Tonebox Recommended Pedals
ZVEX Vexter Fuzz Factory
With five dedicated control knobs that let you play around with the very idea of a fuzz tone, the Fuzz Factory stompbox from boutique guitar effects pedal company Zvex is a versatile fuzz stomp that really let you push the sonic envelope. You can dial in everything from tight fuzz tones that cut off abruptly as soon as you stop playing to lingering hairy oscillations that decay alongside your notes. Zvex’s Vexter line of silk-screened pedals feature the exact same tone, features, and parts as their hand-painted counterparts. The only differences are the painting process and the price.
Electro-Harmonix Micro Q-Tron
Elevate your sound to the funkiest of heights. The Micro Q-Tron Envelope Filter guitar effects pedal from Electro-Harmonix dishes out some of the grooviest wah effects known to man. Its internal envelope follower analyzes your unique picking dynamics playing to sweep the center of the envelope filter, giving you wahs that change dynamically depending on your pick attack. Controls are simple and intuitive, with three dials to set the filter mode, filter bandwidth, and drive amount.
Empress Effects Echosystem
The Empress Effects Echosystem Dual Engine Delay features more than 36 studio-quality algorithms (twelve algorithm types, each with several variations). It consists of Thing 1, Thing 2, Tone, Feedback, Output, Mix, and Delay Time controls. The Echosystem also gives you a broad mode selection, including Ambient, Analog, Delay + Reverb, Digital, Lo-Fi, Multi, Mod, Reverse, Stutter, and Whisky. Analog units and vintage tape emulations are available along with Empress Effects’ take on these delay types. The Echosystem offers ease of use as all algorithm controls rest on a knob in front of you.
Vertex Boost
Expertly built to be a buffer, clean boost, and volume pedal in one, the Vertex Boost will leave your tone unchanged while raising the level of your signal. It boasts an ultra-linear buffer for conditioning your line without any tonal coloration, even with a multitude of pedals in your chain. You also get full volume control by connecting the Boost to any EXP/volume pedal and setting your volume like you would with a standard volume pedal.
JHS Pedals Little Black Buffer
The Little Black Buffer by JHS Pedals is the remedy for poor guitar sound resulting from employing numerous pedals. Since it gives the perfect input impedance for your rig, you can quickly notice your guitar sound is reinvigorated with a full, natural tone that sounds like you are connected directly into your amp—regardless of how many pedals you utilize. The Little Black Buffer is your ticket to a sound signal chain and a small price to pay for tonal perfection.
HeadRush Pedalboard
Packaged in a sturdy, tour-ready steel enclosure with a cable route built into the bottom so your stage stays neat, the HeadRush Pedalboard boasts several well-thought-out features for utilization on stage. Everything about the Pedalboard is meant to make it intuitive, simple, and quick to jump right in and produce great sounding rigs instantly. It features a custom-designed quad-core processor, gapless preset switching with reverb/delay spillover, and more than 100 realistic FX, cab, amplifier, and microphone models.
Drive Pedals
J. Rockett Majestic
The J. Rockett Majestic pedal is a send-up to Jimmy Page’s iconic overdrive tone and the heavy rock sound of Led Zeppelin’s How the West Was Won. This no-nonsense overdrive pedal is as sensitive as an amp and unleashes Page’s signature swampy, fat squawk and howl while letting the natural tone of your guitar cut through. Like other J. Rockett pedals, the Majestic Overdrive is a boutique-designed pedal that starts with a sturdy steel chassis buffed and powder-coated for longevity and a fashionable, sleek look.
Vemuram Karen
The warm natural power of the late ‘70s, early ‘80s Marshall sound, laid right at your feet in stompbox form via boutique guitar effects pedal maker Vemuram’s Karen overdrive pedal. The fat drive tone and thick saturation of a classic JMP or JCM amp are captured in full by the Karen, complete with natural compression and well-preserved higher frequencies. If you can get only one boutique overdrive pedal this year, give the Karen a spin. You won’t regret it.
Maxon 9-Series Overdrive
The OD-9 Overdrive from Maxon may look like your classic fave, but the similarities end there. Enhanced circuitry with the JRC4558 IC delivers that creamy, smooth, and dynamic overdrive fancied by guitarists. Level and Drive knobs adjust the volume and intensity, while Hi Boost/Hi Cut tone controls set the brightness from smooth and warm to red-hot. From mild boosts to outrageous roars, the OD-9 gives you the most extensive range of valuable, noticeably tube sounds available.
Big Joe R-402 Classic
The Raw Series edition of Big Joe’s B-402 Classic Tube Pedal, the Big Joe R-402 Classic is a tube-style overdrive guitar effects pedal that packs more gain than your average vintage tube box. The two-position Contour toggle lets you engage a cab simulator that models speaker box with a large drive, while its high-gain analog circuitry enables you to achieve that classic down-and-dirty, harmonically saturated Texas Flood-style overdriven tube amp sound with ease. The Big Joe R-402 Classic features true bypass switching.
TC Electronic MojoMojo
The MojoMojo Overdrive from TC Electronic is capable of breathing life, magic, and that something into your sound, making your performance shine. It consists of Treble, Bass, Level, and Drive knobs that give you full control over your overdrive sounds. It is an exceptional overdrive pedal that gives you more headroom, a voicing switch, and precise tone controls. Two-band EQ with dynamic bass and treble controls allows you to sculpt your sound. The MojoMojo Overdrive comes in a compact format that fits on your pedalboard.
Nux Morning Star
The Morning Star Overdrive lights up all the fundamental components of an exceptional blues breaker pedal, but NUX has incorporated something special to enhance the high-frequencies. Engage its footswitch to provide extra overhead with saturated grit to your clean tones. If you wish to drive your high-frequencies to a different stratosphere, press/hold the footswitch to on the Shine circuit that imparts another level of tone brightness. With the Morning Star Overdrive, you can go from blues breaker to blues sky rocket.
Death by Audio Apocalypse
The Apocalypse is touted as Death by Audio’s jack-of-all-trades fuzz pedal. Once greatly overdriven, the signal is routed to your chosen post-amp. You may toggle through its five signal paths and select the apocalyptic sound you desire. To make it more refined, adjust the sweepable frequency equalizer and craft your tone to your liking. Utilize the Apocalypse as your main sound, an amp simulated recording DI, bass blitzer, boost for solos, or run into it anything you want to supercharge, beef up, or blast out.
Electro-Harmonix Graphic Fuzz
An EQ, distortion, and sustainer pedal in one sturdy package. The Graphic Fuzz distortion guitar effects pedal from Electro-Harmonix is unique in that it comes with a six-band graphic EQ that lets it act as a standalone EQ pedal. Engage the distortion effect and you get a hairy fuzz pedal with superior midrange scooping and high responsiveness to your picking dynamics. Aside from the EQ, you also get dedicated sliders for Overdrive, Dynamics, Sustain, and Volume, making the Graphic Fuzz a truly comprehensive tone-shaping stompbox.
T-Rex Nitros Hypergain
The Nitros Hypergain by T-Rex Engineering is capable of capturing a very punchy and scooped high gain distortion. As a highly tweakable dirt pedal, the Nitros Hypergain will make the “80s hair rock” sound to a T as well. Lower gain settings are perfect if you want Texas boogie-rock. By featuring an active three-band EQ, the distortion’s color is adjustable, and the EQ knobs’ range is extensive. The Nitros Hypergain features an aggressive and bold clipping circuitry.
ZVex Double Rock
Zvex’s dual channel Double Rock, which was originally designed for Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis, is actually two dirt pedals in one, and not because it’s basically a pair of Box of Rock pedals compressed into single stompbox form. You can actually turn either channel into a Super Hard On boost, meaning you get an amazingly wide array of dirt tones just by stacking the channels: two BoRs, two SHOs, a BoR going into a SHO, or vice versa.
Mosky DTC
Mosky Audio’s DTC multi-effects unit is a four-in-one stompbox that combines three different effects with an effects loop function. Even if you don’t count the effects loop as an effect, the four-in-one designation still kinda works since the distortion section is actually split into two voicings: a vintage-leaning Crunch-style sound and a more modern high-gain tone based on the Riot. The DTC also comes with an overdrive section based on the TS9 Tube Screamer and a delay with a range of 25ms to 600ms.
Maxon ST-9 Pro+ Super Tube
A homage to the highly collectible and rare 80s Super Tube Screamer, the Maxon ST-9 Pro+ Super Tube takes the fundamental design elements of the coveted vintage unit and takes them to the modern day. It delivers a dedicated midrange control which modifies the Midrange boost amount, producing heavy, thick, and powerful distortion sounds similar to a whole stack amp. The ST-9 Pro+ consists of Tone, Level, Mid Enhance, and Drive controls, as well as a Low Boost/Classic toggle.
Epigaze Audio Singularity MKII Fuzz
The aim for the Epigaze Audio Singularity was simple, a Tone Bender created with top-grade components, true bypass, germanium transistors, sleek graphics, LED indication, and a more compact board footprint. The Singularity includes Horizon and Gravity controls for the fuzz attack and volume or level respectively. Hand-wired in the USA, the Singularity is an excellent fuzz pedal that is certain to become a staple. Other features include Switchcraft jacks, orange drop capacitors, and standard 9v DC input.
Fender The Pelt
The Pelt by Fender is complete with standard controls, including Tone, Fuzz, and Level for basic tone shaping. What makes it stand out from the pack is its Bloom knob which lets you sculpt your sound’s contours. Additionally, a Mid switch cuts or boosts your midrange for additional tonal textures, while the Thick switch adds some muscle and grit to your sound. The Pelt comes in a durable, yet lightweight, anodized aluminum enclosure designed for heavy stomping.
Death by Audio Robot
The Death by Audio Robot is a fun, lo-fi 8-bit pitch transposer without any emotion. It is purely synthetic and makes every input a puree of resynthesized robot jargon. The Robot consists of a Rotary Selector (Normal, Octave Down, Octave Up, and Arpeggiator) as well as Control and Volume knobs. Volume controls the master volume while the Control adjusts the pitch of the effect. The Robot’s four switchable modes will bring you through a set of synth-like freakouts.
Adventure Audio Dream Reaper
The Dream Reaper Fuzz Modulation Machine is packed with quirky features guaranteed to transform your tone. It includes a BIAS knob that controls the effect’s nonlinearity in every mode and REAP knob that controls the intensity of your input while tussling with the oscillations for dominance in Dream mode. It also has two switches: FORCE which engages an inbuilt “pick up emulator” controlled by the Sense knob that emulates your guitar’s tone knob(s) and RANGE which can function both as a frequency range selector and low end capacitor selector.
Bogner Oxford Bubinga
The Bogner Oxford fuzz pedal lets you create fuzz tones ranging from glitchy pandemonium to subtle grit. A Rupert Neve-designed transformer and ferrosilicon transistor combine to achieve uniform, organic-sounding tones with excellent touch sensitivity. The Oxford features Fuzz and Gain switches that enable six fuzz combinations that sound wonderful at any volume. It employs bulletproof construction, including top-shelf components, a rugged metal enclosure, and temperature-resistant transistor. If you are in the market for a great fuzz pedal with vast tonal possibilities, you should consider Bogner’s Oxford.
MXR Slash Octave Fuzz
Two timeless and iconic rock music icons—MXR and Slash—have joined forces to build the Slash Octave Fuzz. It boasts a searing Fuzz tone combined with an independent Sub Octave voice and Octave Up Fuzz for beefing up your sound with a sinister growl. It includes an arsenal of internal and external controls. The Slash Octave Fuzz comes with a distressed hot-rod paint job and special Slash artwork. It features true hardwire bypass, pure analog circuitry, and solid construction.
Tech 21 Bass Boost Fuzz
Hairy fuzz and massive boost for your bass in a single stompbox. The Boost Bass Fuzz from Tech 21 serves up the classic, creamy germanium fuzz tone you need, plus up to 21bD of punchy crystal clear boost via a separate boost section. Dedicated Drive and +Clean pots give you complete control over the wet and dry signal mix, while the Tone control knob lets you sculpt your fuzzed out sound even further. Plug into a Bass Boost Fuzz and go massive.
T-Rex Mudhoney II
The sweet and dirty Mudhoney has been acclaimed for its incredible tonal range and has set the benchmark for several T-Rex pedals to come. The Mudhoney II Dual Distortion is a new generation of that classic pedal, keeping and doubling everything exceptional about the original unit. The two vintage gain channels allow you to effortlessly switch between a beautiful edgy overdrive from one Mudhoney channel, a clean sound from your amp, and a thick warm distortion from another channel.
Catalinbread Galileo
The Galileo Booster from Catalinbread puts the tone of legendary Queen guitarist Brian May within a box on your pedalboard. Its Gain, Tone, and Volume knobs, in concert with its Rangemaster/AC30 preamp section circuitry, gives you May’s distinctive throaty mid-range and jangly crunch. May still has a treble-booster in his rig to ensure that life is inserted into his tone from the outset. You can now do the same with the Catalinbread Galileo Booster—your go-to treble-boost overdrive.
T-Rex Moller 2
Named after Danish guitarist Knud Møller, the Møller 2 from T-Rex Engineering offers the same classic overdrive that has made its predecessor among the most sought-after T-Rex pedals. It boasts easier-to-read control knob graphics and a sturdier Bass Boost toggle switch. The Møller 2 is equipped with a 0 to 20 dB Clean Boost plus a Mix knob that allows you to dial in the right balance between clean and distorted signals. It provides you with an abundance of dynamic tones.
Walrus Audio Emissary
Make your solos soar over the mix or push your tube amp into natural breakup territory with the Emissary parallel dual boost box from boutique guitar effects pedal maker Walrus Audio. It features two independent boost circuits that can be run in parallel or independently. The Bright boost circuit packs a high headroom, JFET-powered boost. The Mid boost is a more targeted one that you can set to either 1kHz or 800Hz via a toggle switch. Use the Bright and Mid pots to dial in the output level of each circuit.
Joyo Wild Boost
The Joyo JF-302 Wild Boost is an all-around drive and volume boost pedal that’s so small you can carry it around in your front pocket. Despite its small size, this stompbox can dish out a sizeable sound boost. Dedicated High and Low control knobs let you fine-tune your tone precisely while the Volume and Drive dials control your output. Give your clean tone a bit of a kick or crank the Drive knob up to break into fuzz territory.
WMD Arcane Preamp
The Arcane Preamp from boutique guitar effects pedal manufacturer WMD is a dual channel preamp stomp. A pair of dedicated gain and level pots for the boost channel gives you a lot of control; you can dial in a healthy amount of drive without having to crank the level up too much. If you need even more gain, that’s where the fuzz channel comes in. It also features its own gain and level pots as well as a three-band EQ stack for extreme tonal control and flexibility.
Two Notes Le Lead 2-channel Tube Preamp
The Le Lead dual channel preamp pedal from Two Notes is a tube-powered beast, capable of unleashing everything from a subtle drive crunch to in your face metal and over the top fuzz. Use channel A for the crunch, then switch to channel B for a modern high gain sound. These channels can be used independently, in parallel, or cascaded for extreme tonal versatility. Each channel also features its own dedicated control knobs and EQ sections for iron fisted tone tweaking.
Joyo Boogie Master
The JF-309 Boogie Master guitar effects pedal from Joyo is a Mesa Boogie amp sim that gives you that trademark “roided-out Marshall” sound without having to spend over a thousand bucks on an actual Mesa Boogie amp. Crank the Drive knob up for a high-gain Mesa sound or stay clean to hew closer to a Boogie. The JF-309 Boogie Master is an Ironman pedal, so it’s small enough to fit in your front pocket and features a flip cover to keep your control dial settings safe from stray stomps.
MOOER 004 Day Tripper
Mooer Audio’s Micro Preamp line of guitar effects pedals is all about giving shoestring budget shoegazers easy and affordable access to the legendary tones served up by classic and boutique amp models. The Mooer 004 Day Tripper is packed full of British grit courtesy of the classic Vox AC30, an amp that’s been used in thousands of hit records. It comes with two switchable channels as well as volume, gain, bass, mid, and treble controls. It also features a cab sim on and off switch.
Tom’sline Dumbler
Dumble amps are among the rarest and most expensive boutique amps ever made. Fortunately for musicians who don’t have the cash to blow on a boutique amp, budget guitar effects pedal maker Tomsline has the Dumbler, a cab simulator that perfectly mimics the signature tone of a vintage Dumble amp. No matter your backline, you’ll be able to dial in your favorite Dumble sound with ease. The Dumble features Tomsline’s patented stop bar design to keep your foot from messing up the pedal’s settings when you stomp on it.
Donner Alpha Acoustic
Distinguished by its remarkable tone, user-friendly form factor, and compact size, the Donner Alpha Acoustic is an effects chain combining three effects in one, including a hall reverb, acoustic preamp, and dreamy chorus. It features an LED indicator that shows you the working state and buffer bypass that gives a transparent tone. The Alpha Acoustic consists of a Reverb module with natural decay and rich spaciousness, Preamp module for tonal improvement, and Chorus module for making the natural sense of space.
Tom’sline Booster
A very useful, compact, and affordable boost pedal, the simply named Booster stomp from budget guitar effects pedal maker Tomsline can dish out up to 14dB of pure, transparent bost to juice up your guitar signal. Use it to help your signal cut through the mix during a solo or to make softer playing styles float to the front. The Booster also lets you tweak your guitar’s tone even further; its dedicated Low and High control pots can act as a very simple two band EQ.
Mosky BROWN Distortion
Mosky Audio’s Brown distortion guitar effects pedal is a versatile dirt stomp built to grind your signal into the classic “brown sound.” It’s highly tweakable, with two separate tone controls that act as a two-knob parametric EQ for precise tone shaping. The Gain dial goes from low-gain early rock to modern high-gain dirt. The Brown pedal also comes with a Vintage/Modern voicing switch that lets you choose between a darker vintage sound and a brighter, more modern tone.
NUX Lacerate
A tiny pedal with a ginormous boost, the Lacerate FET Boost from NUX features two bypass modes (True Bypass or Buffer Bypass), two boost options, and a simple control-knob. Its surprisingly simple user interface comes from NUX’s intricate dual FET circuit design. It allows you the choice between two boosting modes: Clean and Crank. The Lacerate FET Boost pedal includes an integrated voltage-doubler that automatically converts 9V to 18V, providing you with massive headroom and dynamic.
Rowin Booster
The RW-LEF-318 Booster from budget guitar effects brand Rowin is a solid boost pedal choice, especially if your wallet is hurting and your pedalboard is getting a little too crowded. It serves up a high headroom signal boost that’s surprisingly transparent. If any coloration still creeps into your tone, the Booster comes with dedicated Bass and Treble EQ knobs for fine-tuning your sound. This reliable clean boost will do well straight in front of an amp or behind another drive or dirt stomp.
T-Rex Moller 2
Named after Danish guitarist Knud Møller, the Møller 2 from T-Rex Engineering offers the same classic overdrive that has made its predecessor among the most sought-after T-Rex pedals. It boasts easier-to-read control knob graphics and a sturdier Bass Boost toggle switch. The Møller 2 is equipped with a 0 to 20 dB Clean Boost plus a Mix knob that allows you to dial in the right balance between clean and distorted signals. It provides you with an abundance of dynamic tones.
Caline White Heat
The Caline CP-29 White Heat Mixing Boost is a simple, transparent boost pedal that sets out to do one thing and do it well: giving your signal that extra push it needs to cut through the mix. Heavily influenced by the DOD 250 Classic Overdrive Preamp, the CP-29 features a Gain knob that gives you a subtle, super-transparent boost at lower levels and a full, rich overdrive tone the closer you set it to the max. The Caline CP-29 White Heat Mixing Boost comes with a true bypass feature.
Modulation Pedals
GOKKO Angel
Make your guitar sing like it’s backed by a choir sent down by the heavens. The Angel GK-23 chorus guitar effects pedal from GOKKO dishes out sweet, harmonically drenched trills and warbles whether you’re going super clean or have your amp’s gain knob cranked to the max. Get shimmering ‘80s-style clean chorus tones, wide crunch rhythms, and screaming modulated lead sounds with the Angel’s simple two-knob control layout; it’s amazing how many sonic soundscapes a Rate and a Depth dial can unlock.
Alexander Pedals Wavelength
The Wavelength is a massively versatile digital modulation machine in one small, stompable package. The Wavelength has six distinct modulation engines—textured tremolo, bright chorus, eight-stage phaser, flexible flanger, photocell- and lamp-style vibrato, and resonant low-pass filter—all controllable via a customizable LFO. As a NEO pedal, the Wavelength can store up to four presets and up to 16 presets via a MIDI controller. Plug a foot switch into the multi-jack, and you can seamlessly sweep through two different effects settings.
Seymour Duncan Catalina
The bevy of tones the Catalina Chorus from Seymour Duncan can produce is insane. This versatile chorus pedal generates sounds from extreme swirling to clean shimmer, and anything in between. You can utilize the Catalina Chorus to capture classic chorus effects, giving dimension to your sound. Forge Nirvana-esque underwater warbling or achieve rich, deep modulations evocative of 80s goth guitar tones. Leveraging an analog bucket brigade tech for a warm musical character, the Catalina Chorus is an invaluable tool for guitarists.
MXR Stereo Chorus
A beautiful-sounding pedal evocative of just how cool chorus can be. The Stereo Chorus by MXR gives rich analog chorus various controls to maintain low end frequencies and sculpt the tone of your effect. You can tweak its Width and Rate knobs to taste and then set your desired chorus effect level with the Intensity control. Comfortable Treble and Bass knobs allow you to better shape your tone by EQ-ing modulated frequencies. A Bass Filter button can preserve your low end as your high frequencies sing with your Stereo Chorus tone.
JOYO Classic Chorus
Solid as a rock and packing complex, clear chorus tones, the JF-05 Classic Chorus from Joyo is clearly punching way above its price range when it comes to sound quality and tonal textures. Rate and Width knobs, the latter of which is a take on the classic Boss CE-2’s well-known Depth knob, give you a lot of room for sonic experimentation. You can dial in everything from subtle embellishments to sonically intricate 12-string sounds without drowning out your core tone.
Truetone V3H2O
Truetone’s H2O V3 still serves up the same warm, liquid chorus and echo tones of the original Visual Sound H2O, but in a completely redesigned enclosure that packs even more versatility and flexibility. The chorus section now has dedicated tone and chorus-vibrato pots plus a detune switch, while the echo section has been given the ability to go into controlled oscillation. This reboot is a full modernization of one of the finest Visual Sound dual pedals ever created.
T-Rex Shafter Wah
A sturdy, ultra-versatile wah-wah effect that lets you take control of your pedal not the other way around. The Shafter Wah is T-Rex Engineering’s best shot at an authentic next-generation wah-wah pedal. With plenty of adjustability, a more extensive frequency sweep, greater durability, quieter operation, and three entirely different wah characters, it addresses all the drawbacks of a classic wah. T-Rex Engineering believes it is the best wah-wah ever existed. The Shafter Wah is highly tuneable via Slope and Boost knobs.
EBS Bass IQ
The BassIQ by EBS is an analog envelope filter pedal activated by the notes you play. It delivers the most responsive and funkiest sounds within a stompbox. From classic auto-wah to your distinct space-bass or “Funkadelic” sound, the BassIQ does it all. It includes controls for attack and threshold, and operates in three separate modes—Up, Down, and Hi-Q. The BassIQ contains multiple trim pots, including a dynamic high-pass filter mix-in, high-pass filter mix-in, and gain trimmer.
Eventide H9 MAX
With 51 effect algorithms that include literally everything Eventide’s TimeFactor, ModFactor, PitchFactor, and Space pedals can do, the H9 MAX Harmonizer is basically an entire pedalboard in compact effects pedal form. It features reverb, chorus, delay, modulation, pitch-shifting, distortion effects, all of which can be tweaked and edited via an intuitive single-knob interface. The H9 MAX comes preloaded with 99 presets, plus you can get over 500 more for free via the H9 Control app.
Alexander Pedals Syntax Error
Send your sound back in time to the 8-bit era and beyond with the Syntax Error, Alexander Pedals’ time and pitch modulating pedal that comes packed with a cubic distortion algorithm. As part of Alexander Pedals’ NEO line, the Syntax Error can hold up to four presets by itself and up to 16 with a compatible MIDI controller and lets you precisely sweep through two different effects settings with an expression pedal or a momentary foot switch.
TWA Wah Rocker
Totally Wycked Audio’s Wah Rocker stomp resurrects the legendary Guyatone Wah Rocker “Duck Box,” a funk machine that has lent its distinctive sound to such greats as Lenny Kravitz and David Torn. The TWA Wah Rocker is based on Guyatone’s original WR3 circuit and adds a host of mechanical improvements including TWA’s Shortest Send Switching (S3) true bypass function. Tone-wise, it’s pure Wah Rocker funk; all the squawky, slippery, and souped-up grooves of the original, minus the vintage price tag.
Source Audio Soundblox2 Stingray Multi-Filter
The Source Audio Stingray Multi-Filter multi-effects pedal boldly forges a different path in filter modulation. With four filter modulation modes, 12 filter effects, full MIDI functionality, and onboard overdrive, the Stingray goes well beyond the usual approach of other filter effects pedals. Capture a different world of guitar tones, from super-funky envelope filter quack or swirling LFO psychedelia to synth-inspired fuzz. The Stingray features 12 flavors of high pass, low pass, phaser, multi-peak, and single-peak filter effects, each controllable using any of the four modulation modes: Hot Hand, LFO, envelope follower, or expression pedal.
EarthQuaker Devices Pyramids
EarthQuaker Devices built an absolute beast of a flanger pedal when it crafted the Pyramids stereo flanging device. Five presets and eight flanger modes are backed by a multifunction Modify control knob, a positive and negative Feedback dial, and a variable Mix control for an extremely wide range of sweeps, warbles, roars, and jet engine screams. The Pyramids stompbox also comes with tap tempo and tap subdivision features as well as mono and stereo input and output jacks.
MOOER Mod Factory MKII
If modulation effects are what you’re looking for, you won’t go wrong with the Mod Factory MKII guitar effects pedal. This tiny wonder from budget-priced stomp creator Mooer packs 11 distinct modulation effects into its tiny, pedalboard-friendly chassis. It lets you dial in everything from a watery chorus to a dynamic auto wah and through to an extreme envelope ring effect. Three control knobs give you enough flexibility to create a wide range of lush sonic soundscapes for each effect mode.
Tom’sline Twister
The Twister is a versatile analog flanger stompbox from budget guitar effects maker Tomsline. Dial in everything from a subtle flange to a screaming jet engine fly by with the Color, Range, and Speed knobs. Use the two position toggle to switch from Normal mode to Freeze mode to give the flange effect a simpler, more vintage feel. The Twister features Tomsline’s patented stop bar design to keep your foot from messing up the pedal’s settings when you stomp on it.
Rowin Mod Station
A ton of high-quality modulation effects, all packed into a small, very affordable stompbox that you can carry around in your pocket. The powerful LEF-3808 Mod Station multi-effects stomp from budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Rowin comes with eleven distinct modulation effects, all of which can be further tweaked via its dedicated Level, Speed, and Depth pots. Its footswitch is also multi-functional: pressing down twice will switch between fixed and non-fixed mode while holding it down will let you store a setting you like.
Strymon Mobius
The Strymon Mobius packs twelve iconic modulation effects into a convenient guitar effects pedal. Handcrafted from the best components available, it brings together twelve of the most expressive, versatile, and organic modulation effects ever existed. Each vintage effect has been painstakingly emulated and then expanded upon to enhance versatility and broaden sonic possibilities. The Mobius is equipped with 200 inbuilt presets enabling the perfect modulation sound to be recorded and recalled at any time. That function is also controllable by a MIDI foot pedal to streamline the process.
Keeley Super Mod Workstation
Pedalmeister Robert Keeley wasn’t kidding around when he named this modulation multi-effects pedal the Super Mod Workstation. It features two banks loaded with eight high-quality modulation effects each, from thick chorus and pristine digital delay to rotary emulation and wah. Mix ‘em, match ‘em, stack ‘em–you have the power. The Super Mod Workstation also comes with a dedicated tap tempo footswitch as well as expression pedal support for real-time parameter control. A truly super stompbox.
Eventide H9 MAX
With 51 effect algorithms that include literally everything Eventide’s TimeFactor, ModFactor, PitchFactor, and Space pedals can do, the H9 MAX Harmonizer is basically an entire pedalboard in compact effects pedal form. It features reverb, chorus, delay, modulation, pitch-shifting, distortion effects, all of which can be tweaked and edited via an intuitive single-knob interface. The H9 MAX comes preloaded with 99 presets, plus you can get over 500 more for free via the H9 Control app.
JOYO VISUAL MODULATION
With modulation effects up the wazoo, the R-09 Vision guitar effects pedal from Joyo is bound to be an instant shoegazer favorite. It features two separate channels, each with its own set of highly tweakable modulation effects, that you can mix and match in parallel or series. Use a chorus on Channel A and an optical trem on Channel B. Phaser on A, Vibrato on B. It’s a giant sonic sandbox for you to play in. The R-09 Vision is an R Series pedal, meaning it also has cool ambient LED effects built into it.
Empress Effects Phaser
Leveraging an innovative VCA-based design, the Empress Effects Phaser delivers exceptional signal-to-noise ratio. It is the new generation in the advancement of digitally-controlled analog tech. It boasts a pure analog signal path but is managed by a microprocessor, enabling it to preserve its analog flavor and character while adding possibilities for adaptability and control. It is capable of very funky auto-wah, classic jet sounds, and ring modulators, as well as Univibe and vibrato sounds on tap.
Strymon Mobius
The Strymon Mobius packs twelve iconic modulation effects into a convenient guitar effects pedal. Handcrafted from the best components available, it brings together twelve of the most expressive, versatile, and organic modulation effects ever existed. Each vintage effect has been painstakingly emulated and then expanded upon to enhance versatility and broaden sonic possibilities. The Mobius is equipped with 200 inbuilt presets enabling the perfect modulation sound to be recorded and recalled at any time. That function is also controllable by a MIDI foot pedal to streamline the process.
Rowin Mod Station
A ton of high-quality modulation effects, all packed into a small, very affordable stompbox that you can carry around in your pocket. The powerful LEF-3808 Mod Station multi-effects stomp from budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Rowin comes with eleven distinct modulation effects, all of which can be further tweaked via its dedicated Level, Speed, and Depth pots. Its footswitch is also multi-functional: pressing down twice will switch between fixed and non-fixed mode while holding it down will let you store a setting you like.
Aguilar Grape Phaser
If you are in the market for a bass phaser that will not zap your low end and is easy to use, check out the Aguilar Grape Phaser. This simple two-knobber produces fat, funky filter effects and liquid-y movement on the fly. The Grape Phaser contains a RATE control that manages your modulation speed and COLOR control that sends a portion of your signal back through the phase-shifting circuit to produce super funky and unique bass sounds. Needless to worry about root notes popping through as its four-stage circuitry maintains your low end.
Mad Professor Mellow Yellow Tremolo
The Mellow Yellow Tremolo hand-wired guitar effects pedal from Mad Professor serves up everything from sine-based ‘50s style soft swing to deep tremolo tremors. It follows the trem effect approach of many vintage amps and uses a sinusoidal oscillator to give your guitar signal symmetrical modulation. What you get is a highly musical and very usable tremolo effect that works well with both a clean sound and high-gain dirt. Add it to your pedalboard and explore new sonic territories.
Mojo Hand FX Bayou Trem
Designed to faithfully emulate the vintage amp-esque tremolo of yesteryear, the Bayou Trem by Mojo Hand FX concentrates on old-school sweetness while incorporating modern updates and features, including pulsating LED, true bypass switching, and top-notch build quality. Three external controls give you enough grip on the Bayous tonal performance. The Rate knob spans from slow warble to full-tilt flutter, while the Depth control provides anything from a light, buttery shimmer to deep pulsing throb. The Level knob enables you to find unity volume, and if wanted, can deliver a dramatic boost.
Alexander Pedals Wavelength
The Wavelength is a massively versatile digital modulation machine in one small, stompable package. The Wavelength has six distinct modulation engines—textured tremolo, bright chorus, eight-stage phaser, flexible flanger, photocell- and lamp-style vibrato, and resonant low-pass filter—all controllable via a customizable LFO. As a NEO pedal, the Wavelength can store up to four presets and up to 16 presets via a MIDI controller. Plug a foot switch into the multi-jack, and you can seamlessly sweep through two different effects settings.
NUX Monterey Vibe
Devised to reproduce the iconic 60s and 70s psychedelic rock guitar sound, the Monterey Vibe boasts all the classic Uni-vibe style selections: Rotary-Speaker, Chorus, and Phaser pedal. NUX revamped the vintage four-stage phaser circuit by replacing it with a revolutionary 32-Bit floating DSP for processing its custom algorithm. The Monterey Vibe produces a distinctive effect tone; a combination of rotary, chorus, phaser, and tremolo. You can find this unique tone in Robin Trower’s “Bridge of Sighs,” Pink Floyd’s “Breathe,” and the haunting audio mood for Jimi Hendrix’s “Machine Gun.”
JAM Pedals The Big Chill
The Big Chill is Jam Pedals’ flagship tremolo pedal boasting a slew of features that would bring you from the rich smooth tremolo sounds of old Fender amps to strobe-esque chop effects that can slice through just about any mix. Its thoughtful feature set and design are sure to inspire sonic adventurers across different music styles. You may also use the Big Chill as a clean boost. Simply roll the Depth knob to zero then set the Level to your liking. The Big Chill also pairs well with bass guitars.
Amptweaker SwirlPool
The Amptweaker SwirlPool Tremolo/Vibe pedal is the brand’s first dive into non-distortion pedals. Highly requested by Amptweaker’s customers, the SwirlPool is a two-speed synchronized Tremolo/Vibe reminiscent of the circuits found in some vintage 60’s amplifiers. This analog pedal is capable of emulating various modulation tones and even inventing several new ones. The two footswitch buttons let you switch between two different Speed & Vibe settings while sharing one Tremolo control. The SwirlPool also features switches that help you fine-tune the pedal’s vibrato.
Fulltone Custom Shop Mini DejaVibe Mk II
Massive Uni-Vibe sound from the smallest Uni-Vibe clone ever. Fulltone cast some weird voodoo magic on the original Mini DejaVibe to make it 30 percent smaller and create the Fulltone Custom Shop Mini DejaVibe Mk II. The Mini DejaVibe Mk II also features a wider range of vibe speeds compared to older Fulltone vibes while retaining its vintage-flavored vibe effects. Also added were a linear-ramping Speed knob, expression pedal support, and twice the available volume of any Uni-Vibe clone.
JHS Pedals Unicorn V2
The Unicorn V2 from JHS Pedals loads the original Unicorn pedal’s lush, syrupy sound into a more compact package to save more space on your pedalboard. It combines a classic photocell modulator with an advanced tap tempo function, allowing you access to vintage vibe effects with hands-free tempo control. You can now always dial in the perfect tempo. The Unicorn V2 carries Depth, Speed, Volume, and Ratio knobs, as well as a Dry/Wet toggle. Its thick, swirling tones bring the distinct sound of a vintage Uni-vibe.
T-Rex BetaVibe
Handcrafted in Denmark, the T-Rex BetaVibe faithfully simulates the distinctive hypnotizing Doppler effect of an authentic rotating speaker cabinet, reproducing the elusive late 60s to early 70s psychedelic swirl. The BetaVibe rotary modulator features a Slow/Fast switch that gradually accelerates or slows down the speed like an authentic Leslie unit. It also incorporates a midi socket for external control. This bucket brigade pedal features true bypass and is controllable using Speed, Depth, Volume, and Mix knobs.
TC Electronic Dreamscape
Craft unique effects for your electric guitar with the Dreamscape John Petrucci Signature Modulation Pedal from TC Electronic. Leveraging TC Electronic’s revered TonePrint technology, John tailored six distinct tones for the Dreamscape. You get flanger, chorus, and vibrato effects, along with a custom voicing switch that provides you with the “dark” feel of John’s chorus sounds. Since it is a TonePrint unit, you may add new effects presets whenever you desire. It consists of controls for Speed, Depth, and FX Level.
EarthQuaker Devices Aqueduct
Wobbles, trills, pulsations, bends, squiggles, and wiggles—you get all these and more with EarthQuaker Devices’ Aqueduct pitch vibrato guitar effects pedal. This vintage-inspired stompbox uses eight different modulation modes to serve up almost any kind of pitch vibrato effect your mind can think of. Its intuitive and easy-to-use interface features only three knobs: one for Rate, another for Depth, and a rotary selector for picking the modulation mode—but those three are really all you need to break new sonic boundaries.
Mooer Soul Shiver
The Soul Shiver guitar effects pedal from budget stomp maker Mooer serves up a trio of classic psychedelic sounds straight from the ‘60s. Packed into the Soul Shiver’s compact enclosure is a thick, watery Chorus; a Vibrato that emulates the natural sound of an actual finger-based vibrato; and a swirling, choppy, Leslie speaker cabinet-like Rotary effect. You also get dedicated Volume, Intense, and Speed knobs for precise tone sculpting. Highly musical classic vibes in a tiny pedalboard-friendly package.
GOKKO OCTAVE FUZZ
The Octave Fuzz GK-31 guitar effects pedal from GOKKO gives you classic fuzz and octave up sounds for a very reasonable price. Dedicated Volume, Tone, and Fuzz control knobs let you explore a wide range of fuzzed-out sonic possibilities. There’s also a two-way selector switch that lets you choose between a normal tone and a mid-cut tone. The Octave Fuzz also features separate footswitches for the fuzz and octave up effects for total effect control.
Electro-Harmonix Holy Stain
The Holy Stain is notable for being Electro-Harmonix’s first true multi-effects pedal, and they really went all out. You get Room and Hall reverb, pitch shifting, and tremolo effects bolstered by analog overdrive and fuzz for creating a truly unique and rich sonic stew. The Holy Stain is like manna from heaven for true knob-twiddling aficionados, as all of its control dials dynamically interact with each other for an even wider range of custom tones and sounds.
Eventide PitchFactor Harmonizer
Studio-quality pitch shifting laid right at your feet! Eventide’s PitchFactor effects pedal brings together 10 unique pitch and delay effects in one highly versatile and extremely tweakable stompbox: Diatonic, Quadravox, HarModulator, MicroPitch, H910/H949, PitchFlex, Octaver, Crystals, HarPeggiator, and Synthonizer. The PitchFactor also features 100 onboard presets (unlimited if you have a MIDI controller), MIDI controller support, MIDI clock sync, tap tempo, expression pedal support, true bypass, and more. Plug in any instrument or a mic and get pro-level pitch-shifting, anytime, anywhere.
Fuzzrocious KNOB JAWN
The Knob Jawn by Fuzzrocious provides both analog and digital octaving. It carries a large knob that lets you solo or blend analog, monophonic, dirty octave up and digital polyphonic, clean octave up/down. It consists of -/+ and dry:wet knobs, a standard on/off toggle, and two footswitches. The left footswitch enables you to move to the digital octave up/down pot’s opposite throw. For ecological reasons, the Knob Jawn operates on a direct power supply (9V DC 2.1 mm centre-negative adaptor).
Caline Big Dipper
The Caline CP-36 Big Dipper Pitch Shifter guitar effects pedal combines the modulation effects of a pitch shifter and an octaver into one sturdy, affordable stompbox. A simple three-position toggle switch lets you choose between Pitch Up, Pitch Down, and Detune modes, while a selector knob gives you a wide range of shifting modes, including one- and two-octave modes. Dedicated Wet and Dry knobs give you full blending control over your signal. The Caline CP-36 Big Dipper Pitch Shifter comes with a true bypass feature.
EBS OctaBass Studio Edition
The EBS OctaBass Triple Mode Octave Divider identifies two to three-note chords and triggers the lowest note. It takes the vintage octave pedal and loads it with new features. Capable of adding a Korg-esque quality to the sound for dance-punk or sending a bass signal falling into stoner metal lows, this handcrafted pedal performs the job of three different octaves and plays nicely with other effects for more innovative sounds. The OctaBass can also work well with distortion.
Top Categories
Timing, Dynamics & EQ Pedals
MOSKY RED FOX
The Red Fox is another multi-effects processor from budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Mosky Audio. This four-in-one floor unit features a Timmy-based overdrive with two distinct voicing settings, a bucket brigade device-powered analog chorus that takes its cues from the Boss CE-2, and a delay section with a delay range of 25ms to 600ms. Each effect section has its own dedicated control knobs and footswitches. Rounding out the Red Fox’s features is an FX loop.
Tom’sline Pure Echo
The Pure Echo digital delay from budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Tomsline lets you add layers of depth and character to your bare signal. It comes with three distinct delay modes–Echo, Mod, and Normal–as well as Level, Regen, and Time control pots for maximum tonal versatility. The small and sturdy Pure Echo also features Tomsline’s patented stop bar design to keep your foot from messing up the pedal’s settings when you stomp on it.
Catalinbread Belle Epoch Deluxe
Known for creating musical devices that they want to utilize themselves, the self-proclaimed gearheads at Catalinbread introduce the well-thought-out Belle Epoch Deluxe, a digital incarnation that perfectly honors the iconic 1970’s Maestro Echoplex EP-3 tape delay. With its self-oscillation functionality and discrete preamp, the Belle Epoch Deluxe digitally features all the incredible analog variation and dynamic power offered by the EP-3. It is a complete reproduction of the EP-3 but without the tape cartridge components.
EarthQuaker Devices Avalanche Run V2
You can play around with the Avalanche Run’s reverb and delay effects all day and not get bored. That’s how versatile this guitar effects pedal from EarthQuaker Devices is. Use it as a reverb pedal, a delay pedal, or just go ahead and combine the two into one gloriously atmospheric wash of ambiance. The Avalanche Run features tap tempo and six-time division settings, plus the V2 comes with an updated reverb algorithm and a cool new enclosure.
Alexander Pedals Quadrant
As its name suggests, the Quadrant Audio Mirror combines four unique delay effects—magnetic, analog, digital, and lo-fi—into a sonic space-time stompbox. Complementing the rate (up to 915ms), feedback, mod, and mix controls is a new Glide knob that controls changes in the delay time; set it to low for a seamless shift and crank it up for pitch shifts. The Quadrant Audio mirror comes with expression pedal and MIDI compatibility, tap tempo, and an Auto-Trail setting that lets you control how long your delays ring out when you turn the pedal off.
Dunlop Echoplex Delay
The EP103 Echoplex Delay from Dunlop comes in the size of Phase 90 and is capable of delivering the Echoplex EP-3’s iconic tones with a user-friendly control interface and hi-fi pure analog dry path. The Delay knob determines the time between repeats, Volume sets your repeats’ output level, and Sustain selects the number of repeats. You can also use the Age to modify the delay tone from clean and bright to saturated and dark. With stereo compatibility, high-quality analog dry signal path, and more, any guitarist will appreciate the EP103 Echoplex Delay pedal.
Dr. Scientist Mini Reverberator
The Mini Reverberator by Dr. Scientist loads nine different reverbs into one compact box. This incredible sounding stompbox takes an all analog dry signal, 24-bit A/D/A conversion, and adjustable decay time to the plate and does it so well. The Mini Reverberator features three plates, three rooms, two halls, and a rotary speaker setting that will let any reverb fan sit and meddle for days on end sans repeating a sound. The dry signal stays analog from input to output and is adjustable using the Mix control, so your instrument’s base tone is never modified or colored.
Mooer Woodverb
The Woodverb from budget stompbox maker Mooer is a reverb guitar effects pedal tuned specifically for expanding the tonal palettes of acoustic guitars. The Woodverb comes with three reverb modes, all selectable via a three-position toggle switch. First is the classic, lush space of the pedal’s magnificent plate reverb. The second mode adds a subtle chorus effect to the reverb. The third and final mode adds mild filtering into the mix for a snappier attack.
Danelectro DJ-4 Corned Beef Reverb Mini
Its name might sound ridiculous, but the warm, classic reverb served up by the Danelectro DJ-4 Corned Beef Reverb guitar effect pedal is anything but. With just two knobs—one for Mix and another for Hi-Cut—the DJ-4 is very easy to use and achieve those reverb tones you can only hear on old 45s nowadays. It’s not a delay pedal, but you can even get some crazy vintage slap-back echo effects with a bit of knob tweaking.
Tom’sline Digital Reverb
Tomsline doesn’t seem to have put much thought into naming their Reverb pedal, but at least the same doesn’t hold true for its capabilities. The Reverb packs three very usable and versatile reverb modes into its tiny chassis: Room, Spring, and Shimmer. For tone sculpting, it features three highly sensitive and wide ranging control pots. Tone controls the reverb effect’s brightness, Mix adjusts the blend of the dry and wet signals, and Decay lets you set the length of the reverb’s decay.
J. Rockett Monkeyman
The J. Rockett Monkeyman can tour you back in the past. Imagine Hotel California, Kid Charlemagne, Hurricane, Funk 49, and many more. An inbuilt Spring Reverb for some atmosphere is the icing on the cake. No vintage Tweed has provided reverb, so it is J. Rockett’s simple gift to you. By simply rolling the Speaker Breakup control, the Monkeyman can go from gritty clean to an erupting speaker sound. You may hit the front end with everything you have, and it compresses like an old tweed.
TC Electronic Skysurfer
Credits to three amazing onboard, studio-quality reverb algorithms, the incredibly tasty Skysurfer Reverb from TC Electronic is the ultimate yet affordable answer to your reverb prayers and cravings. It serves as your one-way ticket to that perfect wave. It allows you to skim conveniently across churning ocean, sail through the ambient spray of the surf, or swim in a cavernous grotto. Built around exceptional studio-grade algorithms, the Skysurfer Reverb serves up all the rich, transparent reverb sounds you could ever imagine without sacrificing your natural tone.
Pigtronix Philosopher King
Redefine your dynamics with the Philosopher King from Pigtronix. It takes Pigtronix’s legendary Philosopher’s Tone design even further, incorporating a comprehensive arsenal of ADSR controls, including hold level, fade, swell, one-shot mode, selectable auto reset, speed range, CV i/o and expression pedals for swell as well as fade times. With Fade and Swell features switched off, the Philosopher King delivers transparent optical compression with infinite sustain on tap. Adjustable sustain, compression, and treble controls let you tailor the effect’s nature as you see fit.
Behringer Dynamics Compressor
Dial in a powerful and percussive clean sound or a face-melting lead tone with insane levels of sustain using the Behringer DC9 Dynamics Compressor Pedal. Set the exact output volume level you want with the dedicated Output knob, then use the Sensitivity dial to find that sweet spot where you want all the notes you play to be heard with equal presence and clarity, whether you’re gently strumming your strings or blazing through an aggressive solo.
Wampler Ego Compressor
When it comes to boutique guitar compression effect pedals, nothing gets as much praise as Wampler’s Ego Compressor. It doesn’t just do what a compressor pedal is supposed to do, i.e. make the quiet parts louder and the loud parts quieter while boosting the sustain, it’s superb at retaining your natural playing dynamics and core tonal characteristics. The Ego Compressor also comes with a special front end squash control; it can go full squash or deliver wide open studio-level parallel compression.
Maxon CP-9 Pro+ Compressor/Limiter
Way more than a reissue, Maxon’s CP-9 Pro+ Compressor/Limiter is an entirely different circuit that loads more power and punch than the original. Boasting patented low-noise DBX compression tech with Gain, Ratio, and Threshold controls, the CP-9 Pro+ gives you as much as 30 dB of clean gain boost plus a maximum compression ratio of 10:1. Reduction status LED shows you the compression effect while 18V circuitry delivers massive headroom with very low noise operation and full frequency response for utilization with virtually any instrument.
JAM Pedals Custom Dyna-ssoR
The custom Dyna-ssoR pedal by Jam Pedals boasts artwork from The Simpsons animator John Achenbach. Dyna-ssoR is the realization of an inspiration to combine an MXR DynaComp with a Ross Compressor. Whether you wish to musically tame your dynamic range or want the squashing power of a dinosaur capable of infinite sustain and classic thumpy attack, the NOS CA3080 chip equipped Dyna-ssoR has got you covered. The custom Dyna-ssoR pedal is fantastic and very rare.
Friedman Amplification Sir-Compre
The Friedman Amplification Sir-Compre is a meaty compressor pedal with some extra crunch, marrying super-transparent optical compression with smooth overdrive to give you the tools you need for epic guitar tone. Compression forms the meat of the pedal, with dedicated Volume, Treble, Compression, and Tight knobs for precise and powerful tone sculpting. The yummy, sizzling fat on top comes courtesy of a Gain control that lets you shape your tone further, from ultra-clean to semi-overdriven.
Greer Amps Special Request
The Special Request by Greer Amps is a single knob boost that adds character and color to your sound. An internal voltage and D-Style FET based preamp indicate that you get loads of power behind it, helping the Special Request pack a powerful tonal punch. The Special Request possesses elements of EQ and compression at some points when you roll its single knob. It stacks nicely with other pedals and helps any player achieve their full tonal potential.
Amptweaker Curveball Jr
The Amptweaker Curveball Jr 3-Band EQ boasts dual Boost functions and can be utilized as a clean channel preamp. The Curveball Jr is a convenient but potent tool for tweaking your pedalboard, boosting your amp, or shaping your tone. This 3-band active EQ is flat when set halfway and can emulate different classic passive guitar amp EQs. The Mid switch allows you to select the mid frequency for Thrash, UK, or US style of midrange. You can use the Curveball in front of distortion to increase the gain while tailoring the thickness and attack of your distortion.
MXR KFK1 10-Band EQ
If you are not contented with your MXR Ten Band EQ, check out its wicked twin—the Kerry King Ten Band EQ. This beastly, tattoo-covered unit gives you tone and level control identical to the M108, but the Kerry King is capable of punishing two amps simultaneously, credits to its dual outputs. Designed in collaboration with the iconic Slayer guitarist, you can use it to produce thrash approved, scooped-mid rhythm tones or as a boost for solos. Ten sliders allow for a cut or boost up to 12dB.
Caline 10 Band EQ
As its name suggests, the Caline CP-24 10 Band EQ gives you nigh-unprecedented tonal control over your instrument’s sound. This essential stompbox features a massive range of channels: 31.25Hz, 62.5Hz, 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 1k Hz, 2k Hz, 4k Hz, 8k Hz, and 16k Hz. Apart from those 10 channels, it also has a Gain channel, plus each EQ slider has its own LED light, so you know exactly where you’ve set each channel.
EarthQuaker Devices Tone Job V2
It’s not easy to cram the tone-sculpting capabilities of an audiophile-grade stereo preamp into a compact stompbox, but EarthQuaker Devices did exactly that with the Tone Job EQ and boost guitar effects pedal. The Treble, Bass, and Mid control knobs each have up to 20db of cut or boost, so you get a wide range of frequency responses from your signal. And speaking of your signal, the Level knob can kick it up by up to five times its original input level, letting you soar through the mix when you need a boost.
Boss GEB-7 7-Band Bass EQ
The Boss GEB-7 Bass Equalizer is the pinnacle of seven-band equalizer pedals built specifically to handle the bottom-heavy frequency ranges of electric bass guitars, including five- and six-string models. Thanks to a frequency range that goes as low as 50Hz, the GEB-7 can also handle tone and depth adjustments for an upright bass outfitted with pickups. Each of the GEB-7’s seven EQ bands can be boosted or cut by up to 15dB, while a gain control features a range of +/-15dB.
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KMA Machines has announced a revamped and slimmed down version of its Wurhm distortion pedal—the Wurm 2. When the Wurhm first came to the music realm in 2020, it was
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Line 6 has updated its cult-favorite DL4 Delay Modeler to MkII, hauling the 1999-dated original into the present-day era by some tonal tweaks and pretty aesthetic. Under the hood, the new-and-improved
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In keeping with its theme of stompboxes inspired by figures from the Italian art history, Dophix has launched the new Dante Overdrive. The Dante Overdrive sports a TS-style control arrangement
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Utility Pedals
Korg Pitchblack Custom (Blue)
Korg’s Pitchblack pedal tuner has established a reputation as a must-have tool for any pedalboard due to its excellent visibility, high sensitivity, and solid built. To continue its legacy, Korg launched the Pitchblack Custom, which gives you unprecedented precision and visibility. Besides the ultra-high +/- 0.1 cent tuning accuracy, the Pitchblack Custom includes true bypass switching that prevents any coloration or loss in your sound. It also features four kinds of meter display modes. The Pitchblack Custom comes in a limited edition bright blue finish and is built to provide years of worry-free operation.
Lehle Dual
The Lehle Dual amp switcher features three sets of outputs. It routes your instrument signal to three amplifiers or two amps and one tuner simultaneously and enables switching all at once or of whatever combination. The patented LHTZ high-end transformer electronically isolates each signal path avoiding any hum or noise. Crafted in Germany, the Dual features full stereo functionality as well as gold-plated relays and switches. It can be controlled and synced with other Lehle SGoS switchers through MIDI.
Korg Pitchblack Mini (White)
The limited-edition white Korg Pitchblack mini features a large, easily readable LED meter with a light-emitting surface for exceptional visibility at whatever setting from stage light to daylight to entirely no light. The incredibly smooth eleven-segment LED meter enables precise visual tuning from different angles. The Pitchblack mini lets you select from four display modes. Thanks to its large note name display, red LED that displays the on/off status, and a tuning guide that shows whether your instrument is flat or sharp, you can always tune precisely and immediately in any situation.
TC Electronic PolyTune 3
The PolyTune 3 by TC Electronic is quicker, more intuitive, and more reliable than ever, featuring precision within 0.1 cents and a no-frills approach to the instrument and guitar tuning. Credits to its inbuilt BonaFide Buffer circuitry, the PolyTune 3 is now capable of enhancing your tone for lengthy cable runs. Meaning, you obtain the treble and transient response way closer to connecting straight to an amp. Alternate tuning modes enable you to explore different ways to create your art.
Ammoon Pockmon
The Pockmon is a highly portable multi-effects processor from budget guitar effects pedal maker Ammoon. It has three effects sections. First up is a digital delay that comes in three flavors: Tape, Echo, and Analog. It also has a biting wide-range high-gain distortion section and a natural, mid-humped overdrive. The Pockmon also has a tuner, tap tempo control, a parallel FX loop, and a built-in cab sim for when you want to plug in headphones or connect straight to a PA or mixer.
BOSS TU-3s Tuner
The Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner is the go-to stompbox tuner for any and all serious musicians, and its little brother the Boss TU-3S Compact Chromatic Tuner serves up everything the TU-3 can, in a more compact form factor. Everything from the bigger TU-3’s performance and durability to its tuning functions and display are recreated in the TU-3S, minus the actual pedal switch. If you’re running low on precious pedalboard space, the Boss TU-3S Compact Chromatic Tuner is what you need.
Pigtronix Infinity Looper
The Pigtronix Infinity is arguably the most musical looping pedal in the market. Exceptionally powerful and versatile but still easy to use, the Infinity Looper establishes a new world standard for latency-free looping. Pigtronix’s revolutionary looping platform delivers quick record, dub, playback, redo and undo, on two stereo loop pairs configurable in different ways. Besides its performance friendly feature set and unparalleled speed, the Infinity Looper sounds marvelous due to its discreet analog limiter stages, 24bit/48kHz HD recording engine, and transparent analog pass-through.
Digitech TRIOPLUS
The DigiTech Trio+ is among the most impressive performance, writing, and practice tools for guitarists. This simple-to-use guitar pedal is built on DigiTech’s famed Trio technology which listens to your playing and instantly plays drum and bass accompaniment. The Trio+ gives you five additional genres for achieving the perfect feel. You select a genre and style variation, then start playing. The Trio+ pedal also includes three bass line modes that will fit any style of music you are playing.
NUX JTC
When the NUX Mini Core pedals hit the market, NUX has received requests to include a loop pedal in the collection, so here comes the Jam Track Creator (JTC) Drum & Loop pedal. It is the tiniest 24-bit loop pedal featuring an auto-detection drum machine. The JTC Drum & Loop Mini allows you to select from 11 inbuilt drum rhythms. It gives you unlimited overdubs and up to six minutes recording in 24-bit high-resolution audio quality. Loop and Drum volumes are adjustable individually.
MOSKY RED FOX
The Red Fox is another multi-effects processor from budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Mosky Audio. This four-in-one floor unit features a Timmy-based overdrive with two distinct voicing settings, a bucket brigade device-powered analog chorus that takes its cues from the Boss CE-2, and a delay section with a delay range of 25ms to 600ms. Each effect section has its own dedicated control knobs and footswitches. Rounding out the Red Fox’s features is an FX loop.
TC Electronic Ditto X4 Looper
A straightforward and intuitive dual-track guitar looper featuring powerful loop effects allows you to produce multilayered sonic masterpieces. The Ditto X4 Looper from TC Electronic is specially designed for and by guitarists to guarantee you get the greatest simplicity with full creative potential. You can transform one moment in time into something truly spectacular. By perfectly combining convenience with stellar creative features, the Ditto X4 Looper will quickly serve as the canvas where you paint your multilayered sonic artworks.
BOSS RC-30 Phrase Looper
Boss unveiled a new line of RC-series Loop Stations for the 10th anniversary of the original Loop Station, and the RC-30 is one of that line’s poster boys. The Boss RC-30 Loop Station is a twin pedal multitrack looper that comes with two synchronized stereo tracks, built-in loop effects, and a phantom power XLR input jack. The RC-30’s massive internal memory lets you record up to three hours, while a USB 2.0 port lets you import and export WAV files or save your loops to an external storage device.
Empress Effects Reverb
The Empress Effects Reverb is capable of lifelike imitations of spaces and never-before-heard surreal ambiances, represented with unparalleled sound quality. Sporting a tiny footprint, stereo ins/outs, and all controls at your fingertips, it strikes the right balance of convenience and control, excluding complicated menus. The versatile control port, presets, and MIDI enable a world of possibilities for live performances. Whether you want a realistic room, classic spring, or unique sonic flavors to widen your creativity, the Reverb has got you covered.
Line 6 M5 StompBox Modeler
With the M5 Stompbox Modeler from Line 6, your pedalboard setup is about to take a giant leap forward. It consists of more than 100 stompbox models, so you can conveniently access delay, filter, reverb, distortion, and modulation effects sans the need to deal with a tangle of cables and mess of pedals. Housed in a roadworthy metal chassis, the M5 features simple to use dedicated parameter control knobs, an inbuilt chromatic tuner, and tap-tempo functionality. Get all that and more with the M5.
Donner Booster
The Donner Booster is an all-analog circuit booster pedal capable of providing you with a lush distortion sound and making it more powerful. It is perhaps the tiniest analog booster effect in the market. The Booster lets you switch between Mid and Normal modes to adjust the effect of the Metal drive. Tweaking the Gain knob gives you a transparent frequency boost. Complete with basic adjustment knobs (Volume, Tone, and Gain), the Booster will make it convenient for you to craft your unique guitar sound in various live performances.
Source Audio Soundblox2 Multiwave Distortion
The Source Audio Soundblox 2 Multiwave Distortion boasts all of the original unit’s synth-esque and futuristic fuzz and distortion tones, housed within a portable, cast-aluminum enclosure. It features 23 distortion effects along with two user presets, universal bypass, a Clean Boost mode, three-level noise gate, three-band tone control, and a multi-function input jack compatible with an expression pedal, MIDI, or Hot Hand. You can connect a MIDI controller for external access to parameters and presets. The Soundblox 2 Multiwave Distortion includes both single- and multi-band processing.
Chase Bliss Audio Brothers
Designed in partnership with Resonant Electronic, the Chase Bliss Audio Brothers Analog Gainstage pedal boasts 33 routing options and two independent JFET/IC analog channels, providing you full control over stacking and combining the circuits of your choice. This pedal crams six unique fuzz, drive, or boost circuits within one compact enclosure, making it an excellent choice for gigging musicians looking to build a tiny, diverse pedalboard for travel or smaller shows. Players with single-channel amps seeking more variety will love the Brothers Analog Gainstage pedal.
Donner Jet Convolution
Get an outstanding flanger at a bargain price with the Donner Jet Convolution. A lot is going on in such a compact pedal. The Jet Convolution features true bypass and a toggle switch for selecting between Filter and Normal modes. In the Normal mode, the pedal acts like a regular flanger, while the Filter mode is what your manual mode would be. The Jet Convolution consists of a giant Rate knob plus smaller Range and Color knobs that are pretty intuitive to use.
MXR A/B Box
The MXR A/B Box serves as your economic and easy signal switching solution. It lets you route your instrument signal to two different output amp paths. It allows you to change between amps or run them simultaneously with individual effect settings so you can discover your ideal sound. You may employ the Thru jack to connect to an amp, tuner, or other devices that you want to receive a steady signal. The A/B Box is housed within a sturdy die-cast housing with high-quality switches and jacks.
Supro SF2
Featuring the dual footswitch Reverb and Tremolo on/off remote for just about any Supro combo amp—the Supro SF2. It requires a TRS cable (not included) to connect to an amp. It boasts a rugged metal construction and a two-button format that turns Reverb and Tremolo on or off remotely. It is compatible with Rhythm Master, Tremo-verb, Royal Reverb, Titan, Saturn, and Jupiter guitar amps. With the SF2, you get full control over your Supro tube combo electric guitar amp’s reverb and tremolo effects.
Boss ES-5 Footswitch
The Boss ES-5 Effects Switching System opens up unlimited possibilities for your limited pedalboard space. This pedalboard-friendly version of the ES-8 gives you access to five loops, letting you go hog-wild in creating elaborate guitar effects pedal chains. The Boss ES-5 Effects Switching System’s onboard memory can store up to 200 patches that you can engage with a single toe tap, its switcher functions can be heavily customized, and its analog circuitry ensures that your tone remains pure and crystal clear.
Boss ES-8 Switching System
For pedal-obsessed musicians, the Boss ES-8 Effects Switching System is a straight-up gamechanger. You can create elaborate pedal chains and route them however you want with its eight separate loops. You can customize and store up to 800 patches in its onboard memory and add specific control parameters such as patch delay times. You can customize the pedal function assignments. All that plus LCD and seven-segment LED displays, switchable buffers, and an analog circuit that keeps your tone crystal clear.
Lehle D-Loop
Employ two different effects loops with the D.Loop from Lehle. It boasts two true-bypass loops and high-end gold-plated relays, so your tone stays pristine when you are not utilizing it. Stomp on the D.Loop to bring in whatever range of effects you desire. You may also use the D.Loop to incorporate another preamp on the fly or utilize the main input and a return to bring in various instruments. Whatever you do, you will appreciate this stompbox’s full MIDI capacity, since you can make its switches operate the way you desire.
Radial BigShot I/O
The Radial BigShot I/O is your bankable buddy when it is time to change instruments during your set. This simple, handy box allows you to connect your two primary guitars, utilizing one out to feed your amp. It makes changing between guitars painless. The BigShot I/O also carries a mute switch which routes your audio to the tuner output, letting you sort out your tunings midshow (a switch for “always on” tuning is available as well). Quit pulling cables out of your guitars now with the BigShot I/O.
MOSKY PURE BUFFER
Buffer pedals are indispensable weapons in the constant struggle against tone suck. Budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Mosky Audio’s Pure Buffer is a tiny one, which makes it the ideal candidate for inclusion in compact and crowded pedalboards. The Pure Buffer helps eliminate the inherent issues of multiple daisy chained pedals and long cables, making your guitar signal’s core tone sound like you’ve plugged your instrument straight into an amp with a short cord.
Vertex Dynamic Distortion
The Dynamic Distortion by Vertex is a sonic mix of rock ’n’ roll’s two most legendary distortion pedals: the 80s TS Overdrive and 60s Germanium Fuzz. This iconic combination gives you unrivaled touch sensitivity and clean-up with your guitar volume control from sparkly clean to fuzz to overdrive while delivering the full-bodied woolliness of an old-school fuzz and the midrange cut of a vintage TS pedal. The Dynamic Distortion boasts all the benefits of mixing the tonal DNA of these iconic pedals without the drawbacks.
Radial Elevator
Spec’d from fully discrete circuitry, the Radial Elevator injects a dose of added versatility to your whole guitar rig. It breaks down aptly into two sections: a footswitchable clean boost on the output side and buffer on the input side. The buffer provides you with three modes, including true bypass, flat buffer, and drive setting for some extra gain if necessary. Unlike many buffer pedals, the Elevator has a variable load control that allows you to achieve the cleanest sound possible.
Mission Engineering VM-PRO
Not your dime a dozen volume pedal, the VM-PRO by Mission Engineering is a multi-output, buffered, adjustable volume pedal that is ready for action. Imagine it as an excellent starting point for your signal chain. Suitable for your acoustic-electric guitar, bass, and electric guitar, you can set the VM-PRO’s input jack for active or passive instruments. The buffered output guarantees proper frequency response via your pedals and lengthy cable runs. The VM-PRO volume pedal can handle whatever rig you are running.
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Buffer + EQ
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Utility 3 is a switchable three-band EQ and always-on Buffer. You will find the EQ useful in tailoring frequencies to particular parts. The Buffer is perfect if you are utilizing multiple pedals or lengthy cable setups. The On/Off switch works to activate or deactivate the three-band EQ. The EQ + Buffer carries Low, Mid, and High knobs that allow you to adjust the low, mid, and high frequencies. It is made in the USA and features true bypass.
Orange Amp Detonator
Running two amps is an accepted way of capturing bigger tones in the studio and on stage. No matter if it is changing between two amps for their characteristics or employing them simultaneously for vast walls of sounds, professionals have been using this setup for years. The Amp Detonator by Orange is arguably the tiniest active, wholly functional, buffered ABY pedal available. The transformer output was painstakingly engineered to become as transparent as possible, while the two outputs are buffered with a low-noise, linear circuit. Drive lengthy cable to your amplifiers without clarity loss and change quietly between them.
Caline The Noise
Any noise in your guitar signal should only be limited to the noise you want to add to it. Cut out any unwanted noises and hums with the Caline CP-39 The Noise, a noise gate pedal that won’t take a big chunk out of both your wallet and your precious pedalboard real estate. Two main control knobs drive the CP-39: a sensitivity knob that dictates at what level the noise gate becomes active and a two-way toggle that lets you choose between a steep volume cut or a smoother, more gradual cut.
Donner Noise Killer
The Noise Killer is arguably one of the most competitive noise gate pedals you can find on a limited budget. It delivers the core performance and features that are essential for a decent pedal of this kind. It lets you choose between Hard and Soft modes, which provide hard effect and soft effect of noise reduction respectively. The threshold range goes from -70dB to +10dB. The Noise Killer comes in an aluminium-alloy enclosure, and like many great effector pedals, it also features a true bypass function.
Mooer Noise Killer
Pop the Noise Killer at the end of your pedal chain and say goodbye to annoying buzzes, hisses, and hums. This noise gate pedal from budget stompbox maker Mooer ticks all of the important boxes: it’s tonally transparent, has a wide threshold range that goes from -70dB to +10dB, and has silky smooth gating. You can also set the gating to Hard or Soft with a two-way toggle switch. Set it, forget it, and enjoy a noiseless signal.
CNZ Audio Noise Gate
If you are looking to minimize the buzz in your signal when you are not playing, look no further. The Noise Gate from CNZ Audio successfully tames your overdrive pedals, guitar signal, and whole effects chains. The Toggle Switch includes two settings: the Soft setting relaxes on the release and lets it end less abruptly, while the Hard setting is ideal for removing undesired string noise and creating clean silence in between a heavy-metal riff’s notes.
Alexander Pedals Defender
Don’t let the Defender Stargate Drive’s classic arcade game-inspired graphics fool you. This new stompbox from Alexander Pedals is a shapechanging beast that takes fuzz, distortion, and overdrive to intergalactic heights. The Defender allows you to create your quirky, clipped tones from various built-in modes. It offers several configurable options with preset storage and expression control. With simultaneously selectable “special effect” (PIT, SPC, FLT) and Distortion mode (OD, DST, FZ), it sets a course to marvelous guitar tone.
Carl Martin Noise Terminator
The Carl Martin Noise Terminator is designed to maintain the original tonal characteristics while eliminating unwanted noise occurring from using multiple effects. It outperforms traditional noise gates by allowing you to switch between two threshold settings—Hard when more radical settings are necessary or Soft with less noisy equipment. Using the remote jack, you can connect the Noise Terminator to an external midi switching system that lets you go between Hard and Soft settings conveniently. The Noise Terminator is a 9V-battery-powered pedal featuring an AC adapter jack.
Digitech TRIOPLUS
The DigiTech Trio+ is among the most impressive performance, writing, and practice tools for guitarists. This simple-to-use guitar pedal is built on DigiTech’s famed Trio technology which listens to your playing and instantly plays drum and bass accompaniment. The Trio+ gives you five additional genres for achieving the perfect feel. You select a genre and style variation, then start playing. The Trio+ pedal also includes three bass line modes that will fit any style of music you are playing.
Digitech Jamman Solo XT
After inventing looping many years back, the DigiTech JamMan Solo XT gives you the ultimate stereo looping experience. Increase the energy in your performance and gain new inspiration with almost infinite loops. Smooth transitions between looped phrases make the Solo XT an indispensable device for performing and composing. It features ten pre-loaded drum loops from Pat Mastelotto. Enjoy the stereo looping experience you desire from simple backing loops to complex loop layers with your band or by yourself. Polish your performance with Auto-Quantize, Auto-Record, three Stop modes, and adjustable BPMs.
MOOER Groove Loop
Budget pedal maker brings together the Micro Looper and the Micro Drummer into one affordable, pedalboard-friendly guitar effects pedal. The Groove Loop makes for the perfect portable jamming companion, letting you use its looper and drum machine features either independently or simultaneously. The looper features 20 minutes of recording time and can sync automatically with the drum track. The drum machine comes with eight groove styles, each of which has two variations for a total of 16 different grooves.
Joyo JAM BUDDY (Orange)
With its pair of built-in 2” speakers packing 4W of output each, the Jam Buddy is Joyo’s solution for musicians looking for a quick way to practice without having to lug along a big and heavy amp. Bluetooth connectivity also lets you connect your phone or media player to the Jam Buddy so you can play along to a song or rhythm track. This floor-based multi-effects unit also features clean and overdrive channels,
Singular Sound BeatBuddy Mini
The Singular Sound BeatBuddy Mini is a drummer within a guitar pedal enclosure. It provides entirely hands-free, creative control of the beat. No matter what instrument you use, you can easily transition from verse to chorus, insert fills, throw in drum breaks, add accent hits, and more to yield an unparalleled live drummer effect. Utilized in the music programs of Berklee College of Music and Frost School of Music, the BeatBuddy Mini is arguably the most efficient way to enhance your rhythm and master different genres while improvising and having a great time.
Mooer Micro Drummer
Rock, pop, jazz, R&B, funk, latin, metal, blues, reggae—whatever style of music you play, the Micro Drummer can serve up a pretty authentic drum track emulation for it. This digital drum machine guitar effects pedal from budget stompbox masters Mooer is packed with 121 different drumbeat patterns spread across 11 genres. Just pick a genre with the rotary selector, dial in your preferred volume, speed, and tone, and then use the tap tempo to get the beat you want.
Other Pedals
Vox V846-HW
The famed V846 returns better than ever as the V846-HW hand-wired wah wah pedal. It is the ultimate wah wah pedal for tone enthusiasts, boasting top-grade components and hand-wired turret board construction. While its iconic tone is undeniable, the V846-HW was not built merely to repeat history, but to create new chapters. Each of its component, including the capacitors, resistors, potentiometer, and inductors, has been meticulously picked for supreme fidelity and tone. It also incorporates a tone-preserving true bypass.
Vexter Wah Probe
The Vexter Wah Probe from boutique guitar effects pedal company Zvex is a wah pedal that replaces the standard-issue rocker pot with a proximity sensor that allows for insanely fast wah action. It also packs a built-in Super Hard On for extra volume drive. Zvex’s Vexter line of silk screened pedals feature the exact same tone, feature set, and internal parts and circuits as their hand-painted counterparts. The only differences are the painting process and the price.
Morley PWO
Take one part vintage wah funk, add one part modern innovations, bottle them up in a tank-tough cold rolled steel enclosure, and you get Morley’s PWO Power Wah effects pedal. The PWO Power Wah comes equipped with a custom HQ2 inductor that brings the classic funk while Morley’s innovative electro-optical circuit design makes worn out pots a thing of the distant past. You get smooth wah control, whether you’re plugging in a guitar or bass.
Morley Mini Wah
The Morley Mini Wah has the same classic wah tone and electro-optical sensor technology that made its bigger wah brothers famous, but it’s all packed into a small pedal perfect for crowded pedalboards. The Morley Mini Wah pumps out a traditional, full-bodied wah tone with a standard sweep and comes with a side-mounted on and off switch, a wah level control, and a LED indicator, all encased in road-tough cold rolled steel housing. Whether you plug in a guitar, a bass, or a keyboard, the Morley Mini Wah will definitely funk things up.
Donner Dynamic Wah
The Dynamic Wah from Donner is a compact auto wah pedal housed within an aluminium-alloy enclosure. It is a well-made pedal, wholly controllable envelope filter featuring a unique decay control, precise and quick tracking. The Dynamic Wah consists of Range, Res, Sens, and Decay knobs for controlling the filter frequency range, filter sharpness, sensitivity, and filter frequency fall back to the resting point respectively. It also includes an LED indicator that shows you the working state and true bypass switch.
Morley Cliff Burton Tribute Power Fuzz Wah
Any pedal that pays tribute to thrash metal god Cliff Burton should come with a snarl and a growl, and the Cliff Burton PowerFuzz Wah pedal from Morley is no different. This wah/fuzz hybrid bass effects pedal packs a lot of hairy aggression but is also versatile enough to be used effectively in styles other than metal. The design itself is based on the classic Tel-Ray/Morley Power Wah Fuzz that Cliff loved but enhanced with Morley’s modern wah pedal innovations.
Tom’sline Acoustic
The aptly named Acoustic budget guitar effects pedal from Tomsline is a workhorse acoustic simulator pedal that gets the job done. Plug in an electric guitar and you can give it the body and natural woody sound of an acoustic. You can adjust the gain with the Top knob, the resonance of the simulated acoustic body with the Body dial, and the overall volume with the Volume pot. The Acoustic also features a three-way toggle that lets you switch between three voicing modes: Piezo, Standard, and Jumbo.
Mooer Baby Water
The Baby Water delay and chorus guitar effects pedal from budget stompbox maker Mooer provides acoustic guitar players a pair of must-have effects in a very tiny, very affordable package. Even if you don’t have a pedalboard, the Baby Water is so small you can literally put it in your pocket and take it to gigs. It comes packed with delay and chorus effects that can be used either individually or in conjunction with each other, all selectable via a dedicated rotary dial.
NUX PA-2
While the NUX PA-2 Acoustic G-EFX can comfortably fit in your palm, it is loaded with ten professionally-designed effects models. It enables an extensive range of tonal character of your acoustic guitar. You can conveniently dial up a tone thanks to its user-friendly buttons and knobs as well as bright LCD. The PA-2 boasts three acoustic guitar sound simulations and improves the sound according to the simulation of the guitar body type. You may choose one of the three “Body” simulations and set up your sound by three-band EQ, delay, compressor, reverb, and chorus effects.
JOYO D-SEED
The Joyo D-Seed guitar effects pedal is a dual-channel digital delay that serves up a bevy of highly musical delay tones. You get 17ms to 1000ms of delay time plus four delay modes. First is Copy, which just plays back the notes you play without any additional effects. Analog emulates the warmth of an analog BBD delay pedal and Modulation adds a splash of chorus to the delay effect. Finally, there’s Reverse for when you want to get really weird and trippy. Great delay effects at a similarly great price.
Rowin LT-901
A tuner is arguably the most important tool a musician can have in their arsenal. The tiny LT-901 mini chromatic guitar tuner from budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Rowin is an ideal fit for those who want to make efficient use of space on their pedalboards. Short of a clip-on tuner, the LT-901 is one of the most inconspicuous and affordable tuners available on the market. Don’t let its small size deter you, though; it’s fast and has a large display so you won’t have to squint.
MOOER Slow Engine
Mooer has done all musicians a big favor by faithfully recreating the incredibly expensive Boss Slow Gear SG-1 guitar effects pedal and turning it into the Slow Engine, a budget-friendly pedal barely bigger than a roll of quarters. The Slow Engine silences the attack of your guitar signal to give you a classic volume swell effect that you don’t have to execute using your hands. The Slow Engine’s simple control layout features sensitivity and attack knobs, plus it comes with true bypass.
Xvive V13 Mini DI
The Mini DI direct input box from budget guitar effects pedal creator Xvive is the exact tool you need for plugging your guitar or bass directly into mixer or a club’s PA system. It’s designed to have ultra-low distortion so your core tone doesn’t get discolored, plus it has a built in cab sim that you can engage via an on/off switch. It also lets you boost or cut your signal’s gain by 20dB either way and comes with a ground lift function as well as balanced and ¼ unbalanced XLR outputs.
Tech 21 SansAmp GT2
Tech 21’s SansAmp amp simulator technology has long been at the forefront of letting musicians dial in their favorite amp tone without needing to lug around that specific amp. The SansAmp GT2 doesn’t just give you a single amp’s signature tone, though; it packs a whole slew of the most sought-after vintage tube and modern amp sounds, from a clean tweed-flavored rhythm to a scream Mesa-style lead tone. Pair the GT2 with a DI box and you’ll forget your amp even existed.
Darkglass Alpha Omicron
Enjoy exceptional versatility, harmonic lush and bone-crushing sound with the Darkglass AlphaOmicron. It is made for bassists seeking a preamp to be distinctively heard in various musical contexts. The Blend knob combines processed and clean signals. The Level control sets the volume of the overdriven signal, allowing for fine mix tuning, while the Drive knob adjusts the amount of overdrive gain. The Alpha-Omicron features two discrete distortion circuits—Alpha is punchy, tight with plenty of definition, whereas Omega is merely raw and brutal.
Dr. No Effects Black Magic
Are you up for the grimiest, filthiest, dirtiest, and heaviest bass distortion you will ever find? The Black Magic bass distortion pedal from Dr. No Effects is “the box that the Devil made the Doctor build.” Unlike most bass distortions, this stompbox will not destroy your low-end sound. Instead, it will raise it to insanity. The Black Magic will turn your tiny shoebox amp into an infernal legion of Ampeg 8×10 growlers that would shake off your skin.
VOX StompLab 1B
Vox’s StompLab series includes impressive contenders that load exceptional sounds into portable, sophisticated looking metal enclosures. Sound variations are classified by style, like a ballad, blues, and rock, making it convenient for newbies to recall the preferred sound. The feature-laden StompLab IB is suitable for those who want plenty of tones in a tiny space. Leveraging a similar sound engine as ToneLab multi-effects units and VT+ amps, the StompLab delivers 100 gig quality presets for virtually any music style.
Tech 21 dUg Pinnick
Legendary King’s X frontman and bassist Doug “dUg” Pinnick’s signature bass sound, distilled and bottled by Tech 21 into a highly versatile floor unit. The dUg Pinnick DP-3X signature bass pedal is essentially an ultra-compact version of Pinnick’s Tech 21 Ultra Bass 1000 signature head with the ability to dial in the original distortion-heavy bass tone he developed way back in the ‘80s. There’s no better endorsement here than Pinnick’s, who road tested the DP-3X on a European tour and still managed to dial in the tone he wanted no matter the backline.
DOD Mini Volume
The passive DOD Mini Volume pedal provides you with a complete range of volume control, without taking up a lot of pedalboard real estate. Despite its extremely compact package, its rugged steel construction, non-slip rubber base, and gear drive mean there are no strings to break. The Mini Volume boasts the same footprint as most pedals that are double its size and price. It also has a high-quality 500k potentiometer that makes it suitable for all volume pedal applications.
Fender Downtown Express
The Fender Downtown Express is your one-stop-shop for bass tone sculpting, carrying all the bass essentials—overdrive, three-band EQ, and compressor. It is an all-original Fender circuit designed by Alex Aguilar. The Downtown Express features a direct output that allows for convenient integration into any studio or performance situations. Fender acknowledges that a strong signal chain has to be versatile, so it added a switch that allows you to reorder the overdrive and compressor circuits to your liking.
Boss FV-500H
The FV-500 series takes Boss’s industry-standard volume pedal designs into the future. Tank-tough with a stylishly designed high-grade aluminum body and packing silky smooth action, the FV-500 line of volume pedals were created to go above and beyond the needs of even the most hard-touring and demanding musician. The FV-500H is the line’s mono high-impedance model with inst. level input, a tuner-output jack, and an expression output for use with expression pedal-compatible amps, effects, and synthesizers.
Morley Mini Power Wah Volume
A classic wah tone paired with smooth and seamless volume control, packed into a tough, compact chassis ideal for crowded pedalboards. The Mini Power Wah Volume pedal from modulation master Morley gives you two versatile and essential pedal effects without taking up as much space as a regular expression pedal. It comes packed with Morley’s modern wah innovations including electro-optical circuitry and true-tone bypass, plus a custom HQ2 inductor that gives you more funk for your buck.
Mission Engineering VM1-Aero Analogue Volume
Boasting Mission’s illuminated base, the VM-1 Aero from Mission Engineering is designed for utilization first in your signal chain with passive electric guitar pickups. The switchable tuner mute and the Aero design’s extended sweep make it an exceptional, all-round guitar volume pedal. The rear cutaway, as well as extended length curved surface, have been ergonomically designed for ease of use, whether you are sitting or standing. Visible from all positions, the transparent acrylic base lights up indicating the chosen mode.
Mission Engineering EP-25-Pro Aero Expression
Featuring the Mission Aero design, the EP-25 PRO expression pedal is perfect not only for guitar, but also acoustic instruments, keyboards, and both studio and live use. At only 1.7 lb, the pure aluminum Aero is half the weight of a regular Mission pedal, suitable for fly rigs and weight-sensitive applications. The EP-25 PRO includes individual polarity switches for every channel. That enables compatibility with a wide variety of pedals, modeling amps, MIDI controllers, keyboards, rack effects, and other expression controlled devices.
Dunlop Volume X
Keep your effect pedal parameters in check or produce amazingly smooth volume swells with Dunlop’s DVP3 Volume (X) Pedal. This amazing pedal is compact, solidly-built, and ready for the road. The Volume (X) Pedal manages volume and FX parameters, boasting an adjustable rocker tension and Dunlop’s patent-pending Low Friction Band-Drive for supreme durability—all within a pedalboard-friendly enclosure. Together with FX, Volume, and Output jacks, the DVP3 also includes a handy Tuner output for quiet tuning onstage.
Boss EV-30 Dual Expression
Every pedalboard owner knows space is a premium. Boss kept that in mind when designing the Boss EV-30 Dual Expression Pedal, giving it a small form factor and big expression features that rival that of any full-size expression pedal. The EV-30 comes with isolated dual expression outputs so you can control two separate effects with a single pedal, independent pedal range adjustments for each output, and a polarity switch that makes it compatible with most pedals that support an external expression pedal.
Ernie Ball Expression Overdrive
Silky smooth transitions from clean to tube-style overdrive are made super easy by the Ernie Ball Expression Series Overdrive pedal. No need to play around with a guitar, pedal, or amp dial mid-song; it’s all hands-free so you can smoothly pile on the gain even in the middle of a complicated solo. Dial-in natural, tube-like overdrive via the dedicated Drive, Tone, and Boost knobs and then rock the treadle forward to effortlessly increase the foot-sweepable gain. Leave the treadle open and you get ultra-clear transparency that doesn’t color your core tone at all.
Tapestry Audio Bloomery Passive Volume Pedal (Black)
The Bloomery passive volume pedal from Tapestry Audio features some very unique differences from a regular volume control pedal. This compact (measures only 7.8″ x 2.25″), convenient to use, and efficient passive volume pedal comfortably fits on your pedalboard. The Bloomery is machined out of steel for a tough, durable solid feel. A slide potentiometer alongside a direct shaft drive eradicates the need for annoying strings. With a smooth volume curve, you get a more nuanced pedal sweep. The Bloomery quickly turns tuner output into an expression output.
Source Audio Dual Expression
The Dual Expression pedal from Source Audio delivers smooth action and precision response in a sturdy cast aluminum enclosure. Dual TRS expression outputs let you control two effects units at once. The Dual Expression works with any model or brand of effect that carries a TRS expression input. It consists of a Range Adjust control that establishes the bottom point of the expression range. A Sensor Output connects straight to any Hot Hand, Soundblox Pro, Soundblox 2, or Soundblox pedal for instant control over effect modulation, wet/dry mixes, filter sweeps, LFO speeds, etc.
Two Notes Torpedo Captor 16
The 16 Ohm Torpedo Captor from boutique guitar effects pedal maker Two Notes is the minified version of the award winning Torpedo Reload reactive loadbox. Using Two Notes’ reactive technology, the Captor can mimic the impedance of a speaker perfectly, making you sound like you’re connected to a real amp cabinet even when you’re plugged straight into a PA, a mixer, a recording station, or even a pair of headphones. Use it with the Torpedo C.A.B.’s virtual cabinet collection for an even wider array of ampless tonal possibilities.
GOKKO ROCK-ACE
The Rock Ace GK-30 guitar effects pedal does a lot of cool things for a stompbox its size and price. You can plug in an audio player and use it to play along to a song or backing track. You can use it as a direct input (DI) box so you can plug directly into a mixer or PA board without messing up your tone. You can also use it as a preamp. The ROck Ace also comes packed with its own clean/distortion switch, giving you a wide array of tone options ranging from super-clean to full-on heavy metal.
Rowin Shaper
Only a few musicians can afford a home recording studio with 11 different amps in it. It’s not just the price, either; you’d have to find room for all of those amps, too. What most musicians can afford, though, is the tiny little LEF-3802 Shaper from budget guitar effects pedal maker Rowin. This very compact and extremely affordable cab sim stomp comes packed with 11 distinct high quality cab models, making it a perfect tool for the musician on a budget.
Mooer Acoustikar
The Mooer Acoustikar does just what you’d expect a pedal with that name to do: give your electric guitar the strummy, woody sound of an acoustic. It shines at giving your guitar signal the shortened, glassy resonance that characterizes a good acoustic guitar. Of the Acoustikar’s three modes, Standard is pretty much your basic acoustic sound. The sound of a full-body dreadnought guitar is simulated by Jumbo mode. A Piezo mode rounds out the three voicings.
Blackstar HT-Modulation
The Blackstar HT-MODULATION delivers all the musicality of standard vintage effects, from mild tremolo to roaring jet engine flange. For the convenience of use, the SLOW/FAST control allows you to set the modulation time of the eight modulation effects as you play. You may add harmonics and real tube compression through the SATURATION control. The SLOW/FAST mode footswitch allows seamless control. The eight modulation effects include Phaser 1, Phaser 2, Multi Chorus, Vintage Chorus 1, Vintage Chorus 2, Flanger, Rotary, and Tremolo.
Boss RT-20 Rotary Ensemble
The rotary speaker has long been a staple of the classic sound of many legendary guitar heroes. With the Boss RT-20 Rotary Ensemble twin pedal stompbox, Boss lets you add that same vintage effect to your arsenal. Powered by Boss’s Composite Object Sound Modeling (COSM) technology, the RT-20 accurately reproduces the classic sound of a spinning, swirling rotary cabinet. The Boss RT-20 Rotary Ensemble also features onboard overdrive effects, adjustable transition times, and a virtual rotor display.
Pigtronix Mothership2
Transform your bass or guitar into a three-voice analog synthesizer with the Mothership 2 pedal from Pigtronix. It consists of five custom dual-concentric knobs that give you incredible control over synth parameters, including separate level controls for square wave, triangle wave, and sine wave oscillators. Paired with your clean guitar tone, you have a massive synth voice capable of covering three octaves. It accurately tracks your instrument’s pitch and amplitude. The Mothership 2 will unlock a different world of creative potential for your bass or guitar.
WMD Geiger Counter Civilian Issue
This is the future of digital dirt. WMD’s Geiger Counter boutique distortion guitar effects pedal delivers a cornucopia of dirt tones, from the classic and recognizable to some insanely twisted, octave folded lo fi fuzz that brings to mind the irradiated wind that follows in the wake of a mushroom cloud. The Geiger Counter Civilian Issue is a stripped down version of the original, featuring 32 preset sounds and a far less complicated control layout.
Dwarfcraft Devices HAX2
Dwafcraft Devices has mastered the art of crafting guitar effect pedals that do many things extremely well, and the HAX2 ring modulator is no different. Lightyears ahead of the original HAX circuit it’s based on, the HAX2 combines ring modulation, an envelope follower, and a filter in one sturdy stompbox that can serve up everything from deep tremolo-style effects and psychedelic modulation to a pleasant, sparkly chorus. Four dials and four toggle switches give you all the control you could ever need.
Seymour Duncan FOOZ
The FOOZ pedal from Seymour Duncan transforms your guitar into an over-the-top analog synth. It leverages an extremely saturated square-wave fuzz to turn your instrument into the “oscillator,” geared to be shaped by other blocks—it also makes for an exceptional fuzz tone alone. It consists of Depth, Speed, Wave, Shape, Freq, Resonance, Level, and Gain controls. Inspired by synth flexibility and iconic guitar tones, the FOOZ imparts the spirit of synth creativity in your guitar.
Rowin Cursh Bit
Forget the typo in the name; the LEF-3810 Cursh Bit (or Crush Bit, in keeping with what it does) is a powerful bit crusher pedal from budget guitar effects pedal maker Rowin. Bit crushers reduce the sample quality of your guitar signal to make it sound all kinds of lo-fi. Blend your dry and wet signals with the Mix knob and control the reduction of the sample’s rate and depth using the Bit and Crush pots, respectively. It also comes with a three-way toggle that lets you switch between low-pass, high-pass, and normal modes.
Emma Electronic OKTO-NOJS
The Okto-Nøjs from Emma Electronic gives you two pedals in one! It combines dead-on, fast-tracking Octave down (the Okto) with a dynamically sensitive, synth-like Octave-Fuzz (the Nøjs). Both circuit sides are all-analog and boast true bypass switching and high-quality buffers to give you the best sound quality possible. The Okto Nøjs transforms your signal into pure subsonic fire. It allows you to enter a world of never-heard-before tones. You may use the Octaver and Fuzz together or individually.
