There is no pedal more important than a tuner, right? Here are 10 of the many fantastic options to peruse if you have an upgrade in mind.
TU-3W
With tuning functions identical to the popular TU-3, this tuner boasts high-end audio circuitry for pure signal pass-through, and can operate in true bypass or as a signal buffer.
VPJR Tuner
This combo volume pedal and enhanced-definition digital tuner features a large display that automatically switches between tuner and volume modes, depending on the signal level.
SN-10
This die-cast-metal enclosed chromatic tuner features a large EZ-read display and offers fast readouts, true-bypass operation, and pitch calibration.
PolyTune 3
This compact tuner has switchable true-bypass/buffer modes and can tune with polyphonic, chromatic, and strobe-tuning modes, the latter with +/- .02 cent accuracy.
StroboStomp HD
With tuning presets for a large variety of instruments and playing styles, as well as more than 100 “Sweetened Tunings,” this pedal also features a large, high-definition, LCD screen.
Horizon
A metal chassis houses this pedal tuner’s wide horizontal screen, which displays the tuner’s large detection range and +/- .05 cent accuracy.
Pitchblack Advance
Boasting high tuning accuracy of +/-.01 cent, this true-bypass tuner has a modern design and bright display, as well as four meter-display modes.
TU300
Boasting seven different tuning modes—including regular, flat, double-flat, and chromatic—and a powerful LED readout, this pedal tuner comes in at less than 30 bucks.
Octopus
Not only a fully chromatic tuner with a color LED display, this pedal serves up eight, fully independent 9V power-supply outputs (6 x 100 ma, 2 x 500 ma).
RockTuner PT 2
A tough, metal box houses this true-bypass chromatic tuner, which features a large LED readout, tuning at +/- 1 cent accuracy, and a separate out for audible tuning.
Last August, metalcore giants Poison the Well gave the world a gift: They announced they were working on their first studio album in 15 years. They unleashed the first taste, single “Trembling Level,” back in January, and set off on a spring North American tour during which they played their debut record, The Opposite of December… A Season of Separation, in full every night.
PG’s Perry Bean caught up with guitarists Ryan Primack and Vadim Taver, and bassist Noah Harmon, ahead of the band’s show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl for this new Rig Rundown.
Brought to you by D’Addario.Not-So-Quiet As a Mouse
Primack started his playing career on Telecasters, then switched to Les Pauls, but when his prized LPs were stolen, he jumped back to Teles, and now owns nine of them.
His No. 1 is this white one (left). Seymour Duncan made him a JB Model pickup in a single-coil size for the bridge position, while the neck is a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Staggered. He ripped out all the electronics, added a Gibson-style toggle switch, flipped the control plate orientation thanks to an obsession with Danny Gatton, and included just one steel knob to control tone. Primack also installed string trees with foam to control extra noise.
This one has Ernie Ball Papa Het’s Hardwired strings, .011–.050.
Here, Kitty, Kitty
Primack runs both a PRS Archon and a Bad Cat Lynx at the same time, covering both 6L6 and EL34 territories. The Lynx goes into a Friedman 4x12 cab that’s been rebadged in honor of its nickname, “Donkey,” while the Archon, which is like a “refined 5150,” runs through an Orange 4x12.
Ryan Primack’s Pedalboard
Primack’s board sports a Saturnworks True Bypass Multi Looper, plus two Saturnworks boost pedals. The rest includes a Boss TU-3w, DOD Bifet Boost 410, Caroline Electronics Hawaiian Pizza, Fortin ZUUL +, MXR Phase 100, JHS Series 3 Tremolo, Boss DM-2w, DOD Rubberneck, MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe, Walrus Slo, and SolidGoldFX Surf Rider III.
Taver’s Teles
Vadim Taver’s go-to is this cherryburst Fender Telecaster, which he scored in the early 2000s and has been upgraded to Seymour Duncan pickups on Primack’s recommendation. His white Balaguer T-style has been treated to the same upgrade. The Balaguer is tuned to drop C, and the Fender stays in D standard. Both have D’Addario strings, with a slightly heavier gauge on the Balaguer.
Dual-Channel Chugger
Taver loves his 2-channel Orange Rockerverb 100s, one of which lives in a case made right in Nashville.
Vadim Taver’s Pedalboard
Taver’s board includes an MXR Joshua, MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe, Empress Tremolo, Walrus ARP-87, Old Blood Noise Endeavors Reflector, MXR Phase 90, Boss CE-2w, and Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-200, all powered by a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus.
Big Duff
Harmon’s favorite these days is this Fender Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass, which he’s outfitted with a Leo Quan Badass bridge. His backup is a Mexico-made Fender Classic Series ’70s Jazz Bass. This one also sports Primack-picked pickups.
Rental Rockers
Harmon rented this Orange AD200B MK III head, which runs through a 1x15 cab on top and a 4x10 on the bottom.
Noah Harmon’s Pedalboard
Harmon’s board carries a Boss TU-2, Boss ODB-3, MXR Dyna Comp, Darkglass Electronics Vintage Ultra, and a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus. His signal from the Vintage Ultra runs right to the front-of-house, and Harmon estimates that that signal accounts for about half of what people hear on any given night.
