Rack mounted guitar tuners are popular with professional guitarists, especially when they already use other 19" rack equipment. They are easy to integrate with rack-mounted effects, amps, etc.; they are robust, high quality and designed around the stage and studio needs of the gigging or recording guitarist, not the bedroom aspirations of hobby guitar players.

What to look for in a rack tuner

So, you're serious about a rack tuner. What should you look for?
A large, clear display is a must, as unlike a pedal tuner it's likely that you'll want to view it from some distance away. Most rack tuners make good use of the wide front panel to give a nice wide bar display. A choice of resolutions is nice, offering the choice of 1 or 5 cent resolution - typically for studio and stage use respectively.

Accuracy and Temperments

Tuning accuracy is not just a matter of a +/-1 cent display resolution. A choice of modes and temperments can maks a big difference if you use open tunings. Tuning a guitar is always a compromise, as it is simply impossible to tune chromatically so that all notes are perfect... physics doesn't allow it! Top tuners like those made by Peterson offer a wide choice of sweetened tunings, enabling you to chose the best possible tuning temperment for your music, style and instrument. This is most important in the studio, where even minor tuning errors become apparent.

Inputs, Outputs and Bypass

True bypass is a must for recording or for setups with effects processors and pedals, to ensure that there is no possibility of your tuner introducing noise or changing your precious tone.

Front and rear inputs (foot-switchable) give the opportunity to use both a pre-wired setup as part of your rack rig - maybe using a radio link - and a separate front-plug-able input for a second guitar... or ad-hoc use by your fellow guitar and bass players!

Are all rack tuners the same size?

See our FAQ on 19" rack dimension here:
http://guitartunerguide.com/content/are-all-rack-tuners-same-size

Compare Rack Tuner Specs

Check out descriptions, features and specifications of currently available rack guitar tuners here: http://guitartunerguide.com/category/type/rack