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The Boss TU-3s is one of those pedals that you instantly fall in love with the first time you lay eyes on them. I know I fell in love with one back in 2017 or 2018, if memory serves me right.
And in my mind, I thought this was going to be the direction Boss was going which was to make smaller pedals like Mooer, TC Electronics, and other boutique pedal companies out there.
Small Form Factor
The first thing that really caught my eye about the Boss TU-3s was the small form factor. Boss has an iconic shape and nothing is going to change that because it is a shape that everyone has come to love.
But it is refreshing to see them veer away from the norm and produce something as quirky as the Boss TU-3s. Without the pedal, you basically just get the most important part of the tuner which is the display.
Tuning Accuracy and Versatility
What can I say? Boss is the boss when it comes to tuning accuracy. Just make sure you don’t get confused about the strobing effect on this pedal because instead of strobing, it’s gonna say streaming. The function is basically the same.
You can use the Boss TU-3s to tune your guitar or bass. It also supports alternate tunings.
Tuning is pretty much a straightforward affair. Just pluck the desired string and the display will show the note’s name in the middle of the display. The streaming lights will indicate if you are sharp or flat by traveling in the direction of the pitch.
You should also take note of the display name as it will have a small dot to indicate sharp if your desired tuning is a half note above or below standard. It also supports tuning for 7 string guitars and drop tunings up to 6 semitones.
Super Bright Display
The Boss TU-3s, like all the others in the TU line has a bright display that makes it very convenient for checking your tuning in dimly lit areas.
Whether you’re in a totally blacked out stage or playing outdoors where the sun is high above your head, you can always see if you’re in tune or not. You can rely on the Accu Pitch to keep you in tune just by looking at it.
Built Like a Tank
As with most Boss pedals, the TU-3s is built like a tank. It is designed to withstand the rigors of frequent use on stage and in the studio, making it a reliable tool for professional and amateur guitarists alike.
It’s Not Perfect
The Boss TU-3s doesn’t come without flaws.
Number one its small form factor means you can easily lose it if you’re like me who removes pedals from his pedal board regularly and chucks it into a cabinet.
Two, it can’t take 9 volt batteries. That means you’re highly dependent on being plugged in. So let’s say you like having less wires on the floor by relying on 9 volt batteries in your Boss pedals, that means you’ll still need a power cord to turn the Boss TU-3s on.
It’s not a true bypass so expect a little tone suck or coloration to your sound.
You also can’t tune quietly. But then again, you can always check if you’re in tune since it’s always on.
Last, it won’t look right inside your Boss BCB pedalboard because it’s small.
Other than those things, the Boss TU-3s is perfect.
Now Why am I Writing About the Boss TU-3s Now?
To be honest, I’ve forgotten about this unique Boss tuner since it’s been so long since I saw it. In fact, I barely remember where I saw it. What I do remember is the feeling it evoked when I first saw it.
And that feeling came rushing back when I saw someone post it online. They were selling their Boss TU-3s.
If you’re interested, here’s the Facebook post. Maybe you’ll like what he’s selling.
And believe me, I am very tempted to buy it myself but I have some things I need to prioritize first. Who knows, maybe it will go to someone who’ll use it more than I since I’m currently on hiatus to make time for my family.
Final Thoughts
I’m probably going to earn a lot of flak for this but I had high hopes that the Boss TU-3s was the general direction Boss was going for in the future. It’s been 7 years since and it seems like that’s not where Boss is going.
Maybe they’re just not interested in shaking things up too much.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Boss’ iconic pedal shape. I was just hoping there’d be more variety like mini and micro pedals like what Mooer offers while still retaining the iconic shape. They managed to do that with the TU-3s. who knows what Boss could come up with in the next few years? I hope they really come up with mini and micro pedals so that those who like ultra-portability can still enjoy having Boss pedals on their fly rigs.
You can learn more about the Boss TU-3s here
