HOW TO TUNE YOUR GUITAR SHORT HISTORY OF BOSS TUNERS

For nearly four decades, BOSS has led the industry in tuning technology, making this essential task easier and more convenient for everyone. Renowned for their accuracy, durability, and ease of use, BOSS tuners are used every day by guitarists, bassists, and other musicians around the world, in bedrooms and music classrooms to small clubs and the biggest concert stages.

In 1983, BOSS introduced the TU-12, the world's first automatic chromatic tuner. We take it completely for granted these days, but a hands-free tuner that sensed and displayed the pitch of the note you were playing was truly revolutionary at the time. The TU-12 came with an accuracy of +/- 1 cent—that's 1/100th of a semitone. With most humans only able to discern tonal differences of 5 cents and above, that's quite literally more accurate than your ear!

The combination of LED and traditional needle displays meant that the TU-12 was extremely quick and responsive to showing subtle changes in tuning. Along with a 1/4-inch input for directly connecting electronic instruments, it also had a built-in condenser microphone for tuning acoustic instruments. During its 25-year tenure, its world-class tuning and practical, portable size made it a top choice not only for musicians and music educators, but luthiers and instrument techs as well.

In 1998, BOSS once again created a new industry standard with the TU-2—the first compact pedal tuner. With a mute/bypass switch for silent tuning, a seven-segment LED display for easy tuning on dark stages, and support for flat tuning up to two semitones below standard guitar or bass pitch, the TU-2 was what gigging players had been waiting for.

Interestingly enough, the TU-2 had been developed some time before it was introduced, as BOSS were unsure whether there was sufficient demand for a pedal tuner. But upon release, it proved to be an instant smash hit! The impact of the TU-2 cannot be overstated—it found its way onto countless pedalboards, and quickly rose to become the standard for professionals touring with top music acts around the world.

Interestingly enough, the TU-2 had been developed some time before it was introduced, as BOSS were unsure whether there was sufficient demand for a pedal tuner. But upon release, it proved to be an instant smash hit! The impact of the TU-2 cannot be overstated—it found its way onto countless pedalboards, and quickly rose to become the standard for professionals touring with top music acts around the world.

In 2009, BOSS took the world's go-to pedal tuner to the next level with the TU-3. It features a brighter, higher-resolution tuning display and even greater tuning accuracy than its TU-2 predecessor, plus the Accu-Pitch Sign function for easy visual tuning and flat tuning up to six semitones below standard pitch.

In 2016, tuners were back in black with the Waza Craft TU-3W. Not just a recolored TU-3, the TU-3W features redesigned circuitry with a premium buffer, plus selectable true-bypass operation to allow for the most transparent audio pass-through in every setup.

When pedalboard real estate is at a premium, the TU-3S will help you squeeze in that last precious pedal. At half the footprint of a normal BOSS compact, it provides identical performance to the TU-3, but without the footswitch. Feed it from the dedicated tuner out of an FV-series volume pedal or a switching system like the ES-8 or ES-5. Or simply run it in line with the rest of your board so you're always ready to tune in a flash.

If you can't spare a single inch of pedalboard real estate but still want TU-3 reliability, roadworthiness, and accuracy, the clip-on TU-10 is the perfect choice. Combining high-end features in a unique, robust design, BOSS's first clip-on model offers a vibrant, highly visible true-color LCD screen, Accu-Pitch, and selectable cent or streaming display modes. Extended-range players are fully catered for as well, with flat tuning up to five semitones below standard pitch.

The BOSS tuner lineup also includes other clip-on models for different applications and budgets. The TU-03 delivers versatile performance in an ultra-portable form factor, and includes a built-in metronome for all your practice needs. Unlike most clip-on tuner/metronome combos—which typically just have an LED that flashes along to the tempo—the TU-03 features a built-in speaker so you can easily synchronize with the beat.

The TU-02 and TU-05 are the latest additions to the BOSS clip-on family. Offering top tuning performance, these compact models feature high-resolution color displays and swivel adjustment for easy visibility. Chromatic, guitar, bass, and ukulele modes provide tuning versatility for all types of stringed instruments, and flat tuning is supported as well. Both models provide long runtime and battery conservation functions, and the TU-05 features a rechargeable battery that can be refreshed with any standard USB phone charger.