TU2 - COMPACT CHROM TUNER

Product Information

The small LCD screen on each of the pedals shows your current string and note names while you play. The TU-2 has a 7-segment display, whereas the TU-3 includes 21 segments for a more versatile display. The TU3 display on its standard setting is just a touch brighter than the original TU2, but the TU3 now has controls, allowing the user to adjust brightness as necessary. This is a welcome feature for anyone who plays outdoors in bright sunlight. Both units have their center LED light up green when you are at pitch, but the TU3 ramps this up with red confirmation lights on either side of the green when it’s satisfied that tuning is correct and stable. Accuracy However, if the new features of the Boss TU-3 would elevate your playing, upgrading is undeniably the correct choice. The TU-3 is more readily available and may cost less than the discontinued TU-2, even if that wasn’t originally the case. A wider tuning range (in the case of both pedals, C0 to C8) means that you can tune your guitar notes in any direction you like. Since both pedals are chromatic tuners, it’s a given that these higher ranges will be available.

Customers had asked for a tuner in compact pedal format for a long time when Boss finally decided to make one, 1998. To Boss’s surprise the new TU-2 was an instant hit. It doesn’t have the accuracy of the TU-12 but the 7-segment LED display and the 11 point LED scale gives perfect tuning information no matter how dark a stage is. There’s 7 tuning modes: Chromatic, Guitar Regular, Guitar Flat, Guitar Double Flat, Bass Regular, Bass Flat, and Bass Double Flat. You can choose to select whether to listen to the sound or mute when tuning and when connected to an AC adaptor, the TU-2 can also distribute power to other effects units. Specifications The TU3 launched as a direct replacement in the Boss lineup for the TU2. Boss clearly understood that the form factor was part of what made the original TU2 so popular, and chose not to change the overall form factor at all. Both models are metal stomp boxes finished in white with distinctive orange lettering, and a big, non-slip rubber stomp pad at the bottom. Both have a single input as well as a single output and a bypass. point LED indicators and new "stream" meter display tuning discrepancy via speed and direction of LEDs (speed of LED movement gets slower as pitch becomes more accurate) One of the most noticeable updates on the TU3 was the display. Boss increased the number of LED indicators on the tuning scale to 21 from the original TU2’s 11. This change makes it much easier to see when a note is approaching pitch. The TU-2 has a tuning accuracy of +/- 3 cents, which can be detectable if you have a good ear for it. The TU-3 improved on this with its tuning accuracy of +/- 1 cent, which is imperceptible to the human ear. Power SupplyThe Boss TU-3 takes many of the features of the TU-2 and improves upon them. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the light display that indicates where your guitar is tuned. How large is the pedal? This can help you choose where you’re going to put the pedal on your pedalboard and can tell you how portable the pedal is. The Boss TU-2 and TU-3 are the same sizes. Both are incredibly small so they will fit well on your pedalboard. Weight Boss’s chromatic tuner TU-2 is a true classic from a trusted, well-renown company. The features still hold up today, even after we’ve gotten an upgraded version. Let’s take a look at the specifications that set the Boss TU-2 apart.

As with the overall form factor and design, Boss didn’t really change anything between the TU2 and the TU3. As far as ease of use goes, both work in an almost identical fashion. Modes are selected through the mode button and display type is changed with the stream/cent button. There are several modes within both the TU-2 and the TU-3 which allow them to tune to other guitar sounds (guitar, guitar flat, bass, and bass flat). The TU-3 has 10 different modes available, where the TU has 7 different modes. Control ButtonsHow does the pedal get its power? Here, you will find the difference in the type of battery that each pedal takes. The TU-3 gives you more options, but this is mostly down to personal preference. Modes While the TU-2 and the TU-3 look to be essentially the same, they have some key differences that set them apart. Let’s take a look at what these differences are and what they mean for you. What pitch does the pedal use as an internal reference for your notes? Both the TU-2 and TU-3 use the same internal reference: A4, or 438 to 445 Hz. The standard guitar is tuned to 440 Hz and the fact that this reference is within a normal range can help you get the results you want when you tune up or down. Connectors

For power, the TU2 can run on a dry battery or a 9V AC supply, whereas the TU2 can run on either a 9V carbon zinc or a standard 9V alkaline battery, as well as an 9V AC adapter. Where the TU-2 had a series of lights to indicate your note, the TU-3 has a labeled scale of multiple lights, each with much smaller increments between them. This allows you to be more precise while using the pedal. Also, the new modes (10 of them) allow you to tune by string number, so you can tune more precisely. There are settings for 7-string guitars and 6-string bases, making it the perfect tuner for any of your guitars. Part of the reason the Boss TU-2 (and its successor the TU-3) appear on nearly every pedalboard you'll see is that it is reliable, accurate and has just enough capability without overcomplicating things. The LEDs oscillate at a rate indicating how close you are to the note, while a clear green light in the center tells you when your job is done for that string. The TU-2 has an eight octave range and seven modes, for standard guitar and bass frequencies and de-tuned setups down to a whole step below standard. There is even an option to set a difference reference pitch above or below A 440 (438 - 445 Hz). Beyond this, anything else is just unnecessary in a tuning pedal. Anything less than this leaves you somewhat confined in the way tune your guitar. More Than Just A Tuner

Seven easy tuning modes include Chromatic, Guitar Regular, Guitar Flat, Guitar Double Flat, Bass Regular, Bass Flat, Bass Double Flat Activating either of these tuners when they’re attached to your pedal board couldn’t be easier. Simply stomp once to activate the tuner, this will mute output allowing you to tune in silence. When you’re done, stomp again to reactivate the output. Functions The weight can also give you some indication of how portable the pedal is. The Boss TU-2 is a bit heavier at 15oz, while the Boss TU-3 is 14oz. The difference is small but may matter to you. Expected Battery Life Which buttons on the pedal can help you tune your notes and change sound? While both the TU-2 and the TU-3 have ‘Mode’ and ‘Stream/Cent’ buttons, only the TU-3 has a footswitch thrown into the mix. This means you have more control, and you can do much more than just activate the pedal with the footswitch. Reference Pitch When a tuner pedal works as a powerhouse, it supplies power to other pedals in your setup. Only the Boss TU-3 has this feature, but it allows the pedal to power up to seven additional effect pedals so you won’t have to have separate power cords or batteries for those pedals. Dimensions

Sometimes, you want a specific sound with your music. Using a tuning pedal with different modes allows you to find a different sound without switching to a different instrument. The high brightness mode on the TU-3 allows you to see the display panel easier. Since the low brightness on the TU-2 sometimes required you to bend down to read it, the TU-3 includes this mode to make it easier to see from a distance. Mute/Bypass As far as tuning modes go, both the older TU2 and TU3 feature chromatic, chromatic flat, standard guitar, flat guitar, standard bass, and flat bass tuning options, all accessible by cycling through the mode button. With this variety of settings, both options will effectively allow a player to tune to any pitch they want to play in.

Both the Boss TU-2 and the Boss TU-3 pedal have mute/bypass capabilities. When you use the pedal to bypass the signal (changing it in some way), there is usually an audible sound as you change. Guitar Flat mode specifically allows you to flat tune, so you can drop your tunings up to six semitones. This can be great for creating unique sounds. BOSS tuners are beloved by musicians around the world for their reliability, accuracy, and user friendliness. Since 1983, the TU-12 has been an industry standard. Today’s family of BOSS tuners melds the essence of the TU-12 with modern technology in a wide variety of models. The display is brighter as well, a decent upgrade that allows you to see the note or pitch level clearly without bending close to the pedal. The pedal also determines your note much faster than the TU-2 did, so you can tune your guitar faster.