Whether you want to sound like a Smashing Pumpkin or you prefer a pristine transparent overdrive, there has never been a better time for effects pedal nerds. Here are a few of the most sought-after pedal brands and their best pedals.
Maryland pedal nerds love their Wampler Pedals, which make some of the most practical pedals on the market. The brand is also popular in Arizona, where Xotic Effects are the most searched-for pedal company.
Eventide
Eventide is well known for their high-quality effects processors. They make everything from simple pedals like a tuner, to full-fledged multi-effects units that can cost thousands of dollars. But the company also makes pedals that can fit in anyone’s budget. Their Space Reverb pedal is one such example. The Space Reverb is designed to give you the sonic diversity of a whole rack of effects in a small footprint.
It features a stereo input and output, with both guitar and line level options. It can be used with a standard amp setup or even run straight into a mixer for recording. It is also MIDI-controllable. It has 12 unique reverb algorithms and 9 fine-tuned parameters. Its most famous algorithm is Black Hole, which gives you a huge cathedral-type reverb with tons of feedback. Other algorithms include Mangled Verb, which sounds musical when paired with distortion. The Space Reverb is also a great choice for musicians who want to add some ambient soundscapes to their live performances.
The unit has a cool design and uses quality knobs and switches. The controls are easy to understand and the pedal is durable enough for use on stage. It also has a USB port for software upgrades and MIDI control. The Space Reverb is a great addition to any pedalboard and is worth the price.
Another Eventide pedal that deserves a spot in any guitarist’s pedalboard is the Riptide Drive/Vibe. It is a pro-level drive and vibe pedal in one. The drive section can produce a wide range of overdriven tones, while the vibe gives you an otherworldly sound that can change your playing style entirely. The pedal comes with a footswitch that can be set to latching or momentary and includes dual bypass options (buffer, relay, DSP+FX or kill dry). The pedal also has a freeze button that allows you to stop the effect while you play.
Another must-have for any pedalboard is a tuner. There are many different types of tuners available on the market, but the best is probably the Korg Pitchblack. This pedal is extremely accurate, and it can tune all of your strings at once. It is also very affordable, and it is a reliable, tried-and-true option.
Strymon
As any pedal aficionado will know, the pedals of Strymon are designed to appeal to a broad range of musical styles. From soaring spacey ambience to pulsing reverberations, the company’s pedals are used by guitarists, drummers and other electronic musicians. The sonic majesty of their effects is matched only by the innovation and creativity that they embody.
Whether they’re channeling the sound of The Edge, Brian May, David Gilmour or Joe Satriani, the pedals from this American company are the envy of all other effect manufacturers. Many of their innovations would make even fictional genius Tony Stark smile, while their affordability makes them the go-to pedals for players of all types. The company’s pedals are so popular that they can be found in the arsenals of symphonic orchestras, recording studios and garage bands around the world.
Strymon has a knack for unlocking the power of DSP to create innovative pedals that offer complex textures, high-fidelity reverbs and atmospheric modulations. Its pedals have been praised by gear media and enjoyed by a loyal following among players of all kinds. The company started out as Damage Control, which released a series of tube distortion pedals before changing their name to Strymon in 2009 with the intention of focusing on unlocking the power of DSP in high-end guitar pedals.
This innovative company also produces Eurorack modules, plug-ins and other audio equipment for a wide range of applications. But it’s the pedals that have made them famous and earned them a spot at the top of the heap of boutique pedal manufacturers.
A dual digital delay, the DIG V2 offers textural complexity in an easy-to-manage pedal. It’s a great choice for creating multi-layered soundscapes that can be controlled from your MIDI controller. The new V2 adds a USB connection, full MIDI implementation (providing remote parameter control and the ability to sync delay time with your MIDI Clock) and 300 MIDI presets. It also features a Tone knob, a more powerful ARM DSP chip and true mono or stereo operation (via TRS or mono input jacks).
If you’re looking for an all-in-one tape delay workstation then this is the pedal for you. It packs a huge library of algorithms into a compact box, which is why it’s on more pro boards than any other tape delay pedal.
Earthquaker Devices
As the name suggests, Earthquaker Devices makes effects pedals that create a lot of vibration and aural excitement. Their unique designs and effects have gained them a large following from professional and amateur guitarists alike, and many of their pedals have become modern classics. Their Hoof fuzz and Plumes overdrive are both popular examples of this, but they’ve got a whole lot more to offer.
This Akron, Ohio-based company’s line-up includes overdrives, delay, reverb, and pitch shifters. They’ve even created some truly weird pedals such as the Rainbow Machine, which produces a doubling effect an octave above the original signal – a sound that was used by Jimi Hendrix on his Purple Haze track.
Another standout from the company is the Silos, which bundles a digital, analogue and tape delay into a compact pedal. This offers a good mix of conventional and more whacky sounds, and is one of the few pedals to offer a user-assignable expression control.
Other pedals from the company include the Small Stone, which is a simple flanger that has just two knobs and an on/off switch. It’s easy to use and delivers classic jet engine-like flange tones, as well as more subtle modulation. It’s an excellent addition to any pedalboard and a great alternative to the budget-friendly Korg CHR-1.
For a more sophisticated reverb, check out the Ledges. This pedal has five different modes that let you explore a range of different environments, from slapback to cavernous reflections. It also has a PLATE setting that’s almost hypnotic, and can be combined with the ROOM mode for endless echoes that are perfect for creating ambient guitar tones.
Some of the best pedals in the world can be bought for a fraction of their retail price by looking for secondhand ones. These are often found online or in music stores, and can be a great way to try out some of the top pedals without blowing your entire gig budget. However, it’s important to note that the sounds you hear from these secondhand units are highly dependent on other factors such as your amp and guitar.
Catalinbread
The Catalinbread pedals are hand-made to a high quality standard and produce professional tones. They have a few drawbacks though. One is their commitment to a single enclosure size no matter the pedal (with the exception of the Belle Epoch Deluxe). This can make some of their pedals less convenient to use (a twelve position rotary knob for all the different Echorec head combinations? That’s dumb). Another is their dedication to using top-quality components – which may be an advantage for some users, but for most it means they are more expensive than competing pedals.
Modulation pedals include tremolo and vibrato, chorus/flanger, and phase shifters. These effects affect the sound of your instrument over time, and they can add a lot to your tone. For example, if you’re looking to emulate the sounds of drummers like Neil Young or Billy Gibbons, these pedals can help you do just that.
Overdrive pedals can give you anything from a mild boost to full-on distortion. They are typically easy to use and can add a wide range of tone to your guitar. Some overdrive pedals also include EQ controls for you to tailor the sound of the effect.
Compression pedals are a necessity for any guitarist. They can help you maintain a consistent volume when playing and can enhance your tone by keeping the guitar’s dynamics from being thrown off by louder notes. Most compression pedals are easy to use and are very useful for any style of music.
Chorus/Flanger pedals can add a shimmer to your guitar’s sound. They can also add an element of space to your tone. Some of these pedals are simple and straightforward, while others have more advanced settings for more experienced players.
Octave pedals can be a bit complicated to use, but they can create some mind-blowing effects. These pedals allow you to double the notes of your guitar by 1 or 2 octaves down and come in a variety of styles and features.
AnalogMan’s King Of Tone is the most sought-after pedal on this list. Unfortunately, they only build a few of them at a time and the waitlist is currently over four years long. Thankfully, there are other great options on this list that can give you similar tones to the King Of Tone without the wait.