I had a friend recently give me this thing. It works, but I'm not really sure how to use it. I'm guessing you set it to a key and get the strobe wheel to stand still, but the wheel has different "levels". Have any of you used one of these? Looks to be built like a tank.
 

 

i had use of one of those, back in the late 70's....
 
such a cool instrument.
 
i owned one of these, for about 4 years:
 

 
wished i still had it.....
 
but i just recently purchased this:
 

excellent unit.
extremely small, great for crowded pedalboards
 
 

I have an old Conn Strobe Tuner - I use it to set up guitars as I've found nothing that is quite as accurate or responsive. I also have the Peterson Strobe Tuner software, which can do some neat tricks, and a Peterson Strobostomp, which I would not gig without.
 
So what makes strobe tuners so cool?
 
The lowest set of bars represents the fundamental, and the bars above it represent different harmonics. If you are tuning a guitar you want to make the pattern stand still, and if you can get multiple levels to stand still then the string is in tune with itself, if that makes sense.
 
You are fortunate to have one!
 

Bat that Conn looks like a more recent version of the same thing. Mine must be ancient as it has tubes in it. Are the red LEDs on the polytune measuring harmonics? 
 
Thanks Bill, I think you answered my question about those other bands....I can't wait to play with tunings and look at the harmonics. I wonder if I can use it to give me the harmonics in say, my studio based on any given note?

yes, the conn i had was a 'modern' version, in 1979.......
LOL
 
 
polytune:
 
 
PolyTune® Technology - Tune All Strings Simultaneously 
• Retina-scorching Bright Display
• Ultra-precise Chromatic Strobe Tuner 
 
http://www.tcelectronic.com/polytune-2/
 
really amazing.
 

That does sound most amazing Bat....I have been using those clip ons...meh....They get you by in a pinch.

yes, read about it..
 
on that pic above, what you are seeing, is 6 strings being played at once,
and it is showing which ones are flat, in tune, and sharp
 
 
i never use it that way, because obviously, if you don't have a tempered instrument, every position is going to be off somewhere..
i just tune open strings, and live with the intonation.
 
as it is, all my instruments are so well set up, i don't have a lot of issues.
 

Nice seeing that again, my High School had this exact model & it was used all the time for tuning up the orchestra & instruments, mine being F hrn & Gtr.. Also used it for State/  Solo  & Ensemble competitions.

Now on my DAW (for my gtrs.) I use this-
http://www.petersontuners../index.cfm?category=143
(It used to be offered from Cakewalk & in your user account for $89.00?)

Ha Carl...I think this might have came from a school that closed. I was in the band too...good times! We had way more fun than the football team.

The Conn Strobe Tuners were standard in road bands for many years.  Now every one has their own tuner. 
 
My current tuner is the Peterson StrobeOPlusHD.