AutoStrobe™ 490

Accuracy At The Speed of Light.

19 Reviews

$950.00

The AutoStrobe 490 brings accuracy that only the speed of light could measure. ONLY Peterson!

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Made in the USA

AutoStrobe 490

Overview

Features

Specifications

Sweeteners

Reviews

Support

HARMONIC CONTENT AT-A-GLANCE

Real-time display of intonation and harmonic content to improve performance and listening skills while playing.

TUNING AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT

Instantaneous visual indication of how much the pitch of your instrument differs from the precise target pitch you are trying to tune.

Features

Automatic Note Selection
Automatic Image Clarity And Contrast Control - Internal Compensation For Optimal Viewing Over A Wide Range Of Source Pitch And Volume.
Enhanced Clarity For Upper And Lower Register Notes - +2/-1 Display Feature Shifts The Strobe Patterns Into More Visible Middle Ranges - Bass Note Patterns Can Be Displayed Two Octaves Higher And Treble Note Patterns Can Be Displayed One Octave Lower In Strobe Display.
External Input And Through Output With Mute - For In-Line, Silent Tuning During Performances.

MANUAL NOTE SELECTION

Tune in loud environments quickly and easily. Perfect for band rooms, loud sound stages, and manufacturing environments.

PROFESSIONAL'S CHOICE

Trusted by industry pros for over 65 years to deliver dependable performance and accurate tuning to some of the largest stage acts in musical history.

USA MADE

Proudly designed, manufactured, and tested in Alsip, IL U.S.A.

Since 1948, Peterson Strobe Tuners is deeply committed to innovation as well as excellence in design, manufacturing, and customer service.

Available Tuning Presets ( 8 )

Default

EQU

Standard chromatic tuning/Equal temperament suitable for regular or alternate tuning, 100 cent intervals - no Sweetening.

Guitar & Bass

P5TH

Peterson Sweetener for electric guitar

Historic Temperaments

JMI

Just Major Intonation

PYT

Pythagorean Intonation with A base

4MT

1/4 Comma Meantone

KRN

Kirnberger III Temperament

WK3

Werckmeister III

YNG

Young Temperament with A base

Compare to Sweetened Tunings offered in other products.

Specifications

Power Supply: Built-In (IEC)

Stretch Tuning Tables: No

Note Range: C1 to B8

Note Selection: Automatic Or Manual

Peterson Connect Compatible: No

Form Factor: Desktop/Bench

Accuracy: 0.1 Cents

Display Type: Single Analog Strobe Disc

Display Resolution: Infinite (Analog)

Construction: Metal Casing

Product Dimensions LxWxH: 13.4" x 6.375" x 3.5"

Product Weight: 7lbs. (3.18kg)

USB Port: No

Power: AC 100V to 240V

Built-In Microphone: Yes

Built-In Speaker: No

Metronome: No

Inputs: 1/4" Jack

Outputs: 1/4" Thru

Mute-able Output: Footswitch Controlled

Tone Generator: No

Concert A Range: 350Hz to 550Hz

Global Cent Offset Range: +/- 50 Cents

Transposition Range: Keys of C, Bb, F, Eb

Frequency Response Range: 32.70Hz to 7902.13Hz

Warranty: 1 Year

User Presets: 64 User Presets

Historic Temperaments: Yes

Reviews | AutoStrobe 490

19 Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars.

5 stars

89%

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

See All AutoStrobe 490 Reviews

AutoStrobe 490

Five Stars!

By Robert Throop on Saturday, August 26, 2023

Verified Purchase

Reviewed on

Peterson Website

Plays 6-String Electric Guitar, 6-String Acoustic Guitar, 4 String Bass, 10 String Pedal Steel Guitar, 5-String Banjo, Buzz Feiten Electric Guitar

All Peterson tuners are great and always exceed my expectations!

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AutoStrobe 490

The Standard! The Yard Stick!

By Theresa Strange on Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Verified Purchase

Reviewed on

Peterson Website

Plays 4 String Bass, 6 String Lap Steel, Tenor Ukulele, 8 String Lap Steel, Classical Cello, Buzz Feiten Electric Guitar, 6-String Electric Guitar, 6-String Acoustic Guitar, Dobro® / Resonator Guitar

The STANDARD by which all else are measured by.... this is what we use on tour. We have been using Peterson tuners for the better part of 30 years! Tech support is stellar!

3 people found this review helpful.

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AutoStrobe 490

Five Stars!

By Adriano Dadario on Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Verified Purchase

Reviewed on

Peterson Website

Plays 6-String Acoustic Guitar

AutoStrobe 490

Octaves wow !

Anonymous on Thursday, September 3, 2020

Edited on Thursday, September 3, 2020

Verified Purchase

Reviewed on

Peterson Website

Just wow!

This thing works so well it's not even funny. Very easy to understand and you can tell you've got quality in your hands. I love how easy it makes tuning octaves which for harmonica is a MUST. In just one session I was able to tune my harp so precisely I'm not sure I'll actually need to go for a second pass never mind a third which is, normally, how you tune on this instrument. (probably still gonna do more passes but still incredible ;P )

Plus the service has really been great. The people who work here are very knowledgeable and super helpful !!

I highly recommend Peterson for any tuning needs!!

100% satisfied

1 person found this review helpful.

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AutoStrobe 490

Five Stars!

By Phillip Keller on Sunday, January 12, 2020

Verified Purchase

Reviewed on

Peterson Website

I've only had this for a couple of weeks and there is a learning curve ... I am still adjusting to the strobe's reaction time ...

1 person found this review helpful.

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AutoStrobe 490

very impressed

By Mitchel Weissman on Saturday, November 23, 2019

Verified Purchase

Reviewed on

Peterson Website

Plays 6-String Electric Guitar, 4 String Bass, Mandolin, 6-String Acoustic Guitar, 10 String Pedal Steel Guitar, 5 String Bass, Dobro® / Resonator Guitar, Ukulele, 5-String Banjo, Upright Bass, Tenor Ukulele, 6 String Lap Steel, 8 String Lap Steel, 6 String Bass, Classical Violin, Double Bass, Classical Cello, Appalachian Fiddle, Baritone Ukulele, 4-String Tenor Banjo, Octave Mandolin, String Bass, Buzz Feiten Electric Guitar, Mandola, Celtic Violin, Classical Viola, Cajun Fiddle, 8 String Pedal Steel Guitar, Buzz Feiten Bass, Mandocello, Buzz Feiten Acoustic Guitar, Buzz Feiten 12-String Guitar, 10 String Lap Steel, 7 String Bass, Scandinavian Violin, Mandobass, Baroque Cello

The feature that most impressed me is the ability to adjust the sensitivity when performing intonation on a guitar. I am very fussy when it comes to intonation and this feature secures me with the ability to deliver a service to my customers that others in my area can not.

3 people found this review helpful.

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AutoStrobe 490

Three Stars

By ALBERTO NAVARRO GARZA on Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Verified Purchase

Reviewed on

Peterson Website

Plays 6-String Electric Guitar, 6-String Acoustic Guitar, 4 String Bass

This product is excelent, though user needs much more information on operation instructions

2 people found this review helpful.

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AutoStrobe 490

Five Stars!

By Joe on Saturday, January 19, 2019

Verified Purchase

Reviewed on

Peterson Website

Plays Dobro® / Resonator Guitar, 6-String Acoustic Guitar, 6-String Electric Guitar

AWESOME

1 person found this review helpful.

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AutoStrobe 490

Nearly perfect for my needs

By John Earle on Monday, November 26, 2018

Verified Purchase

Reviewed on

Peterson Website

Plays 6-String Electric Guitar, 6-String Acoustic Guitar

Very nice, and very accurate, but I would like to see the display indicate exactly how many cents over or under the exact pitch any note is. This would be very convenient, at least in setting up guitars, which is one of the tasks for which I use this. The value can be determined, but it is a little bit of a hassle. Otherwise, I am 100% satisfied with the purchase. Does everything I expected and then some. A fine instrument.

4 people found this review helpful.

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AutoStrobe 490

Five Stars!

By Colin Thomson on Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Edited on Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Verified Purchase

Reviewed on

Peterson Website

Plays 6-String Electric Guitar, 6-String Acoustic Guitar, 5-String Banjo, Dobro® / Resonator Guitar, 6 String Lap Steel

I have always been interested in setting up my guitar and piano accurately as well as having the means to service reed instruments. Although I'm not on a professional level, I've found that very high and very low notes tend to confuse other types of tuning devices, this was achievable with the Peterson 490 Strobe Tuner.

AutoStrobe 490 Review | Colin Thomson | Peterson Strobe Tuners

3 people found this review helpful.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does my AutoStrobe 490 require calibration?

Generally, your AutoStrobe 490 will not require calibration and should remain perfectly accurate if it has not been damaged.

Unlike more modern Peterson strobes, legacy models such as the Peterson 400, 420, 450 and 700 do require occasional calibration.

If you require service, please open a support ticket and return the tuner for repair.

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How do I read a strobe display?

Basically, the strobe image appears to travel to the left if your instrument is flat of the desired pitch and to the right if it is sharp. On earlier models such as the StroboStomp 1, StroboStomp 2, VS-1, VS-II and V-SAM, the strobe image travels upward if your instrument is sharp and downward if your instrument is flat of the desired pitch.

Adjust your instrument until the pattern is as close to still as possible. Strobe displays are 'real-time' and extremely precise. They require very fine tuning adjustments to stop the display because the frequency/pitch of any instrument is never totally stable.

You'll quickly learn to read the display, make the most precise adjustments and appreciate the high resolution that only a Peterson provides.

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Is the accuracy the same for all Peterson tuners?

Yes, the accuracy is within 0.1 cents (1/1000 of one semitone) as with all Peterson Strobe Tuners. An important thing to note is that Peterson Strobe Tuners have ultra high definition displays, so not only are they highly accurate in detecting a note but they have the ability to display that accuracy. Other products claim accuracy but do not have the high definition screen to display the level of accuracy in which they claim. If you cannot see the accuracy, it is of little value. Only Peterson provides High Definition Strobe Tuning.

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What is my AutoStrobe 490’s Sweetened Tunings feature all about?

A Sweetener is a set of cent offsets or a deviation from generic Equal Temperament interval spacing traditionally used in tuning. Tuners made by Peterson, including the AutoStrobe 490, contain many choices of Sweeteners, in other words, several presets with differing interval spacing relevant to the instrument being tuned. If you’ve never been happy with how your instrument tunes up with your present tuner, a Sweetener could be just the thing to change that without any modifications whatsoever. The AutoStrobe 490 offers unique and very accurate tweaks which often make all the difference.

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Is there a carrying case available?

We have carrying cases available that are very useful if you will be frequently traveling with your Peterson tuner. You may purchase your case directly from us at Peterson.

Cases are available for the AutoStrobe™ line, the StroboClip HD and the StroboPLUS HD/HDC.

AutoStrobe Soft Case

StroboClip HD / HDC Protective Case

StroboPLUS HD/HDC Case

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Documents

490 Instruction Manual English Rev2

490 Manual Deutsch

Peterson Proposition 65 Warning

490 Instruction Manual French Francais

Not finding an answer? Open a support ticket for personalized support of your Peterson product.

AutoStrobe 490-ST

$1,140.00

Capable of handling “stretched” interval tuning, this is the instrument technician’s most valuable tool. The Peterson AutoStrobe 490ST offers a vast array of selectable “stretched” tuning options, including pianos of all types. Enjoy the instantaneous response times that only a Peterson can deliver and the relative tuning display of any audio source to 0.1 of a cent (1/1000 of a semitone) accuracy! With the Model 490-ST, students, technicians, and musicians of all levels can utilize automatic (hands-free) note selection for absolutely the most accurate tuning of any instrument. Key features including real-time display of intonation to improve performance and listening skills while playing as well as mutable throughputs for in-line (yet silent) tuning during performances round out the package!

AutoStrobe 590

$1,175.00

The AutoStrobe 590 is THE preeminent mechanical strobe tuner for tone generation and metronome facilities. It combines both input instrument tone and audio standard reference tone at the output for simultaneous visual and audible tuning along with exceptional intonation training! The 590’s key features (automatic note tracking and audio tone generation capabilities) make it a favorite in the classroom, at the factory, or backstage. And as usual, only a Peterson can respond at the speed of light to display relative tuning information extracted from any audio source down to 0.1 of a cent (1/1000 of a semitone) accuracy! Finally, utilize automatic (hands-free) note selection for fast tune ups of instruments. Proudly made in the USA.

AutoStrobe Rack Kit

$45.00

Converts any AutoStrobe™ model to a 19" rack format. AutoStrobe™ 490 not included.

Soft but durable, with double zippered flap top, space for additional accessories, and an adjustable/removable shoulder strap. | Peterson Strobe Tuners

AutoStrobe Soft Case

$55.00

Soft but durable, with double zippered flap top, space for additional accessories, and an adjustable/removable shoulder strap.

AutoStrobe remote footswitch. | Peterson Strobe Tuners

AutoStrobe Single Footswitch

$45.00

AutoStrobe remote footswitch. For remote Note/Octave Increment (490-ST only), MUTE (490, 490-ST) and Metronome Start/Stop (590 only).

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Peterson Connect

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AutoStrobe™ 490

Accuracy At The Speed of Light.

AutoStrobe 490

HARMONIC CONTENT AT-A-GLANCE

TUNING AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT

MANUAL NOTE SELECTION

PROFESSIONAL'S CHOICE

USA MADE

Default

Guitar & Bass

Historic Temperaments

Compare to Sweetened Tunings offered in other products.

Does my AutoStrobe 490 require calibration?

How do I read a strobe display?

Is the accuracy the same for all Peterson tuners?

What is my AutoStrobe 490’s Sweetened Tunings feature all about?

Is there a carrying case available?

Not finding an answer? Open a support ticket for personalized support of your Peterson product.

View More

Not finding an answer? Open a support ticket for personalized support of your Peterson product.

AutoStrobe 490-ST

$1,140.00

AutoStrobe 590

$1,175.00

AutoStrobe Rack Kit

$45.00

AutoStrobe Soft Case

$55.00

AutoStrobe Single Footswitch

$45.00

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