trouble with my Strobo-flip all night long. The tuner couldn't seem to settle on the pitch of whatever string I was plucking.

For example, if I struck the E note, the tuner would not show the E at all, or it would only show the pitch briefly (a second or two) and then it would jump to other pitches. I couldn't detect a pattern to it's behavior. It seemed the other pitches were coming up randomly.

I repeatedly checked all my connections and even tried a different cord to the tuner. I also tried plugging the tuner into a different ac outlet on stage. Nothing seemed to help. About half way thru the night the tuner started to function closer to normal, but it was still erratic.

I have never had this problem with the tuner before, so I was afraid my tuner was due for service or replacement. But then today at home the tuner is working perfectly.

I have not changed any strings since the gig last night, so bad strings doesn't seem to be the answer.

I thought of checking the wall current, but I didn't have my meter with me. Could it have been low voltage from the wall socket?

Has anyone experienced this? Any suggested remedies?

Jason Hull · Post by **Jason Hull** » 11 Dec 2011 2:29 am

Jason Hull · Post by **Jason Hull** » 11 Dec 2011 2:30 am

Jeff Metz Jr. · Post by **Jeff Metz Jr.** » 18 Dec 2011 4:27 pm

Never underestimate invisible currents from light sources, cieling fans, etc.

Don Hinkle · Post by **Don Hinkle** » 18 Dec 2011 4:40 pm

I realize that this is irrelevant but I never use the AC adapter with my flip... it seems that 3 alkaline batteries lasts for months and months and is much more convenient than plugging in and running the adapter wires.

I have never had any issues like you are saying... sounds weird!

Dick Sexton · Post by **Dick Sexton** » 18 Dec 2011 5:50 pm

Paul, I'm with Don on this, but have thought about going to a Wal-Wart PS. Even if I do, I will carry batteries to trouble shoot any suspected problem with the Flip. I'm now using batteries and when they start getting low, I get almost the same symptoms. So, It could have been a low voltage at the socket, ie. dirty or burned connection. Sometimes if there is a socket on stage, its condition may be dubious. I also had the same or similar problem before I started using the Beaver mod in my pot pedals. Seems the SFs don't like a very strong input signal either.

I hate having gear problems on a gig, I've got enough to think about, without that.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 19 Dec 2011 2:23 am

Paul...Just a thought, were you using the "wall wart" that was supplied with the unit? Three AA batteries I believe only emit 4-1/2 volts, most standard DC power supplies, 9 volts.

edited for typo.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 19 Dec 2011 12:07 pm

The Stroboflip wall wart outputs 5.0 volts. Don't use a 9 volt for sure.

Eric Philippsen · Post by **Eric Philippsen** » 19 Dec 2011 1:19 pm

I've had that happen to me a few times with my Stroboflip. It was due to one of two reasons:

- most of the time it indicated the batteries were low, although, as another mentioned, battery life in the tuner is a long time.

- the other reason makes me feel dumb when it happens. That is, I'll try and tune one neck on my D10 but the neck selector switch will be set to the other neck and I won't notice it. Of course the tuner will still pick up sympathetic vibrations from the active pickup but not quite lock onto a fundamental note.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 19 Dec 2011 3:56 pm

- the other reason makes me feel dumb when it happens. That is, I'll try and tune one neck on my D10 but the neck selector switch will be set to the other neck and I won't notice it. Of course the tuner will still pick up sympathetic vibrations from the active pickup but not quite lock onto a fundamental note.

Been there.

It sounds as though he has a problem even with the wal-wart, so I doubt it is a battery problem, unless there is no voltage from the adapter and the tuner uses battery power instead, but I don't think they work that way. Don't the batteries get removed from the equation when the AC adapter is used?

Rick Johnson · Post by **Rick Johnson** » 20 Dec 2011 6:53 am

I had a similar issue with my tuner.
I noticed that didn't have my volume pedal
pushed down.

Rick

www.rickjohnsoncabs.com

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 20 Dec 2011 7:10 am

i always use mine straight from guitar to tuner with known good batteries, keeps things simple.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 20 Dec 2011 11:15 am

Same here Roger. That takes everything else out of the equation.

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 20 Dec 2011 11:27 am

Family has been in town so I haven't had time to respond. I'll try the batteries route. Thanks for the suggestions.

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Strobo-flip anomaly

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