MusicRadar Verdict
Useful tuners that will find their way into many guitarist's 'tool kits'.
Pros
- +
The Pitchblack's accuracy and clear display; the GB-1's must-have gimmick status.
Cons
- -
A tempered tuning mode on the Pitchblack would be good; limited use for GB-1.
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
The Pitchblack is aptly named, an affordable none-more-black stage tuner - even the logos and legends are in dark grey so the only thing you'll see on a dimly lit stage is the large bright read out.
With simple in/out jacks, and large chromed metal chassis footswitch, it all seems over-easy but advertises 'true bypass' plus, next to the mains adaptor 9V input, is a second socket for power output allowing you to power up other 9V pedals but only to a max consumption of 200mA.
There's also a choice of four displays - meter, strobe 1, strobe 2 and mirror - and calibration control from 436-445Hz.
The GB-1 is a simpler affair, a battery-only 'pocket' tuner designed with a fold out jack plug that plugs into your guitar or bass.
It can't be calibrated but can be configured for flat tuning (1-7 semitones in half steps) and has a yellow flash light - ideal for those pitch black onstage moments.
The Pitchblack impresses with minimal noise or alteration of your audio path, very accurate strobe-like tuning (easily accurate enough for basic set-ups too) although instead of the display choice (meter, is fine) we'd have preferred a sweetened Peterson-style tempered mode.
The GB-1? It works and is a handy gimmick - ideal for quick backstage/in-front-of-TV tuning but that's about all.
The Pitchblack is a dead simple stage tuner of excellent accuracy and quality and at a sensible price.
The GB-1 is a handy pocket tuner that'll allow you to tune up while your Pitchblack is onstage on your pedal board! Hardly essential, it's a handy, very affordable accessory for the guitarist who wants everything.
“A synthesizer that is both easy to use and fun to play whilst maintaining a decent degree of programming depth and flexibility”: PWM Mantis review
“I feel like that song had everything we needed to come back with”: Bring Me The Horizon’s Lee Malia on Shadow Moses, its riff and the secrets behind its tone, and why it was the right anthem at the right time
“I said, ‘Are we sure we can write a song about death?’”: The story of Mike + The Mechanics' classic No.1 The Living Years
