Carl Martin Route Box

The Big Joe B-406 A/B Switcher does one thing—let you switch between two different channels—and does it really well. It’s simple to operate, the switch is extremely quiet, and is all passive with virtually no additional overall noise. It also has two bright LEDs that indicate which of the two channels are active, so you don’t have to strain your ears to verify that the right amp is engaged while you’re in the middle of a gig.

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.

For pedal-obsessed musicians, the Boss ES-8 Effects Switching System is a straight-up gamechanger. You can create elaborate pedal chains and route them however you want with its eight separate loops. You can customize and store up to 800 patches in its onboard memory and add specific control parameters such as patch delay times. You can customize the pedal function assignments. All that plus LCD and seven-segment LED displays, switchable buffers, and an analog circuit that keeps your tone crystal clear.