The Electro-Harmonix 2020 is a digital chromatic pedal tuner in a mini enclosure from Electro-Harmonix, measuring 3.75 x 1.5 x 1.25 inches12. It is a straightforward box to wire up: your instrument cable goes into the input jack, and the output jack feeds your amp or another effect unit12. Electro-Harmonix later released the 2020 v2, which is also digital and shares the same 3.75 x 1.5 x 1.25 inch footprint and the same input and output arrangement3.
Electro-Harmonix describes the 2020 as "super compact and takes up minimal space on your crowded pedalboard"1. At 3.75 x 1.5 x 1.25 inches, it is one of the smaller tuner pedals on the market, comparable in footprint to mini-format tuners like the Korg Pitchblack Mini or TC Electronic Polytune 3 Mini1.
What it is and what it does
The 2020 is a digital chromatic tuner, meaning it reads any note you play rather than a fixed set of guitar-string pitches. Its range runs from B0, below a five-string bass's low B, up to B7, well past the highest frets on a guitar, so it handles bass as well as guitar1. MusicRadar's Rob Laing noted the range runs "from ultra-low B0 to B7" when the pedal debuted2.
When you press the footswitch, the output is muted so you can tune silently between songs, which Electro-Harmonix calls ideal for live performance1. The display is described by the maker as high-visibility1.
The controls: pitch, flat and footswitch
The pedal keeps its control set minimal, with two buttons and a footswitch13.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Pitch button | Changes the reference frequency (calibration)1 |
| Flat button | Lets you use flat tunings1 |
| Footswitch | Turns the tuner on and off1 |
The pitch button adjusts the reference frequency across 436 to 445Hz in 1Hz steps1. That covers the common A=440 standard and slight variations either side, but it does not reach down to A=432, which sits below the calibration range.
The flat button gives access to three flat tuning modes, so you can tune down a half step, a whole step or further without retuning every string by ear12. This is the same basic approach to flat tunings found on most stage tuners, including the BOSS TU-3.
Power and connections
The 2020 runs on 9V DC and draws only 10mA, light enough that it is easy on a pedalboard power supply1. A power adapter is included in the box: the original shipped with a 9VDC-800mA adapter, and the v2 ships with a 9VDC-100mA adapter13. MusicRadar highlighted that the pedal "even ships with a 9V power supply for the price"2.
Signal connections are straightforward: your instrument cable goes into the input jack, and the output jack feeds your amp or the next effect in the chain1.
The 2020 is powered by a 9V DC adapter, and no battery option is listed, so plan on a power supply or isolated output on your board.
The original and the v2
The original 2020 was released in 2019 and discontinued in 20241. The 2020 v2, released the same year, is the current version3. The two share their core tuning specs, but the v2 changes the bypass arrangement.
| 2020 (original) | 2020 v2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 20191 | 20243 |
| Status | Discontinued 20241 | Current3 |
| Tuning range | B0 to B71 | B0 to B73 |
| Accuracy | +/- 1 cent1 | +/- 1 cent3 |
| Calibration | 436 to 445Hz, 1Hz steps1 | 436 to 445Hz, 1Hz steps3 |
| Bypass | True bypass1 | Switchable true/buffered bypass3 |
| Flat modes | Three1 | Three3 |
| Current draw | 10mA1 | 10mA3 |
| Included adapter | 9VDC-800mA1 | 9VDC-100mA3 |
The v2's switchable bypass is the practical difference for players. Electro-Harmonix says it is "for easy integration into any rig"3: true bypass keeps the dry signal untouched on small boards, while buffered bypass helps drive long cable runs. The original was true bypass only, which MusicRadar noted at launch2.
Where it came from
The 2020 comes from Electro-Harmonix, a maker better known for its effects pedals, and it puts the company's tuner in the same compact 3.75 x 1.5 x 1.25 inch enclosure as the later v212. Both versions are digital, and both keep the same simple connection scheme: instrument into the input jack, amp or another effect unit out of the output jack12.
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Questions
Is the Electro-Harmonix 2020 true bypass?
Yes. The original EHX 2020 uses true bypass switching, so it leaves your dry signal untouched when the tuner is off. The 2020 v2 goes further with switchable true bypass or buffered bypass, so you can keep a buffer in the chain on long pedalboards.
Does the EHX 2020 mute the signal when tuning?
Yes. The pedal's output is muted whenever the tuner is engaged, which makes it useful for silent tuning between songs on stage. Press the footswitch again to unmute and return to your normal signal.
What is the tuning accuracy of the Electro-Harmonix 2020?
Electro-Harmonix rates both the original 2020 and the 2020 v2 at plus or minus 1 cent. That is accurate enough for standard stage and studio tuning, though strobe-class tuners such as Peterson's models are built for finer resolution.
Can the EHX 2020 tune to A=432?
Yes. The reference pitch is adjustable from 436Hz to 445Hz in 1Hz steps, so A=436 is reachable but A=432 is below the calibration range. Players who need lower reference pitches would need a tuner with a wider calibration range.
Is the Electro-Harmonix 2020 discontinued?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix discontinued the original 2020 in 2024 and released the 2020 v2 the same year. The v2 keeps the same tuning range and accuracy but adds switchable true or buffered bypass.
Can the EHX 2020 tune a bass?
Yes. The tuning range runs from B0 to B7, and B0 is below the low E on a four-string bass in standard tuning, so it covers bass guitar down to five-string low B and beyond.
Sources (3)
- 2020 | DISCONTINUED 2024 | Pedal Tuner - Electro-Harmonix, Electro-Harmonix, 2024
- NAMM 2020: Electro-Harmonix debuts affordable EHX 2020 mini tuner pedal, MusicRadar, 2019-12-23
- 2020 v2 | Mini Pedal Tuner - Electro-Harmonix, Electro-Harmonix (ehx.com)
