TC Electronics PolyTune 3 with BonaFide Buffer: A new standard in tuner pedals?
A new analogue buffer lets you keep the effect engaged all the time
TC Electronics has just announced its latest pedal tuner, the new PolyTune 3. It features its ‘BonaFide Buffer’ technology which, TC says, allows you to keep the pedal engaged all the time when you are playing. Combined with some of the existing features of the PolyTune, this might make for a uniquely attractive tuner pedal.
Buffer
TC is pitching the Bonafide Buffer feature as one of the big selling points for this new model. A good analogue buffer can help in many situations, including long cable lengths and using true-bypass pedals elsewhere on your board.
You can now choose between either True Bypass or True Buffer modes. The buffer mode (hopefully) won’t degrade your guitar’s tone, so the idea is that you can leave the PolyTune 3 engaged all the time. That means you can now keep an eye on your tuning at any point in your set. I’m not sure I would be that concerned half way through a song, but checking at any time if your tuning is off might give you some additional reassurance.
TC Electronics PolyTune 3 with Bonafide Buffer! · Source: TC Electronics
The Bonafide Buffer is an analogue affair and so you tone junkies won’t need to be worried about it messing with your signal path, or introducing unwanted digital artefacts. It has a >112 dB signal to noise ratio, which I would imagine will be more than sufficient for the job in hand.
Poly-Chromatic
Of course, it has all the features and the same polyphonic/chromatic accuracy of its predecessors. The polyphonic feature means you can strum your guitar and see all the tunings of the individual strings – pretty neat. Plus, its predecessors were pretty fast at displaying the value for the string or strings you’re playing.
TC Electronics PolyTune 3. The PolyTune series has evolved for 2017 · Source: TC Electronics
Combined with the new ‘always on’ mode, the whole feature package could make it even easier to stay in tune. Price-wise, they aren’t exactly cheap, but then again the PolyTune is a pretty decent tuner, and quality does comes with a cost – especially when they cram 109-LEDs into that display!
TC Electronics PolyTune 3 product page
RRP €99 available May
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