Buzz Feiten Intonation Options

[Kenny Red]

I have a VS-II but am considering buying a StroboStomp for playing out on stage. Does the StroboStomp have the same accuracy (0.1 cents) as the other Peterson tuners? Can I do the Buzz Feiten intonation with it (I know it has the Buzz Feiten tuning offsets) Thanks, Kenny

[John Norris]

Hi Kenny,

The StroboStomp is accurate to 0.1 cents like all other Peterson tuners, making it by far the most accurate pedal tuner on the market.
It is also fully programmable, so you can put whatever offsets you like into it, to start you hold the left button down while you plug a cord into the input jack, you'll see this screen:



Using the right button you choose either P-1 or P-2 for storing your offsets. Then the notes are displayed one after another, using the button on the right you enter the cent offset for that note and using the left button you advance to the next note...



The last note is the high E (designated by an arrow beside the E pointing upwards...



When all the relevant notes have been offset, press the left button once (save menu) and the right button twice...





Remember, you only have to do this once, set it and forget it !

John N.

[John Norris]

Buzz Feiten Intonation Procedure for Electric Guitar (BFTS)
After deciding on string gauge, setting string height (nut & bridge), neck relief — factors that will later affect the guitars intonation considerably — the individual string lengths need to be adjusted. For this task, enter both the open string and 12th fret intonation offsets into the P-1 and P-2 programmable slots on your StroboStomp, VS-II or V-SAM tuner.

Settings to be entered into P-1:
Note________Open String Offsets
E___________________00
B__________________+01
G__________________-02
D__________________-02
A__________________-02
E__________________-02 (on VS-II and V-SAM tuners, use F = -2)

Settings to be entered into P-2:
Note__________12th Fret Offsets
E___________________00
B___________________00
G__________________+01
D__________________+01
A___________________00
E___________________00


• Lower the pickups away from the strings to avoid "doubling" and electromagnetic pull.

• Lay the guitar flat on a bench to adjust it, but always check the intonation with the instrument in the playing position, as the readings will be visibly (and later audibly) different.

You should always aim to freeze or "cage" the image on the Strobe Tuner display, the less movement the more accurate the results.

In this method, select your programmed P-1 temperament and tune the open string...



...then switch to your programmed P-2 temperament and fret the same string at the 12th fret (VS-II & V-SAM users use the "Value" knob to switch back and forth, StroboStomp users use the "Toggle" feature)......



...saddle position is carefully adjusted as follows:

• If the fretted note displays flat, move the bridge saddle forward to shorten the string (turn the saddle screw counter-clockwise)...



• If the fretted note displays sharp, move the bridge saddle back to lengthen the string (turn the saddle screw clockwise)...



• Always re-tune the open string using P-1 after adjusting the saddle position before re-checking the result fretted string at the 12th fret with P-2...

[img][img]http://www.petersontuners.com/oldweb/images/bank/RetuneW.jpg[/img][/img]

...check the string fretted on the 12th fret again using P-2...



• Taking the 6th string as an example, tune until the open string is 2 cents flat and the same string fretted at the 12th fret is in tune to 00.0 cents.

Please note this method is meant for guitars featuring the Buzz Feiten Tuning System or guitars which have been retrofitted.
For the necessary compensated nut, see your local authorized Buzz Feiten Retrofitter.

John N.

[kitko33]

I got the Buzz Feiten System installed recently, but I'm having troubles with intonation. I've programmed P-1 and P-2 offsets on my StroboStomp, tuned the guitar, set the intonation according to these instructions. Open strings are in tune with P-1, strings fretted at 12positions are in tune with P-2 setting.

However, playing, let's say minichord at 12fret on strings G and B with distortion on is really painful, it's more out of tune than on my non-BF guitar. Guitar gets more out tune from 10th fret up, and playing with distortion is simply no-no-no. G and B are simply out of tune through all the fretboard.

Am I doing something wrong?

[John Norris]

Hi Kitko,
what we have done here is to explain how to use the tuners with the Buzz Feiten system, for questions about its physical application to guitars and the results etc., the people to ask are either Buzz Feiten Design or your local BF installer.

John N.

[ILUVMYJP7]

This is great info guys(great post John Norris), but can anyone give me the offsets (both open and fretted) for the 7th or low B string, thanks!

[dbeeman]

Is there any way to just use the builtin BFTS settings to set my guitar's intonation?

[Turbo]

Hi dbeeman,

your StroboStomp has the open string presets for tuning already programmed. This is for "on-stage" tuning with a BF guitar. You can also use this when you are doing your intonation on your BF guitar, but for BF electric guitar you have to have two offset notes, one open string offset and one 12th fret offset. So what you have to do is to enter the 12th fret offsets for intonation into one of its programmable banks, P-1 or P-2.


Here are the presets (for 12th fret) that you have to program into your tuner:
Note__________12th Fret Offsets
E___________________00
B___________________00
G__________________+01
D__________________+01
A___________________00
E___________________00


But the best way (like the instructions from John Norris on this topic) is to program both offsets (open string offset and 12th fret offset) into P-1 and P-2, because it is easier to toggle between P-1 and P-2 when doing the intonation than it is to toggle between the pre-programmed BFTS preset and one of the P-1 or P-2.



Turbo

[John Norris]

The offset for the low B string on the 7-string guitar would be:

Tuned open B = -2 cents
Intonated at 12th fret (fretted note) B = 0 cents

The other 6 strings E low to E high follow the BFTS 6-string electric guitar offsets.

John N.

[Turbo]

Sorry, I forgot about the low B string on 7-string guitars. Thanks John!


Turbo

[Novillo]

How do i have to tune with buzz feiten I´m new with de peterson

[John Norris]

If you have an electric guitar with the Buzz Feiten System installed, just select the BFE preset and tune.
Here is the Spanish manual for the StroboStomp

John N.

[Joe W]

I am getting my Les Paul fitted with a BFTS. How would I use the strobostomp to "Drop D" tune?

[John Norris]

Hi Joe,
The StroboStomp is chromatic, just tune your low E down to D.

John N.

[kranius]

can someone explain the last point, "• Taking the 6th string as an example, tune until the open string is 2 cents flat and the same string fretted at the 12th fret is in tune to 00.0 cents."

I'd like to adjust intonation on my guitar, HOw can i read the cents? I have the stroboStomp

[John Norris]

Hi Kranius,
If you've programmed the open offsets into P-1 and the intonation offsets into P-2, the setting for the 6th string (E) will be -2.0 cents in P-1 and 0.0 cents in P2 automatically, no need to look for cents or remember offsets, the tuner does it for you. You use P-1 (-2 cents automatically) to tune the string, and then you switch to P-2 to fret it at the 12th fret.

John N.

[John Norris]

Update:
The StroboFlip comes with all Buzz Feiten System settings (including intonation) pre-programmed.

John N.

[asherbrown]

How would you set a Strobo Stomp 2 to set up and intonate a 35" scale 5 string bass tuned A-D-G-C-F? Just bought an MTD and need to have it ready to go in 48 hours...please advise, thanks!

[John Norris]

Since there are no BFTS Bass offsets for the notes you mention, I would advise either intonating it using standard procedure as it is or intonating it tuned to BEADG and using the standard BFTS offsets for bass.

John N.

[asherbrown]

Where/how would I find the standard offsets for bass?

If I intonate tuned down a step using the "normal method", will my intonation be proper or a little off?

[John Norris]

Where/how would I find the standard offsets for bass?

Just search on this forum, they are posted in several places.

If I intonate tuned down a step using the "normal method", will my intonation be proper or a little off?

Since its to do with the Buzz F. system, I don't/can't speak for what variables do and don't work - its not our system.
Have you asked MTD or the folks at www.buzzfeiten.com? They would probably be best qualified.

John N.

[asherbrown]

Thanks Mr. Norris!

[asherbrown]

I contacted tech support at Buzz Feiten, and they directed me to the StroboFlip, which works perfectly for dropped tunings. I don't need the DI out, so I'll be picking one of those up instead, thanks.