Best tuner pedal? (2025)

[dreamadream99]

Can be positioned vertical or Horizontal (display shifts)

That is a very useful feature. I never even heard of that in any other tuner.

why do I want more ohms on the output?

If you have a piezo pick up, they are high impedance. As much as 10 KOhms.

 

[JimmyO]

You wouldn't know improved tone if it broke into your suburban faux-Colonial house with carriage lamps and a jockey statue and stole your Pokemon cards. Everyone knows tone is in the knobs. They have to be new-old stock Bakelite or they suck the low end. Philistine.

Congratulations, you just outed yourself as an oboe player masquerading as a bass player. We all know you mean old-new stock, not new-old stock. We laugh and fart in your general direction. And jokes on you, homeslice. My pokemon cards are secure in a safe deposit box, along with the prototype Mark V sent to me by none other than Sterling Unobtanium Curmudgeon himself.

Go get your shine box. And your double-reed.

 

[Romain909]

I really like the Korg Pitchblack series.
As accurate as any these days, LARGE screens, multiple display setting options, 9v out.
I used the PB-01 for almost 15 years with really no issues or complaints.
I recently "upgraded" to a still discontinued, yet newer, korg pitchblack advance.
This one is more accurate but also has a larger screen than its predecessor.
One feature i love about the PB's is the angled screen, making it easier to read when you're not on top of the pedal.
Their newest series is "even more accurate" but loses the angled screen. Theres also an option with no button, and a "bass specific" version that has a wider freq. range it can pick up.
The PB-01 and the PB-AD (the older 2) are still top tier, and go for under $75 on Reverb. The PB-01 I've seen for as low as $20
View attachment 7179889

I used to have one. I traded it for a Strobostomp which is more accurate in my opinion. But the Pitchblack advance looks amazing.

 

[Nekomata]

I like the Peterson Strobe tuners (both the 'full' and the 'mini') very much, just like many TB-ers before, and after, this contribution.

Let me add a minor consideration, when looking for 'your' tuner: does it allow you to choose something different than the default A = 440 Hz mode? And, if so, how far 'off' can you get?

Case in point: my guitarist is a A= 432 Hz devotee. Not that I want to start a discussion/flame war about that choice, but I found that many (otherwise perfect) tuner pedals don't play in that region (Boss, Korg, etc.). I work with my guitarist, and the Peterson StroboStomp handles these (and even more extreme) 'frequencies' very well.

 

[zombywoof5050]

Let me add a minor consideration, when looking for 'your' tuner: does it allow you to choose something different than the default A = 440 Hz mode? And, if so, how far 'off' can you get?

Case in point: my guitarist is a A= 432 Hz devotee. Not that I want to start a discussion/flame war about that choice, but I found that many (otherwise perfect) tuner pedals don't play in that region (Boss, Korg, etc.). I work with my guitarist, and the Peterson StroboStomp handles these (and even more extreme) 'frequencies' very well.

The Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-300 allows you to adjust the reference pitch to any value from 300 Hz to 599.9 Hz.

 

[andare]

I used an older Korg Pitchblack for years. I used it in half strobe mode. I like the different color LEDs that show when I'm in tune. The switch had been acting up for a while so I thought about buying a new one but they have removed the color LEDs.

I now use a Polytune 3 mini, which is faster and brighter than the Pitchblack but I'm not a fan of the skinny dot LEDs. I really liked the fat segments of the Korg.

The Peterson seems like a lot of window dressing (sweetened tunings make more sense for guitar) but on stage I need fast response and visibility because my band members think being in tune is optional so I have to make do while the drummer is already messing up the intro to the next song. The huge screen also seems like a liability.

The Turbo Tuner is not available in Europe AFAIK otherwise I'd have jumped on it despite the dot screen. It seems super sturdy and from what I've seen in demos it's super fast and accurate.

The Canvas tuner has tiny segments, can barely see when it's in tune despite the big screen. Also takes too long to start up. And the side power jack is a no no.

 

[tpaul]

Congratulations, you just outed yourself as an oboe player masquerading as a bass player. We all know you mean old-new stock, not new-old stock. We laugh and fart in your general direction. And jokes on you, homeslice. My pokemon cards are secure in a safe deposit box, along with the prototype Mark V sent to me by none other than Sterling Unobtanium Curmudgeon himself.

Go get your shine box. And your double-reed.

Wait... you get your tuners from STERLING Unobtanium Curmudgeon? You poor deluded fool! As everyone who knows anything about tuners knows, "Sterling" was the adopted name of Jacobi Unobtanium Curmudgeon when he immigrated to the US from Elbonia in the 1940s. After establishing a reputation as a genius inventor and tuner wizard, he started the Sterling Unobtanium company and sometime later hired a janitor who, ironically, was also named Sterling. When the company was dissolved, the janitor continued to manufacture inferior tuners using the name "Sterling" while the true Sterling Unobtanium product was being produced in small batches by Jacobi, his wife Martha, their daughter Sasha, and Sasha's dog Barfo, operating out of their residence at the DoubleWide Deluxe Trailer Park in Renfrew, Kentucky. For reasons having to do with a restraining order, Jacobi U. Curmudgeon is not allowed to use the name Sterling... proving incontrovertably that you are a boob who has been duped into buying an inferior rip-off tuner from the imposter who now calls himself Sterling Curmudgeon (his original surname was Francis). I feel sad for you.

 

[JimmyO]

Wait... you get your tuners from STERLING Unobtanium Curmudgeon? You poor deluded fool! As everyone who knows anything about tuners knows, "Sterling" was the adopted name of Jacobi Unobtanium Curmudgeon when he immigrated to the US from Elbonia in the 1940s. After establishing a reputation as a genius inventor and tuner wizard, he started the Sterling Unobtanium company and sometime later hired a janitor who, ironically, was also named Sterling. When the company was dissolved, the janitor continued to manufacture inferior tuners using the name "Sterling" while the true Sterling Unobtanium product was being produced in small batches by Jacobi, his wife Martha, their daughter Sasha, and Sasha's dog Barfo, operating out of their residence at the DoubleWide Deluxe Trailer Park in Renfrew, Kentucky. For reasons having to do with a restraining order, Jacobi U. Curmudgeon is not allowed to use the name Sterling... proving incontrovertably that you are a boob who has been duped into buying an inferior rip-off tuner from the imposter who now calls himself Sterling Curmudgeon (his original surname was Francis). I feel sad for you.

Hater.

 

[tpaul]

Hater.

Well played, sir.

 

[bass-shy]

Sonic Research ST-200 or ST-300 for me. I have been using the ST-200 for probably 15 years. Never had any issues. Fast, reliable, accurate tuners. I have bought three of the ST-200 and one ST-300 for use on different boards. Absolutely see no reason to try anything else.

 

[Bodhi46]

Sonic research by a country mile. I have the ST200 and I want the ST300 but the damn thing won't die.

 

[Wood and Wire]

MCP don't look happy...

 

[Jasper Mortier]

I used a TC Electronic Polytune for years. I really liked the intuitive feel of this 'Strobo mode', but I hated the fact it has to start up like two seconds everytime you plug it in (that is if you don’t have it plugged in permanently): super annoying during a gig. And a couple of times I had an empty battery after I left it plugged in (but switched off!) overnight. So through Talkbass (again) I found the perfect replacement: the Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-300. At first it seems a bit confusing. Totally clear when you're way sharp or flat, but it gets a bit vague when it's (almost) in tune. But then you're already way more accurate than any other (non stroboscopic) pedal! I checked with the Polytune.

All the settings - except for the first chromatic setting - are reprogrammable so I made the Bass setting: 1 = E till 4 = G (that does make way more sense people).

I just read somebody saying you can't get it in Europe: well I did, at least in Holland. I had it within a week after ordering (FYI: I paid in August 2025 139,99$+19,99$ shipping = 137,48€. Customs on top of this were 8,00€ handling plus 14,32€ VAT, the VAT I can get back so it’s in total 145€ for me. No, not cheap).

I didn’t care too much for more accuracy at first, but I’m amazed how nice my basses feel after I intonated it properly with this pedal.

An absolute winner.

 

[CletusMarley]

Ive used a Boss TU3 for years. I mainly use it as a kill switch on my pedalboard because I use clip on tuners on my instruments.

 

[12bass]

... I found the perfect replacement: the Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-300. At first it seems a bit confusing. Totally clear when you're way sharp or flat, but it gets a bit vague when it's (almost) in tune. But then you're already way more accurate than any other (non stroboscopic) pedal! I checked with the Polytune.

That's an important lesson to learn with the Turbo Tuner. Some people seem to find it annoying when it starts to "dither", but it does that because it is so precise that that tiniest movement affects the pitch, even the effect of gravity on your instrument. Less accurate tuners would have given the green "In Tune" light before that point. So, it allows you to really fine tune, though it's not actually necessary to completely stop the strobe; that precision is good for adjusting accurate intonation. Once you realize this, it is pretty quick and easy to use.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Sonic Research ST-300 in whichever size you prefer. Quick, accurate and doesn’t have that lag in tuning that causes you to overshoot or undershoot tuning.

 

[Jasper Mortier]

That's an important lesson to learn with the Turbo Tuner. Some people seem to find it annoying when it starts to "dither", but it does that because it is so precise that that tiniest movement affects the pitch, even the effect of gravity on your instrument. Less accurate tuners would have given the green "In Tune" light before that point. So, it allows you to really fine tune, though it's not actually necessary to completely stop the strobe; that precision is good for adjusting accurate intonation. Once you realize this, it is pretty quick and easy to use.

Exactly! And indeed it's the first time I notice that while tuning - especially with stiffer/rustier tuners - you already change the pitch slightly, just by the mere effect of touching the neck/headstock. Crazy.

 

[bigmikebass]

Sonic research st-300
Most accurate tuner I’ve ever used besides an analog Peterson.

 

[blr2]

Still use my Boss TU-3 that I bought some time around 2010-2011. If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

 

[BKMM]

Sorry to necro the thread but as it turns out I am in the market for a tuner.

Looks like the Sonic Research Turbo Tuner pedal is getting a new model for Sept 2026 and the current models are listed as "Discontinued" on their site. What are they cooking up I wonder?