Tonebox Recommended Pedals
ZVEX Vexter Fuzz Factory
With five dedicated control knobs that let you play around with the very idea of a fuzz tone, the Fuzz Factory stompbox from boutique guitar effects pedal company Zvex is a versatile fuzz stomp that really let you push the sonic envelope. You can dial in everything from tight fuzz tones that cut off abruptly as soon as you stop playing to lingering hairy oscillations that decay alongside your notes. Zvex’s Vexter line of silk-screened pedals feature the exact same tone, features, and parts as their hand-painted counterparts. The only differences are the painting process and the price.
Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI V2
If you think Tech 21’s Bass Driver DI is just another direct input box, think again. This SansAmp-powered DI box can serve up everything from vintage tube amp sounds to bright modern slap tones. You get three different outputs which you can connect to power amps, mixers, PA systems, or to other effects pedals. For the Bass Driver DI V2, Tech 21 further enhanced the Bass Driver DI’s tonal versatility with a switch that lets it cover the lower frequency registers of five- and six-string basses.
REVV G4
Experience Revv’s Red Channel in a box with the G4 pedal. It is a thick gain monster with the nuance to cover vintage tones. Get massive, satisfying tone that cuts through a mix. It plays beautifully in any rig (pedalboard rigs, heads, combos, with cab modeling, or in effects loops). The G4 incorporates modern features like single-space enclosure, top-mounted jacks, and standard 9V power. It is an ideal place to start for thick, saturated amp-esque tones and a complement to the G3 and other rigs.
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
When it comes to fuzz pedals, the Big Muff is the stuff of legend. The Big Muff Pi reissue from Electro-Harmonix lives up to that venerable legacy by packing some of the sweetest harmonic distortion and creamiest sustain ever produced. Dial in your preferred tone with the dedicated Volume, Sustain, and Tone control knobs and you can grab a piece of the classic rock Pi that helped turn Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana into guitar gods.
Wampler Ego Compressor V2
When it comes to boutique guitar compression effect pedals, nothing gets as much praise as Wampler’s Ego Compressor. It doesn’t just do what a compressor pedal is supposed to do, i.e. make the quiet parts louder and the loud parts quieter while boosting the sustain, it’s superb at retaining your natural playing dynamics and core tonal characteristics. Feature-wise, there are no differences between the Ego Compressor V1 and V2; only the I/O jack positions, knob placement, and graphics were changed.
JHS Pedals Unicorn V2
The Unicorn V2 from JHS Pedals loads the original Unicorn pedal’s lush, syrupy sound into a more compact package to save more space on your pedalboard. It combines a classic photocell modulator with an advanced tap tempo function, allowing you access to vintage vibe effects with hands-free tempo control. You can now always dial in the perfect tempo. The Unicorn V2 carries Depth, Speed, Volume, and Ratio knobs, as well as a Dry/Wet toggle. Its thick, swirling tones bring the distinct sound of a vintage Uni-vibe.
Drive Pedals
Ibanez JD9 Jet Driver
The Jet Driver from Ibanez creates a distinctive sound evocative of a high-quality, handmade effects pedal. It boasts a broad selection of drive control options. The Jet Driver carries Tone, Mid, Volume, and Drive knobs. The Mid knob is capable of creating a massive range of sounds from British heavy metal to American hard rock. The Jet Driver features true bypass switching, organic sound, large amounts of output volume, and is suitable for driving tube amps.
Walrus Audio Warhorn Retro Edition
The Warhorn drive box from boutique guitar effects pedal maker Walrus Audio is a versatile medium gain overdrive pedal ideal for everything from warm, punchy rhythm to down and dirty Texas Blues lead tones. Dial in your flavor of mid-range overdrive with the dedicated Level, Drive, Bass, and Treble pots then extend the Warhorn’s tonal textures even further with the two-position clipping switch. This limited edition retro pedal packs all of the regular Warhorn’s overdrive capabilities but features a special retro enclosure design.
NUX Drive Core
The Drive Core from NUX presents a combination of overdrive and signal booster. It allows you to overdrive and beef up your favorite amp sound. It consists of individual signal booster circuit and is controllable using the Boost, Drive, Level, and Tone knobs. The Drive Core boasts organic and warm overdrive of tube saturation as well as a blend of boost and overdrive sound. A true bypass design, highly sensitive and precise, reduces the loss of tone. The Drive Core comes in a sturdy aluminum alloy enclosure with high-quality footswitch and jacks.
Keeley DDR
As its name implies, the Keeley DDR Drive Delay Reverb gives you access to three different effect types. This dual-channel stompbox features a Wet channel that holds the delay and reverb effects and a separate Drive channel that brings the dirt. It doesn’t stop there; each effect comes in two flavors. You get a Vintage/Modern switch for both the delay and reverb effects plus two overdrive styles: British-flavored crunch and harmonically-saturated Tube Screamer-style drive.
Fender Santa Ana Overdrive
The Santa Ana Overdrive boasts an all-original circuitry developed by a team knowledgeable in the classic tones Fender is famous for. Packed with FET technology, the Santa Ana allows you to dial in a broad range of tones from a hint of grit to full-on saturated crunch. It is complete with standard controls as well as Bypass and Boost, all arranged in a streamlined format that you can easily read and activate. The Santa Ana Overdrive is housed in a lightweight, sturdy anodized aluminum enclosure.
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.
Fuzzrocious Cat Tail with 2nd Distortion Mod
The Cat Tail by Fuzzrocious is a low to high gain distortion boasting overdrive capabilities. This circuit is inspired by a much-loved, vintage distortion that makes a clean amplifier dirty and a dirty amp nasty. Fuzzrocious has tweaked the original circuit to better suit the requirements of bassists and guitarists alike. With the inclusion of a diode toggle for more tweakability for clipping options, Fuzzrocious has incorporated the Beavis double resistor mod to let you fine-tune how the signal clips on the lows and highs.
Electro-Harmonix Little Big Muff Pi
The Little Big Muff Pi takes the well-loved vintage dirt of the Big Muff Pi and crams it all into a modern and pedalboard-friendly compact unit that’s almost half the size of the original. You get the sound and versatility you expect from a pedal sporting the Big Muff name. Dial in your preferred tone with the dedicated Volume, Sustain, and Tone control knobs to serve up some of the sweetest harmonic distortion and creamiest sustain ever produced.
MOOER Hustle Drive Distortion
Budget stomp maker Mooer puts the tried and tested Fulltone OCD sound in reach of even the most budget-tight musicians with the Hustle Drive. Mooer didn’t just go and make a great copy of a great drive stomp, though; they also gave the Hustle Drive more flexibility than the original OCD by giving it two voicing modes. In Warm mode, you get the warm, natural drive of a hot tube amp. Switch to Hot mode and you crank up the heat for searing leads and massive crunch.
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.
T-Rex Vulture
The Vulture Distortion from T-Rex Engineering is highly customizable, featuring an extensive range of gain levels as well as a broader range of distortion sounds. It comes in a compact form factor with a simple layout. It consists of controls for Level, Gain, Tone, Fat Boost, and Low Boost. The Fat Boost control lets you add punch and weight, while the Low Boost knob is designed for giving more body. A massive bottom end is available at the roll of a knob.
EBS FuzzMo
The EBS FuzzMo gives your signal an abundance of gritty distortion. Built with bassists in mind, it carries an intuitive Blend knob that allows you to combine your dirty and clean signal to taste. You can also sculpt your ideal tone using the Character switch and Shape control. The true bypass design eradicates the annoying tone suck when the pedal is off. If you are in the market for a pedal that will stand out from the pack, then you have to check out the FuzzMo.
MXR Siete Santos Octavio Fuzz
The MXR Siete Santos Octavio Fuzz features a searing circuit spec’d from the Jimi Hendrix Octavio Fuzz, revamped for the Reverend Billy F. Gibbons featuring an AC power jack for modern convenience and seven-band EQ for tone shaping. It couples the Octavio Fuzz circuit with seven graphic EQ sliders so you can boost or cut a whole frequency spectrum, from 100Hz to 6.4kHz, by ±18dB. It retains the Fuzz and Level controls from the original unit. The Siete Santos Octavio Fuzz is perfect if you want to borrow some of Rev. Willie’s magic.
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Big Muff Pi
The Big Muff Pi reissue from Electro-Harmonix lives up to the original Big Muff’s venerable legacy by packing some of the sweetest harmonic distortion and creamiest sustain ever produced. The Deluxe Big Muff Pi cranks the tone-shaping features up to 11, with a new footswitch-controllable Mids section that you can sweep through using an expression pedal for instant wah-style voicings. The Deluxe Big Muff Pi also packs a built-in noise gate, bass boost, and true bypass.
Caline Fuzz Bear
The Caline CP-46 Fuzzy Bear Fuzz guitar effect pedal gives you smooth, classic fuzz sound powered by a vintage germanium transistor. It’s tiny, sturdy, and its fuzz tones punch way above its price point, giving you crunch and dirt highly reminiscent of an Arbiter Fuzz Face or a Hartman Germanium Fuzz. With only two dedicated control knobs for Level and Fuzz, the Caline CP-46 Fuzzy Bear Fuzz is very easy to use and comes with a true bypass feature.
Fulltone ’69 mkII
With a matched pair of germanium transistors powering its top-shelf brand of mean, hairy fuzz, the ‘69 MkII Fuzz pedal from Fulltone has all the vintage vibe you need. You get four knobs for shaping your sound: Input, Fuzz, Contour, and Volume. There’s also an internal switch that lets you control clipping symmetry, harmonics, and tracking. The ‘69 MkII is also very responsive, going from ultra-clean vintage sound to full-on fat and harmonic with a single twist of your guitar’s volume knob.
Black Cat N-Fuzz
The N-Fuzz is another Black Cat legacy product first created in limited quantity from 2001 to 2003 and was offered only within the Asian market. The circuit was built on a customized Fuzz Face, with a toggle switch for low and high output. Similar to the original, the new N-Fuzz utilizes N-Channel (NPN) transistors. Black Cat replaced the toggle switch of the original N-Fuzz with a variable bias control pot to make the new version more versatile.
Mooer Fog
Yes, the color scheme that budget stompbox maker Mooer used for the Fog fuzz pedal can make your eyes hurt, but don’t let that put you off. It’s the sound that’s most important when it comes to stompboxes and the Fog punches way above its weight, packing a classic hairy fuzz tone that works great with both bass and guitar. Tone shaping tools include dedicated Volume, Tone, Fuzz, and Squeeze knobs, with the latter letting you adjust the pulse waveform shape for a wider range of sonic possibilities.
Suhr Koko Boost
Aside from delivering an incredibly transparent clean boost that does not color your instrument’s tone, the Koko Boost from Suhr also features a selectable midrange boost that works with the clean boost to give you exceptional versatility. Whether you need a midrange boost tweaked to overdrive your tube amp for solos that slice through the mix or a slight clean boost of your clean sound, the Koko Boost is capable of improving the functionality and sound of your whole rig with minimal fuss.
Sabbadius Triple Trouble
If you are big on Stevie Ray Vaughan’s tone, the Sabbadius Triple Trouble pedal is for you! This box of killer tones loads the Texas Red Fuzz, 80 Overdrive Tone, and Mr. White. The Overdrive consists of a Tubescreamer clone with several adjustments to deliver a warmer sound evocative of the classic late 80s sounds, with a sharp Overdrive to move forward and flexible tone control. The Mr. White Booster features a booster pedal raising the MIDs to capture that SRV “color” sound. The Fuzz is a customized Fuzz Face equipped with silicon transistors that simulate germanium transistors.
Caline Purple Smoke
The Caline CP-22 Purple Smoke Clear Boost is a budget-priced boost guitar effect pedal that does exceptionally well in boosting mid- and high-range tones. It’s powerful, highly transparent, and gives your guitar tone a more extensive dynamic range, making it a perfect addition to your pedalboard rig if you feel your guitar signal is coming in far too weak. The CP-22 Purple Smoke comes with a true bypass feature and can be powered by a 9V battery or compatible power supply.
Emerson Custom Pomeroy
Emerson Custom’s Pomeroy loads a highly customizable overdrive and powerful boost into a pedalboard-friendly, pure analog stompbox. Its overdrive side features six clipping options so you can tweak it to your liking, while the boost side is capable of up to 24dB of clean, full-range gain. The Pomeroy is an excellent choice because of its massive headroom and handy options. You may use the overdrive and boost circuits individually or together. Regarding flexibility, comfort, and power, the Pomeroy is tough to beat.
Xotic RC Booster-V2
As with all of boutique guitar effects pedal maker Xotic’s boost pedals, the RC Booster delivers some of the most transparent boosting power you’ll ever find anywhere. For the RC Booster V2, Xotic takes the pedal’s capabilities to the next level with the addition of an additional gain channel that’ll let you coat your tone in a whole new layer of fatness. Tone tweakers will also appreciate the dedicated treble and bass EQ controls, each of which can cut or boost by 15dB either way.
EarthQuaker Devices Arrows
The Arrows Preamp Booster from EarthQuaker Devices is so no-nonsense it’s almost zen. With its lone dial, you can either boost or cut your signal to give overdrive and distortion pedals an extra gain and sustain boost, boost the mids of bass-heavy effects, tighten up your low end and brighten the highs, or just make your guitar signal float to the top of the mix. The Arrows is all-analog, all-discrete, and an all-around essential addition to any pedalboard.
Joyo JF-310
Despite its tiny size, Joyo’s JF-310 Orange Juice amp sim pedal packs the full, in-your-face British-flavored power and attack of a vintage Orange amp. It perfectly captures an Orange amp’s dynamic, highly defined, and aggressive overdrive assault. Dedicated Drive, Tone, and Voice control pots give you plenty of built-in tone sculpting tools to dial in the exact tone you want. Whenever you need to layer some dirt onto you signal, the JF-310 Orange Juice will deliver.
Darkglass Microtubes B7K V2
The Darkglass Microtubes B7K V2 bass preamp pedal goes beyond an exceptional DI. It is a pedal-sized preamplifier and aggressive-sounding drive. It leverages the exact dynamic saturation circuit, four-band EQ, and balanced line driver that has earned Darkglass its place on numerous bassists’ boards. The V2 boasts exceptional tonal shaping abilities thanks to its Attack and Grunt controls as well as two mid-frequency selector switches. The dual outputs make parallel processing and running your signal into a mixing console or PA system a breeze.
Boss AD-2 Acoustic Preamp
Many guitar pickup systems can’t quite reproduce an acoustic guitar’s warmth and depth, covering them instead in harsher-sounding tones. That’s where the Boss AD-2 Acoustic Preamp guitar effects pedal comes in. Whether you’re onstage or in the studio, you can draw out more of your acoustic-electric’s natural and woody tones with a twist of the Acoustic Resonance knob. You can also use the Ambience knob to add reverb and cut annoying feedback noise using the Notch dial.
MOSKY B-Box Preamp
The B-Box from budget guitar effects pedal brand Mosky Audio is a preamp overdrive effect pedal that lets you juice up your tone with extra snarl and growl. The B-Box does a splendid job as a drive pedal, with dead simple controls including dedicated Bass and Treble knobs to complement the Gain and Volume controls for precise tone shaping. Mosky also threw in a true bypass function to keep things noise-free when the pedal effect is disengaged.
Radial AC Driver
The Tonebone AC Driver from Radial is a portable acoustic instrument preamp designed for live performances, boasting innovative features for streamlining your setup and optimizing your acoustic-electric guitar’s tone. It includes Radial’s Class-A buffer circuit to guarantee the superb audio quality, allowing you to employ longer pedal chains and cable runs sans signal degradation or loss. Compared to a simple DI box, the AC Driver gives you more control over your sound, making it perfect for onstage use, especially if you have no dedicated sound engineer.
MOOER 012 US Gold 100
Mooer Audio’s Micro Preamp line of guitar effects pedals is all about giving shoestring budget shoegazers easy and affordable access to the legendary tones served up by classic and boutique amp models. The Mooer 012 US Gold serves up the tight low end and superior articulation of a Friedman Brown Eye 100. It comes with two switchable channels as well as volume, gain, bass, mid, and treble controls. It also features a cab sim on and off switch.
Tech 21 Bass Boost Fuzz
Hairy fuzz and massive boost for your bass in a single stompbox. The Boost Bass Fuzz from Tech 21 serves up the classic, creamy germanium fuzz tone you need, plus up to 21bD of punchy crystal clear boost via a separate boost section. Dedicated Drive and +Clean pots give you complete control over the wet and dry signal mix, while the Tone control knob lets you sculpt your fuzzed out sound even further. Plug into a Bass Boost Fuzz and go massive.
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.
Emerson Custom Pomeroy
Emerson Custom’s Pomeroy loads a highly customizable overdrive and powerful boost into a pedalboard-friendly, pure analog stompbox. Its overdrive side features six clipping options so you can tweak it to your liking, while the boost side is capable of up to 24dB of clean, full-range gain. The Pomeroy is an excellent choice because of its massive headroom and handy options. You may use the overdrive and boost circuits individually or together. Regarding flexibility, comfort, and power, the Pomeroy is tough to beat.
Amptweaker Pressurizer
The Amptweaker PressuRizer compressor is a powerful clean tone tweaker that provides sustain without compression. This mini pedal contains several switches and knobs, including Limit, Bloom, and Boost, all designed to provide you control over dry/wet blending, boost, as well as side-chain compression options. The PressuRizer boasts a 2-Step footswitch. Pressing and holding the switch locks the compressor on, while tapping it kicks in another boost knob, giving you a one-two punch with one button pedal.
Carl Martin Hot Drive and Boost MKII
The Hot Drive’n Boost MKII by Carl Martin has been meticulously designed to emulate the sound of a delicate vintage distorting Tube-Amp. It is identical to the Hot Drive’n Boost but with a deeper and rougher sound. This two-in-one pedal provides you with an extra “kick” (up to 20db) for that attention-grabbing solos. The Hot Drive’n Boost MKII features an inbuilt regulated (+-12V) power supply. That allows Carl Martin to design top-grade circuitry with maximum headroom.
Walrus Audio Emissary
Make your solos soar over the mix or push your tube amp into natural breakup territory with the Emissary parallel dual boost box from boutique guitar effects pedal maker Walrus Audio. It features two independent boost circuits that can be run in parallel or independently. The Bright boost circuit packs a high headroom, JFET-powered boost. The Mid boost is a more targeted one that you can set to either 1kHz or 800Hz via a toggle switch. Use the Bright and Mid pots to dial in the output level of each circuit.
Modulation Pedals
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.
Chase Bliss Audio Warped Vinyl mkII
The Warped Vinyl mkII is an analog chorus/vibrato pedal built to emulate the sound of warped vinyl and more. It boasts a 100% analog signal path which may be dialed in to produce an infinite palette of chorus and vibrato. Warped Vinyl mkII includes some revisions, including an increased signal to noise ratio and tone knob for shimmery, transparent chorus/vibrato. Moreover, every switch and knob is connected to a digital brain while your guitar signal remains fully analog and not digitally processed.
Walrus Audio Julia
Boutique guitar effects pedal maker Walrus Audio’s Julia pedal is a feature-rich and extremely flexible analog chorus and vibrato box that can dish out everything from a calm, smooth and recognizable chorus and vibe mix to a wildly thrashing, seasickness inducing vibrato with a splash of unique chorus notes. Switchable analog LFO wave shapes add extra tonal versatility to the Julia’s arsenal of sound, while a special Lag pot further extends the Julia’s sonic boundaries.
Alexander Pedals Wavelength
The Wavelength is a massively versatile digital modulation machine in one small, stompable package. The Wavelength has six distinct modulation engines—textured tremolo, bright chorus, eight-stage phaser, flexible flanger, photocell- and lamp-style vibrato, and resonant low-pass filter—all controllable via a customizable LFO. As a NEO pedal, the Wavelength can store up to four presets and up to 16 presets via a MIDI controller. Plug a foot switch into the multi-jack, and you can seamlessly sweep through two different effects settings.
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.
JHS Pedals Emperor V2
The JHS Pedals Emperor V2 is a vintage-correct vibrato/chorus effect capable of achieving the Arion SCH-1’s distinct sound. It serves as a do-it-all modulation solution whether you want a seasick vibrato, convincing rotary simulation, or mild sheen. It leverages a Bucket Brigade 3207 chipset to nail the warmth of ‘80s-esque analog chorus pedals. JHS Pedals has also incorporated adequate onboard and outboard control, so you stay in full command of the Emperor’s voice. The V2 boasts an improved EQ knob and prevents low-end loss.
Lehle DC-Filter
Remove DC voltage from analog signals with the Lehle DC Filter. Audio signals with DC voltage produce annoying switching noise. You can now have both line and high-impedance signals clean, without any loss of sound. Since the DC Filter is of full stereo type, it filters stereo as well as mono signals. This small aid is also capable of processing your balanced signals. The DC Filter requires no power supply as it is a passive filter.
MXR Bass Envelope Filter
It’s time to bring on the funk with the Bass Envelope Filter from MXR. It packs vintage analog envelope filter sounds into a user- and pedalboard-friendly pedal designed particularly for bass. You may dial in the right amount of filtering with the individual Effect and Dry controls—valuable for keeping your low end intact. The Q and Decay knobs allow you to sculpt its extensive range of filter tones. A simple roll of the Sensitivity control can tailor the pedal for your attack and adjust for active or passive basses.
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.
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.
Death By Audio Deep Animation
The Death by Audio Deep Animation is an envelop filter with a serious attitude. It responds to the way you play, overdriving, filter sweeping, and enveloping. It syncs its wave-thumping movement with how hard you hit your strings and increases your dynamics into a hyper-exaggerated frenzy. It gives the perfect amount of movement to punch through the mix and reacts to your selected external trigger to follow your tempo. With the Deep Animation, the thump is thick, sounds are wild, and animation is deep.
WMD Protostar
“Maker of the most powerful and versatile envelope filter on Earth” is a tough claim to prove, but WMD does just that with the Protostar. This so-called harmonic density engine packs quite the list of features. It has a built-in LFO, four different filter modes, a full-featured CV patch bay, and an input jack for an expression pedal / CB. It even tightens up your tone with an onboard compressor section and extends your control further via a dry / wet mix knob.
TC Electronic Vortex Mini
Flanging has long been with music, utilized on anything from drums to vocals, but Edward Van Halen proved that the righteous place for flange is a guitar. The Vortex Mini Flanger from TC Electronic combines a vintage tape flange with the groundbreaking TonePrint technology, providing you with access to anything from customized rockstar sounds to through-zero flanges. It features everything exceptional about its big brother, the Vortex Flanger. Its ultra-compact chassis consumes hardly any space on your pedalboard.
Maxon FL-9 Flanger
The FL-9 Flanger from Maxon features a pure analog signal path that leverages the Panasonic MN3207 BBD IC to deliver some of the beefiest flanging and time-delay effects possible. Regeneration, Rate, and Depth dials enable you to achieve anything from lush jet-esque flanging sweeps to hollow metallic overtones to shimmering chorus and vibrato. Besides the standard controls, the FL-9 carries a Delay Time knob which allows for an extensive range of unique spatial effects. Silent operation makes it suitable for studio or on-stage use.
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.
Koogo Flanger
The Koogo Flanger pedal gives you classic analog flanging and rolling effects. This beautiful sounding pedal is made of high-quality zinc alloy, boasting solid built and durability. It consists of three function knobs labeled as Rate, Range, and Color, as well as a toggle switch that lets you choose between Normal and Filter modes. You may simply adjust three function knobs and pick your preferred model to create your music tone. Savor your colorful and fun life with the Koogo Flanger pedal.
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Flat Light
From highly resonant metallic sounds to pitch shifting flanger to reverb-esque delays and distinctive swooshes, the Flat Light from Old Blood Noise Endeavors will induce motion to your sound regardless of where it sits within your signal path. It features three flanger modes: Echo (reverb-like delay), Detune (shimmering pitch shift), and Resonate (highly resonant multi flange). The Flat Light consists of Rate, Depth, Shift, and Mix knobs. Mix control allows you to go from pure dry to 100% wet. Rate and Depth knobs let you set the rate and depth, respectively.
Source Audio Soundblox Tri-Mod Flanger
The Soundblox Tri-Mod Flanger by Source Audio is an evolutionary outgrowth of the classic Hot Hand Phaser/Flanger system within an accessible and portable format. It features eleven flanger effect variations each modifiable using an Envelope Follower, Hot Hand motion controller, or Low-Frequency Oscillator (LFO). Each Soundblox effects pedal is compatible with the Hot Hand motion controller—available individually in wired or wireless configurations—or a broad arsenal of onboard controls. Soundblox pedals deliver various original sounding effects in a sturdy, ultra-versatile package.
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.
CNZ Audio Phaser
The Phaser pedal from CNZ Audio delivers exceptional note bending and sound wave shifting effects to give your music depth and warmth with the likelihood of intense Phaser Effects. From wet to dry tones, you can add a massive range of modulation effects to your desired music. This user-friendly pedal comes with a cute space laser beam design. It enables beginners to tweak and tune their settings to provide a different feeling to their music, making them feel like a rock star.
Pigtronix EP-1
A beautiful-sounding phaser with several modulation options. The EP-1 Envelope Phaser from Pigtronix boasts a very thick and vocal, touch-sensitive envelope phaser plus a chewy and deep univibe-esque rotary phaser with adequate controls to dial in your distinctive flavor. The Envelope Phaser is a versatile, dynamic, expressive effect featuring a warm analog character, stage-friendly interface, and flexible tone palette. It includes a foot-switchable phase inversion as well as expression pedal speed control for exceptional rotary speaker effects.
JOYO VISUAL MODULATION
With modulation effects up the wazoo, the R-09 Vision guitar effects pedal from Joyo is bound to be an instant shoegazer favorite. It features two separate channels, each with its own set of highly tweakable modulation effects, that you can mix and match in parallel or series. Use a chorus on Channel A and an optical trem on Channel B. Phaser on A, Vibrato on B. It’s a giant sonic sandbox for you to play in. The R-09 Vision is an R Series pedal, meaning it also has cool ambient LED effects built into it.
Donner Pearl Tremor
The Pearl Tremor from Donner boasts a pure analog phase effect and produces a plump and warm sound. It carries a toggle switch that lets you choose between Vintage and Modern. It also features an LED indicator that shows you the working state and true bypass, which gives a transparent tone. The Pearl Tremor is packaged in a sturdy, aluminum-alloy chassis. It should not be used in direct sunlight, high humidity, high temperature, or subzero environments.
MXR ’74 Vintage Phase 90
The ’74 Vintage Phase 90 from MXR is a faithful reissue of the original with a hand-wired circuit board and hand-matched FETs. The MXR Phase 90 has set the standard for phasers, credits to its rich and thick tone. The in-house workhorse, acquired in the 70s, has been thoroughly spec’d and reproduced as the ’74 Vintage Phase 90. This reissue features a simple single knob operation. It comes dressed in a classic orange paint job and is embellished with the signature Script logo.
EarthQuaker Devices Hummingbird V4
EarthQuaker Devices’ Hummingbird repeat percussion tremolo pedal is an absolute beast when it comes to adding tremolo textures to your sound. Pick between the Slow, Mid-Tempo, and Fast modes then play around with the Rate and Depth control knobs to dish out everything from classic shimmering tremolo effects to helicopter chops and abrupt, synth-like pulses. V4 adds Flexi-Switch capability, which means the footswitch can act as both a latching and a momentary-type switch. Plug in an external expression pedal and you get even more freedom of control over the tremolo rate.
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.
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Whitecap
Fusing a multi-shape digital tap tremolo and three-control analog tremolo, the Whitecap by Old Blood Noise Endeavors allows you to discover unique tremolo textures by blending both sounds in parallel or series. Slow ramps, rapid chops, phase flipped undulations, smooth sines, textural rhythmic drifts, and asynchronous modulations—the Whitecap has them all. The analog tremolo includes volume, depth, and rate controls, while the digital tremolo features depth, volume, and rate knobs, along with five selectable waveforms and tap tempo.
Caline Lucky 7
The Caline CP-38 Lucky 7 Seven Modes guitar effects pedal packs seven different modulation effects into a tiny, sturdy, and very affordable stompbox. You get high-quality Detune, Flange, Phase, and Vibe effects, plus custom effects including a bias tremolo effect, a classic Roland amp-style jazz chorus, and a U-Vibe effect that simulates an effect close to the classic tonal characteristics of the venerable Uni-Vibe chorus and vibrato pedal. The Caline CP-38 Lucky 7 comes with a true bypass feature.
Joyo JF-09
With a photoelectric tube circuit identical to the ones that powered old Fender amps from the ‘60s and the ‘70s, there’s no question about the JF-09 Tremolo’s pedigree. This tremolo stomp from budget guitar effects maker Joyo is built to do both understated and full-blown psychedelic tremolo attacks equally well. Dial in your preferred trem tone with the Intensity and Rate pots then use the LED indicator, which flashes according to the modulation rate, to stay smack in the middle of the groove.
Blackstar HT-Modulation
The Blackstar HT-MODULATION delivers all the musicality of standard vintage effects, from mild tremolo to roaring jet engine flange. For the convenience of use, the SLOW/FAST control allows you to set the modulation time of the eight modulation effects as you play. You may add harmonics and real tube compression through the SATURATION control. The SLOW/FAST mode footswitch allows seamless control. The eight modulation effects include Phaser 1, Phaser 2, Multi Chorus, Vintage Chorus 1, Vintage Chorus 2, Flanger, Rotary, and Tremolo.
Chase Bliss Warped Vinyl HiFi
Improving on the fan-favorite mkII version, the Chase Bliss Audio Warped Vinyl HiFi is the answer to all of your vibrato and chorus concerns. It features various updates from the earlier versions, including a redesigned tone circuit, a lag knob for rich chorus tones, lower noise, and opportunities for brighter and more transparent tones. The newly created hold, tone, and lag controls allow you to produce brighter, lusher, more shimmering chorus and vibrato tones than ever before.
TC Electronic Tailspin
The Tailspin Vibrato by TC Electronic serves up a ton of gorgeously-vintage vibrato tones within a stompbox. Boasting a pure analog, bucket-brigade design, the Tailspin Vibrato gives you anything from pitch-bendy, warped-vinyl tones to gentle wobbles to incredibly smooth slow or fast whirling-speaker organ sounds. A durable metal enclosure with dedicated Output, Input, and True Bypass indicates that the Tailspin Vibrato is both pedalboard-friendly and roadworthy. Grab one now for wave after wave of vintage goodness.
Electro-Harmonix Good Vibes
The Good Vibes analog modulator guitar effects pedal from Electro-Harmonix combines selectable iconic chorus and vibrato effects ripped straight from the ‘60s with 21st-century conveniences. Taking a page from the original Uni-Vibe, the Good Vibes creates rippling, undulating chorus and vibrato effects by way of photocells. The Good Vibes also features boosted power rails for extra definition, an always-on speed indicator, and expression pedal support for more precise control over the Speed and Intensity settings.
NUX Monterey Vibe
Devised to reproduce the iconic 60s and 70s psychedelic rock guitar sound, the Monterey Vibe boasts all the classic Uni-vibe style selections: Rotary-Speaker, Chorus, and Phaser pedal. NUX revamped the vintage four-stage phaser circuit by replacing it with a revolutionary 32-Bit floating DSP for processing its custom algorithm. The Monterey Vibe produces a distinctive effect tone; a combination of rotary, chorus, phaser, and tremolo. You can find this unique tone in Robin Trower’s “Bridge of Sighs,” Pink Floyd’s “Breathe,” and the haunting audio mood for Jimi Hendrix’s “Machine Gun.”
Eventide ModFactor
When it comes to modulation effects, Eventide’s ModFactor multi-effects pedal is the pinnacle. You get all the classics—Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Rotary, Tremolo, and Vibrato—plus a couple of unique Eventide effects. There’s the dreamy, pulsating Undulator, which combines two delays, two detuned voices, and a tremolo effect. Also included is a RIngMod effect that adds futuristic bell-like overtones to your sound. The ModFactor can hold up to 100 presets, has true analog bypass, and supports real-time control via MIDI or expression pedal.
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.
Walrus Audio Descent
Walrus Audio’s Descent pedal is a three-mode reverb unit that lets you switch between Hall, Reverse, and Shimmer modes. Were it really gets interesting is that you can also mix in +1 and -1 octaves into each mode’s reverb effect. Hall mode can let you smoothly transition between small room and large hall echoes, Reverse mode comes with pre-delay time controls, and Shimmer mode brings the octave mix to the forefront to create a shimmering wall of reverberating sound.
MXR Sub Octave Bass Fuzz
The Sub Octave Bass Fuzz by MXR serves up a roaring low end with earth-shaking fuzz. It combines two distinct fuzzes with a snarling sub-octave signal, boasting a range of controls for fine-tuning your sound, including an individual Dry volume knob to guarantee clean low-end retention. The engineers at MXR combined the Bass Octave Deluxe’s Growl section with a long-forgotten fuzz circuit. With three independent output level controls for dry signals, fuzz, and sub-octave, you can craft your recipe of subterranean tones sans compromising your instrument’s natural sound.
Voodoo Lab Proctavia
Octavia is a fuzz that produces the octave doubling effect (an octave up) popularized by Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix. The Proctavia from Voodoo Lab is an exacting clone of an iconic Octave pedal, the unit utilized by SRV, and regarded as the most desirable by vintage collectors. It features the same transformer-coupled output stage, germanium diodes, and transistors as the real circuit to create the intense distortion and high octave sound heard on several famous recordings.
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.
Wampler Fuzztration
A modern fuzz box whose range of sound runs the gamut from vintage hair to swampy, sludgy doom, the Fuzztration stomp from Boutique guitar effects pedal maker Wampler is everything you ever wanted in a fuzz pedal—and more. You get iron-fisted tone sculpting power via a three band EQ, plus you can switch between a classic, tight voicing to a deep, open one via a built-in toggle. Although it can easily deliver classic fuzz tones, the Fuzztration really shines when you let it roar.
Danelectro DJ-13 French Toast Octave Distortion Mini
The Danelectro DJ-13 French Toast Octave Distortion brings the Foxx Tone Machine’s legendary octave-up fuzz tones back to life in budget-priced stompbox form. Turn the octave up function on and its searing, screaming distortion is perfect for solos; leave it off and you get Big Muff-like mid-scooped distortion dripping with harmonics when you crank the Dist knob up. A dedicated EQ knob also gives you a lot of leeway in sculpting your tone to your precise specifications.
Timing, Dynamics & EQ Pedals
NUX Atlantic
The NUX Atlantic features three kinds of reverb effects (Hall, Plate, and Spring), with each type featuring a secondary effect. When one of the reverb effects is activated, hold down the reverb footswitch to turn the secondary effect on. The Atlantic also provides you with three delay effects—60’s Tape, 70’s Analog, and 80’s Digital. This innovative delay and reverb pedal consists of an inside routing-control between the effects so you could determine which one comes first.
Danelectro D-4 Fab Echo
When you need to wake your tone up with a little slap, the Danelectro Fab D-4 Slap Echo has just what you need. This budget-priced stompbox can serve up a wide range of vintage-style slapback echo effects; way more than its price can even hint at, in fact. Using it is dead simple: the Repeat knob dials in the number of echoes you hear and the Mix knob lets you control the intensity of the echo effect.
Keeley Magnetic Echo Delay
Add a layer of warm, saturated tape delay to your guitar signal with the Magnetic Echo guitar effects pedal from Keeley Electronics. Quick rockabilly slapbacks, classic cavernous echoes, and everything else in between are all possible with the Magnetic Echo’s 40ms to 600ms delay time. Dedicated Time, Regen, and Level knobs give you full control over the echo effect while the Depth and Speed dials handle the vintage tape-style pitch modulation. The Magnetic Echo is Low-noise, road-tough, and a perfect addition to your arsenal of modulation pedals.
Donner Water Echo
The Water Echo from Donner is a compact twin pedal featuring meticulously selected delay and chorus effects. It consists of Level, Delay, Feedback, Depth, and Rate knobs. Use the Level knob to control the level of the delay effect, Delay to set the delay time, and Feedback to adjust the delay feedback. For the chorus effect, the Depth knob lets you control the chorus depth, while Rate allows you to determine the chorus speed. The Water Echo also features a Tap Tempo function for seamless chorus speed/delay time control.
Joyo D-Seed II
Joyo’s D-Seed II is a ramped-up version of the D-Seed dual-channel digital delay. The original D-Seed’s 1s maximum delay time has been stretched out to 2s, and the four delay modes—Copy, Analog, Modulation, and Reverse—have been reinforced with an additional four modes: Space, Lo-Fi, Filter, and Tape. Rounding out the improvements is a looper function that has up to 3½ minutes of recording time and a tape simulation effect as well as a new ping-pong-style effect toggle.
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.
Seymour Duncan Dark Sun
The Seymour Duncan Dark Sun Digital Delay + Reverb was built based on Mark Holcomb’s favorite sounds from the Silver Lake Dynamic Reverb and the Andromeda Dynamic Delay. It blends a clean, warm digital delay algorithm and a rich Hall reverb, plus the ability to route both in virtually any configuration you desire. You may also sculpt the effect’s EQ, add saturation, or rich choral modulation, or utilize Dynamic Expression to adjust the effect’s mix with your playing.
JOYO Space Verb
It sounds a bit strange considering Joyo’s very extensive line of guitar effects pedals, but the JF-317 Space Verb is actually the company’s first reverb pedal. It might have taken a while, but the reverb packed into this small wonder is well worth the wait. You get four reverb modes and an intuitive four-knob control layout for creating subtle, intimate reverbs to vast, otherworldly space echoes. As part of Joyo’s Ironman line, the JF-317 Space Verb is small enough to fit in your front pocket and features a flip cover for keeping your control dial settings safe from stray stomps.
Mooer Reverie Reverb
The TRV2 Reverie Reverb guitar effects pedal from Mooer is a versatile reverb pedal for musicians on a budget. You get five chorus modes, each of which can be mixed and matched with eight modulation tones. You’re also able to save up to five of your favorite chorus settings as presets. It uses a high performance floating point DSP chip to prevent tone loss while the twin switch design makes it easy to switch between effects on the fly, even when you’re rocking out on stage.
Donner Verb Square
Boasting a collection of reverb effects that gives musical color to your tone, you sure get your money’s worth with the Donner Verb Square. It features seven-mode reverberation effects: Mod, Plate, Church, Room, Hall, Spring, and Studio. This incredible pedal consists of Tone, Decay, and E.Level knobs that you can utilize to set the effect tone, select the duration of the reverberation, and determine the effect level respectively. The Verb Square also features an LED indicator, digital circuit design, and true bypass.
Walrus Audio Descent
Walrus Audio’s Descent pedal is a three-mode reverb unit that lets you switch between Hall, Reverse, and Shimmer modes. Were it really gets interesting is that you can also mix in +1 and -1 octaves into each mode’s reverb effect. Hall mode can let you smoothly transition between small room and large hall echoes, Reverse mode comes with pre-delay time controls, and Shimmer mode brings the octave mix to the forefront to create a shimmering wall of reverberating sound.
Keeley Gold Star
The Gold Star is the classic “Wall of Sound” in compact stompbox form. This reverb guitar effects pedal from Keeley Electronics features three different reverb modes. The Compressed mode adds a layer of compression to make the reverb effect “duck out” when you play heavily. The Distorted mode layers on a thick, powerful distortion. Finally, the Flanged mode branches off into two options: a Flanger Reverb and a Sun-Drenched Vinyl Reverb that comes with a random pitch vibrato effect.
Carl Martin ATCOMPLIM Compression
The Andy Timmons Signature Compressor/Limiter from Carl Martin shares the same quietness, performance, sonic clarity, and features as the most exceptional studio compressor/limiters. It was built in collaboration with Andy Timmons, a long-time fan and user of the Carl Martin Compressor/Limiter who requested for a version with two presets. The outcome of the cooperation is a two-preset option for Level and Compression Rate. To save knobs and make it as user-friendly as possible, the Response and Threshold settings are fixed for both presets.
TC Electronic Forcefield
With the Forcefield Compressor from TC Electronic, you get all the delicious classic dynamics control that country and rock ’n’ roll icons were built on. Find anything from mild sustain enhancement that slightly boosts a sweet yet gently played interlude or blues passage to intense compression that makes your guitar burst in the mix. The Forcefield Compressor’s classic circuit design allows you to tap into the sweet sag of a tube amp or the merciless slap of a sledgehammer. It includes controls for Attack, Sustain, and Level.
Xvive Bass Squeezer
High quality compressors are essential tools for any musician. The problem is that most of them are pretty complicated and quite expensive. Enter the Bass Squeezer, a dead simple compressor mini pedal that won’t require three masters’ degrees and a whole stack of user manuals to dial in the perfect compression settings for your tone. Xvive and designer Jamie Mallender crafted the Bass Squeezer to be practically idiot proof, so whether or not you’ve used compressors before you’ll be able to plug in, tweak, and play quickly.
ammoon KOKKO FCP2
Powered by a modded MXR Dyna Comp circuit combined with the Attack knob from the Boss CS-2 compressor, the FCP2 is a full-featured compressor in mini form that helps you fatten up your sound and achieve insane levels of sustain by gradually increasing a note’s volume as it decays. A fully analog circuit, a broad adjustable range, true bypass, and anti-skid rubber pads make the FCP2 Mini Compressor Pedal an excellent bargain for those in need of a budget-priced compressor pedal.
JOYO Dyna Compressor
Whether you want to level out harsh volume spikes or get nigh-infinite sustain, the JF-10 Dynamic Compressor from Joyo will be a good addition to your pedalboard. It takes its cue from Boss’s classic ‘80s compressor and sustainer pedal, giving it a great pedigree when it comes to compression performance. Use the dedicated Sustain and Attack dials to shape your desired compression and sustain effects then use the Level control to set the output volume. You can also use the JF-10 Dynamic Compressor as a workhorse clean boost.
Wampler Mini Ego Compressor
When it comes to boutique guitar compression effect pedals, nothing gets as much praise as Wampler’s Ego Compressor. If you want the same level of compression quality and transparency but don’t quite have the space for it on you pedalboard, the Mini Ego Compressor is what you need. This minified Ego Compressor drops the Tone and Attack pots in favor of smaller switches which let you choose between dark or bright and slow or fast, respectively. Complete compression control in a compact chassis.
ammoon EQ7
Adding an equalizer to your pedal chain can make a big difference in your tone, and with the ammoon EQ7 Mini Guitar Equalizer you won’t have to break the bank or even expand your pedalboard to do it. The EQ7, as its name suggests, has a seven-band EQ slider with an adjustable gain range of ±15dB per band and seven frequency centers— 63Hz, 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 1.0KHz, 2.2KHz, and 5KHz—for fine-tuning your guitar signal’s frequency range to your exact tastes.
Source Audio Programmable EQ
The Programmable EQ by Source Audio is a highly streamlined and thoroughly modern update to old-school equalizer pedals. This portable, sturdy, cast aluminum stompbox gives you instant hands-free access to four user programmed EQ settings. No matter your playing style, instrument, or genre, the Programmable EQ is the must-have tone-shaping tool for your live rig. It loads ± 18dB of range over seven frequency bands as well as an extra frequency band at 62Hz, accessible through Octave Extend feature.
MXR KFK1 10-Band EQ
If you are not contented with your MXR Ten Band EQ, check out its wicked twin—the Kerry King Ten Band EQ. This beastly, tattoo-covered unit gives you tone and level control identical to the M108, but the Kerry King is capable of punishing two amps simultaneously, credits to its dual outputs. Designed in collaboration with the iconic Slayer guitarist, you can use it to produce thrash approved, scooped-mid rhythm tones or as a boost for solos. Ten sliders allow for a cut or boost up to 12dB.
J. Rockett Rockaway Archer
The Rockaway Archer from J. Rockett was built as a complete solution to iconic guitarist Steve Stevens’ EQ and overdrive needs. It boasts an extensive range of sounds, from clean boost to tube-like distortion that integrates smoothly with the tone of various amps. It falls under the “transparent overdrive” category, allowing you to dial in a nice amount of gain without drastically changing your guitar’s tone. The Rockaway Archer is an excellent way to hit the front end of an amp harder compared to a stock Archer pedal.
WMD Utility Parametric EQ
WMD’s Utility Parametric EQ is the perfect always-on pedal for sculpting your tone. Don’t let the simple three-band layout fool you; the Utility can a lot of power under its hood. The three frequency knobs let you dial in the filter’s center frequency; frequency ranges are 31Hz to 1.6kHz, 100Hz to 4.8kHz, and 300Hz to 16kHz. Each frequency pot also has its own dedicated Q and level dials for controlling the filter’s sharpness and the cut / boost, respectively.
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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
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
Benson Amps has launched the Germanium Boost, a booster that self-regulates its bias for consistency. Building on the ideas behind Benson’s Germanium Fuzz, the Germanium Boost operates like the former
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
Siren Pedals is continuing their momentum by expanding their pedal roster to add two new guitar effects stompboxes: the Eligos heavy metal distortion and the Juneau overdrive. Both pedals are
New Zealand-headquartered effects firm Red Witch has teamed up with Reverb for the brand new octave–fuzz stompbox, the Seraphina. Handmade in New Zealand by Ben Fulton, the Seraphina is all
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Two of the biggest names in the boutique pedal world, Death By Audio and EarthQuaker Devices, have teamed up for the Time Shadows, a dual-sided fuzz delay stompbox full of
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Utility Pedals
Joyo Irontune
Your pedalboard may have the best-sounding and most expensive effects, but it won’t do you any good if you don’t even have a reliable guitar tuner. The Joyo JF-326 Irontune is a tiny, budget-friendly pedal that does the very important job of making sure your guitar is in tune. It’s fast, too, plus an easy to read LED display lets you know how in-tune or how far off you are. As one of Joyo’s Ironman pedals, the JF-326 Irontune is small enough to fit in your front pocket and features a flip cover for keeping your control dial settings safe.
Korg Pitchblack Chromatic Tuner
Compact yet tough, the Korg Pitchblack Chromatic Tuner serves as your one-stomp ticket to staying in tune. This gig-bag essential loads exceptional functionality and accurate tuning into a sleek, portable floor unit that is convenient to use anywhere. An innovative chromatic floor tuner with a large LED screen makes it an indispensable tool for bassists and guitarists. When performing live, you will appreciate the Pitchblack’s clear, well-lit display and the large footswitch allows for convenient access. The Pitchblack’s sturdy aluminum enclosure makes it roadworthy.
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.
Digitech DROP
The DigiTech Drop pedal allows you accurate and quick pitch shifting. You can drop your tuning from one semitone to a whole octave. You only need to step down on your Drop pedal to achieve your desired tuned-down chunk with the playing action you want. The DigiTech Drop pedal features nine settings. The first seven offer one to seven semitones of downward pitch shifting, while the other two settings give octave downshifting with or without dry signal.
Koogo Tuner LT-901
The Tuner LT-901 from Koogo is a compact, high precision tuning pedal capable of being accurate to 0.5 cent. This chromatic guitar tuner is perfect for broad range tuning. It consists of an LED screen that shows you clear, easy to read tuning results and information. It features a real signal, true bypass, and no loss of tune. The Koogo Tuner LT-901 works with most electro-acoustic or electric instruments including five-string bass as well as seven-string guitar.
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.
Donner Deluxe Looper
The Donner team has spent many years of repeated studies and efforts to realize a charming and powerful twin pedal—the Ultimate Delay and Deluxe Looper. The Deluxe Looper boasts high-quality audio, analog dry through, and true bypass. Featuring ten minutes of looping time and infinite overdubs and redo/undo functionality, the Deluxe Looper is the perfect combination of simplicity, quality, and creativity. It lets you play loops in reverse and can make for a jaw-dropping show or subtle performance.
T-Rex Image Looper
The Image Looper by T-Rex delivers high-quality audio and simplicity, with 5.8 min. maximum loop length in true stereo or mono operation. A phrase looper has become an invaluable tool for bassists and guitarists. With all the handy commands spread out on two footswitches, each features an LED bar for indication, you are always updated on what the looper is doing. The LEDs will show you which mode is presently running: playback, recording, stopped recording, stopped playback, empty, and undo.
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.
TC Electronic Ditto Stereo Looper
The most exceptional and intuitive looper known to musickind has made a comeback. The Ditto Stereo Looper loads an abundance of stellar creative features that will see you jamming along with the best in music now through the revolutionary StarJam feature while producing multilayered masterpieces in seconds flat. With the Ditto Stereo Looper, TC Electronic takes some of the most legendary features of the bigger two-switch Ditto X2 Looper into a more compact enclosure without sacrificing the essential functionality that has made the Ditto Looper extremely popular.
NUX Stageman Floor
The Stageman Floor Acoustic Preamp + DI by NUX is an analog acoustic preamp boasting digital effects and looper function. Preamp featured with an extremely sensitive three-band EQ with input gain control, adjustable notch filter, and MID scoop toggle switch. It also offers a massive headroom that gives you the sound all-natural. The notch filter helps you cut the resonating frequency. The Stageman Floor consists of Treble, Middle, and Bass knobs, depending on the speaker/amp characteristic, acoustic guitar’s body type, and playing style, you may tune your sound to your liking.
TC Electronic WireTap Riff Recorder
With the WireTap Riff Recorder from TC Electronic, it is more convenient than ever to achieve a song idea while you are jamming, riffing, or gigging. This incredibly compact, pedal-simple riff recorder boasts over eight hours of recording time to save plenty of riffs. Designed and engineered in Denmark, the WireTap Riff Recorder comes in a durable die-cast metal chassis built for life on the road. It is the new essential tool for all earnest songwriters out there.
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.
Electro-Harmonix MEL9
If vintage tape-based keyboard sounds get you hot and bothered, then the MEL9 Tape Replay Machine from Electro-Harmonix deserves a prime spot on your pedalboard. The MEL9 comes packed with authentic recreations of nine of the coolest Mellotron sounds ever: Orchestra, Cello, Strings, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Brass, Low Choir, and High Choir. The MEL9 features dedicated Attack and Sustain controls for full sound-shaping freedom as well as separate Dry and Effect outputs, each of which has its own volume dial.
Alexander Pedals Wavelength
The Wavelength is a massively versatile digital modulation machine in one small, stompable package. The Wavelength has six distinct modulation engines—textured tremolo, bright chorus, eight-stage phaser, flexible flanger, photocell- and lamp-style vibrato, and resonant low-pass filter—all controllable via a customizable LFO. As a NEO pedal, the Wavelength can store up to four presets and up to 16 presets via a MIDI controller. Plug a foot switch into the multi-jack, and you can seamlessly sweep through two different effects settings.
Strymon Timeline
Explore your creativity with the TimeLine from Strymon. It serves up twelve distinct delay machines, each with far-reaching control of sonic character and vibe. You may go from clear and crisp, studio-grade digital delays to the fluctuating and saturated sounds of tape delay machines. Capture fuzzy and warm analog style repeats to sparkling, crystalline, and shimmery ice delays. Tweak to your liking and record up to 200 presets of your favorite sounds. Top it off with a routable, 30-second stereo looper and full MIDI implementation, and you are en route to delay bliss.
Line 6 HX Stomp
Achieve the sound of Helix amps, effects, and cabs in a portable pedal with the Line 6 HX Stomp. You may utilize this professional-grade multi-effects processor as a super stompbox, an add-on tone expander, audio interface, backup or travel rig, or even a full bass or guitar rig. The HX Stomp leverages the same HX Modeling technology as Helix. It can run as much as six processing blocks simultaneously, making it the most versatile and powerful stompbox-sized multi-effects processor in the market.
Donner Vowel Mini
The Donner Vowel Mini is a two-in-one Wah/Volume pedal that delivers an exceptional Wah response based on the original Crybaby response along with a Volume function. Donner gives you all that within a footprint smaller than a standard Volume or Wah pedal. Press the footswitch to shift between Volume mode and Wah mode. The Vowel Mini includes two LED lights that show you the current mode: red for Wah and green for Volume. As a Volume pedal, the Vowel is capable of fulfilling the strict demands of each guitarist.
Supro SF2
Featuring the dual footswitch Reverb and Tremolo on/off remote for just about any Supro combo amp—the Supro SF2. It requires a TRS cable (not included) to connect to an amp. It boasts a rugged metal construction and a two-button format that turns Reverb and Tremolo on or off remotely. It is compatible with Rhythm Master, Tremo-verb, Royal Reverb, Titan, Saturn, and Jupiter guitar amps. With the SF2, you get full control over your Supro tube combo electric guitar amp’s reverb and tremolo effects.
JHS Pedals Mini A/B
Some players employ an A/B box like JHS Pedals’ Mini A/B, while others don’t know what they’re missing. Packed with indispensable benefits in the studio, on the gig, as well as at home, the Mini A/B gives you incredible convenience within a compact enclosure that can squeeze into even the most cramped spaces. It is perfect for swapping between two amps, changing between two instruments, or isolating your tuner from your signal chain. You can also leave one output unplugged for a handy mute function.
Lehle Little Lehle II
The Little Lehle II Looper Switcher fits in any pedalboard setup. It is a genuine true bypass switcher/looper which you can use as a simple A/B box or to manage an effects loop. It lets you route your guitar signal to two amplifiers and change between them. You may plug in both your backup guitar and your main axe, and change instruments at any time. Add the Little Lehle II to your setup, and you will wonder how you survived without it.
Morley Maverick Mini Switchless Wah
The modulation masters at Morley have outdone themselves with the Mini Maverick Switchless Wah. It’s smaller than the average wah pedal, which instantly makes it a much better proposition for those concerned about pedalboard space, but it also packs an impressive variety of both vintage and modern wah tones into its small, road-tough chassis. Whether you use it with a guitar, bass, or keyboard, the Mini Maverick Switchless Wah will serve up all the funk you need.
JHS Pedals Switchback
The Switchback from JHS Pedals is a little unassuming box boasting an extensive feature set. It started as a tool designed by JHS Pedals for themselves to examine and compare pedals in their workshop but later on recognized that it was incredibly handy for anyone’s rig in the studio or on stage. The Switchback includes two separate selectable effects loops (Return/Send), an input, output, as well as an A/B toggle controllable using the Red Remote switching system.
Caline Blue Ocean
Getting great, natural-sounding delay tones doesn’t have to be expensive, and the Caline CP-19 Blue Ocean Delay guitar effect pedal proves it. You can dial in a delay time of anywhere from 25ms to 600ms with the Delay knob and then use the Repeat knob to control the delay signal’s repeats for slap back effects and classic delays. The Caline CP-19 Blue Ocean Delay comes with a true bypass feature and can be powered by a 9V battery or compatible power supply.
Empress Effects Buffer Plus Stereo
The Empress Buffer+ Stereo seeks to eradicate signal loss due to long, unbuffered cable runs, which has long been an issue for guitarists. Empress Effects has incorporated the features of its Buffer+, including the noise filters, input padding, foot-switchable boost, and variable input loading, along with several new features such as an external switch control, AB/AY switching, and full stereo in/out connectivity. The Buffer+ Stereo boasts 12 operating modes, each with a separate signal routing to deliver supreme adaptability and versatility to virtually any rig.
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.
Orange Amp Detonator
Running two amps is an accepted way of capturing bigger tones in the studio and on stage. No matter if it is changing between two amps for their characteristics or employing them simultaneously for vast walls of sounds, professionals have been using this setup for years. The Amp Detonator by Orange is arguably the tiniest active, wholly functional, buffered ABY pedal available. The transformer output was painstakingly engineered to become as transparent as possible, while the two outputs are buffered with a low-noise, linear circuit. Drive lengthy cable to your amplifiers without clarity loss and change quietly between them.
Mission Engineering VM-Pro (Black)
An incredibly sophisticated volume pedal, the VM-PRO by Mission Engineering addresses several typical issues with volume pedals, which cause mismatching and tone sucking problems. The VM-PRO works with your electro-acoustic, electric, bass, or baritone guitars. It is also compatible with several other electric and acoustic instruments, including steel guitars, electronic keyboards, and instrument microphones like horn mics and harmonica. The VM-PRO features onboard buffers, sparkle control, isolated tuner out, and compatibility switches for utilization with active and passive pickups.
Emerson Custom Concord
Get superb clarity and signal response with the Concord Utility Buffer from Emerson Custom. It will maintain a clear and strong signal for your board. It is equipped with premium audio-grade components to put back the sparkle and clarity, which can sometimes vanish when you utilize long cable runs or multiple effects pedals. You can place the Concord anywhere in your chain for optimal performance. It also includes a bright blue LED that tells you it is working to give you the best tone imaginable.
Morley Buffer Boost
The Morley Buffer Boost isn’t a guitar effects pedal, per se. Instead, it’s an essential weapon in the constant battle against tone suck. The Buffer Boost contains a buffer circuit that gives your guitar signal that extra push it needs to maintain its output level and tone, no matter how many pedals you may have in your pedal chain. You can place the Buffer Boost at the front or back of the signal chain and use it as a clean boost with up to 20dB of extra output.
MOSKY Noise Reduction
The Noise Gate is budget guitar effects pedal maker Mosky Audio’s offering to those musicians who are having headaches dealing with unwanted buzzes, hisses, and hums in their signal. It takes you guitar’s dry signal and eliminates the noise level by up to 26dB within your effects loop. You can set the minimum volume threshold where the pedal’s functions kick in via a dedicated Gate knob. Just dial in your preferred threshold, hit the footswitch, and enjoy noise-free playing.
Donner Noise Killer
The Noise Killer is arguably one of the most competitive noise gate pedals you can find on a limited budget. It delivers the core performance and features that are essential for a decent pedal of this kind. It lets you choose between Hard and Soft modes, which provide hard effect and soft effect of noise reduction respectively. The threshold range goes from -70dB to +10dB. The Noise Killer comes in an aluminium-alloy enclosure, and like many great effector pedals, it also features a true bypass function.
Electro-Harmonix Hum Debugger
Signal hum can be a source of headaches and frustrations for all musicians. Throw a Hum Debugger into your effects chain, though, and you can kick that annoying sound to the curb. This hum eliminator isn’t a noise gate, and neither is it a noise suppressor, but it extracts hums and buzzes from your signal and turns it into dead silence via some sonic voodoo courtesy of Electro-Harmonix. Accurate and precise noise elimination has never been easier to achieve.
TC Electronic Sentry
Enjoy a dynamic, noise-free performance with the Sentry Noise Gate pedal from TC Electronic. Leveraging the groundbreaking multi-band System 6000 algorithms, it provides you with smooth, natural-sounding noise reduction. The Sentry Noise Gate comes packed with a classic hard-gate mode sporting a Return/Send loop for dealing with noisy pedals or utilizing it for creative sidechaining. It consists of controls for Decay, Threshold, and Damp. Keep your rig’s noise in check with the Sentry Noise Gate pedal.
MXR Smart Gate
Whether you need to silence your chain of stompboxes or tame your hissing high-gain amp, the MXR Smart Gate has got you covered. This ingenious tool is armed with three selectable noise reduction ranges to manage just about any signal type. The Smart Gate bites down on sizzle and hum but allows the tiniest detail of your playing through. It possesses an uncanny capability to sense when and how fast to engage. It also boasts an incredibly clean circuitry, precise threshold trigger, and hardwire bypass.
Electro-Harmonix The Silencer
Give unwanted signal noise a double-tap to the head with Electro-Harmonix’s The Silencer. This sophisticated noise gate pedal gives you Threshold, Reduction, and Release controls for precise fine-tuning that takes your gear and playing style into account. It doesn’t just help eliminate annoying buzzes and hums, either; the Silencer also expands your pedal routing options. You can use it as an inline noise gate or add it to an effects loop to kill noise from specific pedals.
Digitech TRIOPLUS
The DigiTech Trio+ is among the most impressive performance, writing, and practice tools for guitarists. This simple-to-use guitar pedal is built on DigiTech’s famed Trio technology which listens to your playing and instantly plays drum and bass accompaniment. The Trio+ gives you five additional genres for achieving the perfect feel. You select a genre and style variation, then start playing. The Trio+ pedal also includes three bass line modes that will fit any style of music you are playing.
NUX MFX-10
The MFX-10 boasts 55 models overall (you may use as much as eight simultaneously), vintage three-band passive EQ for each amp model, 19 classic amp and pedal models with A/B channel switching, and parametric EQ with additional mid-frequency sweep control for pedals. Twelve cabinet models give you two distinct modes for a guitar amp or mixer/PA input. The MFX-10 also features an inbuilt drum machine with CD quality PCM sounds, and 72 presets: 36 user plus 36 factory presets. The A/B switch lets you utilize up to 144 presets.
MOOER Groove Loop
Budget pedal maker brings together the Micro Looper and the Micro Drummer into one affordable, pedalboard-friendly guitar effects pedal. The Groove Loop makes for the perfect portable jamming companion, letting you use its looper and drum machine features either independently or simultaneously. The looper features 20 minutes of recording time and can sync automatically with the drum track. The drum machine comes with eight groove styles, each of which has two variations for a total of 16 different grooves.
Digitech Jamman Solo XT
After inventing looping many years back, the DigiTech JamMan Solo XT gives you the ultimate stereo looping experience. Increase the energy in your performance and gain new inspiration with almost infinite loops. Smooth transitions between looped phrases make the Solo XT an indispensable device for performing and composing. It features ten pre-loaded drum loops from Pat Mastelotto. Enjoy the stereo looping experience you desire from simple backing loops to complex loop layers with your band or by yourself. Polish your performance with Auto-Quantize, Auto-Record, three Stop modes, and adjustable BPMs.
Joyo GEM BOX III
The Gem Box III is Joyo’s flagship entry in the guitar multi-effects processor arena, and it packs quite a punch. The Gem Box III features 61 preamp models, 157 effect types, and 300 preset tones. It also comes loaded with 26 impulse responses, to which you can add your own via Joyo’s Studio software. For playing solo, the Gem Box III’s drum machine with 40 presets and 10 metronome rhythms will come in handy along with the 52-second looper. And when it’s time to hit the stage, this sturdy unit will hold up to the rigors of the road.
Mooer Micro Drummer
Rock, pop, jazz, R&B, funk, latin, metal, blues, reggae—whatever style of music you play, the Micro Drummer can serve up a pretty authentic drum track emulation for it. This digital drum machine guitar effects pedal from budget stompbox masters Mooer is packed with 121 different drumbeat patterns spread across 11 genres. Just pick a genre with the rotary selector, dial in your preferred volume, speed, and tone, and then use the tap tempo to get the beat you want.
Other Pedals
Dunlop Kirk Hammett Cry Baby
Dunlop’s KH95 Kirk Hammett Signature Cry Baby Wah Pedal lets you add Kirk Hammett’s legendary wah tone to your rig. Developed alongside the metal guitar legend himself, the Kirk Hammett Cry Baby was meticulously tweaked and tuned to provide you with the wah-wah sound that has transformed metal solos. The engineers at Dunlop have taken Kirk’s tone, EQ, and volume settings and recreated them with supreme precision. The Kirk Hammett Cry Baby features a full dynamic range and thick top end.
Donner Wah Cry
The Donner Wah Cry gives you an excellent Wah response as well as a Volume function. It comes in a tiny footprint, way smaller compared to a standard Volume or Wah pedal. Switch on the side for either Volume or Wah. The response in the WAH mode is based on the original Crybaby response. For the VOL mode, Donner crafted an active circuit which ensures retaining all the details of your sound. Donner has also included a volume range control for VOL mode. As a volume pedal, the Wah Cry is capable of catering to the demand of any guitarist.
T-Rex Shafter Wah
A sturdy, ultra-versatile wah-wah effect that lets you take control of your pedal not the other way around. The Shafter Wah is T-Rex Engineering’s best shot at an authentic next-generation wah-wah pedal. With plenty of adjustability, a more extensive frequency sweep, greater durability, quieter operation, and three entirely different wah characters, it addresses all the drawbacks of a classic wah. T-Rex Engineering believes it is the best wah-wah ever existed. The Shafter Wah is highly tuneable via Slope and Boost knobs.
Dunlop Geezer Butler Cry Baby
As the first bassist to record with a wah pedal, Geezer Butler was the perfect choice when it came to building Dunlop’s first signature Cry Baby Bass Wah. The Geezer Butler Cry Baby is intended to complement Geezer’s legendary sound. It is designed to maintain low-end frequencies and let an aggressive midrange cut through the mix. The Geezer Butler Cry Baby is voiced for Geezer’s aggressive and massive sound. You will appreciate the convenience of its auto-return switching and the internal Q control which lets you adjust frequency band pass.
Dunlop Buddy Guy Cry Baby
Regarded as a significant influence by wah-wah masters like Clapton, Vaughn, and Hendrix, Buddy Guy has helped establish the wah-wah as part of the blues language. To pay tribute to his contributions, Dunlop has built the Buddy Guy Cry Baby Wah pedal, incorporating the Fasel Inductor for a sweet top end, and two different user selectable wah voices. You can pick between BG for Buddy’s bell-like wah tone and DEEP for a massive and throaty growl.
Dunlop Crybaby Classic
Dunlop’s Cry Baby Classic Wah is a fresh take on a classic sound. The engineers at Dunlop retuned the Cry Baby Standard Wah circuit to achieve a more subtle effect and lower frequency center while incorporating the iconic Fasel Inductor to produce the beautiful tone, sweep, and voice of old Cry Baby pedals. The Cry Baby Classic Wah also includes true bypass switching for tonal purists. It emulates the lush harmonics and vocal sweep from the wah’s classic era.
Rowin Octpus
Budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Rowin serves up a wide range of polyphonic octave pitch shift effects in the tiny and economical LEF-3806 Octpus, a straightforward yet versatile octave stomp. The Oct 1 and Oct pots control the output of the upper and sub octaves, while the Dry knob controls the amount of dry signal that’s blended into the mix. It also features a three-way toggle that lets you choose to go an octave up, an octave down, or both at the same time.
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.
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.
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.
Radial Tonebone PZ-Pre
The Tonebone PZ-Pre from Radial Engineering serves up amazingly natural-sounding acoustic preamplification. This feature-packed onstage must-have incorporates a three-band EQ, variable notch filter, and filter. It allows you to kill feedback easily and rapidly. Individual piezo boosters on each channel provide some kick to your pickup-equipped acoustic instrument. The Tonebone PZ-Pre gives you great connection options and foot-switchable functionality. It also features a tuner out with footswitch mute and individual post- and pre-EQ DI outs for checking and FOH connections.
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.
JAM Pedals Wahcko Bass
A wah pedal like no other. The Wahcko Bass by Jam Pedals is a product of lengthy and painful research. This real, vocal and vintage-sounding wah pedal features a retuned filter frequency spectrum to suit the register of the bass. The Wahcko Bass is equipped with carbon comp resistors, a RED Fasel inductor for a pure vintage sound, six-position rotary switch for various frequency sweep range, mini LED, and internal trimmer for setting the input gain.
ZVEX Vexter Fat Fuzz Factory
The Fat Fuzz Factory from boutique guitar effects pedal maker Zvex is versatile enough to keep the fuzz traditionalists happy with everything from subtle fuzz to woolly, gritty hair, while letting the more experimental push the envelope with some of the wildest and most out of this world oscillating fuzz tones imaginable. Whether you’re the former or the latter, the Fat Fuzz Factory will let you dial in your own idea of the perfect fuzz and then tweak it whichever way you like, even on the fly.
Tortuga Bassquatch
Tortuga Effects is keeping things simple with its Classic Series, a hand-made pedal line marked by simpler graphics, simpler effect names, and more affordable price tags. The tone of Tortuga’s Classic pedals, however, are anything but simple. The Bassquatch, as its name suggests, is a bass optimized version of one of Tortuga’s most popular pedals, the Sasquatch fuzz stomp. The same killer fuzz of the Sasquatch, but with a heavier, more aggressive low end that works well with both basses and drop-tuned guitars.
Nux Scream Bass
The Scream Bass from NUX is an analog overdrive designed specifically for bassists. It features an analog circuit to guarantee the natural overdrive tone. It consists of simple Low, High, Level, and Gain knobs that make it convenient to use and allow you to get the tone from overdrive to fuzz. The Scream Bass also features a true bypass design. It gives you a broad tonal range from light overdrive to fuzz. The Blend control lets you balance overdrive and dry signals.
ammoon Mini Chromatic Tuner
It might not be the most glamorous of guitar effects pedals, but a good tuner is a must-have essential for any and all musicians. Whether you shred a six-string or slap a bass, you can make sure you always stay in tune with the Mini Chromatic Tuner from ammoon. Its big, bright LED display lets you know your exact tuning easily even when you’re playing on a dark stage surrounded by dry ice fog, and its true bypass switch means you won’t have to worry about your guitar signal getting corrupted.
MOOER Bass Ensemble Queen
The Ensemble Queen is an analog chorus effect pedal built specifically to handle the signature low frequencies of a bass guitar. This budget- and pedalboard-friendly compact stompbox from Mooer features a full complement of tone-shaping controls; you get dedicated micro knobs for Level, Tone, and Depth as well as a full-sized Rate dial. The Ensemble Queen also comes packed with a true bypass feature and can be powered by a standard Boss-style 9V DC adapter.
Boss FV-30H
Built like a tank and small enough to save valuable real estate on your pedalboard, the Boss FV-30 series of foot volume pedals is the epitome of the workhorse volume pedal. These volume pedals built using 100-percent professional-grade, aluminum die-cast units with smooth pivot action that registers even the most subtle of volume changes. The Boss FV-30H foot Volume pedal is a high-impedance pedal with a built-in tuner specially designed to handle direct guitar or bass connections.
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.
Morley Stereo Chorus Volume
Almost every acoustic guitar player’s pedalboard has a volume pedal and a chorus pedal. Morley combines these two essentials into one handy pedal designed specifically for acoustic guitarists: the SCV Stereo Chorus Volume. The SCV Stereo Chorus Volume lets you use its volume control and chorus effect individually or together, plus it has dual outputs for true stereo output. It also sports Morley’s electro-optical circuit design, so you won’t ever have to worry about wearing down the pedal’s pots.
Boss FV-50H
Boss has long been known for its durable, high-quality volume pedals, and if you’re looking for some of that Boss magic at a more affordable price point, then the FV-50 series of volume pedals is precisely what you’re looking for. The Boss FV-50H Volume pedal is the line’s high-impedance stereo model designed to be placed before other guitar effects pedals in your signal chain. It comes with a Minimum Volume knob that lets you set a minimum volume and a handy Tuner-Out jack for quick and easy onstage tuning.
Vertex T Drive
The T Drive by Vertex is a sonic simulation of the iconic Trainwreck Express amp with a highly sensitive pick attack and response. Rooted in the tradition of 60s and 70s British amps, Trainwrecks are known for their quick pick response and excellent dynamics from chimney Vox-esque cleans to towering Plexi overdrive. Vertex’s journey to craft the most precise Wreck-in-a-box has resulted in the innovative T Drive pedal, which features the harmonic complexity, dynamics, and voice-esque overtones evocative of the amp it was inspired by.
Morley Mini Volume
Need a good volume pedal but you’re already running out of pedalboard space? The Morley Mini Volume turns the volume pedal, a pedalboard essential that unfortunately often takes up so much space, into a small but road-tough workhorse that won’t let you down in the studio or on the road. It features a smooth, quiet audio taper for perfect and seamless volume control, Morley’s signature electro-optical circuit structure, and glow-in-the-dark treadle rubber and toe-end logo designs.
Mission Engineering EP-25K (Black)
Housed in a sleek black chassis, the EP-25K by Mission Engineering is a professional quality, dual-channel pedal intended for utilization with equipment that favors a 25K expression pedal such as Moog, Strymon, TC Electronic, and Eventide. It features a 25K Ohm potentiometer instead of the 10K potentiometer found in the Mission EP-1. It incorporates two outputs that you may utilize to control two expression pedal devices at the same time. The EP-25K is also compatible as an input for the Expressionator.
Dunlop Volume X
Keep your effect pedal parameters in check or produce amazingly smooth volume swells with Dunlop’s DVP3 Volume (X) Pedal. This amazing pedal is compact, solidly-built, and ready for the road. The Volume (X) Pedal manages volume and FX parameters, boasting an adjustable rocker tension and Dunlop’s patent-pending Low Friction Band-Drive for supreme durability—all within a pedalboard-friendly enclosure. Together with FX, Volume, and Output jacks, the DVP3 also includes a handy Tuner output for quiet tuning onstage.
Mission Engineering EP-1
The EP-1 by Mission Engineering is a sturdy and reliable expression pedal that enables you to control an extensive range of your effects processors with expression inputs. It is perfect if you want to manage your modulation and delay effects instantly. Built in California, the EP-1 boasts high-quality components and all-metal construction for years of seamless operation and rock-solid reliability. This expression pedal is designed for use with your synthesizers, effects pedals, and other expression-capable products.
Fender EXP-1 Expression Pedal
The Fender EXP-1 Expression Pedal manages the volume or amp/effect parameters on the Mustang Floor multi-effects unit as well as Mustang III, IV, and V amps. By stepping on the pedal’s toe end, you can move between Expression and Volume modes. Green and red LEDs show you the mode in use. The EXP-1 allows you exceptional tonal control and delivers a revolutionary way to make your Mustang multi-effects unit or amplifier more expressive, versatile, and exciting.
Tapestry Audio Bloomery Active Volume Pedal (Black)
The Bloomery active volume pedal by Tapestry Audio boasts some distinctive differences from a standard volume control pedal. At a size of only 7.8″ x 2.25″, it consumes less space while staying comfortable for your foot. The Bloomery is machined out of steel, providing it with a durable solid feel. A slide potentiometer plus a direct shaft drive eradicates the need for pesky strings, delivering a distinct smooth volume curve. The active model helps you prevent tone loss at high-end frequencies and keep your guitar tone clean.
Donner Viper Mini
The Donner Viper Mini is a two-in-one Expression/Volume pedal with a super lightweight housing that gives you convenience. This mighty little pedal features an excellent Expression response as well as Volume function. The Viper Mini instantly detects and catches the output source (EXP/Vol) objective. It also includes a special analog circuit design and smooth taper that precisely responds to different parameters. The Viper Mini comes in a sturdy, hard plastic compact enclosure and works without a pedal power supply or battery.
ammoon AROMA
Can’t be bothered to pack an acoustic guitar along with your electric? Go unplugged in a single stomp with the ammoon AROMA AAS-5 Acoustic Guitar acoustic simulator pedal. This pedal comes with three guitar modes—Piezo, Standard, and Jumbo—and has dedicated knobs for controlling volume, gain, and the body resonance of the acoustic guitar you’re simulating. The AROMA AAS-5 also features true bypass, letting your guitar signal pass straight to the amp without losing tonal integrity, strength, or frequency.
Rowin Shaper
Only a few musicians can afford a home recording studio with 11 different amps in it. It’s not just the price, either; you’d have to find room for all of those amps, too. What most musicians can afford, though, is the tiny little LEF-3802 Shaper from budget guitar effects pedal maker Rowin. This very compact and extremely affordable cab sim stomp comes packed with 11 distinct high quality cab models, making it a perfect tool for the musician on a budget.
Boss RT-20 Rotary Ensemble
The rotary speaker has long been a staple of the classic sound of many legendary guitar heroes. With the Boss RT-20 Rotary Ensemble twin pedal stompbox, Boss lets you add that same vintage effect to your arsenal. Powered by Boss’s Composite Object Sound Modeling (COSM) technology, the RT-20 accurately reproduces the classic sound of a spinning, swirling rotary cabinet. The Boss RT-20 Rotary Ensemble also features onboard overdrive effects, adjustable transition times, and a virtual rotor display.
ammoon AP-13 American Sound
The AP-13 American Sound is an amp simulator pedal made by budget guitar effect pedal manufacturer Ammoon that makes your tone sound as if your guitar is plugged into a classic Fender Blonde amp. Experiment a bit with the American Sound’s six control knobs and you can even emulate the sound of a much wider range of Fender amps, even more so when you’re using an actual Fender amp. The American Sound sounds great clean, but it really shines when you crank up the drive
T-Rex Viper
The Viper by T-Rex Engineering is an attractive, phenomenal-sounding effect pedal taking the classic swirling vibe sound and delivering some added bite with more voltage hurling your instrument’s sound across the room. Pulsating, shimmering, whirling, and spinning, it is meant to join other award-winning T-Rex pedals as a contemporary classic, yielding sounds from the heyday of rock ’n’ roll to the 21st century. The Viper is controllable using the Mode, Speed, Level, and Depth controls.
Joyo British Sound
The JF-16 British Sound rounds out Joyo’s early series of compact and affordable amp simulator pedals. It comes packed full of a Marshall amp’s Brit-flavored crunch, from the warm, vintage overdrive of early ‘60s Marshall amps to the high-gain tube scream of the JCM800 and JCM900 amp heads. The JF-16 British Sound features a three-band EQ for flexible tone sculpting, plus it has a unique Voice dial that opens your tone up to more exciting sonic possibilities.
Empress Effects ZOIA
Empress Effects’ ZOIA is loaded with a massive collection of modules to realize virtually anything you can imagine. LFOs, oscillators, bit crushers, filters, envelope followers are only some of the available modules which may be connected in almost any way you desire. Essentially a modular synthesizer in pedal form, the ZOIA offers the modules required to build a tremolo or delay from the ground up. It allows you to craft your custom effects, midi controllers, synthesizers, and digital pedalboards. Empress Effects has also developed modules for all your common guitar effects.
Boss SY-300 Guitar Synth
Boss and its parent company Roland have built up a staggering amount of expertise in guitar synth technology. With the Boss SY-300 Guitar Synthesizer, they’ve bottled up that legendary level of expertise and sold it in guitar effects pedal form. The SY-300 lets you turn your guitar into a polyphonic synth machine straight out of the box, while three simultaneous synth sections and four effects processors let you create your own rich and dynamic synth tones.
EarthQuaker Devices Organizer V2
The Organizer is a polyphonic organ emulator that makes your instrument sound like a massive, old-timey church organ. The Organizer’s Leslie-style warbles give your sound a decidedly haunting atmosphere, whether you plug in a guitar, a bass, drums, synths, or even a mic into it. Create brand-new sonic soundscapes quickly and easily with the Organizer’s six control knobs, including Up and Down controls for the octave effect and a Choir knob that lets you dish out an additional two octaves up, two octaves down, and slightly delayed direct signal for that full church organ sound.
Korg Miku
Inspired by Japanese animation star Hatsune Miku, the Miku Stomp from Korg lets you change your guitar tone into vocal phrases, voiced by the iconic character. It features a Hatsune Miku graphic and eleven distinct phrases that are conveniently selectable using the one rotary control. It leverages an eVocaloid effect, built on Yamaha’s NSX-1 sound engine. With such a distinctive sound, you will either find yourself enjoying the Miku Stomp’s often humorous character or discover infinite inspiration as you conjure new sounds.
Keeley Synth 1
The Synth 1 guitar effects pedal from Keeley is a monophonic synth pedal that reads your signal’s pitch and doubles it using simple synth waveforms. Dial in anything from an instant synth effect to volume swell-style layering using the Filter and Attack knobs, then use the Blend dial, the three-position wave shape selector, and the fuzzed-out Chaos switch to create cool and unique sounds you can use to great effect. Connect an expression pedal for even more control.
DigiTech Dirty Robot
The Dirty Robot Stereo Mini-Synth from DigiTech empowers you to transform your bass or guitar into an industrial-strength booty-shaking device. It presents a broad array of controls to reshape and mangle your sound into something new. This metallic monster consists of seven controls, two distinct voices, and a new Drift knob which lets you morph and combine Octave, Sub, and Square waveforms instantly. By merely spinning a knob, an extensive range of cyborg sounds can already come to life.
