The PolyTune Noir is a limited-edition tuner pedal from TC Electronic, introduced in October 2012 as an exclusive, customized black version of the PolyTune Mini. Like the rest of the PolyTune line, it is a polyphonic tuner: strum all six strings at once and the display shows the tuning state of every string simultaneously, so you can see which ones need attention without checking them one by one1.
Under the black finish it is the same circuit as the standard PolyTune Mini. TC Electronic described it at launch as "an exclusive, customized version in the most rock'n'roll colors of all: black"1. Around the company's office the finish was nicknamed "Sabbath Black", though TC noted that was by no means an official paint type1.
What it does and how it works
The PolyTune Noir is based on the exact same technology as the original PolyTune and the PolyTune Mini1. Its headline feature is polyphonic tuning: it shows the tuning state of all strings simultaneously by simply strumming the guitar1.
The pedal automatically switches between chromatic and polyphonic modes depending on how you play it. Strum all strings at once and it reads them all together; pick each string individually and it drops into chromatic mode for single-string tuning2.
| Mode | How you trigger it | What it shows | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyphonic | Strum all strings at once | Tuning state of every string simultaneously | +/- 1 cent2 |
| Chromatic | Pick strings individually | One string at a time | +/- 0.5 cent2 |
The display uses the same number of LEDs as the original PolyTune2, and the pedal carries true-bypass circuitry, which TC Electronic promoted as giving zero tone coloration and silent tuning12.
The Noir finish and the limited run
The Noir's whole identity is its finish. Vintage Guitar reported in October 2012 that TC Electronic would soon offer a limited-edition version of its PolyTune Mini pedalboard tuner in black2, and Guitar Interactive confirmed the pedal was available as an exclusive limited run on October 15, 2012, with the US release on October 261.
At launch it retailed at USD 89,99 MAP in the US, EUR 79 SSP in Europe and GBP 62 SSP in the UK1.
How it differs from the PolyTune Mini
Functionally, the Noir is a PolyTune Mini in different clothes. It is based on the exact same technology, displays the same number of LEDs as the original PolyTune, and carries the same true-bypass design12. The distinction is the limited-run black enclosure, aimed at players who want a monochromatic pedalboard. On That Pedal Show, a TC Electronic PolyTune Mini Noir appeared among the gear used in the episode3.
History and versions: from the first Noir to the PolyTune 3 Noir
The Noir line continued after the 2012 original:
- PolyTune Noir (2012): the first Noir, a limited-edition black PolyTune Mini with true bypass and +/- 0.5 cent chromatic precision12.
- PolyTune 2 Noir (2014): a polyphonic tuner pedal with all of the functions of the PolyTune 2 Mini, in what TC called "the coolest color of all: basic Black", with a super-bright LED display and a strobe tuner45. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes it as "The first POLYTUNE NOIR" that "raised the bar for how über-cool a tuner could be with its compact design and sleek black look"4.
- PolyTune 3 Noir (2019): announced in April 2019 alongside the PolyTune 3 Mini as a dark-themed version of it67. It adds a 108-LED display8, a built-in switchable "studio-grade" buffer, and an always-on mode for tuning without missing a beat6. Two small dipswitches on the side toggle between true or buffered bypass and the always-on mode; switch the buffer off and the pedal is back in true-bypass mode96. TC Electronic's product page calls it a mini pedal tuner with multiple tuning modes and an integrated BonaFide Buffer9. Both were due Spring/Summer 2019 at a price to be confirmed6.
The 2019 Noir models therefore differ from the 2012 original in one important way: the original Noir is true bypass only, while the PolyTune 3 Noir lets you choose true bypass or a built-in buffer from its side dipswitches196.
Videos
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Pedals At Dawn
Nick Rees
Questions
Is the PolyTune Noir true bypass?
Yes. The PolyTune Noir uses true bypass circuitry, so when the pedal is disengaged the signal passes through without tone coloration, and tuning is silent. Later Noir models, like the PolyTune 3 Noir, add a switchable buffer, so you can choose buffered or true bypass operation.
What is the difference between the PolyTune Noir and the PolyTune Mini?
The PolyTune Noir is based on the exact same technology as the PolyTune Mini and is an exclusive, customized version of it in a black finish. Functionally they match, including the same number of display LEDs as the original PolyTune. The difference is the limited-run black enclosure rather than the circuit.
Was the PolyTune Noir a limited edition?
Yes. When TC Electronic introduced it in October 2012, the PolyTune Noir was offered as an exclusive limited run, priced at $89.99 MAP in the US. It shipped October 15 in Europe and October 26 in the US.
How accurate is the PolyTune Noir in chromatic mode?
In chromatic mode the PolyTune Noir offers plus or minus 0.5 cent precision. In polyphonic mode, where it shows the tuning state of all strings at once, accuracy is plus or minus 1 cent. The pedal switches between the two modes automatically depending on how you pick.
Sources (9)
- TC Electronic Announces Limited-Time-Only PolyTune Noir, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2012-10-05
- TC Electronic to Offer “Noir” Version of PolyTune Mini, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2012-10-04
- Uni-Vibe Vs Harmonic Tremolo Plus Fuzz & OD Order, That Pedal Show, 2021-04-30
- Polytune 2 Noir by TC Electronic, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- TC Electronic announces PolyTune 2 Mini and PolyTune 2 Noir, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2014-09-02
- TC Electronic unveils PolyTune 3 Mini & Noir, MusicRadar, 2019-04-17
- TC Electronic adds Polytune 3 Mini and 3 Noir to its tuner range, Guitar.com, 2019-05-01
- TC Electronic Announces New PolyTune 3 Mini and 3 Noir Tuning Pedals, Guitar World, 2019-04-17
- POLYTUNE 3 NOIR, TC Electronic
