BOSS TU-3S Chromatic Tuner
Boss's BOSS TU-3S Chromatic Tuner is the compact version of their industry-standard chromatic tuner. Same bulletproof Boss reliability and accurate tracking in a pedalboard-friendly enclosure. Not exciting, but essential. If you need a tuner that works every time and doesn't eat board real estate, this is it.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Compact footprint (half the size of standard TU-3) saves pedalboard space
- +Boss accuracy and reliability — bulletproof construction
- +True bypass maintains signal integrity
- +Bright LED display visible in any stage lighting
- +Flat/guitar/bass tuning modes accommodate different instruments
Cons
- −More expensive than full-size TU-3 despite smaller enclosure
- −Compact size means smaller LED display (harder to read from distance)
- −No buffered output option like standard TU-3
- −Tuners are commodity items — paying premium for Boss name
The Verdict
Boss’s TU-3S is the compact version of their industry-standard tuner. At $109.99, it’s more expensive than the full-size TU-3, which is absurd, but you’re paying for pedalboard real estate savings. Our EJ score of 90 (based on critic consensus of 90) reflects that it’s reliable, accurate, and built to Boss’s bulletproof standard. Is it exciting? No. Is it essential? Yes. Buy it, plug it in, forget about it. It’ll outlive your other pedals.
