AutoStrobe 490

Overview

Features

Specifications

Sweeteners

Reviews

Support

Related Products

The Peterson AutoStrobe 490 is agreed by music students, technicians, and professionals to be the standard by which all tuners are measured. Only Peterson could bring you the kind of real- time intonation critical enough for ear training use. Enjoy hands-free note selection for fast, accurate tuning of instruments. Other companies may boast of their strobe tuner capabilities, but buyer beware!

The AutoStrobe 490 is a truly stroboscopic mechanical tuner capable of fundamental and overtone display.

Key features include mutable throughputs for in-line (yet silent) tuning during performances, automatic image clarity and contrast control which internally compensate for optimal viewing over a wide range of source pitch and volume, improved clarity for upper and lower register notes (our +2/-1 display feature shifts the strobe patterns into more visible middle ranges so that bass note patterns can be displayed two octaves higher and treble note patterns can be displayed one octave lower in strobe display), and easy transposition (strobe patterns appear at the correct note for Bb, F, and Eb instruments).

HARMONIC CONTENT AT-A-GLANCE | Peterson Strobe Tuners

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 | Peterson Strobe Tuners

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.

MANUAL NOTE SELECTION | Peterson Strobe Tuners

MANUAL NOTE SELECTION

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

PROFESSIONAL'S CHOICE | Peterson Strobe Tuners

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 | Peterson Strobe Tuners

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.

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.

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

19 Reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars.
5 stars
89%
4 stars
5%
3 stars
5%
2 stars
0%
1 star
0%
See All AutoStrobe 490 Reviews
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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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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By Adriano Dadario on Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Verified Purchase

Reviewed on
Peterson Website
Plays 6-String Acoustic Guitar

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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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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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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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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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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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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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.

4 people found this review helpful.
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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.

How Accurate Is My Tuner?

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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.

Peterson Tuners - Sweetened Tunings

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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.

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

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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.

 Capable of handling “stretched” interval tuning, this is the instrument technician’s most valuable tool. | Peterson Strobe Tuners

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!
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 The AutoStrobe 590 is THE preeminent mechanical strobe tuner for tone generation and metronome facilities. | Peterson Strobe Tuners

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.
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 Converts any AutoStrobe™ model to a 19

AutoStrobe Rack Kit

$45.00

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