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Best inexpensive tuner pedal
- Thread starter Bassdude66
- Start date
Thanks for that tip, @projectapollo! I received mine from Amazon yesterday, and claimed a discount this morning.
For the OP's request, I'd go with the Polytune. Ubiquitous, reliable, and a steal on the Used market.
For < $100, you can buy a budget import multi-FX with a built-in tuner. Gives you some extra "toys" for your enjoyment...tuners are boring by themselves. The tuners are actually pretty good...I've A/B'd them with my Petersons.
Riis
Riis
I have an earlier version of this one. I've had it 2 or 3 years. It is cheap and works right every time.
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Love these they are soooo small rechargeable and pivot to any angle, the screen flips and goes sideways. You can leave it on a guitar forever until it needs a charge.
It it is pretty hard to beat a pedal tuner for convenience. Push the button with your foot to silence the instrument while you tune and push it again to connect to the amplifier. You don't need a pedal board to use it. It can stand alone just fine. Just a another cable.
For $100 bucks and under, you can do a used Peterson StroboStomp 2. It also has a DI although I've never used mine BUT may be a bonus if the gruffy soundguy is looking for a hook-up. Also comes in handy if you're doing any level of detail work re: set-ups / diagnostics.
Peterson VS-S2 StroboStomp 2 Strobe Pedal Tuner | Reverb
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Riis
You could use a courtesy plug and sit this on top of your amp. Large easy to read display.
Cheap used rack tuner
Cheap used rack tuner
I don't like clip on tuners, I have always found them to be slow and sometimes unresponsive to certain frequencies. They also can't be used as a mute when you tune or put down your bass.
My all time favourite is the polytune3. I never use the poly feature, but you can ignore it. What makes it truly great is how easy it is to see, and it is fast! Like almost instantaneous. The switchable buffer is great too, I feel like they only offer true bypass for marketing reasons. The standard can use a battery, but not the mini, so that makes the standard one the best choice for someone without a pedalboard. Boss tu-2 and tu-3 are also pretty good.
My all time favourite is the polytune3. I never use the poly feature, but you can ignore it. What makes it truly great is how easy it is to see, and it is fast! Like almost instantaneous. The switchable buffer is great too, I feel like they only offer true bypass for marketing reasons. The standard can use a battery, but not the mini, so that makes the standard one the best choice for someone without a pedalboard. Boss tu-2 and tu-3 are also pretty good.
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
^^^^^^^This^^^^^ It's the best cheap tuner out there. Only downside is that to tune silently, you'll need to get an adapter to get the signal into the iPhone. But, it works well hearing the sound from a speaker.
iStroboSoft | Peterson Strobe Tuners
www.petersontuners.com
Came in to say this. The TU2 is no slouch, but the 3 is better. Still have my TU2 I got almost 30 years ago, still good! Have a couple TU3 on other boards and picked up a used TU3W for $100. It's really nice, like the black, and the buffer is switchable to off.I recently grabbed a (slightly used) Boss TU-3 for like $66 from GC a couple months ago. (A used TU-2 would be even cheaper).
The boss TU's have been reliable go to Pedal Tuners for years.
Nothing wrong with the TU-2 (or even the 1st one), BUT I'd rather a Used TU-3 than a new TU-2. Apparently the 3 reacts Faster, is easier to see and is even More accurate than the TU-2. That said, I've never "NOT" been in tune using the TU-2 (or 1).But "more accurate" must be better, right?
That's my story and I'm stickin 'TU' it.
T$
Surely a new TU3 can be had this weekend for well under $100.
The Polytune is my 2nd favorite pedal tuner. The Pitchblack is #3.
Then buy a used BOSS TU-series pedal. Don't bother with cheap tuners. It's arguably the most important pedal you will ever own. My TU-2 is 26 years old currently, works perfectly and you can even power another pedal with it. By the time it finally dies they might be making the TU-7
Good point. I guess you could go to YouTube and search for "bass tuner" and tune the "A" string to 440, then tune the other strings in relation to the "A".
I really like the Donner DT Mini pedal tuner. Supposed to have strobe accuracy, but the main thing I like is how easy it is to see where your tuning lies. Shows you a very clear line with a side line different color if any deviation. If no side line, you are in tune. Simple, and very visible. Pretty sure it was under $100.
I also have a Peterson, but I use that for setting intonation. Cost more than $100. And for tuning when I take a bass out of the case, I use a Korg GA-2. The Donner sits on my pedal board so is for checking tuning while playing. Here's the Donner on the board.
I also have a Peterson, but I use that for setting intonation. Cost more than $100. And for tuning when I take a bass out of the case, I use a Korg GA-2. The Donner sits on my pedal board so is for checking tuning while playing. Here's the Donner on the board.
Attachments
I like the Pitchblack - PEDAL TUNER | KORG (USA) as it is chromatic, has a strobe mode, and tracks my low B string.
I dislike the display on the Boss. Too busy and small. TC Polytune is better. And newer versions of the Polytune can be configured to be always-on so you can glance down to check your tuning while playing.
I’ve had a Korg and a couple of Polytune. IME the Polytune is faster and easier to read.
