Thank you, and congratulations on your choice of the BOSS TU-15 Chromatic Tuner.
Before using this unit, carefully read the sections entitled: “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and
“IMPORTANT NOTES” (separate sheet).
These sections provide important information concerning the proper operation of the unit.
Additionally, in order to feel assured that you have gained a good grasp of every feature provided
by your new unit, this manual should be read in its entirety. The manual should be saved and kept
on hand as a convenient reference.
As shipped, the TU-15’s batteries are not yet installed. Be sure to read “Changing the
Batteries” and then follow the instructions to install the batteries.
Copyright © 2002 BOSS CORPORATION
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the
written permission of BOSS CORPORATION.
■
Features
•
Backlit meter
allows tuning even in dark environments.
• Also features an “
AUTO mode
,” which automatically determines the note name or string
number, and a “
MANUAL mode
,” where you can specify note names and string numbers
(which comes in handy after you’ve restrung your instrument).
• Includes “
CHROMATIC mode
,” which permits tuning to any of the twelve semitone steps by
note name over the entire chromatic scale, and a “
GUITAR/BASS mode
” for tuning to guitar
and bass string numbers.
• Compatible with seven-string guitars and six-string basses.
• Includes a
Flat Tuning
function, which lowers all pitches from one semitone to five semitones
(two and a half steps).
•
Open Tuning
function makes it easy to achieve DROP D, OPEN D/E/G/A, and DADGAD
tunings.
•
OCTAVE ADJUST mode
makes the octave adjustments required to maintain the correct pitch
when playing the frets.
•
SOUND mode
plays the reference tone.
•
Accu-Pitch
function produces a beeping tone to signal that the tuning is correct.
• AC adaptor jack for use with AC adaptor.
•
Auto Power Off
function helps prevent battery drain (only when batteries are used).
■
Panel Descriptions
■
Display
■
Note About AUTO and MANUAL Modes
Normally, you will be using “
AUTO mode
,” in which note names and string numbers are
indicated automatically.
However, after restringing an instrument, or when using the
Open Tuning
function, it is more
convenient to use “
MANUAL mode
,” in which you specify the note names and string numbers
using the
[NOTE] button
in advance.
Pressing the
[AUTO/MANUAL] button
toggles the mode between “
AUTO
” and “
MANU
.” The
current mode is indicated in the display.
■
Regarding CHROMATIC and GUITAR/BASS Modes
■
How to Use the Tuner
1.
Connect the instrument to be tuned to the INPUT jack.
The built-in mic is used for tuning acoustic instruments. When using the mic, make sure that
nothing is connected to the INPUT or OUTPUT jacks, and place the TU-15 near the instrument.
*
To prevent malfunction and/or damage to speakers or other devices, always turn down the volume, and
turn off the power on all devices before making any connections.
2.
Slide the POWER switch to [ON].
The reference pitch is indicated in the display.
To change the reference pitch, press the
[PITCH] button
one or more times until the pitch you
want to set as the reference pitch appears in the display (the factory default setting is 440 Hz).
If the power has been turned off by the
Auto Power Off
function, slide the POWER switch to
[OFF], then to [ON] again.
3.
Switch to
AUTO mode
.
Normally, “
AUTO mode
” is used. In this mode, note names and string numbers are indicated
automatically.
If “
MANU
” appears in the display, press the
[AUTO/MANUAL] button
so that “
AUTO
” is
shown.
4.
Play a single note on the instrument.
The note name/string number for the note that is playing appears in the display.
The meter and Tuning Guide show how far the note is from the correct pitch.
5.
Tune the instrument.
With the intended note name/string number appearing in the display, tune the instrument so
that both “ ” and “ ” of the Tuning Guide are lit, and the meter needle points to 0 (center
position).
When a stable pitch is achieved, the tuner makes a beeping sound, informing you that the
tuning is completed (with the
Accu-Pitch
function).
■
Flat Tuning
This lowers the actual pitch of all notes below the regular tuning (from one to five semitones, or
two and a half steps), and can be accomplished simply without changing the regular display.
Press the
[FLAT] button
and select the number of semitones the actual pitch is to be lowered
relative to the note appearing in the display.
No flat symbols appear when regular tuning is selected; “ ” indicates the pitch is lower by one
semitone, “
” a whole tone, and so on, with “
” marks indicating a drop of five semitones.
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CENT
CENT
-50
0
Meter & Display
[GUITAR/BASS] Button
[CHROMATIC] Button
[SOUND]
Button
Power Switch [POWER]
Switches the power on and off.
Whenever the TU-15 has remained totally idle for
approximately thirty minutes, while running on battery
power, the power is automatically switched off.
To turn the power back on, first slide the POWER switch to
[OFF], then to [ON] again.
Backlight Switch [LIGHT]
Switches the backlighting on
and off.
Speaker
AC Adaptor Jack
Connect the AC adaptor (the optional
BOSS PSA series) here.
OUTPUT Jack
The signal of the instrument connected to the INPUT jack is output
from this jack. The tuner’s circuitry is completely bypassed once you
place the POWER switch at the OFF position, so your instrument’s
signal is output without any change in the tone quality.
INPUT Jack
Connect the guitar, bass guitar, or other
instrument to be tuned here.
[PITCH] Button
[AUTO/MANUAL] Button
[NOTE] Button
[FLAT] Button
[OPEN TUNING] Button
[OCT ADJ] Button
MIC
Use this when tuning acoustic instruments.
Position the mic as closely as possible to the instrument.
Do not connect anything to the INPUT or OUTPUT jacks when
using the mic.
Mode
Description
Operation
Displayed
CHROMATIC
Allows tuning any of the twelve
pitches in the chromatic scale.
Press the
[CHROMATIC] button
.
The tone name and octave
are displayed.
GUITAR
Allows tuning by guitar string
number.
Press the
[GUITAR/BASS]
button
one or more times until
“
GUITAR
” is lit.
“
GUITAR
” lights up, and
the string number and
tone name are displayed.
BASS
Allows tuning by bass guitar
string number.
Press the
[GUITAR/BASS]
button
one or more times until
“
BASS
” is lit.
“
BASS
” lights up, and
the string number and
tone name are displayed.
+50
CENT
CENT
-50
0
Tuning Guide
The tuning indicator lights to show how close
you are to the target pitch.
When “ ” lights: pitch is flat (low)
When “ ” lights: pitch is sharp (high)
When “ ” and “ ” light: in tune (
±
3 cents)
Meter
This shows the
difference in pitch from
the indicated note
name or string number.
Backlight Indicator
“ ” lights when the
backlight is on.
Batteries Low Warning
Indicator
“ ” is normally off, but
flashes when the batteries
begins to run low. Replace
batteries promptly when
you see this indicator
flashing.
Note Name/String Number
Indicator
In CHROMATIC mode, this
indicates the “note name” and
“octave”; in GUITAR/BASS
mode, it indicates the “string
number” and “note name.”
OCTAVE ADJUST
Mode Indicator
“
OCT ADJ
” lights up
when the OCTAVE
ADJUST mode is on.
FLAT TUNING Indicator
REFERENCE PITCH
Indicator
AUTO/MANUAL Mode Indicator
OPEN TUNING Indicator
GUITAR/BASS Mode Indicator
■
Open Tuning
You can tune by string number not only with normal OPEN D/E/G/A, but with six kinds of open
tuning, from the often-used DROP D to DADGAD.
After switching to
GUITAR/BASS mode
, press the
[OPEN TUNING] button
to select the type of
tuning you want to set.
In GUITAR Mode
In BASS Mode
■
Tuning While Listening to the Reference Tone
(SOUND Mode)
The built-in speaker plays the reference tone.
In
CHROMATIC mode
, you can play any of the twelve notes in the chromatic scale.
In
GUITAR/BASS mode
, pitches corresponding to the open strings are played.
1.
First select the type of tuning you want to use (e.g., Chromatic, Guitar, Bass, Flat, or Open
Tuning).
2.
Press the
[SOUND] button
.
3.
Press the
[NOTE] button
to display the note name or string number you want to tune.
4.
Tune the instrument to the reference tone.
5.
Press the
[SOUND] button
to stop playing the reference sound.
■
OCTAVE ADJUST Mode
To ensure that the correct pitch is played when you press the strings against the guitar frets,
Octave Adjust is required.
The TU-15 features an
OCTAVE ADJUST mode
, which indicates whether you need to shift the
bridge up or down when the sound of the open string and the sound with the string pressed at the
twelfth fret are played.
This function allows you to make octave adjustments quickly and easily.
1.
First tune the instrument in
GUITAR/BASS mode
.
2.
Press the
[OCT ADJ] button
.
The “
OCT ADJ
” in the display lights up, and the tuner switches to
GUITAR
or
BASS mode
.
In
MANUAL mode
, you can select the string to adjust by pressing the
[NOTE] button
.
3.
Play an open string.
When the pitch stabilizes, “
OF
” lights up.
4.
Next, play the same string while holding it down at the twelfth fret.
When a stable pitch is obtained, “
12 F
” lights up, and the meter indicates the direction in
which the bridge should be shifted.
If the needle moves to the left side (the side), shift the bridge toward the neck; if the needle
moves to the right side (the side), shift the bridge away from the neck.
*
For instructions on moving the bridge, refer to the owner’s manual that came with your guitar.
5.
After shifting the bridge, repeat Steps 3 and 4.
This adjustment is complete when the meter is at 0 (center) while “
12 F
” is lit.
6.
When you have finished adjusting all of the strings, press the
[OCT ADJ] button
to exit
OCTAVE ADJUST mode
.
■
Changing the Reference Pitch
The frequency for A4 (Middle A on the piano) for an instrument (such as the piano) whose pitch
other instruments are tuned to is called the “reference pitch.”
The current reference pitch is indicated when you turn on the TU-15.
The reference pitch changes by 1 Hz each time you press the
[PITCH] button
.
You can adjust the reference pitch to any value from A=430 Hz to A=449 HZ.
*
The factory default setting is A=440 Hz.
■
Preventing Battery Drain When Running on Batteries
(Auto Power Off Function)
The TU-15 features an
Auto Power Off
function that helps prevent the batteries from going dead if
you forget to switch off the unit when using battery power.
After the TU-15 is turned on, if approximately thirty minutes passes without any button being
pushed or a tuning sound being input, the power is then turned off automatically.
To turn on the power after it has been turned off by the
Auto Power Off
function, first slide the
POWER switch to OFF, then slide it to ON once more.
*
The
Auto Power Off
function is turned on at the factory.
You can turn the
Auto Power Off
function on and off. Use the following procedure to switch the
setting to the opposite of the current setting.
1.
Turn the POWER switch to OFF.
2.
Hold down the
[PITCH] button
, the
[AUTO/MANUAL] button
, and the
[NOTE] button
and
slide the POWER switch to ON.
The
Auto Power Off
setting is switched, and the current ON/OFF status is indicated in the
display for approximately five seconds.
Afterwards, the indicators and operations work as usual, and you can then proceed to use the
tuner.
*
The
Auto Power Off
setting remains stored even after the power is turned off.
■
Using a Tone to Indicate Tuning is Completed
(Accu-Pitch Function)
The TU-15 includes a “
Accu-Pitch
” function. This function plays a beeping sound when the pitch
stabilizes within a range of three cents above or below the correct pitch. The beeping sound that
tells you that a string is precisely in tune will have the pitch of a note from C6 to B6, depending on
the string being tuned.
*
The Accu-Pitch function is turned on at the factory.
You can turn the
Accu-Pitch
function on and off. Use the following procedure to switch the setting
to the opposite of the current setting.
1.
Turn the POWER switch to OFF.
2.
Hold down the
[SOUND] button
and slide the POWER switch to ON.
The
Accu-Pitch
setting is switched, and the current ON/OFF status is indicated in the display
for approximately five seconds.
Afterwards, the indicators and operations work as usual, and you can then proceed to use the
tuner.
*
The
Accu-Pitch
setting remains stored even after the power is turned off.
■
Memory Functions
Once batteries are installed in the TU-15, a number of different settings can be stored in memory,
where they’ll be preserved even while the power is turned off.
The settings stored in memory are listed below.
• Reference Pitch
• AUTO/MANUAL Mode
• Note Names/String Numbers in MANUAL Mode and SOUND Mode
• CHROMATIC/GUITAR/BASS Mode
• Flat Tuning Settings
• Open Tuning Settings
• Auto Sound Off Setting
• Accu-Pitch Setting
■
Changing the Batteries
A “batteries low” warning flashes in the display when the batteries begin to go dead.
Replace the batteries as soon as possible.
*
The settings stored by the memory function are reset to the default factory settings if the batteries are
removed from the tuner, or if the batteries get completely depleted. (However, the stored settings are
preserved if the TU-15 remains connected to an electrical outlet with the AC adaptor.)
1.
Press down and slide off the lid of the batteries
compartment (located on the bottom of the
unit).
2.
Remove the old batteries from the
compartment.
3.
Insert two of the same type of fresh AA
batteries.
*
Make sure the “+” and “-” ends of the batteries are
oriented correctly.
4.
Slide the lid back into place.
*
Do not mix fresh batteries with used ones, or mix batteries of different types. Doing so can result in fluid
leakage.
■
Calibrating the Meter’s Needle
Over time, or as the result of being knocked around, the meter needle may drift away from the 0
position. If this occurs, you can recalibrate the needle using the following procedure.
*
Normally, the needle almost never goes off center. Adjust the needle only in the event that it has shifted
from the 0 position.
1.
Hold down the
[PITCH] button
and turn the power on.
Confirm whether or not the needle is pointing at the 0 position.
2.
If the needle is not pointing to 0, then while holding down the
[PITCH] button
, turn the
adjustment screw with a small, precision, flathead screwdriver (approx. 1.2 mm) until the
needle points to 0.
3.
Release the
[PITCH] button
to return the tuner to normal operation.
*
Do not use any other tool than a small flathead screwdriver to make this adjustment, and do not use
undue force. Failure to observe these precautions may result in damage to the unit.
■
Main Specifications
Reference Pitch:
A4=430 Hz–449 Hz (1 Hz step)
Tuning Range:
E0 (20.6 Hz)–C8 (4186.0 Hz)
Tuning Accuracy:
± 1 cent
Input Impedance:
10 M
Ω
Indicator:
Meter, LCD Display
Speaker:
36 mm x 1 dynamic type
Connectors:
Input Jack, Output Jack, AC Adaptor Jack
Power Supply
Dry Battery (R6/LR6 (AA) Type) x 2; DC 3 V, AC Adaptor DC 9 V (PSA
series; optional)
Power Consumption
15 mA (backlit off and SOUND mode off),
55 mA (backlit on and SOUND mode on)
Expected battery life under continuous use (Carbon):
Approximately 45 hours (backlit off, SOUND mode off and A4
continuous input),
Approximately 15 hours (backlit on and SOUND mode on)
* These figures will vary depending on the actual conditions of use.
Dimensions:
149 (W) x 58 (D) x 40 (H) mm /
5-7/8 (W) x 2-5/16 (D) x 1-5/8 (H) inches
Weight
190 g (including batteries) / 7 oz
Accessories
Dry Battery (R6 (AA) Type) x 2, Owner’s Manual,
Leaflet (“USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and “IMPORTANT NOTES” ),
Information (sepalate sheet)
Option:
AC Adaptor (PSA series)
*
In the interest of product improvement, the specifications and/or appearance of this unit are subject to
change without prior notice.
Type
Open Tuning Indicator
Regular
Not Displayed
OPEN D
OPEN E
OPEN G
OPEN A
DROP D
DADGAD
Type
Open Tuning Indicator
Regular
Not Displayed
DROP D
+50
-50
0
+50
-50
0
Auto Power Off Function ON
Auto Power Off Function OFF
+50
-50
0
+50
-50
0
Accu-Pitch Function ON
Accu-Pitch Function OFF
+ -
Meter Adjustment
Control
Owner’s Manual
