Korg PB-1 Pitchblack

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$86.80 to $249.99 Price Tier: High-end

4.5 (304)

41 Reviews

All time low price

Find out who is using Korg Pitchblack

63 community setups

22 wishlisted

609 saved

Page last updated Jul 25, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 3 stores. Prices updated July 23, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

4.5 (18)

$99.99 $86.80 $13.19 · All time low

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4.5 (562)

Used

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5.0 (66)

$90.00 1 available New

$29.95 40 available Used

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Average Price: $114

High-end/Boutique

$50

$101+

Price Tier

In the Pedal Tuners category, Korg PB-1 Pitchblack is priced in the High-end/Boutique range. This premium gear is built to very high standards and offers premium features.

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Korg PB-1 Pitchblack". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

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Meet the Korg Pitchblack, the tuner that stands out in the crowded field of guitar pedals. This compact and robust device is a chromatic tuner, designed for precision and reliability, ensuring your guitar always hits the right note. Its bright display offers a clear visual representation of tones, making tuning a breeze even on a dark stage. The true bypass feature ensures your signal path remains uncolored, preserving the original tone of your instrument. With the Korg Pitchblack, you can be confident that your sound is in good hands.

Key Features: - Chromatic tuner: Versatile tuning options for a variety of instruments. - Bright display: Provides easy readability even in low-light conditions. - True bypass: Ensures clean, unaltered audio signal. - Compact and robust design: Ideal for gigging musicians who need reliable gear on the go.

Product specs

Brand	Korg
Model	Pitchblack Chromatic Guitar/Bass Tuning Pedal
Finish	Black
Year	2010s
Made In	United States
Categories	Tuner Pedals

FAQs

Is the Korg Pitchblack tuner pedal true bypass?: Yes, the Korg Pitchblack features true bypass, ensuring that your guitar's tone remains unaffected when the pedal is not in use.
How accurate is the Korg Pitchblack tuner?: The Korg Pitchblack offers highly accurate tuning with a precision of ±1 cent, making it reliable for both live performances and studio sessions.
Can the Korg Pitchblack be powered by a 9V adapter?: Yes, the Korg Pitchblack can be powered by either a 9V battery or an optional 9V DC power adapter, providing flexibility for different setups.
Does the Korg Pitchblack work with bass guitars?: Yes, the Korg Pitchblack is a chromatic tuner suitable for both electric guitars and bass guitars, accommodating a wide range of tuning needs.
What display features does the Korg Pitchblack offer?: The Korg Pitchblack features a large, easy-to-read LED display with multiple display modes, ensuring clear visibility even on dark stages.

Equipboard's Expert Review

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Videos

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Korg

Korg Pitchblack Pedal Tuner Overview -- with Display Modes!

Korg

Korg Pitchblack Pedal Tuner | Reverb Demo Video

Reverb

Korg Pitchblack Chromatic Tuner Review

Mr Z's Music Lessons

Reviews

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PROS

Extremely accurate and fast tuning
Rugged, durable build quality
True bypass with no tone loss
Large, easily visible LED display
Can power other pedals, versatile for pedalboards
Multiple display modes for tuning preference
Responsive even in low light or stage conditions
Longevity; works well even after many years
Can tune a wide range of instruments chromatically
Offers calibration and multiple tuning modes

CONS

Higher power consumption than some models
Polyphonic tuning mode not as effective
Cannot set standard A frequency to 432Hz
Some difficulties in bright sunlight visibility
On the larger side compared to some competitors

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Korg PB-1 Pitchblack.

Build quality

0 0

The Pitchblack XS feels solid, but durability in rigorous gigging conditions remains untested by some users.
Source

Features and functionality

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It provides a good input buffer, significantly improving clean signal clarity compared to older tuners like the Polytune V1.
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0 0

The size is comparable to a Boss pedal's button half, but some users are disappointed by the lack of top-mounted jacks.
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0 0

The Pitchblack X mini is highly praised for its fast, accurate, and stable tuning, making it a reliable choice for precise tuning needs.
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0 0

Although the Pitchblack X mini lacks top-mounted jacks, its compact size is still a major advantage for fitting into tight pedalboard spots.
Source

Comparisons

0 0

While it lacks the polytuning ability of the Polytune V1, users with stable tuning guitars like Telecasters may not miss this feature.
Source
0 0

Some users prefer the Sonic Research ST-300 mini for its performance, though the Pitchblack X mini remains a favorite for its price and space-saving design.
Source

User experience

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Owners highlight the super small size and bright, easy-to-read display as standout features, enhancing usability in various lighting conditions.
Source

Use cases and applications

0 0

The Pitchblack X mini effectively replaced a Boss TU2 for some users, maintaining reliability over extended use and freeing up pedalboard space.
Source

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 41 Reviews and 304 Ratings

5 star

4 star

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frogbass77

836

almost 2 years ago

Reliable sturdy tuner

I was able to buy one second hand for 30 bucks and all I can say is that it is good, precise and quick !

Roles:

Bassist

Genres:

Rock Alternative rock Indie rock

From Gear Setup

concubine

329

about 2 years ago

Positive

I prefer this over other tuners as it has a much bigger display and I personally find it easier to see which note I'm tuning to

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Drummer

Genres:

Rock Metal

From Gear Setup

kay_aisha

almost 4 years ago

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fingerstylist

1168

over 2 years ago

my fav

fast accurate. crushes the boss tu-2 which is a terrible pedal. looks like night rider

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Audio Engineer

Genres:

Post-hardcore Progressive rock Ambient

junior_milbradt

120

about 7 years ago

Um ótimo afinador!

Afinador muito confiável, robusto, e funcional. É muito preciso, e o visor de led é grande, o que facilita muito em palcos escuros. Uso ele no baixo, e consigo afinar em drop C# tranquilamente, sempre precisar tocar harmonicos na casa 12 pra isso. Um ponto a considerar, e que me deixou triste, é que não é possível setar a frequencia do A padrão para 432hz, ele simplesmente não chega nesta afinação.

Roles:

Bassist

Genres:

Rock Alternative rock

jimmarchi1

41031

about 11 years ago

Moderator

Best Display EVER!

The Korg Pitchblack is a chromatic tuning pedal with a giant, bright display that you can't miss on stage. It gets the job done pretty well, but the tuning engine seems to be borrowed from Korg's awesome rackmount tuners really could use more lights for really precise tuning in a flash. But then the pedal would get big. This tuner was also the first affordable chromatic tuning pedal to feature pop-free true bypass switching which is why I ditched my old TU-2 for it. Its faster and more accurate than the Boss and when I bought it the Pitchblack was easily the best pedal tuner that wasn't a Peterson. I since switched to the TC Polytune and gave my Pitchblack to a friend of my wife's who is always going out of tune on stage. I miss the wicked display, but the Polytune is more accurate and the at-a-glance multiple string feature of the Polytune is a real time saver.

I still highly recommend the Pitchblack.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Keyboardist

Genres:

Electronic Orchestra Alternative rock

ogon

482

5 years ago over 5 years ago

I switched to TC Electronics Polytune 3 for the switchable buffer and also the faster response time. It responds much faster, even in single string mode. For me, the Korg Pitchblack is still a close 2nd. :-) If Korg would make a Pitchblack with switchable buffer and faster response time, i would buy it.

dom_greenaway

989

over 4 years ago

It's a tank

I've had this for around 10 or 11 years now and its still going strong, i thought it was dying when it started to turn of whenever i tried to tune the D and B strings, turned out it was actually bad power supply causing issues and it's still going strong.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Drummer

Genres:

Jazz Post-hardcore Progressive rock

sbertram92

354

over 11 years ago

More than you're ever going to need

The Korg Pitchblack Tuner is a chromatic tuner and, therefore, can tune basiclly any instrument that's got pickups and a p10 output jack. The screen is very intuitive and accurate - the minimum, slightest difference of pitch will be noticed and briefly showed in red. The perfect pitch, of course, is showed in green and it has 4 different screen modes (when in fact the main one is the best and only necessary). It can power other pedals just as a Boss tuner, but it's better due to a true bypass switching. It's also faster than a Boss and more precise. In fact, it is so precise that, if you play an open chord like an E or a G, it will detect the pitch. The only downsides for the pedalmaniac (me not included), when in comparison with a TC Electronic Polytune Mini, is the size and the play-all-strings-and-detect-the-out-of-pitch-one function (but the screen in the Korg is nicer and cleaner, on the other hand).

ogon

482

almost 7 years ago

Steady partner for over 10 years

Easy to use, best tuner display, really easy to read, über cool looks (best looking tuner in my honest opinion), metal housing, no struggles what so ever.

Update: switched to TC Electronics Polytune 3 because i needed a (switchable) buffer, the polytune 3 responds much faster. If Korg would make a pitchblack with (switchable) buffer and faster response time, i would buy it. :-)

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Electronic Rock Pop