The SN10 is Snark's first pedal tuner, introduced in September 2012 as a stompbox format alternative to the clip-on tuners the company was already known for. No Treble's Kevin Johnson reported the launch, noting that the pedal features a large LCD display, true bypass switching, and a die cast metal case1. Premier Guitar's reviewer described it as "a more cost-effective pedal tuner" from Snark Tuners2.
At launch, No Treble highlighted these headline features1:
- Large LCD display showing which pitch you are tuning
- Red, yellow, and green bars to show flat, sharp, or in tune
- True bypass switching
- 9-volt out for powering another device
- Die cast metal case
Power and connections
The SN10 runs on either a 9-volt battery or a 9-volt adapter1. RockBoard's PedalPedia entry for the SN-10S lists the voltage as 9V DC, center negative3, which is the standard pedalboard polarity, so it works with ordinary pedal power supplies.
The useful extra is the power through: the pedal has a 9-volt out that allows for powering another device1. Premier Guitar's review of the SN-10S describes "9V DC in and out jacks for powering not only the pedal itself, but other pedals in the signal chain"2.
"9V DC in and out jacks for powering not only the pedal itself, but other pedals in the signal chain"
That makes it a modest power hub as well as a tuner, though it is one device at a time rather than a full power supply21.
The battery option matters for occasional players: Premier Guitar noted it "can also be powered by a 9V battery just in case you left your power supply at home or the last gig"2.
Display and tuning
The SN10's display is a large LCD showing which pitch you are tuning, with red, yellow, and green bars to determine whether you are flat, sharp, or in tune1. Green signals you are in tune; the red and yellow bars show how far off you are. Premier Guitar's review notes there are no additional tuning modes beyond the standard one2.
| Display element | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Pitch readout | Which pitch you are tuning1 |
| Green bars | You are in tune1 |
| Red and yellow bars | How far flat or sharp you are1 |
MusicRadar's Dave Burrluck had one reservation about the display in his review:
"Needs a brighter display for those outdoor gigs."
He found it bright enough for dim indoor venues but noted it disappears in sunlight4.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer framed the SN-10S as Snark bringing its value approach to the pedal format, calling it "a more cost-effective pedal tuner" and crediting the company with true bypass switching2. MusicRadar's verdict was broadly positive with the display brightness caveat above4. No Treble's announcement highlighted the combination of the LCD display, true bypass, and the 9-volt out as the pedal's headline features1.
For context, the SN10 sits in a crowded field of pedal tuners: players comparing it against other options may want to look at the Boss TU3 Tuner, the Korg Pitchblack Chromatic Tuner, or the TC Electronic PolyTune, and our roundup of Tuner Pedals covers the wider range.
Videos
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Questions
Is the Snark SN10 true bypass?
Yes. No Treble's 2012 announcement lists True Bypass among the SN10's features, and Premier Guitar's review of the SN-10S also notes true bypass switching. That means the tuner's circuit is removed from the signal path when the pedal is off, so it does not load or color your tone while bypassed.
Does the Snark SN10 take a battery?
Yes. The pedal runs on either a 9-volt battery or a 9-volt adapter, according to No Treble's announcement. Premier Guitar's review adds that the battery option is handy if you left your power supply at home or at the last gig.
Can the Snark SN10 power other pedals?
Yes. The SN10 has a 9-volt out that allows for powering another device, and the SN-10S review describes 9V DC in and out jacks for powering not only the pedal itself but other pedals in the signal chain. Check the current draw of anything you chain from it before relying on it for a whole board.
What does the Snark SN10 display show when you are flat or sharp?
The SN10 has a large LCD display showing which pitch you are tuning, with red, yellow, and green bars to determine whether you are flat, sharp, or in tune. Green means you are in tune, while the red and yellow bars indicate how far off you are.
What is the list price of the Snark SN10?
No Treble reported that the Snark website listed the SN10 at $59 as of late September 2012, with a street price of around $39 when the pedal became available. Street prices for tuners often sit below list, so the two figures describe different things.
Sources (4)
- Snark Introduces SN10 Pedal Tuner, No Treble, 2012-09-23
- Snark SN-10S Tuner Review, Premier Guitar, 2012-09-12
- SN-10 by Snark, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Snark SN-10 Pedal Tuner review, MusicRadar, 2012-11-16
