Tonebox Recommended Pedals
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.
EarthQuaker Devices Spatial Delivery V2
The Spatial Delivery isn’t your ordinary garden-variety envelop filter; with its latching and momentary switching features, this guitar effects pedal from EarthQuaker Devices gives you unprecedented control over your filter effects’ sound and tone. The Filter knob lets you sweep from Lowpass to Bandpass through to Highpass filter modes, the Range dial controls the response to your unique picking dynamics, and the Resonance control lets you serve up anything from subtle filter effects to balls-to-the-wall mayhem.
Way Huge Aqua-Puss Analog Delay MkIII
The Aqua-Puss Analog Delay is renowned for its amazingly simple operation and bright, jangly repeats. Now, you can experience all that wholesome goodness in a Way Huge Smalls chassis that perfectly fits your pedalboard. The Aqua-Puss Analog Delay MkIII serves up vintage delay tones and tape-based echo. Featuring 20ms to 300ms of delay time on tap, this marvelous unit is all about tone thickening and old school slap-back. It consists of controls for Feedback, Delay, and Blend.
Mooer E-Lady
The Eleclady serves up a classic analog flanger sound and comes packed with a filter mode as well as oscillator effects. This guitar effects pedal from budget stompbox maker Mooer features two separate effect modes; Normal gives the effected signal a light, subtle sweep while Filter cranks the effect up for more dramatic sonic changes. The Eleclady may be tiny, but its versatile flange sound and full metal shell make it a roadworthy addition to your pedalboard.
TC Electronic Polytune 2 Mini
Ever since the PolyTune’s introduction in 2010, TC Electronic has been looking to make tuning speedier, better, and more impressive. The PolyTune 2 Mini guitar tuner does all of that in abundance. With 109 super-bright LEDs, it is easily readable at any stage condition. The PolyTune 2 Mini is an incredibly compact tuner with chromatic, strobe, and polyphonic tuning for precise and fast tuning. Polyphonic tuning lets you tune all your strings simultaneously, while speedy chromatic tuner delivers 0.5 cent precision.
JHS Pedals Morning Glory V4
Built to be among the most transparent overdrives, the Morning Glory is undoubtedly JHS Pedals’ most popular overdrive pedal, receiving more recognitions and bagging more awards than any of its other designs. It gives you all the tonal and responsive nuance your amp is missing. Utilize it if you wish to impart mid- to low-level grit to your crystal-clean tone, add tube-esque touch response to a less-than-ideal amp, or boost a crunchy tone into thicker sustain.
Drive Pedals
Stone Deaf PDF-2
The Stone Deaf PDF-2 is the successor to the iconic PDF-1, with adjustable gain control, reduced noise floor, and dual footswitch for dirty and clean channels. This ultra-versatile pedal applies to various instruments. Besides these innovative features, it now incorporates an expression input control feature for a phaser, wah-wah, and manual tonal shifts as standard. It is touted as among the handiest pedal-based Boost, EQ, and Distortions available. The PDF-2, along with its unique parametric distortion filter, is a fresh take on what a drive pedal sound must be.
CNZ Audio Bluesy
Give your music a classic blues sound with a solid, moderate overdrive effect with this Bluesy Overdrive Guitar Effects Pedal from CNZ Audio. This excellent pedal delivers infinite options for a distinct blues tone. It features two modes—Fat Mode, which beefs up your tone, and Normal Mode that provides a classic overdrive sound. With a classic tone and several adjustments, you can achieve the right amount of overdrive for your music and improve various play styles.
Bogner La Grange
The La Grange pedal was designed with various tone-shaping tools and to emulate the famed “plexus” amp tones. Guitarists appreciate tools that carry switches for gain, structure, presence, and variance. Controls include tone, gain, volume, and a channel blend simulating the two channels of a 4 input 67-69 plexus amp. Unlike the Ecstasy blue and red pedals, the La Grange features an independent boost with level adjust as well as an expression pedal input that allows you to connect a volume pedal’s output to adjust the La Grange’s gain.
Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver Deluxe
Tech 21 built the Bass Driver Deluxe specifically for the preset-stomping bass player who doesn’t like lugging around too much equipment. It’s positioned as the ultimate weapon for live performing bassists, letting them switch things up onstage, on the fly, whether it be instruments or tone. Each of the Bass Driver Deluxe’s dual inputs can be programmed with three custom tones, or you can use all six for a single instrument. It also features an all-analog signal path, an FX loop, and parallel/tuner out.
J. Rockett SOS
Your pedalboard needs a reliable buffer that will balance out your impedance to get high tones losses back on track, especially with long cable runs and multiple pedals. The quality of guitar cables differs so if you have ever plugged directly into your amp then back into your board, you understand what this means. J. Rockett’s SOS is precisely that—a pedal designed to save your tone. It lets you bypass any insane interaction with wah and fuzz pedals. The SOS features a single knob layout for slightly varying the focus of your high end to dial it where necessary.
Source Audio L.A. Lady
The L.A. Lady Overdrive pedal from Source Audio boasts the archetypal tones of well over five decades of fuzz and overdrive technology. It gives you three exceptional overdrive tones, including a punchy drive synonymous with modern Texas blues, the coveted “Marshall in a box” sound, and a tube amp inspired engine yielding a range of drive levels, from chunky and warm low gain to squealing lead gain. The L.A. Lady Overdrive consists of Treble, Bass, Level, and Drive knobs.
MOSKY PLEXI-M DISTORTION
The Plexi-M from budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Mosky Audio is a ‘60s Marshall plexi amp in stompbox form. It lets you go from a warm, mild overdrive to a crunchy distortion reminiscent of a heavily cranked plexi. You can twist the Tone knob clockwise for a brighter and brighter sound and crank up the Gain knob for all the distortion you could ever want. The Plexi-M comes with true bypass and has a 100% analog signal path.
Mooer Blade
The Blade guitar effects pedal is all devil horns and metal attitude. This compact and affordable Metal Muff clone from budget stompbox maker Mooer comes packed with three boost modes for a full-on gain assault: none, low, and high. A dedicated Tone micro button lets you tailor the distortion to your specific needs. True to its name, the Blade is the weapon you whip out when you want your signal to cut through the mix.
Caline Tantrum
From ribcage-rattling low end attacks to cutting mids and shrieking, piercing highs, the Caline CP-15 Tantrum Heavy Metal guitar effect pedal is built to dish out some extreme metal mayhem. With a three-band EQ reminiscent of the venerable Boss MT-2 Metal Zone, this heavy-duty heavy metal stompbox can serve up a wide range of high-gain distortion sounds. A dedicated Boost switch lets you access an extra bit of gain for solos, effectively giving you two distortion settings in one stompbox.
Tech 21 U.S. Steel
Tech 21 has taken their renowned SansAmp system and used it to create the Character Series pedals, stompboxes designed to emulate some of the most highly respected classic amp tones ever heard. The SansAmp Character Series U.S. Steel dirt box, in particular, is reminiscent of a Mesa/Boogie amp, serving up massive metal distortions perfect for chugging riffs and searing leads. A unique Character knob lets you control your tone even further to dial in practically any metal tone you might need.
XVive V2 Distortion
The V2 Distortion from budget guitar effects creator Xvive is a dirt stomp that goes from “kind of loud” to “Lord have mercy, that’s loud!” This tiny distortion pedal packs quite the high gain punch but has a wide enough gain range to be pretty versatile. You can dial in everything from a light crunch to utter saturation, all while retaining excellent dynamic response. The V2 Distortion features a 100% analog design and comes with true bypass switching.
Greer Amps Hammer
The Greer Amps Hammer features tones ranging from gnarly Texas rock distortion to squashed out, nearly cut-off fuzz. This versatile and amazing pedal has plenty of texture on tap. It can go from classic almost Shin Ei like fuzz tones to beautiful, massive stadium rock distortion tones. The Hammer is a flexible drive machine equipped with an interactive control set. The Grunt and Gain knobs work in tandem, and when both set to higher positions, the pedal gives up the goods within the “almost 8-bit” like territory.
Walrus Audio Janus
The Janus tremolo and fuzz stomp from boutique guitar effects pedal maker Walrus Audio is a stompbox oddity. Instead of control pots for Tone, Speed, and Depth, it features Tremolo and Fuzz joysticks. The former controls the tremolo effect’s speed and depth while the latter lets you dial in the fuzz effect’s tone and depth. There’s nothing gimmicky about its sound, though; the Janus can dish out both throbbing tremolo and thick, heavy fuzz. You can use both effects independently or together for a wild mix.
Danelectro CF-1 Cool Cat Fuzz
The Danelectro Cool Cat CF-1 Fuzz is one fuzzy, hairy crunch machine that would fit quite well on a pedalboard geared towards laying on a thick layer of dirt on a guitar signal. This budget-priced pedal serves up fuzz tones with a massive bottom end and tight crunch while letting your guitar’s original tone shine through the mix, whether you’re playing rhythm or blazing through a lead solo. The Danelectro Cool Cat CF-1 Fuzz comes with a true bypass feature.
Maxon Fuzz Elements Ether
The Maxon Fuzz Elements Ether takes the FA10 Air’s Fat channel and couples it with a parametric equalizer to give you infinite variations on the iconic Super Fuzz sound. It consists of Expander and Level knobs, as well as parametric tone circuit with Boost/Cut and Frequency controls. The Ether takes the legendary Super Fuzz sound and updates it with a revolutionary parametric EQ stage capable of creating an endless range of unique fuzz effects. It also includes mechanical true bypass switching.
Mojo Hand FX Colossus
Handcrafted in the USA using only top-grade components, the Colossus Fuzz pedal by Mojo Hand FX serves up that classic Muff-esque fuzz you have been wanting. Armed with volume, gain, tone, and full range mids knobs, plus a three-position toggle with different EQ voicings, the ultra-versatile and tweakable Colossus Fuzz lets you dial in and sculpt your sound for various styles and genres. It comes in a sturdy, roadworthy die-cast chassis built to endure years of touring and gigging.
Amptweaker TightFuzz
The Amptweaker TightFuzz Distortion Effect Pedal is sure to incorporate some vintage flavor to your arsenal. Unlike most vintage fuzz boxes with limited controls, the TightFuzz features a Tone control that tames fuzzy edges and Tight control that varies the pick attack from thick and smooth to aggressive and tight. That is especially helpful for tweaking your fuzz tone as some tend to be very flubby on the low end. While most modern fuzz boxes decided to make excessive fuzz tone, Amptweaker chose to create something with several flexible yet usable tones.
Mojo Hand FX Iron Bell
David Gilmour’s iconic lead tone has always been as varied as it is sought after. A variety of fuzz pedals, boosters, and overdrives, coupled with different guitars and amps, have created some of the brightest, amazingly lush tones in rock ‘n’ roll history. The Iron Bell Fuzz by Mojo Hand FX was modified to be a broad but focused platform. It is designed to yield an open and rich voice with an almost 3D harmonic quality. It carries usual Volume and Gain controls plus Colour and Tone knobs for shaping the overall EQ spectrum.
Electro-Harmonix Analogizer
Want to get a more analog sound out of your digital guitar effects pedals? Wrap your effects-laden signal up in a thick layer of analog warmth with the Analogizer, a unique preamp pedal from Electro-Harmonix. The Analogizer processes digital effects signals using an all-analog circuit and sprinkles it with a touch of lo-fi analog bits and pieces. Needless to say, put the Analogizer after any and all digital effects whose cold, by-the-numbers tone you want to thaw out.
Randall MOR
The MOR by Randall is a clean and aggressive single-knob boost pedal that features true bypass. It boasts tank-like construction and convenient access battery compartment. Roll the MOR knob to the right to enable more level. In front of your amp, it will drive more gain at the initial preamp stage (perfect with tube amps). The bypass switch moves from true bypassed organic instrument signal to signal fed via the pedal’s electronics. The MOR operates on a 9-volt battery or external power.
Mosky Dec Mini
The Dec Buffer Booster from budget guitar effects pedal brand takes its circuit design and tonal cues from the Wampler Decibel+ buffer and boost pedal. It packs two essential pedalboard problem solvers into one compact pedal: excellent, stable signal buffering and a pristine clean boost. Controls are dead simple; you get one knob that controls the gain level and one footswitch. THe Dec Buffer Booster knows what it’s supposed to do and does it well.
Fender Engager Boost
Whether you are looking for a thicker tone or more volume, the Engager Boost from Fender is the perfect clean boost pedal. The onboard three-band EQ allows you to dial in your tone to cut through the mix, while the Frequency switch enables you to choose the middle frequency range, perfect for dead-on tone sculpting. The Engager Boost is suitable for boosting your signal into a tube amp’s preamp, beefing up your tone. Buffered and true bypass modes guarantee that this pedal works exceptionally in any rig.
Mosky TW Distortion
Mosky Audio’s TW distortion guitar effects pedal doesn’t do subtle. It either goes Hard, or it goes Brutal. Note the capitalization; those two are the official names for the TW’s distortion voicings. Hard mode serves up a warmer thump while Brutal is a more full-range attack. Both voicings are, of course, built around the TW’s thick, high gain, which in itself has a lot in common tonally with a Peavey 5150 amp. Oh, and Mosky also threw in a boost switch.
Mooer Flex Boost
The Flex Boost guitar effects pedal from budget stomp master Mooer packs a lot of extra gain in its tiny, pocket-sized chassis. Use it to push a clean amp into warm overdrive territory or use the extra muscle to push and overdriven amp’s front end even further down the road into full-on distortion. The Mooer Flex Boost also comes with its own Treble and Bass EQ micro knobs to give you even more tone-shaping options.
Darkglass Vintage Ultra
Enjoy broader sonic options for live and studio applications with the Darkglass Vintage Ultra V2 pedal. At the request of players, the Vintage Ultra V2 has an individual switch for the overdrive section, letting you toggle it without changing your other settings. Every mid control includes a three-way toggle switch for six distinct mid-emphasis settings in total. The Master volume control allows you to adjust your signal. Boasting a switchable impulse-response cabinet emulation for realistic direct tone, the Vintage Ultra V2 serves as a one-stop shop for an awesome bass tone.
Xotic Bass BB Preamp
Boutique effects pedal company Xotic built the Bass BB Preamp to be one of the most versatile and tonally transparent boost and overdrive pedals ever created for bass players. With up to 30dB of boost juice, the Bass BB Preamp can deliver everything from a pristine clean boost to a rough and tough overdrive and all points between. You don’t have to worry about your tone getting muddy and individual notes becoming indistinguishable, either; the Bass BB Preamp is designed to preserve your core tone even when you crank it up.
Electro-Harmonix LPB-1
The original LPB-1 circuit was instrumental in the arrival of the age of overdrive in the late ‘60s. Electro-Harmonix has recreated that exact same circuit for its LPB-1 Linear Power Booster pedal reissue. With the LP-B 1, you can achieve full control over the gain and saturation levels of any amp you want. Plug it in ahead of the other effects in your effects chain and you can easily increase their attack and sonic definition.
Lehle Sunday Driver
Maximize your guitar tone with the Sunday Driver by Lehle. This high-end preamp comes in a portable footprint. It boasts JFET-based circuitry and gives you two operation modes. It eradicates signal loss through effects and leads, keeping your signal clear and strong. Position the Sunday Driver preamp between your amp and pedals, select the Driver setting and get ready for tonal bliss—regardless of how many stompboxes you are running. With the Sunday Driver, your sound becomes fuller, livelier, and more dynamic.
Randall RGOD
The Randall RGOD is a dual-channel FET preamp pedal with Gain1/2. It boasts heavy-duty construction and multiple EQ, Gain, and Level controls. It features true bypass, TSS Tone Stack Shift, mid EQ scoop, bass EQ boost, and EQ with Presence, Treble, Mid, and Bass. Use the Bass Boost button to boost low end “fattening” sound, while the Mid Boost eliminates midrange when depressed—produces smiley face EQ curve. The TSS button changes the focal point of the midrange EQ affecting the whole equalization curve.
T-Rex Octavius
A tri-tone generator with a brilliant Boost function and a comprehensive set of controls, the Octavius by T-Rex Engineering delivers everything you seek in octave generation—plus a beautiful T-Rex tone. It enables you to capture that classic octave-down effect heard from Machine Gun by Jimi Hendrix and other recordings. You may also add in a high octave and blend the octaves to your liking to produce your signature sound. The Octavius is controllable using the Boost, Master Mix, Lo Oct, and Hight Oct knobs.
Orange Two Stroke
Two Stroke is Orange’s take on the classic clean boost pedal, boasting increased flexibility. With an active dual parametric equalizer coupled with up to 12dB of output boost, the Two Stroke serves as an exceptional tool for fine-tuning your sound or driving the front end of your amp with unparalleled control. The dual-parametric active EQ enables anything from wide, mild cuts and boosts to narrow dips or peaks. The Two Stroke also features transparent buffered bypass and internal charge pump.
LunaStone Boost 18
Its small, pedalboard-friendly footprint isn’t the only thing the Boost 18 shares with Lunastone’s award-winning Pusher boost pedal. It also packs the same tonal clarity and flavorful compression, but with a bigger boost impact. As its name implies, the Boost 18 ups the Pusher’s 15dB of clean boost up to 18dB at max. Lunastone also updated the boost control knob’s taper to give it a smoother, more linear feel when you’re turning up that dial.
Vertex Boost (Fiesta Red)
Sporting a fiesta red paint job, the Vertex Boost is designed to be a buffer, clean boost, and volume pedal in one. It will leave your tone unaltered while raising the level of your signal. It boasts an ultra-linear buffer for conditioning your line without tonal coloration, even with multiple pedals in your chain. You also have full volume control by connecting the Boost to an EXP or volume pedal and setting your volume just like you would with a regular volume pedal.
TC Electronic Spark Mini
Drive your guitar amp into glorious overdrive with the Spark Mini Booster from TC Electronic. You may also utilize it as a clean boost for a mild volume increase during solos. Either way, this innovative pedal boasts premium analog circuitry that does not degrade your tone. Additionally, you can utilize the Spark Mini Booster in two ways—hold the footswitch for a momentary boost or kick it on/off like other pedals. It comes in a compact footprint that easily fits on your pedalboard.
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.
Modulation Pedals
Ibanez Chorus Mini
It is difficult to match the sound of a true analog chorus for giving vibrant lushness to your guitar tone, and the Chorus Mini pedal from Ibanez provides it in a tiny package that can go on any pedalboard. Speed, Level, and Depth knobs let you dial anything from subtle shimmering clean tones to intense warbles. The all-analog signal path keeps the tonal essence of your guitar, while true bypass switching eliminates the effect from your signal path. The Chorus Mini is perfect for adding real analog chorus to your rig.
Maxon Ambient Stereo Chorus
The ASC10 Ambient Stereo Chorus from Maxon comes in a compact chassis with a straightforward control interface that belies its spacious sound and flexible operation. Its chorusing effect is set particularly wide in the stereo spectrum, giving you a rich tonality that sounds like two guitars playing simultaneously. The Depth and Rate controls’ extended operation range conjure up anything from punch-drunk rotary speaker spins to beautiful 12-string simulations. The ASC10 is aggressive on distorted tones and stunning on clean sounds.
TWA SC-04
Totally Wycked Audio’s Fly Boys line is a collection of ultra-compact and super affordable mini pedals that pack boutique level tone but without the boutique level price tag. The FB-04 chorus is all about layering your sound in a classic analog chorus tone brimming with warmth and an organic appeal. Dedicated Rate, Depth, and Blend controls let you dial in the sublimely sculpted chorus tone of your dreams, while a true bypass function keeps the FB-04 from interfering with your pedal chain when it’s disengaged.
Xvive Duet Looper D3
Although the Duet Looper from budget guitar effects maker Xvive may not be the first micro stereo looper pedal on the market, it does have the distinction of being the first to let players use series recording and dual loop playback. It features two modes you can switch between via a toggle. In Undo/Redo mode, you can record a five-minute loop with undoable and redoable overdubs. Verse/Chorus mode, meanwhile, lets you record two separate loops of up to five minutes each. you can then record, overdub, or play these loops separately.
Mooer Ensemble Queen Bass
The Ensemble Queen from budget guitar effects company Mooer handles the signature low end rumble of a bass guitar like a total boss. It delivers lush, ambient washes of stereo chorus that enhance your bass tone for a more vivid and dynamic sound. Dedicated Level, Tone, Depth, and Rate pots combine to create a versatile bass chorus pedal that can dish out everything from subtle shimmers to watery choral waves. The Ensemble Queen features true bypass switching.
Behringer Ultra Chorus
If you think you can only get rich tones from expensive pedals, the Behringer UC200 Ultimate Stereo Chorus guitar effects pedal is here to prove you wrong. With super-thick chorus tones, an unbelievably rich stereo effect, and a price tag that won’t require you to sell off a kidney, the UC200 is the perfect pedalboard addition for any guitar hero on a budget. Sculpt and shape your sound into perfection using the UC200’s dedicated Depth, Rate, and Level controls and fatten up your guitar’s sound with a single stomp.
Source Audio Soundblox 2 MANTA Bass Filter
The Soundblox 2 Manta Bass Filter from Source Audio boasts 12 meticulously tailored filter effects along with eight distortion variations, a feature never available before in the Soundblox line of filter effects. These styles of distortion are not only crunch or amp simulation; they are configured to work alongside the filter effect selections. The Manta’s filters are controllable by two envelope followers, square, sine, and saw tooth LFO. Similar to its fellow Soundblox 2 pedals, the Manta is compatible with the Hot Hand 3 Wireless Effects Controller, Source Audio Dual Expression Pedal, and MIDI control signals through the Soundblox HUB.
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.
Death by Audio Evil Fuzz/Filter
The Evil Fuzz/Filter from Death by Audio sounds great with your guitar, synth, or amplified skateboard. It is absolutely psychotic destruction with blooming inverted compression. The CV/Expression in lets you adjust the filter in sync with an arpeggiating synth or manage it using an expression pedal. The Evil Filter is a combination of fuzz/filter with chaos factor that surpasses the sum of its chaotic parts. While you can use filtering and fuzz individually, the two effects are sonic co-conspirators.
Electro Harmonix Attack Decay
Electro-Harmonix’s original ‘80s-era Attack Decay Tape Reverse Simulator pedal has become a much sought-after stompbox due to the control it gave musicians over the notes they play. The new version of this classic guitar effects pedal faithfully recreates the tape reversing, volume swelling, and note-cutting capabilities of its predecessor, plus it introduces a new Poly mode that adds volume envelopes to each individual note you play. Also included are an expression pedal jack, three user presets, and more.
Xotic Robotalk 2
The original Robotalk has long been one of Xotic’s most popular boutique guitar effects pedals. They’ve since brought it back in a big way via the new and improved Robotalk 2. This dual channel envelope filter packs quite the feature list, with the two independently voiced and stackable channels being number one. Each channel is distinct, giving you a wide range of hyper-saturated wah tones whichever one you use. When you’re ready to get down and dirty, though, stacking them together is the way to go.
Electro-Harmonix Enigma
Few envelope filter effects pedals can come close to the tone-shaping power and precision that the Enigma: Q-Balls For Bass brings to the table. This bass-optimized envelope filter from Electro-Harmonix lets you dial in some truly expressive and funky tones using adjustable Q, sweep range, and filter type. Plug in an expression pedal and you get even more control over the Q frequency’s sweeps. There’s also a dedicated Distortion effect that can dish out everything from a subtle bite to an all-out crush.
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.
NUX Flanger Core
The Flanger Core by NUX lets you pick between two kinds of flanger effect: Tape and Normal. It features a true bypass design, tone lock function for preventing incorrect operation and a preset save or recall. Effects like chilling vibrato, resonance modification, rotating speakers, jet sounds, and intensified studio flanging with two modes. The Flanger Core comes in an aluminum alloy enclosure, boasting solid construction. It consists of four control knobs: Feedback, Width, Depth, and Rate.
Eventide H9 Core
Eventide H9 Core
The H9 Core acts as the entry-level version of Eventide’s monstrous H9 MAX multi-effects pedal. It comes with 25 presets from the original glitch-heavy, pitch-shifting H910/H949 Harmonizers, plus for a fee, you can augment its effects arsenal via the H9 Control app. You can pick and choose the effects you purchase to make an H9 Core that’s truly unique to your needs, or just go all out and turn your H9 Core into an H9 MAX.
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.
Rowin Flanger
Budget guitar effects pedal maker Rowin’s LEF-312 Flanger is a very versatile, highly musical flanger pedal that punches way above its price class. You can dial in a wide range of psychedelic effects, from subtle spacey textures to full-on vortexes of flanged-out madness. The LEF-312 Flanger comes with a full complement of Color, Rate, and Flange knobs plus a two-way toggle that lets you switch between a normal flange effect and an exaggerated one where the comb filter’s been injected with stompbox steroids.
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.
MXR Phase 95 Mini
With its refined sound, portable size, and superior construction, the Phase 90 has set the benchmark for phasers. Two years after, MXR introduced a mellower version—the Phase 45. You can now enjoy both legendary circuits in one pedal while also tightening up your pedalboard. The Phase 95 packs the Phase 45 and Phase 90 circuits into a compact package. The 45/90 switch toggles between the Phase 90 mode’s pronounced four-stage phasing and Phase 45 mode’s subtle two-stage phasing. A Script switch changes between two phasing styles.
JOYO Vision
The R-09 Vision guitar effects pedal from Joyo is a modulation maniac’s dream pedal. 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.
Ibanez Flying Pan
The Ibanez Flying Pan provides guitarists with the trippiest blend of tremolo, phaser, and stereo pan in all guitardom. By adjusting the pan rate, phase rate, and phase feedback, along with the panning on/off footswitch and phaser on/off footswitch, create your otherworldly cocktail of pure panning, pure phasing, or simultaneous panning and phasing. The Flying Pan features a three-way switch that controls the stereo output. This reissue of the highly-collectible ‘70s Flying Pan is limited to a production of 777 units.
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Dweller
The Dweller Phase Repeater by Old Blood Noise Endeavors boasts the ability to remember, be it familiar vibe and phase sounds or resonant random step filtering, warm delays, and formerly unheard in-betweens. It is capable of infinite sonic textures with six modes and five controls. It carries toggle switches for choosing between three wave shapes (triangle, sine, and random step) and two phaser voices (eight stage and four stage). The Dweller also consists of Rate, Depth, and Regen controls for shaping the phaser’s sound.
MXR Phase 90
MXR’s Phase 90 has long been a staple on numerous pedalboards around the world. Regardless whether the instrument is bass, guitar, keys, strings, or vocals, or if the genre is metal, jazz, rock, worldbeat, or alternative, the Phase 90 is has been present through it all to inject its unique lush voice to a player’s tone palette. This little orange box boasts a rich warm analog tone. The Phase 90 can go from subtle, spatial shimmer to full-on high velocity swooshing. The classic phase shifter behind several Van Halen recordings.
Morley Mini Tremonti
The Morley Mini Tremonti A Dying Machine Wah effects pedal packs all of the features in Mark Tremonti’s signature Morley wah into a pedalboard-friendly chassis wrapped in the album art for his album “A Dying Machine.” The hybrid classic-modern sound and sweep of the Mini Tremonti’s big brother is there as well as the extra 20dB of gain muscle. While small, the Mini Tremonti still features Morley’s electro-optical structure, True-Tone Buffer Bypass, and switchless operation.
Wampler Latitude Deluxe
Much like its little brother the Latitude Standard, the Latitude Deluxe tremolo pedal boutique guitar effects stomp maker Wampler lets you dish out everything from shimmering vintage tremolo tones to modern helicopter chops, all at the highest sound quality possible thanks to its pure signal path. The Latitude Deluxe ups the ante with tap tempo controls, four time division options, and three wave forms you can switch between. Whether you want subtle and classy or in your face and nasty, the Latitude Deluxe can deliver.
Voodoo Lab Tremolo
The Tremolo pedal from Voodoo Lab emulates the buttery, alluring tone of a classic tube amp tremolo. That is done by leveraging the similar lamp and photocell assembly available in several great vintage amps. The Voodoo Lab Tremolo also includes a slope control that allows you to adjust the vibe from an old-school soothing tremolo to severe machine-gun stutter. Intensity and speed knobs offer an extensive range to incorporate deep and extremely slow sounds. You can boost or cut the output level using the volume control.
Boss TR2 Tremolo
The Boss TR-2 Tremolo guitar effects pedal packs a high-quality, vintage tremolo wallop in its compact stompbox frame. The Boss TR-2 Tremolo pedal’s simple and easy to use three-knob interface gives you all the tone-sculpting tools you need to create mindbending tremolo effects. Use the Rate knob for precise speed adjustments, the Wave knob to go from a triangular LFO waveform to a square, and the Depth knob to control the strength of the tremolo effect.
Pigtronix Ringmaster Analog Multiplier
The Ringmaster Analog Multiplier pedal from Pigtronix is among the most playable ring modulators you will hear. Sophisticated real-time pitch-tracking tech makes it an amazingly musical-sounding ring mod effect, and you may also disable the pitch tracking for clanging, atonal ring mod effects. The Ringmaster is capable of becoming a vibrant analog tremolo effect with the flick of a switch. An inbuilt LFO and sample plus hold add animation and movement to the effects. The Ringmaster delivers tremendous sound design potential for guitarists and synthesists.
JAM Pedals RetroVibe
Made for Hendrix/Trower fanatics, the RetroVibe is Jam Pedals’ take on the most iconic Vibe pedal of all time. Jam Pedals originally wanted to emulate the sound of a vintage UniVibe. Upon getting there, however, they looked into leveling it up. The RetroVibe includes novel NOS 2SC828 transistors and carbon comp resistors for an authentic vintage sound. Jam Pedals also incorporated an additional internal trimmer which impacts the effect’s maximum intensity as well as manipulates the RetroVibe’s sound while keeping the pedal’s real vintage character.
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.
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.
ZVex Vibrophase
The Vibrophase is actually based on a candle-powered vibrato / phaser machine called the Candela that Zvex mastermind Zachary Vex created a few years back. Fans loved the Candela’s swirling sounds, so Zvex created the Vibropahse. From classic analog phase to Uni-vibe textures and otherworldly pulses, the Vibrophase’s sonic palette is pure bliss. 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. The more “standard” vertical orientation of the Vibrophase Vertical also makes it easier to slot this pedal into your pedalboard.
Electro-Harmonix Worm
All sorts of wriggling and writhing modulation madness have been packed into the sturdy, pedalboard-friendly chassis of Electro-Harmonix’s Worm pedal. This all-analog multi-effects stompbox features wah, phaser, tremolo, and vibrato effects. Pick a modulation effect with the four-way Mode dial then use the sweepable Range and Rate knobs to access a breadth of highly musical effect tones. The Worm also has a two-position toggle that lets you choose between auto modulation sweeping and manual or expression pedal control.
Donner Mod Square
The Donner Mod Square is a modulation pedal that lets you have seven modulation effects, including Flanger, Vibrato, Rotary, Tremolo, Phaser, Chorus A, and Chorus B, to add musical color to your tone. It comes in an aluminium-alloy chassis consists of three function knobs (Rate, Depth, and E.Level) for setting the effect level. Use the E.Level control to adjust the effect level, Depth for the effect depth, and Rate to set the effect speed. Mod Square also features a true bypass switch and an LED indicator that displays the working state.
Electro-Harmonix SLAMMI
Electro-Harmonix’s Slammi is a completely revolutionary new polyphonic pitch shifter. Its 11-way Max Bend control switch lets you get everything from a slight chorus shimmer to a three-octave up or down bend. You can rock it up and down like your typical expression pedal for smooth pitch shifts or leave it in the heel-down position to keep the effect engaged. And perhaps best of all, the Slammi tracks notes as fast as you play them. Polyphonic divebombs, harmony, and chorus effects have never been easier.
Electro-Harmonix Octavix
Fuzz and octave effects go together like peanut butter and jelly. The Octavix octave fuzz guitar effects pedal from Electro-Harmonix gives you both in a tiny Nano-form enclosure. Dedicated Volume, Boost, and Octave control knobs let you dial in the exact torn-speaker, self-destructing amp vintage fuzz and octave sound you want. The Octavix also has an interesting switchable 9V/24V power feature; it sounds like a vintage fuzz pedal when you use 9V, while switching to 24V gives you tighter, fatter effects.
Danelectro DJ-12 Chili Dog Octave Mini
A seriously musical stompbox for the shoegazer on a shoestring budget. The Danelectro DJ-12 Chili Dog Octave can generate up to two extra octave tones, each of which has its own control knob. OCT1 gives you a clear, more treble-focused tone one octave down from your guitar signal while OCT2 is a heavier, more pure-sounding tone that’s also dropped one octave down. This guitar effect pedal can also track notes pretty well, even bent ones.
Catalinbread Octapussy
The Octapussy from Catalinbread is an Octavia-like octave-jumping fuzz pedal. Cello-esque textures, atonal landscapes, and drone melodies are all within reach, thanks to its Body and Gain controls, custom-voiced preamp section, and Atten knob. The Octapussy brings whole worlds of sounds and works best as the first pedal in your chain. This octave-up fuzz also works well at neighbor-friendly amplitudes, allowing you to explore and produce with love, even when cranking your amp is not an option.
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.
MXR Blue Box
Meet the insane effect behind Jimmy Page’s “Fool in the Rain” solo—the Blue Box Octave Fuzz from MXR. It duplicates your guitar signal two octaves down for massive subterranean tones. It features a simple two-knob design consists of Blend and Output controls. Roll the Output control to select the amount of fuzz you desire and utilize the Blend knob to set how much double-octave sound you wish. The Blue Box delivers plenty of fun and chaos, making it perfect for the sonically adventurous.
Timing, Dynamics & EQ Pedals
Empress Effects Tape Delay
The Tape Delay from Empress Effects gives you rich tap delay within a compact box. Three tape age flavors (new, vintage, old) allow you to decide how gritty and dark the repeats will get, while modulation and filter controls enable better fine-tuning. The Tape Delay boasts a killer sound quality, with about 103 dB signal to noise ratio. Featuring an analog dry path, it is loaded with features accessible through the advanced configuration mode. Presets are capable of recording your settings and can be recalled easily.
Alexander Pedals Oblivion
The Oblivion Vintage Delay is Alexander Pedals’ take on some of the best echo units ever existed. Alexander Pedals wants you to concentrate on creating music, so it loaded the Oblivion Vintage Delay with cool features while making it as convenient as possible. The Oblivion Vintage Delay features four delay engines—MULTI, OILCAN, TAPE, and ANALOG. TAPE emulates the earliest magnetic tape echoes, MULTI gives you a magical multi-head delay, ANALOG recalls the vintage warmth of old-school BBD units, and OILCAN evokes ‘60s electrostatic delay line effects.
Rowin Ana Echo
The Ana Echo from budget guitar effects pedal brand Rowin offers the characteristic warmth and musicality of a vintage analog delay guitar effects pedal but crammed into a tiny chassis that’s barely bigger than a Matchbox car. Each repetition gently degrades your initial guitar signal for that true analog sound. And like all real analog pedals, you can crank up the Intense knob for pulsating UFO-like feedback pulses. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because this is basically a rebranded Mooer Ana Echo—or maybe it’s the other way around.
ammoon Mosky DTC
Ammoon’s DTC multi-effects unit is a budget-friendly 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.
NUX Time Core Deluxe
The Time Core Deluxe by NUX gives you unique modes that you can’t find in most delay pedals. It boasts incredible versatility in delivering up to eight types of delays (Digital, Tap, Analog, Pan, P.Pong, Reverse, and Mod) to the utmost ambiance. The Tape mode will add a vintage flavor to your classic sound. You may also preserve your natural sound using the Digital delay mode. Whether modern or classic, the Analog mode constructed with bucket-brigade (BBD) device makes your sound more extraordinary and warmer.
Rowin Delay
With a delay time range of 20ms to 620ms, the tiny LEF-314 Delay is a highly usable and very affordable delay pedal ideal for shoestring shoegazers with an already crowded pedalboard. Budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Rowin crammed an extremely versatile classic tape / echo delay into this baby. Note that while it’s advertised as an analog delay, this pedal is actually digital; it uses a CD2399GP chip to emulate the sound of a true analog delay.
EarthQuaker Devices Disaster Transport SR
Albeit discontinued, the Disaster Transport delay guitar effects pedal remains one of EarthQuaker Devices’ more popular creations. It’s a digital delay with an analog voice that can dish out up to 625ms of delay time and serve up authentic tape echo delay complete with sonic eccentricities. You can boost the delay signal by up to four times its original signal level, while the modulation can go from a subtle warble to a super-fast tremolo effect.
Wampler Mini Faux Spring Reverb
With the Mini Faux Spring Reverb, boutique guitar effects pedal maker Wampler resurrects its discontinued but still very well loved Faux Spring Reverb pedal in a more compact form. It might be smaller, but the Mini Faux Spring actually cranks a lot of the original’s features up to 11. It has a longer decay time, more drippiness, and more spring reverb bounce. Wampler kept the control layout clear and simple, too, so it’s very easy to dial in the bouncy boings and springy shimmers you want.
Strymon BigSky
Serving up a wide variety of reverb effects presently on the market, the Strymon BigSky serves as your go-to pedal for your reverb needs. You can capture twelve reverb types with a roll of a knob and dramatically edit and record the effects in the 300 onboard preset slots. For the best sound quality possible, a tremendously powerful SHARC DSP powers the unit. The BigSky is robust enough to be the last reverb pedal you will ever need.
Laney Black Country Customs Secret Path
The Black Country Customs Secret Path by Laney is a charming pedal created reverbs for Plate and Spring, evocative of the glory days of vintage amp and studio tones coupled with contemporary sound quality and reliability. Boasting a solid metal chassis built, the Secret Path carries four control knobs as well as a three-way toggle switch that lets you select between three distinct modes: Plate, Spring, and The Secret Path. This ultra-versatile reverb pedal has plenty of great qualities.
Donner Alpha FX
The Donner Alpha FX is an effects chain combining nine meticulously selected reverb, modulation, and delay effects in one. Every effect module features three thoroughly picked effect types. The additional Tap Tempo function is designed for instant time/rate control and is handy for playing with bands. Characterized by its simple form factor, stunning tone, and portable size, the Alpha FX fits any music style. It comes in a convenient compact size, featuring an LED indicator and buffer bypass.
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.
NUX Komp Core Deluxe
Are you looking for a compressor that will not color your sound? The Komp Core Deluxe by NUX is a versatile analog compressor pedal with an extensive range of compressor tones. Precise knobs and three different clip modes offer a broad range of taste. Blend, Sustain, and Attack knobs give you a great control perspective on signal, and you can add a low-noise sustain and set input sensitivity accurately. The Komp Core Deluxe can be as squishy or transparent as you want.
Bogner Lyndhurst
Packed with a Rupert Neve-designed transformer, the Lyndhurst compressor pedal brings the coveted classic recording console sound into your pedalboard. Its inbuilt studio-grade preamp unleashes all nuances of your instrument before its signal reaches the compressor. The Lyndhurst employs the same revolutionary VCA technology often found only in expensive outboard gears. Expect an abundance of vintage warmth and rich harmonics when you plug into this pedal. The Lyndhurst might well be the only compressor you will need.
JHS Pedals Pulp N’ Peel V4
The Pulp ‘N’ Peel V4 from JHS Pedals sports plenty of tone-sculpting power. It features a mini Dirt toggle that allows you to give a touch of grit to your tone. Whether you are a bassist sending your signal straight or a guitarist using the Pulp ‘N’ Peel V4 on your pedalboard, its ¼” and balanced XLR outputs have got you covered. The Pulp ‘N’ Peel V4 will serve as your trusty solution no matter what your compression requires.
MXR M282
The MXR Dyna Comp Bass compressor gives you the most iconic compression sound, customized and tuned particularly for bassists. Built upon the CA3080 “metal can” integrated circuit for broader dynamic range, silent operation, and superior transparency, the Dyna Comp Bass is complete with fundamental controls for sculpting that sweet Dyna Comp swish. Regular Dyna Comp compressors tend to squash bass signal dynamics, depriving bassists of the transparency necessary to make the low end fundamental shine. The Dyna Comp Bass includes Clean and Tone knobs for preserving low end integrity and tonal dynamics respectively.
JAM Pedals Dyna-ssoR
The Dyna-ssoR is the fulfillment of Jam Pedals’ dream to combine an MXR DynaComp with a Ross Compressor, that’s why it is named as such. You can use the Dyna-ssoR either as an endless sustainer for soaring, overdriven humbucking tones or a squashing compressor for tight single coil-driven funk grooves. It features true bypass as well as Sustain and Level knobs. It runs on a nine-volt battery or 9V boss-type DC adaptor (negative tip). The Dyna-ssoR represents Jam Pedals’ commitment to crafting well-tuned circuits.
Sabbadius Funkastic Compressor
The Funkastic Compressor by Sabbadius Custom Pedal Effects has been built with all the attention necessary to make it among the most exquisite compressors for your recording studio, keyboards, bass, guitar, and more. It draws inspiration from the best compressor being manufactured by a notable effect pedal company. The Funkastic Compressor is handcrafted with excellent materials and features an entirely custom design, leveraging boutique capacitors MKT CA3080E. It consists of exceptional high gain and low noise selected transistors.
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.
Maxon GE601 Graphic Equalizer
The Maxon Reissue Series Graphic Equalizer pedal is the ideal accessory for guitarists who need accurate control of the tone of their instrument. Providing +/- 12 dB of boost or cut and covering six meticulously picked frequency bands from 100 Hz to 3.2 kHz, you may utilize the GE601 EQ as a level booster, feedback eliminator, tone filter, or pickup simulator. Maxon’s Reissue Series gives you the classic sonic palette that defined the tones of guitarists over the last three decades. Every model’s circuit is pure analog and housed in a durable chassis.
Aguilar Tone Hammer
The Aguilar Tone Hammer preamp/direct box allows you to take full control of your tone. It is an invaluable addition to every bassist’s toolbox. Built on the OBP-3 preamp, the sturdy Tone Hammer boasts wholly sweepable midrange frequencies, treble, and bass controls. This powerful combination places multiple sculpting capabilities at your fingertips, and you may directly connect it to a live sound system or your recording rig. The Tone Hammer is rocking the Adaptive Gain Shaping circuitry, allowing you to dial in anything from serious overdrive to vintage tones.
Fulltone Secret Freq
Serving up everything from clean boost to overdrive and through to full-on distorted rock tones, the Fulltone Secret Freq Overdrive guitar effects pedal is one versatile stompbox. It’s got all the hallmarks of a classic overdrive stomp; it’s highly dynamic, has a natural tube-style overdrive tone, and is very responsive to picking attack. The Secret Freq also has a secret weapon: a Freq control knob that lets you dial in up to 20db of active, narrow-band midrange for more tone-shaping possibilities.
Donner Equalizer
Whether you want to adjust your tone finely or connect to complete range pedals, you can get a master volume control of different frequencies with precision from Donner’s Equalizer pedal. The frequency centers include 100Hz, 250Hz, 630Hz, 1.6 kHz, and 4 kHz. Uniquely crafted for guitarists, this 5-band graphic EQ has a ±18 dB alterable gain range per band, helping you sculpt your sound across five frequencies to prevent feedback resulting from extra distorting effects. The Equalizer carries a Volume knob so you can flexibly adjust the volume.
Chase Bliss Audio Condor
The Chase Bliss Audio Condor multi-effect pedal enables control over a broad range of effects, including tremolo, boost, overdrive, EQ, and filter tones. Boasting the ability to store presets and a potent parametric mids control, the Condor proves to be as majestic and powerful as the bird it is named after. This pedal also features a switchable overdrive circuit for shaping the guitar tone you want. The overdrive circuit complements stacking, so using it together with your favorite overdrive stompbox is recommended.
Latest Reviews
The 5 Best Guitar Synthesizer Pedals
Synth pedals for guitars are definitely a niche effect, altering your sound to the point that it doesn’t really even sound guitar-ish anymore. That said, as a lot of popular
The 5 Best Preamp Pedals
What is a preamp pedal, and why do you need one? In guitar amplifiers, the preamp is where tone shaping and overdrive happens before your guitar signal is sent off
The 6 Best Compressor Pedals
Compression is not the flashiest effect for your pedalboard. It doesn’t send your guitar signal into distorted mayhem, or modulate it into dreamy echos and tonal sweeps. Rather, a compressor
The 5 Best Bass DI Pedals
Whether DI stands for “direct input,” “direct injection,” or “direct interface,” it’s an essential tool for bass players. DI pedals allow you to forego a traditional amplifier altogether, plugging directly
The 7 Best Wah Wah Pedals
The onomatopoeic wah pedal is probably the best-known guitar effect to non-guitarists, thanks to ultra-distinctive sounds like the opening to Isaac Hayes’ “Theme from Shaft” and Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child (Slight
Latest News
Minneapolis pedal company Chase Bliss Audio has unleashed an adventurous delay-based unit called the Habit. Advertised as a “freeform sampler and musical sketchpad,” the Habit yields traditional delays with the
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
Boss has lifted the veil on two new digital stompboxes spec’d from its legendary RE-201 Space Echo—the RE-2 and RE-202. Stripping the RE-201 sound down to its core essentials, the
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
Metallica electric guitar star Kirk Hammett has taken to Instagram to announce that his second signature Dunlop Cry Baby Wah is in the works. Dressed in a striking purple colorway
Wampler has introduced its version of the double-Blues Breaker-style format popularized by the Analog Man King Of Tone—the Pantheon Deluxe Dual Overdrive. Coming in as an update on the Blues
Electro-Harmonix has lifted the veil on its latest modulation pedal, the Eddy Analog Vibrato & Chorus, a wobbly vibrato and chorus stompbox featuring an entirely analog signal path and deep
Romanian effects stompbox manufacturer Becos Effects has joined forces with Ratt and Hot Crazy guitarist Jordan Ziff for the ultra-compact Ziffer Overdrive. Drawing inspiration from the Becos TS8-MS Overdrive MIDI
DSP wizards Meris and Chase Bliss Audio have unveiled their version of the Lexicon 224, the CXM 1978 Automatone, at the NAMM 2020. Introduced in 1978, the Lexicon 224 is
Dunlop has introduced a new wah pedal that comes with two distinct voices—the Custom Badass Dual-Inductor Cry Baby. Per Dunlop, “This limited edition Cry Baby Wah brings together the two
Old Blood Noise Endeavors has lifted the veil on the Expression Ramper, a portable control pedal for automating your other stompboxes’ expression parameters. With the Expression Ramper, you can dial
Catalinbread has lifted the veil on its latest masterpiece, the Cloak Reverb and Shimmer pedal. Intended as a stripped-back take on a shimmer reverb, the Cloak consists of only a
Vox has launched the Valvenergy pedal series, consists of four Nutube-fitted stompboxes: the Copperhead Drive, Cutting Edge, Mystic Edge, and Silk Drive. Per the brand, all four valve distortion stompboxes
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
Origin Effects has launched the latest addition to its RevivalDRIVE pedal lineup—the RD Compact Hot Rod, which seeks to emulate the feel of playing through a vintage hot-rodded amp. The
Utility Pedals
MOOER Baby Tuner
The Baby Tuner is so small, light, and useful that you might never remove it from your pedalboard once you plug it in. This compact mini tuner from budget stomp master Mooer is lightning fast, meaning you spend more time actually performing than waiting for it to tell you whether or not your guitar is in tune. The big red and blue LED display also works well on dimly lit stages, and it has true bypass so you won’t have to worry about tone loss.
Rowin Chromatic Tuner
What a good chromatic tuner lacks in glamour is offset by it being a must-have essential for any and all musicians. The high-precision LT-910 Chromatic Tuner from budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Rowin is a workhorse pedal that not only takes up a tiny spot on your pedalboard, but also costs less than half of your average stompbox. The LT-910 CHromatic Tuner features a big bright LED display that’s perfect for tuning while on a dark stage, plus it works equally well with guitar or bass.
Boss TU3 Tuner
The Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner is the upgraded next-gen version of the TU-2, the gold standard of chromatic tuners. This pedalboard essential is accurate to +/- 1 cent and comes with a new Accu-Pitch Sign function and a 21-segment LED meter that give you visual verification when you hit the perfect tuning. The Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner also features Chromatic and Guitar/Bass tuning modes that support 7-string guitars and 6-string basses as well as a Guitar Flat mode for quick drop tunings up to six semitones below the standard pitch.
Donner DT Deluxe
The DT Deluxe from Donner is an exceptional chromatic tuner that comes in a classic design and compact size so it will not hog your pedalboard space. It includes true bypass, which is fundamental for this type of pedal, and a new strobe mode with +/- 1 cent accuracy. This guitar tuner pedal has a huge LCD that shows you what is going on. The footswitch lets you turn the tuner on/off, and will instantly mute your signal once the pedal is activated. The DT Deluxe is convenient to use and makes for a great entry-level tuner.
Korg Pitchblack Custom (Red)
Add a readable and precise tuner to your pedalboard with the Pitchblack Custom by Korg. It features a limited edition vivid red finish and sturdy, compact design that makes it convenient to incorporate into your setup. The Pitchblack Custom’s three-dimensional display is bright enough for daylight use, but its detail and spacing is also suitable for dim stages. It boasts extreme 0.1-cent precision that guarantees you get the closest tuning achievable. It also features four display modes: Regular A, Regular B, Strobe, and Half Strobe.
Electro-Harmonix V256 Vocoder
With up to 256 adjustable vocoder bands, the V256 vocoder pedal from Electro-Harmonix is a true beast of a machine. Talking guitar effects, futuristic robotic voices, and gender-bending pitch adjustment are just some of the cool voicings you can create with the V256 and then store in up to nine onboard memory locations. It’s even got a Reflex Tune feature, giving you an auto-tune pitch correction effect that you can take with you on stage.
Digitech Jam Man
DigiTech’s JamMan Stereo Looper boasts the ability to save 35 minutes of CD-quality loops within 99 internal memories and an SD memory card expansion slot that allows you to store more than 16 hours of material in an added 99 slots. It also includes reverse playback, true stereo looping, and a mic input making it suitable for DJ applications and backing tracks. The JamMan Stereo has USB connectivity and will sync to the JamManager XT software which organizes and records your JamMan Stereo loops to your Mac or PC.
Electro-Harmonix 95000
Sporting six mono tracks and one stereo mixdown track per loop plus two input jacks that can handle almost any type of signal source, the Electro-Harmonix 95000 Performance Loop Laboratory is a true sonic sandbox in which loop aficionados can play around. The included 16GB Micro SD card lets you record up to 100 different loops spanning a total length of up to 375 minutes. You can use the 95000 as either a tabletop unit or a floor-based pedal.
JOYO Iron Loop
The JF-329 Iron Loop holds the distinction of quite possibly being the smallest looper pedal to ever hit the market. Size isn’t everything, though, and on the looping functionality front, the JF-329 Ironman performs admirably. It can record loops up to 20 minutes in length, is dead simple to use, and even has a LED display that indicates loop length and position. This Ironman line pedal is small enough to fit in your front pocket and features a flip cover for keeping your control dial settings safe.
JOYO O.M.B
Joyo’s OMB Looper and Drum Machine turns you into a one-man band with a single stomp. This single pedal can act as a looper, a drum machine, or a combo looper plus drum machine. The looper function lets you record up to 40 minutes of audio and features unlimited overdubs, auto-align, and count-in. You get seven drum patterns and seven drumbeats in drum machine mode, plus you can add fills to the patterns and use a tap tempo function. The OMB is an R Series pedal, meaning it has cool ambient LED effects built into it.
TC Electronic G-System
For years, TC Electronic has been a leading creator of various high-quality audio equipment for recording studios. Its G-System is the first comprehensive floor-based guitar system to provide an unparalleled arsenal of effects, integration, and control. The special mix of two DSP sections delivers excellent amp switching, analog loops, floor control, effects, as well as 9VDC power outputs for your pedals to obtain the utmost level of integration possible. You can select from a rack or floor-based setup, determine how the effects are routed, set the footswitch layout, and pick from over 25 onboard effects.
Rowin Beat Loop
The LBL-01 Beat Loop is a versatile and affordable combination drum machine and looper pedal from budget-priced guitar effects pedal manufacturer Rowin. The looper section can record for up to five minutes in each of 30 separate storage locations. The drum machine has two drum groups with 40 drum types, half of which are standard while the other half is electronic. The LBL-01 Beat Looper also has a separate dual footswitch controller that lets you control the drum section.
Source Audio Soundblox 2 MANTA Bass Filter
The Soundblox 2 Manta Bass Filter from Source Audio boasts 12 meticulously tailored filter effects along with eight distortion variations, a feature never available before in the Soundblox line of filter effects. These styles of distortion are not only crunch or amp simulation; they are configured to work alongside the filter effect selections. The Manta’s filters are controllable by two envelope followers, square, sine, and saw tooth LFO. Similar to its fellow Soundblox 2 pedals, the Manta is compatible with the Hot Hand 3 Wireless Effects Controller, Source Audio Dual Expression Pedal, and MIDI control signals through the Soundblox HUB.
Electro-Harmonix HOG2
Electro-Harmonix broke new sonic ground with the original HOG, but with the HOG2 Harmonic Octave Generator, they’ve punched right through to a completely different auditory dimension. Not only do you get 10 customizable harmonic intervals and seven expression modes, the HOG2 sports updated algorithms that improve the quality of the HOG’s 10 generated octaves and harmonics as well as full MIDI-based parameter and preset control. The HOG2 comes packaged with an external expression pedal while an optional foot controller lets you save and load up to 100 presets.
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.
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.
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.
Source Audio Soundblox Pro Multiwave Bass Distortion
The Soundblox Pro Multiwave Bass Distortion from Source Audio takes the clarity and power of the original Soundblox Multiwave Distortion and tailors it to the bass guitar’s frequency range. It allows bassists to mix complex chords and intervals with distorted tones efficiently—the multi-band processing eradicates the mush and lets every note ring true and clear. The Soundblox Pro Multiwave Bass Distortion includes a one band processing for more conventional distortion sounds. The pedal is suitable for both the stage and studio.
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.
Boss AB-2 2-Way Selector
Make changing between different outputs and inputs a breeze with the Boss AB-2 Two-Way Selector. With a single stomp, you can switch between two different guitars, amps, or guitar effects pedal setups. Plug in a tuner and you can easily check your tuning while in the middle of a gig without having to worry about stray notes messing up your group’s performance. You can also use the Boss AB-2 Two-Way Selector as a quick kill switch.
Throne Room Pedals Tiny Tap Tempo (Normal, 2 Outputs)
With even smaller enclosures made from solid aluminum, Throne Room Pedals’ Tiny line of pedal switches are some of the tiniest and most road tough control pedals out right now. The Tiny Tap Tempo is built to work with other guitar effects pedals that comes with external tap tempo compatibility, such as a delay pedal or tremolo stomp. This particular version features two tap outputs and works with pedals that require a normally open switch.
Chase Bliss Audio Midibox
The Chase Bliss Audio Midibox converts the five-pin MIDI cable into a TRS patch cable and lets you connect Empress or Chase Bliss pedals to a standard MIDI cable. It includes internal jumpers, allowing you to make any port you desire compatible with Meris, Chase Bliss, or Empress products. The jumpers available in this product make them “ring active” rather than “tip active” on the TRS jack, letting them interface to the Chase Bliss Audio tap/midi jack with only a standard TRS patch cable.
BOSS FS6 DUAL FOOTSWITCH
As its name implies, the Boss FS-6 Dual Footswitch is two footswitches in one, combining a latch-type footswitch and an unlatched or momentary-type footswitch in one rugged unit. You can even choose which of the two pedals is latched and which is unlatched, and since both pedals are side by side, you can get even more precise control over the effects pedals you connect to the FS-6. Of course, the Boss FS-6 Dual Footswitch doesn’t just work with pedals; you can also connect it to keyboards, rhythm machines, amps, and more.
Lehle P-Split II
If you want both amplifiers in your dual-amp setup to sound their best, you need a signal splitter designed to perform the job. With the P-Split High Impedance Splitter from Lehle, you can route your instrument to two amps simultaneously without any hum or noise. It preserves the integrity of your signal, while its isolated outputs erase unwanted hum. The P-Split II works with both lo-Z and hi-Z signals, providing you with the clear, reliable, and clean performance you desire.
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 (Red)
Housed in a fiery red chassis, the VM-PRO by Mission Engineering is the most sophisticated volume pedal you will find. It addresses several common issues with volume pedals, which result in mismatching and tone sucking problems. It works with your baritone, bass, electro-acoustic, or electric guitars. The VM-PRO is also compatible with other electric and acoustic instruments such as steel guitars, electronic keyboards, and instrument microphones. It incorporates compatibility switches for utilization with passive/active pickups as well as fuzz pedals.
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.
Xotic Super Clean
In the battle against tone suck, a good buffer pedal is an indispensable weapon in your arsenal. And when it comes to high-end buffer pedals, the Super Clean from boutique guitar effects stompbox company Xotic is one of your best choices. This buffer stomp is powered by a legendary JRC4558 chip and delivers up to +12dB of clean boost. It features a convenient Gain mini-pot as well as four side-mounted dip switches that let you tweak the EQ settings to your liking.
Empress Effects Buffer
The Buffer from Empress Effects has been built to serve as the complete I/O interface for your pedalboard while preserving the highest fidelity of your guitar signal. For decades, guitarists have been struggling with signal loss resulting from long, unbuffered cable runs. The Buffer aims to erase that signal loss, making sure that your cables will never affect your tone. Moreover, it consolidates all your pedalboard’s connectivity to make the set up convenient and fast.
JHS Pedals Buffered Splitter
Add the JHS Pedals Buffered Splitter to your pedalboard for a simple yet efficient signal-splitting tool that keeps your tone pristine, clear, and powerful. It is capable of perfectly driving your pedalboard chains and long cable runs. It preserves your guitar’s natural tone without coloration from the other gears within your signal chain. The Buffered Splitter comes in a compact enclosure that makes it handy for any rig. It works well with keyboards, bass, guitar, and more.
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.
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.
Behringer Noise Reducer
Cut all those annoying hums, buzzes, and unwanted noises out of your guitar signal entirely with the Behringer Noise Reducer NR300. You can dial in your perfect response using the Threshold and Decay knobs, use the send and return loop to reduce noise from your other pedals, or even cut out your signal entirely with a single stomp. If you love using guitars with single-coil pickups and high-gain amps but hate all those extra noises that clutter up your signal, this is the pedal for you.
JOYO Noise Gate
The JF-31 Noise Gate guitar effects pedal from Joyo is the bane of the unwanted buzzes, hums, hisses that infect your guitar signal. With just a lone Threshold knob, its control scheme is so simple and no-nonsense that it’s practically zen. It’ll take some experimentation with your overall input level and the Threshold knob, but when you find that silent sweet spot the JF-31 Noise Gate will definitely be a worthy addition to your pedalboard.
GOKKO KULT
Rein in unruly and unwanted signal noise with the Kult Noise Gate GK-28 guitar effects pedal from GOKKO. This budget- and pedalboard-friendly stompbox helps reduce the hums, hisses, and buzzes that invariably show up to pollute your signal when you have a lot of pedals, especially high-gain ones, in your chain. Use the sensitivity control knob to tell the noise gate when to kick in and use the two-way selector switch to choose between a soft, gradual volume cut or a hard and steep drop.
TC Electronic Iron Curtain
Presenting the no-nonsense way to get rid of your sound gremlins, the Iron Curtain Noise Gate by TC Electronic. It is an ultra-fast and efficient noise gate that minimizes unwanted noise from your instrument signal. Its convenient two-knob interface controls decay and threshold. The toggle switch allows you to select between reducing unwanted noise or muting signal entirely. Designed and engineered in Denmark, the Iron Curtain Noise Gate comes in a durable metal chassis. It features a true bypass for supreme signal integrity.
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,
Rowin Beat Loop
The LBL-01 Beat Loop is a versatile and affordable combination drum machine and looper pedal from budget-priced guitar effects pedal manufacturer Rowin. The looper section can record for up to five minutes in each of 30 separate storage locations. The drum machine has two drum groups with 40 drum types, half of which are standard while the other half is electronic. The LBL-01 Beat Looper also has a separate dual footswitch controller that lets you control the drum section.
Nux Loop Core
The NUX Loop Core is a turbocharged variant of the original and already the most versatile Looper in the market. NUX covered all the essentials in a Looper that lets you record and play back several layers, but now it incorporated a different level of goodies. Boasting 99 personal-user memories, 40 inbuilt drum patterns and now, a new range of well-thought-out user assists. Whether you compose, rehearse, or play live gigs, you will appreciate the innovative features of the Loop Core.
Digitech Jam Man
DigiTech’s JamMan Stereo Looper boasts the ability to save 35 minutes of CD-quality loops within 99 internal memories and an SD memory card expansion slot that allows you to store more than 16 hours of material in an added 99 slots. It also includes reverse playback, true stereo looping, and a mic input making it suitable for DJ applications and backing tracks. The JamMan Stereo has USB connectivity and will sync to the JamManager XT software which organizes and records your JamMan Stereo loops to your Mac or PC.
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.
Singular Sound BeatBuddy
Introducing a drum machine within a guitar pedal format—the BeatBuddy by Singular Sound. It allows you hands-free and creative control of the beat. You can conveniently insert fills, throw in drum breaks, add accent hits, shift from verse to chorus, and more, to produce an unparalleled live drummer effect—all in an iconic, natural 24-bit sound. The BeatBuddy is loaded with features for all kinds of musicians. A visual beat display makes it effortless to enhance rhythm or play with unusual time signatures.
Other Pedals
Xotic Wah
For sheer versatility, few wah pedals can come close to the XW-1 Wah from boutique guitar effects pedal maker Xotic. Almost everything about this beautiful wah pedal can be adjusted to fit your exact tastes, from the rocker pedal tension to the Wah-Q and Bias settings. For tone sculpting, it comes with a two-band EQ stack you lets you cut or boost the treble and bass by 15dB each. It also features a fuzz-friendly buffer circuit and true bypass switching, plus it’s smaller than the average wah pedal.
Boss PW-3 Wah
A wah pedal built like a tank but doesn’t eat up too much of your precious pedalboard real estate? That’s the Boss PW-3 Wah pedal in a nutshell. The PW-3 features a newly-developed Rich mode that packs a wah voice that manages to keep the fullness and low-end definition typically when using by pedals powered by the average wah circuit. For a more traditional, classic wah tone, just flip the two-position toggle on the rear panel from Rich to Vintage.
Caline Hot Spice
As two pedals in one, the Caline CP-31 Hot Spice Wah/VOL guitar effect pedal is even more budget-friendly compared to Caline’s other, very reasonably priced stompbox offerings. On the wah side, you get a funky, full-sounding wah effect based on the classic Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Wah’s sound. Flick a switch from Wah to Volume mode and you get a smooth action volume pedal that takes up way less space on your pedalboard compared to other expression pedals.
JOYO MULTI-MODE WAH
Joyo’s WAH-II Multimode Wah and Volume pedal gives you two modes to choose from: a Wah with True Bypass and a combined Wah + Volume pedal. The Wah is pretty versatile; you can tweak the effect’s Q values, the sweep’s width, and the frequency range. The Volume side is comparatively more barebones, with just a dial for setting the minimum volume. It’s just barely larger than the average compact pedal, too, so you have more flexibility when choosing where to put it on your pedalboard.
Electro-Harmonix Wailer Wah
Whether you rock it or cock it, Electro-Harmonix’s Wailer wah pedal gives you killer wah tones that will make you sound like the Lord of Funk’s second coming. The Wailer’s circuitry is based on the design that powered Electro-Harmonix’s classic Crying Tone wah pedal, giving you the same thick, musical wahs that the latter was known for. It’s a straightforward and highly musical wah pedal with a lightweight and sturdy chassis that won’t break the bank.
Morley M2 Maverick Contour Wah
Vintage construction or modern convenience? Morley makes picking the right wah pedal even easier with the M2 Maverick Contour Wah, a wah pedal that marries the vintage pot-based wah approach with modern optical design. Apart from the switchable dual wah modes, the M2 Maverick features Morley’s famous Electro-Optical potless circuit design along with Audio 1000K slide pot for all your classic tone and Q shaping needs. The M2 Maverick also features switchless operation and True-Tone Bypass.
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.
Boss AC-3 Acoustic Simulator
Want to dive into a soft and sweet acoustic ballad in the middle of a set but don’t have the slightest inclination to bring along a big and bulky acoustic guitar? The Boss AC-3 Acoustic Simulator lets you travel light. With its powerful Composite Object Sound Modeling (COSM) technology and four different acoustic simulation modes, you can turn any electric guitar into a variety of warm and bright acoustics using the Boss AC-3 Acoustic Simulator.
Pigtronix Bob Weir’s Real Deal
The Pigtronix Bob Weir’s Real Deal acoustic preamp gives you a very clear, screaming acoustic guitar tone while faithfully preserving the natural wooden sound of your instrument. It is universally compatible with all kinds of acoustic guitar pickup—from a simple, passive piezo element to intricate active systems leveraging internal microphones, magnetic pickups, and/or contact elements. The Bob Weir’s Real Deal features 60db gain on microphone channel and crossover sweeps from 300Hz to 3kHz. It consists of Volume, Piezo, Crossover, and Microphone controls.
Rowin Ocean Verb
The LEF-3800 Ocean Verb earns its name thanks to the watery reverberations it conjures up. This compact and extremely affordable stompbox from budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Rowin is a versatile workhorse. It features a full complement of Mix, Tone, and Decay pots for shaping the reverb effect, of which there are three selectable via a three-way toggle switch: Room, Spring, and Shimmer. If you want to add depth and dimension to your tone, you won;t go wrong with the LEF-3800 Ocean Verb.
Danelectro D-8 Fab Delay
The Danelectro Fab D-8 Delay guitar effect pedal dishes out up to 600ms of amazingly musical delay at an unbeatable price point. Proving that you can get a lot of flexibility out of a mere three control knobs, you can use the dedicated Delay, Time, and Repeat knobs to dial in anything from a quick and fast slapback effect to long, spacey delays. A worthy digital delay to add to any budget-conscious musician’s everyday pedalboard setup.
Zoom AC-2 Acoustic Creator
The AC-2 Acoustic Creator by Zoom is a revamped direct box that serves up everything you need to achieve your natural acoustic tone anywhere you play from the studio to the stage. It instantly restores the tone lost via acoustic pickups, guaranteeing that your live sound stays resonant, lush, and true to your selected instrument. The AC-2 Acoustic Creator features high-quality preamp, piezo/magnetic input pickup select, reverb effect, and three-band equalizer. It also includes an inbuilt chromatic visual-led Tuner and Anti-Feedback control.
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.
Electro-Harmonix Battalion
The rugged, versatile, and 100% all-analog Battalion Bass Preamp and DI is an essential addition to any bass player’s pedalboard. Its powerful tone-shaping features include a four-band equalizer with dedicated Bass, Lo Mid, Mid, and Treble controls; a compressor for extra fat sound and lengthy sustain; a noise gate with adjustable threshold control; a MOSFET distortion section that can dish out a wide variety of bass-optimized distortion effects and has its own footswitch; and more.
Carl Martin Bass Drive
The Carl Martin Bass Drive Bass EQ Effect Pedal boasts tweaked EQ and crunch to give a warm “tube” sound to new digital bass rigs and enhance their performance. Achieve that signature John Entwistle tone, round, big and phat with the perfect amount of sustain to position your bass properly within the mix and enable it to “pop” in recording and live situations. Instead of sitting on top, the Drive knob blends with your bass tones evenly and naturally keeps a full bottom-end.
Diamond Bass Comp
The Bass Comp is the first Diamond pedal specially designed for bassists. It was launched in response to the interest of bassists in its famed Compressor. With higher headroom and low-frequency response extending down to 20Hz, the Bass Compressor is perfect for active and passive 4/5/6 string basses. The Tilt EQ control has been revoiced, letting you select between the original 900Hz and new 250Hz setting using the mini toggle. The Bass Comp boasts premium audio components, smooth optical compression/limiting, and true bypass signal path.
Tech 21 VT Bass
Tech 21 has taken their renowned SansAmp system and used it to create the Character Series pedals, stompboxes designed to emulate some of the most highly respected classic amp tones ever heard. These effects pedals aren’t just for guitarists, either, as exemplified by the VT Bass. The VT Bass lets bass players access the massive sound of a full-stack SVT, going from vintage crystal clear clean thumps to more modern, straight up rib rattling booms.
Aguilar TLC
The TLC Compressor is an invaluable musical tool, whether you are recording or onstage. It is built to empower you to control your dynamics in a flexible and musical fashion. Thanks to Aguilar’s proprietary Trans Linear Control (TLC) circuit, it can deliver unprecedented levels of performance within a compact package. The Aguilar TLC Compressor provides you with a range of control often available only in pricey studio compressors and lets you dial in just the right sound.
Ernie Ball MVP
The Ernie Ball MVP definitely deserves its “Most Valuable Pedal” name. This volume pedal gives you a silky smooth, super-precise volume sweep that doesn’t lose any high frequencies at any volume level. It’s very versatile, as well, working extremely well with both active and passive electronics. The MVP also features a minimum volume knob that lets you set the open position to have anywhere from 0% to 50% volume, plus a gain boost control lets you set the closed rocker position either to 100% volume or a pretty significant signal boost of up to +20dB.
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.
Dunlop Volume X Mini
With the DVP4 Mini Volume (X) Pedal, conserving space does not mean sacrificing functionality or durability. It lets you manage volume and FX parameters without congesting your pedalboard. It is capable of anything the larger DVP3 does. For ultimate precision and convenience, the DVP4’s rocker tension is adjustable. The AUX output merges tuner and expression functionality into a single jack which can be toggled with a switch on the pedal. You no longer need to give up control of your volume level and FX pedals when employing a travel-sized board, thanks to the DVP4 Volume X Mini.
EBS WahOne
The WahOne by EBS lets you produce anything from vintage classics to contemporary wah-wah sounds with depth and warmth. This genuinely versatile wah-wah pedal is specially developed to level up your bass groove. The WahOne is built on the classic wah-wah concept plus additional features. It includes various cool options such as an inbuilt tube simulator circuit. Boasting a convenient dial-in design, the WahOne keeps you in control. Employ it as a volume pedal, wah-wah, or envelope filter.
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.
Morley M2 Passive Volume
The M2 Passive Volume guitar effects pedal from Morley gives you an audio level taper that’s as smooth a silk. Its response is consistent, it’s easy to use, and it’s very expressive. And since the M2 Passive Volume is a passive pedal, you don’t have to stick a battery in it or connect it to a power source in order to use it. Simply plug in and you’re good to go. This is plug and play volume control at its finest.
Mission Engineering EP-HR
The EP-HR by Mission Engineering is a secondary expression pedal specially built for your Headrush Guitar Amp/FX Modeler. You may connect to the Headrush’s EXPR2 port with a single TRS cable. The EP-HR works in conjunction with the onboard pedal in both Advanced and Classic mode. Utilize one pedal for wah and the other for volume, or configure advanced functions in real-time such as distortion level or delay repeats. The EP-HR comes in a sturdy, flat black chassis.
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.
Korg EXP-2 Expression
Bring your keyboard playing to life with Korg’s EXP-2 Foot Controller. You can use this ultra-versatile foot controller as a compact and lightweight expression pedal when using OUTPUT-2 or a volume pedal when employing OUTPUT-1 and INPUT-1. You may set the minimum volume in a range from zero to about 50%. The EXP-2 works with most Korg keyboards, modules and effect processors. It features a selectable minimum setting through the side-mounted slide control and carries a three-conductor cable.
Electro Harmonix Expression
The Electro-Harmonix Single Expression Pedal is a versatile and flexible expression pedal tough enough to handle the rigors of nightly gigs but affordable enough for musicians who actually need to take nightly gigs just to survive. You can fine-tune the sweep using the Range knob, while a Reverse button controls the direction of the sweep. It also has a polarity switch for enhanced compatibility with a wide range of guitar effects pedals and comes with a six-foot TRS cable.
Mission Engineering SP1-L6 Helix
Mission Engineering has partnered with Line 6 engineers to build a pedal suitable for the Helix Rack, the SP1-L6H. The pedal connects to your Helix Rack and allows expressive control over volume, wah, and rotary effects. The SP1-L6H also incorporates a convenient toe switch for seamless, hands-free switching between your effects. You can connect it to inputs on the Helix Rack, HX Stomp, and Rack floor controller. With the SP1-L6H switching expression pedal in your arsenal, you can maximize your Line 6 Helix.
Zoom FS01 Expression
Unleash the full potential of your Zoom equipment with the FS01. This momentary footswitch for bass effects devices and guitar lets you bypass effects, mute the delay input, enable the delay hold function, and turn the tuner on/off. The FS01 is the perfect accessory for a variety of Zoom products. It is compatible with RFX2000, RT123, RT323, RT234, MRS1044, and several other Zoom products. Zoom has made a killing from manufacturing budget-friendly multi-effects processors and recording devices.
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.
Two Notes Torpedo Captor 8
The 8 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.
Two Notes Torpedo C.A.B. M
Two Notes’ Torpedo C.A.B. M is a true cabinet in a box, giving you a direct line from your guitar rig to a PA system, mixer, or recording interface. A lot of things may change between each gig, from your backline to the room quality, but with the Torpedo C.A.B. M you can be sure your preferred tone will stay the same. The Torpedo C.A.B. M comes with a carefully curated selection of 32 of the most highly prized amp tones, plus you can load it with your own IR files.
Suhr A.C.E.
The A.C.E. Analog Cabinet Emulator has been configured to provide guitarists with a convenient and portable way to capture the intricate qualities of a guitar speaker cab for different recording (in a studio or silent) and live performance applications without using a mic. The A.C.E. leverages a sophisticated Multi-StageFiltering (MSF) network to yield lifelike speaker cabinet simulations that bring to life or capture all the punch, warmth, and character of a mic’d speaker cabinet to whatever performance without DSP assistance.
NUX MOD Core DELUXE
The Mod Core Deluxe from NUX is a pro-quality modulation effects pedal featuring eight modulation effects (Phaser, Chorus, Pan, Flanger, Tremolo, U-vibe, Rotary, and Vibrato) with two kinds of algorithms suiting the needs of every musician for sound enhancement and colorization. Add-in Depth and Rate controls to adjust the primary parameters and Tweak knob to set relevant parameters for every effect, and you get more tone-sculpting possibilities compared to other modulation pedals. The Mod Core Deluxe includes a tone lock function to prevent improper operation.
Tom’sline AC Stage
Much like the slightly bigger Acoustic, Tomsline’s AC Stage budget guitar effects pedal is a workhorse acoustic simulator pedal that gets the job done, giving your electric guitar the full-bodied resonance and natural woody sound of an acoustic. The Acoustic also features a three-way toggle that lets you switch between three voicing modes: Piezo, Standard, and Jumbo. The AC Stage features Tomsline’s patented stop bar design to keep your foot from messing up the pedal’s settings when you stomp on it.
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.
Tom’sline Mario Bit Crusher
The aptly named Mario stompbox is a powerful bit crusher pedal from budget guitar effects pedal maker Tomsline that lets you reduce the sample quality of your guitar signal to make it lo-fi and degraded. 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.
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.
Boss MO-2 Multi Overtone
The Boss MO-2 Multi Overtone guitar effects pedal is among the vanguard of Boss’s next generation of stompboxes. Powered by the magic of Roland’s innovative Multi-Dimensional Processing (MPD) technology, the MO-2 generates harmonically rich overtones that complement, enhance, and thicken your guitar or bass sound, whether you’re playing clean or distorted. Three unique modes and a dedicated Detune knob let you add all-new dynamic resonance textures to your sound, ranging from shimmering multi-string sounds to organ- and synth-like voicings.
Electro-Harmonix Ravish Sitar
The lush harmonics and dynamic flexibility of a sitar is a first-class ticket to mystic city, and with the Ravish, you can make your guitar sound like one. This sitar emulator guitar effects pedal from Electro-Harmonix features a polyphonic lead voice and tunable sympathetic string drones that are highly responsive to your pick attack. You can set the decay time for the former and create your own custom scales for the latter. You don’t have to buy a sitar and learn how to play it. Just plug into a Ravish.
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.
