Cheap tuner v tc polytune

[T-Bay]

I am looking at making a more compact pedal board for some gigs so will leave out the B3 which I presently use as a tuner. I like the look of the tc polytune2 (3 is on its way I believe) but have spotted cheap ones on AliExpress for about £12-15.

Has anyone had any experience of them? A bit wary but also think electronic tuners SHOULD be as good as the circuit design so could be ok. So second hand tc or similar for £30-50 or new Chinese for less than £15?

[Byo]

Go for the TC if you have the cash for it.

I have both the TC Polytune2 Mini and the Boss TU-3 and highly recommend both.

Edit: Korg have some affordable tuners also

Edited May 21, 2017 by Byo

[Skybone]

Another vote for the Polytune, though my old Korg DT-10 is still brilliant.

[gs_triumph]

I have one of the £12 Chinese ebay specials. Had it a few months now. Can't fault it.

Edited May 22, 2017 by gs_triumph

[CliveT]

I've been looking for a used TC on ebay but they just get a little too expensive for me. So I ended up getting a used Boss TU2 for just over £30. Yes it's more than a budget one but I think you need a good tuner, with true bypass or a good buffer and the muting when on means I can tune and switch basses in silence.

[Andytre]

Iv got a Boss tuner and a cheap chinese one. cant really fault the cheapo one its got a nice bright display and does just as good of a job as the Boss at muting the signal and tracking. it probably wont last as long as the boss as there pretty well built, but for the £16 i spent its spot on

[Owen]

This one does it for me. It sits in my tuner out and is fine and dandy.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PT-06-Guitar-Pedal-Tuner-Chromatic-Pedal-Tuner-True-Bypass-for-Electric-Guitar-/401195568828?hash=item5d691e8ebc

[T-Bay]

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1495477724' post='3304072']
This one does it for me. It sits in my tuner out and is fine and dandy.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PT-06-Guitar-Pedal-Tuner-Chromatic-Pedal-Tuner-True-Bypass-for-Electric-Guitar-/401195568828?hash=item5d691e8ebc
[/quote]
That is the exact one I was looking at on AliExpress oddly. There are hundreds on there with subtle differences and no two at the same price!

I might give a cheap,one a try and keep my eye open for a tc one at sensible money.

[Owen]

The Polytone is prettier, but really that is the only difference. I cannot speak for them sonically because mine is on a tuner out.

[bazzbass]

Polytune2s will be up for sale soon as we all upgrade to the Polytune3

they really are THAT good

[The59Sound]

Korg Pitchblack is a steal at £30.

[T-Bay]

[quote name='The59Sound' timestamp='1496124732' post='3308865']
Korg Pitchblack is a steal at £30.
[/quote]
Where is that from? I have had a look and could only find them from £49 up, £30 seems a bargain.

[The59Sound]

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1496130921' post='3308903']
Where is that from? I have had a look and could only find them from £49 up, £30 seems a bargain.
[/quote]
I did buy mine about 3 years ago mind!

[T-Bay]

Shame :-( still undecided so keeping an eye out for a polytune at sensible money but may go for a Chinese one anyway as it's hardly a big investment.

[Jack]

I've got a Korg Pitchblack (although that's for sale atm), a Behringer Boss clone, a Korg Handheld one, a clip on ebay special and the one on my Kemper here and they're all pretty much as good as the next when it comes to tuning.

If it's going to be in your signal chain then maybe you'd want a nicer one but if it's on a 'tuner out' or similar then just go for the first one you see at a decent price IME.

Edited May 30, 2017 by Jack

[T-Bay]

[quote name='Jack' timestamp='1496161565' post='3309240']
I've got a Korg Pitchblack (although that's for sale atm), a Behringer Boss clone, a Korg Handheld one, a clip on ebay special and the one on my Kemper here and they're all pretty much as good as the next when it comes to tuning.

If it's going to be in your signal chain then maybe you'd want a nicer one but if it's on a 'tuner out' or similar then just go for the first one you see at a decent price IME.
[/quote]
It sill be in the signal chain, some of the cheaper ones promise true bypass but how accurate that is I have no way of knowing.

[Rocker]

If you drink real ale, a Bud or Heineken or similar tastes awful. If you want your instrument tuned properly, get yourself a decent tuner. You only buy a tuner every half dozen or more years so it's real cost is negligible and you can depend on it.

[scalpy]

[quote name='Rocker' timestamp='1496171920' post='3309355']
If you drink real ale, a Bud or Heineken or similar tastes awful. If you want your instrument tuned properly, get yourself a decent tuner. You only buy a tuner every half dozen or more years so it's real cost is negligible and you can depend on it.
[/quote]

This! You can never be too in tune! I did a pick up gig a couple of years ago and a guest guitarist rocked up with a PRS, pedal board full of strymons and the like and an Engl combo and could he tune up without a pedal? 300 people watching him and it was 5 minutes of agony. If you're going to spend big money on a guitar and rig buy the best tuner (and leads) you can.

[Owen]

I have a korg desktop tuner and a cheap and cheerful 14 quid one. Both as good as each other.

[oo.viper.oo]

I endorse Korg Pitchblack tuners because of their excellent legibility even in direct sunlight. I have a Poly version, but I don't use the polyphonic anyway and the legibility is the same for other versions. Obvious point is: you need to be able to read the tuner so that you can use it. And that can sometimes be difficult when gigging outside.

[Owen]

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1496267212' post='3310152']
I have a korg desktop tuner and a cheap and cheerful 14 quid one. Both as good as each other.
[/quote]

I was wrong. The cheap one did not play nicely on my board last week on a theatre gig. It whined when on and when off. Not a huge whine but we were all on cans and it was commented on by the rest. My Korg one was fine. I stand corrected.

Edited November 9, 2017 by owen

[T-Bay]

I went for a cheap one in the end, but it's on a separate signal chain so can't affect the sound anyway. Before I rearranged thenpedal board it was in line and seemed fine. I have compared it to my B3, a small Korg tuner and a boss pedal tuner and it matches perfectly.

[TPJ]

My TC mini whines from the power supply so it's not just the cheapos that can have a problem. I've tried it with a One Spot and a Mooer batter supply and it will often make noise. The Pitch Black never seemed to be a problem.

[linear]

My Pitchblack makes a noise when the display is lit up. Go figure

Practically speaking, it's not a problem though - it's not something you could ever hear at a gig and it's not going to be on while recording.

[Ghost_Bass]

Bought my Korg Pitchblack a few years ago (almost 10 IIRC) before the apearance of polytuners, never had the chance to try one of the TC as my Korg refuses to miss a beat, build like a tank and very very accurate pitch, also extremely easy to see in the dark.