TC Electronic PolyTune-3 Guitar Tuner

Simply the best tuner I've ever owned. Excellent tuning screen visibility even under stage lights and automatically brightens for outdoor gigs in sunlight. Now a permanent addition to my gig bag.

Figure it out on your own.

So, how does this sucker actually work? What do the various push buttons (display/tune) actually do? How do you use the different tuning modes? How do you change hertz frequencies? Well, you can either find out by trial and error and just keep pushing buttons...... Or you can research video resources on line. Don't count on the 1 pager instruction sheet in the box to explain any of the nuances of the pedal. The key to learning what this tuner actually does and how to operate it is to consult a combination of user made videos on You Tube combined with TC generated Polytune 1 and 2 videos published some years ago. Don't expect to find comprehensive Polytune 3 documentation in the box, on line or as a video resource.Once you understand and figure things out, it makes ... MoreSo, how does this sucker actually work? What do the various push buttons (display/tune) actually do? How do you use the different tuning modes? How do you change hertz frequencies? Well, you can either find out by trial and error and just keep pushing buttons...... Or you can research video resources on line. Don't count on the 1 pager instruction sheet in the box to explain any of the nuances of the pedal. The key to learning what this tuner actually does and how to operate it is to consult a combination of user made videos on You Tube combined with TC generated Polytune 1 and 2 videos published some years ago. Don't expect to find comprehensive Polytune 3 documentation in the box, on line or as a video resource.Once you understand and figure things out, it makes sense and is a great tool to have on your board.But if you aren't naturally intuitive and need some printed/video instructive help, then recognize that you are on your own. TC Electronics should reshoot the Polytune 1 and 2 videos that can be found on You Tube and link them to their online product sheet and marketing materials.Other than that, it's a pretty cool tuner. Maybe a little too sensitive at times when trying to fine tune.Also works much better on solid body electrics than acoustics due to the the acoustics natural resonance.

Great Guitar tuner!

Ive been through so many guitars tuner in my life, but Ive never had tuner that can mute your sound while on stage or simply dont look or feel bulky with out bolting it to your guitar. TC guitar tuner is worth it. It has a built in buffer for your tone no matter where you put in on your pedal board, Small compact, accurate, and I love that it tunes, all six of your guitar strings on one strum. I keep the TC on all of my custom pedal boards. I use to have the TC clip on tuner but I went back to the pedal board type. It was way easier for me to see in dark settings on stage. Get one, it wont disappoint. And it holds resale value too. Built like a tank.

Great new Mini Tuner Pedal

Perfect. In size, functionality, ease of use and looks. Offers buffered/true-bypass options to choose from. Works like a charm. Visible in any circumstance. One hit and silence to cut off any noise or issue in your signal chain, and perfect so no one hears you tune in a live setting. Thank you for the superb timing as always.

Great tuner

Everything I read about the Polytune it true. Tbjs is a great tuner. One quick strum and you see all 6 strings. If there all in, then you are done in 3 seconds. If any string is out, you know right away which one to correct, without going through all 6 one-at-a time. Pluck one string and it goes into conventional single string tuner mode. Tuning is a lot faster this way. It also is reconfigurable for alternate tunings, buffer or bypass, always on...

Industry standard.

Ive had a BOSS TU3, the first polytune, polytune 2 mini and now the polytune 2 regular size. I prefer larger pedal bodies because I find the small ones are too compact for my big feet. The new polytune 2 is simple, bright display and is an attractive looking tuning pedal. I prefer the new display over all other tuning pedals because its brighter, larger and self adjusts to lighting conditions. The ability to strum all strings and see each string tune is awesome too. Its also the lightest in weight too. Until something better comes along, this is what I will be using with confidence.

Polytune 3's display is dimmer by design than the Polytune 2

Bought the Polytune 3 to replace the Polytune 2 on my board because I wanted the buffer without having to use a separate buffer pedal. First thing I noticed out of the box was that the Polytune 3's screen is only 60-70% as bright as the Polytune 2. Returned it and got a replacement; same thing.I spoke to TC Electronic and they confirmed that this is indeed a design change in the Polytune 3 because some people were complaining that the 2 was too bright (wow, I guess a lot of complaining people don't do outdoor gigs). Go figure. At all levels of the built in light sensor, the 3 is dimmer than the 2, including outside full brightness. Boo.This is a deal breaker for me as the Polytune 2's screen & brightness were perfect. The new one is too dim and hard to see from ... MoreBought the Polytune 3 to replace the Polytune 2 on my board because I wanted the buffer without having to use a separate buffer pedal. First thing I noticed out of the box was that the Polytune 3's screen is only 60-70% as bright as the Polytune 2. Returned it and got a replacement; same thing.I spoke to TC Electronic and they confirmed that this is indeed a design change in the Polytune 3 because some people were complaining that the 2 was too bright (wow, I guess a lot of complaining people don't do outdoor gigs). Go figure. At all levels of the built in light sensor, the 3 is dimmer than the 2, including outside full brightness. Boo.This is a deal breaker for me as the Polytune 2's screen & brightness were perfect. The new one is too dim and hard to see from eye level, and other LED's on my board are actually brighter than the Polytune 3's display, which is distracting.So so disappointing as this could have been perfect. Such a puzzling decision on the part of TC Electronic. A much better solution would have been to make the brightness switchable between two modes if that really was an issue. I mean really: who wants a dimmer, harder to see screen? Especially outside in sunlight.They took one of the industry standard tuners and upgraded it with a switchable buffer, but downgraded it because the screen is dim.Going back to my Polytune 2 with separate buffer pedal.

Review of TC Electronic PolyTune 3 Tuner Pedal (w/ Bonafide Buffer)

I've used a Boss Chromatic for years, as it was pretty much the safe and standard tuner option. And it still kind of is, but I'd heard good things about the TC. So, as part of the upgrade and expansion carousel, I thought I'd give it a shot. So far, so good. And no Boss 'clonk' when you tap it....

effective tuner

it is a tuner in a stomp box, the features are great. strum all strings and it tells you which strings are flat or sharp or in tune. there is different tuning settings like standard or drop, you can do E standard down 1/2, whole or drop D down 1/2, or whole or more. the LED is very bright and can be easily seen in dark settings and from a distance unless you're Mr. Magoo. this is my first pedal tuner, all my tuners prior were built into the amps and my Digitech GNX 3 and 4. i also had a $20 Korg chromatic tuner a long time ago. but back to the polytune 3, it is a rugged pedal, it feels that it can take a beating and should last. i dont have anything negative to say about this pedal. it tunes your instrument. i would say maybe the price point is a con but when all ... Moreit is a tuner in a stomp box, the features are great. strum all strings and it tells you which strings are flat or sharp or in tune. there is different tuning settings like standard or drop, you can do E standard down 1/2, whole or drop D down 1/2, or whole or more. the LED is very bright and can be easily seen in dark settings and from a distance unless you're Mr. Magoo. this is my first pedal tuner, all my tuners prior were built into the amps and my Digitech GNX 3 and 4. i also had a $20 Korg chromatic tuner a long time ago. but back to the polytune 3, it is a rugged pedal, it feels that it can take a beating and should last. i dont have anything negative to say about this pedal. it tunes your instrument. i would say maybe the price point is a con but when all the competition is at the same price point or more, it is worth its weight in gold. i would've added 5 stars but i feel there is always room for improvement and i haven't used it long enough to have discovered anything negative about it.