The Electro-Harmonix EHX 2020 is a mini chromatic tuner pedal introduced in December 2019 and shown at NAMM 2020. It was Electro-Harmonix's first-ever dedicated pedal tuner, arriving decades into a company history that began in 1967123. For a player, it does the two things a pedal tuner needs to do: it reads your pitch on a color LED display, and it mutes your signal while you tune so you can do it silently on stage12.
What made it stand out at launch was the price. It carried a U.S. street price of $39.00, and unlike most pedals at that price it shipped with a 9V power supply in the box14. Guitar World called it "ludicrously affordable"5.
The original EHX 2020 was discontinued in 2024. Electro-Harmonix replaced it the same year with the 2020 v2, which adds switchable true or buffered bypass. If you are buying used or shopping current stock, check which version you are looking at.
What it does: a mini chromatic tuner
The EHX 2020 is a compact, single-function chromatic tuner in a mini enclosure. Gearnews noted that it "doesn't use up much real estate on your pedalboard," and Guitar.com similarly highlighted its ultra-compact footprint26. Despite the small housing, MusicRadar described its color LED display as "surprisingly large" for a mini pedal1.
As a chromatic tuner, it names any note you play rather than assuming a set of string pitches, so it works for guitar and bass alike, and for any tuning you throw at it. Its tuning range runs from B0, below the low B on a 5-string bass, up to B71.
Engaging the pedal mutes the guitar's signal, which allows for silent tuning during live performances2. That mute-on-engage behavior is what separates a pedal tuner from a clip-on: you can tune mid-set without the audience hearing it.
Tuning range, calibration and flat tuning modes
The tuning side of the pedal covers three areas:
| Function | Range or options |
|---|---|
| Tuning range | B0 to B71 |
| Calibration | 436 to 445 Hz, in one-hertz steps12 |
| Flat tuning modes | Half-step, full step, or minor third125 |
The calibration range lets you match a reference pitch other than A440, adjusted in one-hertz steps2. The three flat tuning modes are the more player-friendly feature: set the pedal to a half step and it reads your Eb tuning as if it were standard, so you are not chasing unfamiliar note names. The full-step and minor-third settings do the same for D standard and deeper drop tunings25.
History: the first Electro-Harmonix pedal tuner and the v2
Electro-Harmonix was founded in 1967, making it, as Guitar.com put it, "arguably the closest thing we have to a heritage effects pedal brand"3. The company built its name on effects, not tuners, so the EHX-2020 marked its entry into the pedal tuner market: Guitar.com reported it as "Electro-Harmonix introduces its first-ever pedal tuner"2.
The EHX 2020 launched with a U.S.A. street price of $39.004, also listed at $39 / £491. Its maker, Electro-Harmonix, is an NYC-based company73 first established in 1967, making it one of the longest-running effects pedal brands in the business.
How it compares
At $39.00 U.S. street price4, the EHX 2020 sat at the affordable end of the tuner pedal market, and it was also listed at $39 / £491. Its large, color LED display2 was its standout hardware feature, giving the player a clear readout of pitch at a glance.
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Questions
Does the EHX 2020 have a large display?
Yes, the pedal has a large, color LED display41, which makes it easy to read your tuning status on a dark stage or from a distance while playing.
Does the EHX 2020 mute the signal while tuning?
Yes. Engaging the pedal mutes the guitar's signal, which allows for silent tuning2.
How accurate is it?
Guitar.com reported an accuracy of +/- one cent2, tight enough for intonation work as well as tuning up between songs.
Does it come with a power supply?
Yes. It shipped with a 9V power supply despite the $39 street price, something MusicRadar singled out as unusual at the cost14.
Can it tune down a half step or drop to a minor third?
Yes. Three flat tuning modes cover half-step, full step, and minor third125.
Is the EHX 2020 true bypass?
Yes. The original EHX 2020, introduced in late 2019, uses true bypass switching, so it leaves your dry signal alone when disengaged. The 2020 v2, released in 2024 after the original was discontinued, changes this to switchable true or buffered bypass.
How accurate is the Electro-Harmonix 2020 tuner?
Guitar.com reported an accuracy of plus or minus one cent for the EHX-2020. One cent is a hundredth of a semitone, which is tight enough for setting intonation as well as everyday tuning.
Does the EHX 2020 come with a power supply?
Yes. Despite its $39 street price, the EHX 2020 shipped with a 9V power supply in the box, which MusicRadar called out as unusual at the price. Many competing mini tuners are sold without one.
Can the EHX 2020 tune down a half step or drop to a minor third?
Yes. It offers three flat tuning modes: half-step, full step, or minor third. That covers Eb standard, D standard, and drop tunings down a minor third without relearning the display.
Sources (7)
- NAMM 2020: Electro-Harmonix debuts affordable EHX 2020 mini tuner pedal, MusicRadar, 2019-12-23
- Electro-Harmonix introduces its first-ever pedal tuner, the EHX-2020, Guitar.com, 2019-12-23
- Electro-Harmonix Oceans 11 & Op-Amp Big Muff Pi Review, Guitar.com, 2018-10-12
- New Compact Tuner Pedal Introduced By Electro-Harmonix, Bass Gear Magazine, 2019-12-20
- NAMM 2020: Electro-Harmonix debuts ludicrously affordable mini tuner pedal, Guitar World, 2019-12-23
- Electro Harmonix EHX-2020, a compact and flexible new chromatic tuner pedal, gearnews.com, 2019-12-23
- Demo Video: Electro-Harmonix East River Drive Pedal, Guitar World, 2013-09-24
