Being in tune is good, right? Personally, I am a tune-it-or-die type of person and can be very critical of electronic tuners that don’t deliver all that they promise. Most of us use tuners that operate in the normal way: pluck a string, tune to pitch, move to the next one and repeat. Well, Pilgrim, that is all about to change.

The new T.C. Electronic Polytune ($149.00 retail) promises to change the guitar and bass tuning game forever with its ability to read multiple strings at the same time. You heard me right: strum all six strings at once and the Polytune reads them all and tells you which and in tune and which are out. Of course, it also tunes in the traditional way, too. It offers users a choice of needle or stream metering, true bypass when not in use, silent tuning, a 9-volt output to power other pedals, and a USB port for downloading future updates.

The Polytune may be just what many guitarists are looking for and should be a very popular unit. It speeds up the onstage tuning process a great deal and that is always appreciated. Plus, it is spectacularly visible on dark stages and direct sunlight, which is a big concern for those of us who play outdoors a lot. Time will tell how it does in the field, as with any new product, but initial reviews are favorable so be ready to see the Polytune in a great number of pedal boards this year and into the future. It is accurate, fast, and remarkably innovative in its design. What more do you really want in a tuner? Also read: How to tune your guitar by ear.

T.C. Electronic Polytune Overview