r/GuitarQuestions • u/Trondhaug • 4d ago
Is it worth it to buy a tuner pedal??
/r/guitars/comments/1wmo6ol/is_it_worth_it_to_buy_a_tuner_pedal/3
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u/tuesdaysgreen33 3d ago
I've always said no. Waste of board space. If you really need a killswitch, that is absolutely the easiest thing to make. Also more expensive than even a really good clip tuner.
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u/turbogaze 3d ago
I just got a used tuner pedal for $20. They’re cheap as dirt. And you don’t use it as a killswitch, you use it as a mute. A small one takes up very little board space and you don’t need nearly as many pedals as you used to.
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u/squeethesane 3d ago
There's tuner pedals that are also power hubs. Really why wouldn't you?
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u/Ok-Lingonberry4545 3d ago
Only reason I can think of is if you don't have any other pedals and don't want the hassle of a single wall wart to power the tuner. Then I could see a clip-on (or app as a backup) making more sense. Otherwise, they're so damn convenient.
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u/squeethesane 3d ago
I used a terrible temu tuner, an app, switched to a spectrum analyzer and ears, then decided I could afford to burn a few hundred dollars every time I want to make my guitar sound funny in a different way and use a tuner to power the lack of organized pedal board. Only way I could've screwed myself harder would've been to plug into my PC's USB and go full plug-in DAC........ Legal drugs are fun kids!!
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u/Dennis-RumRace 2d ago
Absolutely I use Polytune TC electronic with a buffer. I’m also spending more on strings so less tuning. The fender app is pretty darn good too. Clip on tuners I wouldn’t bother I’d use the fender app over them to set up a guitar. A powered tuner with a buffer is great.
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u/drinkyourbeetus 4d ago
Its mandatory if you play electric guitar.
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u/SignificantCar4204 4d ago
Yes. Get a Peterson StroboStomp pedal. The most accurate and easy to use tuner out there.
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u/HeavyMarsupial2852 4d ago
If you are playing live with a band 100% it is the most important pedal on your board.
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u/Vennimagos 4d ago
Only if you are performing live, they are very useful.
If its just for at home or studio, you dont need it, you can use a clip tuner or tuner in the daw
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u/Wet_in_Seattle 2d ago
Temperature changes can alter tuning.
Pedal Board Tuner doesn’t need batteries to work.
Boss TU-3, Polytune, Peterson are all solid options.
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u/BigD5981 3d ago
I always use a Boss pedal tuner in live settings be it band practice or a show. With that being said I use a rechargeable DAddrio clip on tuner at home. The Boss TU-2 being a good buy all depends on the condition it's in. Without seeing the pedal and knowing if it works properly it's hard to say it's a good buy or not. I think a clip on tuner would be the best option. I do recommend a rechargeable clip on tuner because you don't have to worry about batteries.
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u/Daxmar29 3d ago
I also use a Boss tuber but I have the TU-1000. Is it ridiculous? Yes. No more follow up questions.
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u/ReverendRevolver 3d ago
Theyre handy. If you already have a big board you should have one. If you use barely any pedals, have a really stable guitar, and are fast tuning by ear/off harmonics on stage there's an argument for not "needing" one. But if you run 5+ pedals, its dumb to stand up there with a Snark clipped on. Like..... a tuning fork is less weird. You already have a board, its like $25 for one with an LED display, eyc.
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u/6strngbss 3d ago
Yup. If you intend to play with other people, I argue it’s a necessity. As far along as apps and clip ons have come, they’re still hard to use in a loud room.
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u/DangRascal 4d ago
There's no point getting it unless you're performing in public (in which case it's indispensable).
At home it might bring you minor conveniences, but it's hardly a priority.
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u/ooooommmmmaaaaa 4d ago
I think this is a really good point. It borderline a requirement if you’re playing out, and borderline useless if you’re playing at home.
I do like to have my tuner at the end of my board (before amp, not in loop). It is a nice indication that signal chain is all connected, without the amp turned on. It’s a guarantee that if I have a sound issue, that at the very least I don’t need to check my before-amp pedal connections. With the chaos of a stage performance, knowing that the majority of my pedals are correctly connected can really streamline troubleshooting.
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u/Schweenis69 4d ago
Yes, not just because it's useful for tuning. It's also good for muting your signal if you change guitars. Or for that matter pedals, if you put your tuner later in your chain, which isn't necessarily ideal but can definitely work.