The Steel Guitar Forum

After doing a search and reading post I am still confused. Do I need to get the V-Sam or the VS2? Which is the best for steel?

The following was posted a while back by a Peterson representative in response to someone else asking the same question:

"Dear Sam,

The VS-II will ship around the middle of the month.
I see you´re a steel player so I will first give you the basic differences
and then the diffences regarding steel guitar:
The basic differences are:

Selectable temperament presets:
VS-II=Yes (12) V-SAM=Yes (12)

Selectable temperament roots
VS-II=No V-SAM=Yes (12)

Programmable temperaments
VS-II=Yes (2) V-SAM=Yes (2)

Tone generator
VS-II=Yes (Passive) V-SAM=Yes (active - built-in speaker)

Metronome
VS-II=No V-SAM=Yes

Headphone jack
VS-II=No V-SAM=Yes

Thru jack
VS-II=Yes V-SAM=No

DC Adapter included (100V-240V universal)
VS-II=Yes V-SAM=Yes

Now for the steel guitar feature differences:

1. The Peterson V-SAM Virtual Strobe Audio Metronome -
Features for Steel are as follows:

Just Intoned E9 & C6 tempered tuning presets which are "root adjustable".
That means D9, B6, Universal type tunings etc. are also preset in the tuner.


There are 12 other temperaments in the tuner including GTR & BAS tempered
tunings as well as the common Equal temperament and two user-programmable
tunings for any off-the-wall tunings or to compensate for cabinet drop etc.
There is also a tone generator and a metronome included.

The V-SAM is an input-only tuner (output is purely a headphone jack for
audio tone generator & metronome).

This is the only tuner of its kind in the world, no other tuner has steel
guitar presets. It is the ultimate live/studio tool for the busy musician.

DC Adapter included.

Accuracy: 0.1 cent (compared with +/- 2 cents for other makes)



2. The Peterson VS-II Virtual Strobe Tuner -

This is an updated version of the previous VS-I (Tuner only).

Features for Steel are as follows:

It contains E9 & C6 presets but is not as flexible (no D9, B6 etc.) as it
does not offer the "root" feature, suitable for players who are settled at
regular E9 & C6 setups and just want to tune in JI in-line without having to
adjust anything on a tuner (on all other makes of tuner, the user has to
adjust for each note). The VS-II is also programmable.

DC Adapter included.

Accuracy: 0.1 cent (compared with +/- 2 cents for other makes)

This tuner will be officially released at Summer NAMM in Nashville this
month.

We have also designed a clamp to hold the tuner in position and out of the
way which fits anything from a MSA guitar leg to a mic stand, it will be
available in about a week.

Thank you for your interest in Peterson Strobe Tuners.

Sincerely,


John Norris
Peterson Electro-Musical Products, Inc.
11601 S Mayfield Ave
Alsip, Illinois 60803
708-388-3311
Fax 708-388-3341 www.petersontuners.com www.petersonemp.com
jnorris@petersonemp.com


Check out the new ground-breaking peterson V-SAM! http://www.petersontuners.com/products/modelvsam/index.cfm

Get it all tuned with the peterson TP-1: http://www.petersontuners.com/news/ttopics/results.cfm?this_topic=14

Still the bottom line is which is best for steel?

I bought the VSAM II. The presets plus the 2 programmable temperaments clinched it for me. The programmable presets have allowed me to fine tune the temperament(s) for my guitar. Every guitar is different and a one-size-fits all approach from the VSAM doesn't do it.

Karlis

If you want to be able to run your steel through the tuner and out to the amp, i.e. always have it available on the fly, and just want a standard tuning - VS II.

If you want to do any sort of tuning outside of the standard, for example a Universal tuning, want more flexibility, and want a metronome or tone generator: VSAM

Thanks Aaron that is what i needed to hear.

Quote

"If you want to be able to run your steel through the tuner and out to the amp, i.e. always have it available on the fly....."

So you can't do this with the V-Sam...
I don't understand why this feature is absent. Is there an acceptible workaround, sucn as a "Y" connector, or will that degrade the signal?

David,

The V-SAM does not have a pass-through because it has a built-in tone generator. I was told the decision not to include a pass-through was so that the tone could not accidentally get blasted through your amp or the PA.


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www.samminnitti.com

I understand what you are saying. It looks like the ideal model for me is the one they don't make. Give me the pass-through and Universal, lose the tone generator and the metronome.

If only Peterson were lurking and could let us know if there is another variant on the horizon. I'd hate to buy one only to find out I should have waited.

Guys,
Get a good tuning fork, and buy yourself a good amp or used steel with the savings. There has never been a custom tuning or anything as such that will be in tune with your band and/or studio instruments. If it doesn't sound in tune to you, it isn't. Concentrate on your playing skills, the tuning will come. A $3000 tuner will NOT make a steel player out of you.

Your mileage will probably vary for an uncertain period of time. Once you can hear what you need to, you will only use a tuner for you root notes.( I think?)

Bob<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Bob Knight on 05 December 2003 at 07:58 PM.]</p></FONT>

I totally agree with Bob Knight.

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kd...and the beat goes on...

He's right, of course, but the tuner we're talking about is $249, not $3000. I wouldn't buy it just for steel, for the reasons he stated, but I do like a pass through to sit on my amp when I am playing guitar. Bigsby tailpieces have never been known (at least to me) for precision returns, and my ear can be notoriously unreliable, especially when the band is in the middle of a song. Being able to hit a note and look up at the meter is a nice bit of luxury I see no reason to go without.

Sure, but the point is once you find the best setting, with your band, you can save the settings and get in tune a lot quicker. I don't see what could be wrong with that, it just saves time.

I really like the features of the V-SAM metronome.
I never use my old metronome anymore.

The pass-thru feature is not important, IMO.
I believe that ANY pass-thru device should be avoided. Of course we need some, but each one robs a bit of your sound.

Use a second output of one of your devices if you want the tuner always on.

Gentlemen:

It has been my experience that passing my signal thru the VS1 adds distortion and noise. Even when talking to the Peterson guys, they do not recommend leaving the tuner in the loop. I have a VS1 that I've been using for about two years now, and it always mucks up my sound, but it will put me on pitch everytime.

I love the tuner, and have learned to live with its faults. I plug/unplug the meter as needed. I have used an A/B switch with good performance. Another way is to use Peterson's clip on sensor. Clip the sensor at spot near the tuners. IT will sense the vibrations and give an accurate read. This way you have a choice to tune silent or not, and no worry about messing with your sound. About $12 from Peterson. If you want it super sensitive, clip it to a tuning key.

Your mileage may vary.
I hope this has helped.

Ron

How about plugging your instrument directly into your amp, and then runninng the tuner off some output - headphone jack, unused send, QUAD4 output?

I have two output jacks on my volume pedal. One goes to the tuner, the other to the amp.

I've never found "pass-thru" jacks to be desirable. They seem to invariably add capacitance and/or change the impedance.

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<font size="1"><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax</font>

I have the V-sam and I wouldn't part with it. The VS II is almost the same except it don't have the metronome in it. In response to the advise to save your money and get a fork, that is fine and dandy when in a quiet laid back enviroment, but I have been in places where tuning by ear was impossible. It may be one of my many short comings, but I have to be able to hear a tone and concentrate on it to tune. Almost every pedal steel tunes slightly different because of cabinet drop and such. That is where the Peterson tuners come into play. You can custom tune your guitar by what ever method that turns you on and when you are confident with all the pedal, levers, and open strings, you can store these in the V-sam or VS II. Pedal steel is a complicated instrument and having confidence in your tuning is a plus toward becoming a better player. I need all the help I can get and I gladly paid the price for the tuner because of the reasons I just mentioned.

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Sierra Session and MSA Classic Guitars, Nashville 400, Session 400, and Evans FET 500 HiVolt, and Gretsch Nashville Pro Steel Amps, Keith Hilton Digital Sustain pedal and Digital Sustain Box .
Harold Parris email hparris9@aol.com

I have a VS-II and I love it. It's very accurate and one of my guitars has a bass neck. Hold the F-cleff button when turning it on and it's ideal for tuning bass strings. I have to pick harmonics to tune them on my other tuners.

Sometimes I have to tune ET, other times I tune variations of JI and I can quickly dial up whatever I need.

Bobbie Lee,

You sure have got it together. All my volume pedals have two outputs. I guess I decided years ago that I needed only one and put the fact of there being two out of my mind, even though they are in my face every time I set up. I give myself a big DUH!

I like eating my cake and having it too. Thank you.


David