A stomp box guitar tuner is essential if you regularly play at gigs and often need to tune your guitar. It is a piece of compact equipment that works as a pedal, allowing you to conveniently tune your guitar without having to disconnect it. Our team has prepared this guide to help you choose a high-quality stomp box guitar tuner from the wide range of options available in the market.
What Is a Stomp Box Guitar Tuner?
A stomp box guitar tuner is a pedal that can tune a wide range of instruments like electric guitars, ukuleles, basses, and acoustic guitars. A quarter-inch jack input is usually used to operate these tuners. When connecting instruments, the stomp box guitar tuner should usually go first in the chain. They allow you to tune your guitar conveniently wherever you are, even if you are performing live. They mute the guitar when it is being tuned so they do not disturb the performance. Some tuners have buffers that can cause disturbance when the tuner is not in use, so some individuals like to keep it off until it is needed.
What Are the Different Types of Guitar Tuners?
Broadly, guitar tuners are divided into three main types. There are a few differences in the features of each type, but at the end of the day, your choice will depend entirely on your preference.
Chromatic
The chromatic type has a scale of 12 notes, and the input signal from the guitar is compared to these specific notes by the tuner. Only one note is tuned at one time, and the notes are limited to the 12 present on the scale. If you do not have an issue with this, a chromatic tuner will be ideal for you.
Polyphonic
The ‘poly’ in polyphonic means that the tuner can process more than one note at a time, unlike the chromatic type. This type is particularly useful when you want to tune your guitar during a live performance because it will tune all the notes at once. However, if you want to customize the tuning process, a polyphonic tuner may not be for you.
Strobe
The final type is the strobe. This type allows maximum customization because you can alter frequencies and temperaments. You can experiment with different frequencies and pitches and play music outside of the typical scales that chromatic tuners have. Naturally, these types of tuners are more expensive than the other two. If you're a beginner, you should stick to a chromatic or polyphonic tuner; experience is needed to get the hang of a strobe tuner.
How to Pick a Quality Stomp Box Guitar Tuner
If you are looking for a good quality stomp box guitar that will last a long time, there are a few things you can keep a lookout for when browsing. Once you have decided what type of tuner you need, make sure you look at different websites and consider different brands. Following are a few things you can look at to judge the quality of a guitar tuner.
Reviews
The reviews of customers will help you get a rough idea of the quality of a stomp box guitar tuner. These reviews are submitted by people who have purchased the product and used it. They give their honest opinion about the product. Therefore, buy those products that overall have a positive response from customers, and avoid buying negatively reviewed products.
Brand
When deciding between brands, make sure you prefer those companies that provide good customer service. You want to be able to contact the brand in case you face any issues after you have purchased the product. A brand that provides a guarantee or has easy return or exchange policies should also be preferred.
Value
Do not buy a product unless you think it will really provide value for the price you pay. If you can find alternatives with similar features at low prices, avoid buying the expensive ones because you may get ripped off. Remember, being expensive does not always mean good quality. When you compare the features and prices of different brands, you will get an idea of whether you will get value for the price you pay.
Our Final Thoughts On Stomp Box Guitar Tuners
If you have read this far, you have more information than an average musician. Most guitarists do not spend a lot of time on research about guitar tuners even though there are so many varieties and types of tuners available in the market. Once you are aware of the types available, you can make a better decision. If you like customization, you can invest in a strobe tuner. If you want the tuner to do most of the work for you, you should choose a chromatic or a polyphonic tuner.
People Also Ask
Are guitar tuner apps accurate?
Most people have turned to guitar tuner apps due to easy accessibility and convenience. These apps may work but they are certainly not as accurate as others like a stomp box guitar tuner. The microphone on a smart device is designed for speech, not music. Background noise can interfere with the music signal and prevent your guitar from tuning accurately.
Are stomp box guitar tuners worth it?
Definitely. Even though these are a bit more expensive than other options, they are worth the price due to the convenience they provide. You can use them to tune your guitar even in between live performances.
What type of guitar tuner is the best for beginners?
Beginners who are just starting out with an acoustic guitar can use a smartphone app to tune their guitars. If they are using a stomp box tuner, a chromatic will probably be the best choice. Strobe and polyphonic can be difficult to get used to and should only be used by experienced guitarists.