As a beginning guitarist, which pedals should you invest in first? This article covers overdrive (for adding grungy distortion), multi-effects pedal, delay and reverb effects as possible solutions.
I recommend the Boss MD-200 multi-effects pedal as an excellent multi-effects solution, offering control of various modulation effects such as flanger, phaser, vibrato and tremolo.
Overdrive
An overdrive pedal is often the first pedal a guitar player purchases, and it is easy to understand why. Its wide array of sounds – from subtle crunch tone swells all the way up to full metal crushing distortion – make it irresistibly appealing. Even if your amp features its own overdrive channel, investing in a high-quality overdrive pedal can take your tone further than ever before.
There are many overdrive pedals on the market, but Ibanez’s Tube Screamer stands out as one of the most reliable and versatile. A tried and tested circuit design used by Eddie Van Halen and Stevie Ray Vaughan guitarists alike – you can purchase an excellent quality Tube Screamer for under PS50!
If you want something with more of an individual sound, the Klon is another fantastic choice. A hard clipping pedal with interesting circuit design details, it has long been popular among blues and classic rock players alike. While original models may cost thousands, Rocket or Tumnus Wampler offer great-sounding clones at under PS100 each that offer equally outstanding results.
Those looking for an added boost without overdrive might prefer transparent drive pedals such as the EVH Soul Food pedal; EHX and Klonus offer similar pedals as options.
Distortion
Distortion can transform the sound of any instrument. By saturating and amplifying your signal, distortion creates a heavy, metal tone suited for heavy rock and metal genres as well as creating an aggressive and dirty feel in music production.
There is an array of distortion pedals to choose from and selecting one for yourself will depend on your musical genre and personal tastes. As an artist, always put artistic instinct first and don’t allow any one pedal to dictate the tone and texture of your music.
If you’re new to distortion, an excellent place to begin would be with a pedal like the Boss DS-1. At an affordable and reliable price point, this pedal features output, distortion and three EQ knobs so that your tone can be tailored just how you like. Joe Satriani, Kurt Cobain and Kirk Hammett have all relied upon its use as they explore various styles of music.
Pro Co’s RAT Series distortion pedal is another modern classic distortion effect. Featuring high gain settings and a low midrange EQ to help cut through any mix, this distortion is great for heavy rock and metal music and easily tuned for creating any number of tones.
This pedal’s only real drawback is its lack of an internal trim pot for fine-tuning your sound more easily, but otherwise it makes an excellent entry-level distortion option that fits well on any pedalboard and comes in multiple colors – perfect if you want a bit of everything!
Modulation
Modulation pedals add another level of expression and creativity to your tone, from subtle to dramatic effects. A chorus pedal provides that signature doubled tone found on many lead parts by guitarists; overdrive pedals add midrange hump. Eddie Van Halen, Kirk Hammett and Joe Satriani have all used Boss SD-1 modulation effects pedals in their playback setups – it truly stands the test of time!
Other modulation pedals include flangers and phasers – often used to create swirling, psychedelic tones – that provide that classic spacey sound. Many pedals in this category come equipped with speed and depth controls so you can tailor their effect according to your personal tastes.
Fuzz pedals should also be considered, and can offer both gentle vintage fuzz sound from the 60s or high gain monsters such as Big Muff and Z-Vex Fuzz Face models.
Pedal enthusiasts can find many multi-effects units to provide all of these sounds, though these may be less flexible than single effects pedals. Still, multi-effects units may be an attractive way for beginners to save money while still finding plenty of choice and flexibility in their pedal setups.
Are you in search of an all-in-one mod pedal at an attractive price point? Consider the JOYO FS05 Multi Modulation pedal as an impressive budget option. Packed with 11 modulation effects that you can select by rotating its Type knob to match one of its printed effects on its front panel, this pedal boasts an impressive selection of features comparable to more costly boutique pedals.
Delay
Your pedalboard needs may require adding a delay effect; whether that be for subtle effects like short delays, or something larger and atmospheric – there is sure to be one suitable to your sound! With so many choices out there there should be one to meet all your needs.
If you’re in search of an authentic analog delay, look no further than TC Electronic’s Flashback 2. As its sequel to its immensely popular predecessor, the original Flashback, it offers even greater options when entering the world of analog delays. Equipped with a mix control to vary repeat counts and seven built-in delay types (2290, Analog Tape Dynamic Crystal and Modulation), you are certain to find your perfect setting here!
Boss DD-7 multi-tap delay offers another outstanding analog delay solution. It features 200 memory locations to store and recall your favorite delays, while offering features not found in simpler digital delays such as adding pitch wobble or self-oscillation with its feedback control.
The DD-7 pedal is an excellent way to enter the world of multi-tap delay, and is very user-friendly with its straightforward controls and classic LCD display. Thanks to its straightforward layout and familiar controls, quickly getting to know its features becomes simple.
Benson are well known for creating quality pedals, and the BD-7 is no different. Equipped with PT2399 and compandor chips to give a wide variety of tones ranging from spacey echos to swirling choral effects, this delay works great both on its own or as part of a chain configuration with other pedals such as Klones for adding extra driven grit and ambient soundscaping effects.
Reverb
Quality reverb and delay pedals can transform the sound of your guitar, adding depth, texture and ambience. They can even be used to add subtle effects like octave doubling or modulation for added depth and interest. Since there are so many varieties of these pedals on offer, be sure to consider your desired tone before purchasing one.
If you like David Gilmour’s ghostly licks, an excellent multi-effects reverb pedal such as the Boss RV-6 would make an excellent accompaniment. Packed full of sounds yet offering all of the basic controls such as mix, decay and dampen knobs for effortless results, the RV-6 can produce classic spring and plate reverb as well as shimmer and modulated modulated effects for an impressive range of sounds.
Sweetwater Gear Go Round is another worthwhile reverb pedal option worth considering, providing users with direct access to musicians for buying and selling music gear without middle men, potentially saving both time and money as you select from a larger selection of gear.
When purchasing pedals, it’s essential to keep in mind the order of your pedal chain. There are general guidelines as to where pedals should go in an effect loop but often it is best to experiment and see how each affects your tone – such as placing heavy distortion pedals at the end may distort echoes produced by reverb and delay pedals.
Starting out can be daunting for new guitarists. By choosing four effects as a base to build upon, newcomers will have an easier time building a versatile pedalboard to last their whole career. Starting off with these four pedals can give your music the foundation necessary for any genre or musical style you wish.