Tonebox Recommended Pedals
TC Electronic Polytune 2 Mini
Ever since the PolyTune’s introduction in 2010, TC Electronic has been looking to make tuning speedier, better, and more impressive. The PolyTune 2 Mini guitar tuner does all of that in abundance. With 109 super-bright LEDs, it is easily readable at any stage condition. The PolyTune 2 Mini is an incredibly compact tuner with chromatic, strobe, and polyphonic tuning for precise and fast tuning. Polyphonic tuning lets you tune all your strings simultaneously, while speedy chromatic tuner delivers 0.5 cent precision.
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.
Electro-Harmonix Neo Clone
Packing a high-quality bucket brigade chip and a direct recreation of the legendary Small Clone chorus pedal circuitry, the Neo Clone pedal from Electro-Harmonix gives you lush, analog chorus packed into a compact, pedalboard-friendly enclosure. Fatten up your tone with everything from shallow, subtle chorus sweeps to thick, watery textures with a twist of the Rate dial and a flick of the two-way Depth switch. This affordable, low-noise, stompbox also comes with a true bypass feature.
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.
TC Electronic Vortex
The Vortex Flanger by TC Electronic brings flanging to a different dimension. It consists of controls for Delay Time, Feedback, Depth, and Speed, taking you through an extensive range of flanging, from subtle to jet engine extremes. Its innovative Feedback knob lets you dial in both negative and positive feedback for very different tone styles. It also includes a toggle switch for choosing from vintage tape-esque warble to modern flanging. Set the toggle switch in the center position to access a TonePrint flanger style.
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.
Drive Pedals
Way Huge WHE201
The Pork Loin by Way Huge allows you to dial in a mix of sparkling clean tones and beautiful-sounding overdrive—from articulated grit to fat, sustaining crunch. The flexible Pork Loin pedal incorporates a passive Tone circuit, Volume knob, Curve corner-frequency control, and Overdrive knob. Utilize the Clean control to take British-voiced clean tones into the mix, and you get plenty of possibilities from this unit. What’s more, adjustable mini-controls are available within the Pork Loin for customized tones.
MOSKY Silver Horse
The Klon Centaur is, hands down, one of the most copied overdrive pedals ever. It’s so often copied, in fact, that budget guitar effects pedal brand Mosky Audio made two Centaur-based overdrive pedals: the Golden Horse and this one, the Silver Horse. What differentiates the two is a two-way switch on the latter that lets you choose between Hard and Soft clipping modes. The Silver Horse also features a trio of dedicated control knobs for tone sculpting.
J. Rockett Blue Note OD
The Blue Note OD by J. Rockett is arguably the most organic and transparent overdrive ever existed. Its inherent design allows for musical and warm tones. The Blue Note OD is suitable for anything from blues and jazz to raw rock n’ roll and works nicely with any amp/guitar pairing. While it is constructed like a tank for roadworthiness, the Blue Note OD is subtle and inspiring tonally. It can achieve a super woodsy blues vibe and more gain compared to a standard tube screamer.
Walrus Audio Voyager
Whip up a full spectrum of overdrive tones with the Voyager preamp and overdrive pedal from Walrus Audio. The Voyager can dish out everything from soft and subtle drive to thick and heavy saturation without losing clarity or tonal transparency; even when the Voyager’s overdrive circuit is pushed towards its higher gain settings, your tone will still retain the clarity you need to make every note of your scorching hot solo sing out above the mix.
ammoon Mini Screamer
The Mini Screamer is budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Ammoon’s take on the ever-popular TS9 Tube Screamer drive pedal by Ibanez. It replicates the Tube Screamer’s signature hot tube valve-style overdrive and is also powered by a highly prized JRC4558 chip (it’s the D model with the eight-pin DIP, if you’re into that sort of thing) that provides the crunch for a very large number of popular overdrive stomps. The Mini Screamer’s small size makes it ideal for compact or crowded pedalboards.
NUX Tube Man
The Tube Man Overdrive by NUX is a smooth overdrive pedal with a brilliant midrange character. It enables your tone cutting edge while preserving the guitar’s original sonic qualities. You can utilize the Tube Man Overdrive with a clean amp to serve up bluesy rhythm tone or drive a hot amp into infinite sustain for solos. It consists of controls for Tone, Level, and Drive. The Tube Man Overdrive also features a powerful 32-bit DSP processor and micro USB port to upgrade the firmware.
Ammoon Pockmon
The Pockmon is a highly portable multi-effects processor from budget guitar effects pedal maker Ammoon. It has three effects sections. First up is a digital delay that comes in three flavors: Tape, Echo, and Analog. It also has a biting wide-range high-gain distortion section and a natural, mid-humped overdrive. The Pockmon also has a tuner, tap tempo control, a parallel FX loop, and a built-in cab sim for when you want to plug in headphones or connect straight to a PA or mixer.
ZVEX Vextron Distortron
The Vextron Distortion is boutique guitar effects pedal company Zvex’s offering to those who want a Box of Rock but don’t quite have the budget for it. Like its more expensive sibling, the Distortion captures the roaring sound of an overdriven 1966 Marshall JTM45 with all the knobs cranked up to 10. The DIstortion’s dirt tone is very dynamic and sensitive; you can use your guitar’s volume knob to adjust the exact amount of dirt you want layered ont your signal, from a subtle dusting to full-on crunch mode.
Carl Martin ACTone-S
The Carl Martin ACTone-S pedal is a tinier, single channel variant of the dual channel Pro Series AC-Tone. Housed in a compact, pedalboard-friendly enclosure, this single channel AC-Tone features a bypass switch and three knobs—Cut, Drive, and Level. It boasts a slightly beefed up Gain section but shares a similar tone as its larger counterpart. The single AC-Tone incorporates Carl Martin’s new DC-DC converter circuitry. It can be powered by a regulated 9V power supply, but will still run on +-12V.
NUX Cerberus
The NUX Cerberus is an ultra-versatile effect pedal that you can utilize as a standalone device to ready your setup or with the four cable method. It comes loaded with innovative features such as IR loader, inside routing, analog overdrive, distortion and digital effects. The Cerberus also includes a MIDI control for organizing your effect pedals while also enhancing your effects control. NUX combined two analog drive/distortion pedals, delay & reverb effects, and modulation effects. These effects and sounds have been improvised from timeless and new gears.
Big Joe B-303 Metal
Thick mids and lows, insanely long sustain, and crunchy saturated harmonics are right at the tip of your toes with the Big Joe B303 Metal guitar effects pedal. The Shaper knob lets you boost and scoop your tone’s presence and emphasize the middle or high and low frequencies. The Gain knob, meanwhile, enables you to control precisely how much distortion you want in your sound, whether it’s s subtle guttural growl or a primordial roar. The Big Joe B-303 Metal pedal features true bypass switching.
Creation Audio Labs Holy Fire 9
The Holy Fire Overdrive Distortion Boost pedal from Creation Audio Labs is all about righteous smiting. Featuring highly transparent gain, a smooth and dynamic overdrive tone, and mighty meaty distortion, the Holy Fire is a tube amp in a box that doesn’t muddy up your sound or add unwanted noise to the mix. It’s also highly responsive to your unique picking dynamics. The Holy Fire is so powerful a typical 9V connector won’t be enough to power it; it comes with its own 48V DC power supply.
MXR Classic 108 Fuzz
From stoner-metal enthusiasts and garage rockers to Hendrix faithfuls, guitarists of any style will dig the distinctive late 60s and early 70s crunch provided by the M173 Classic 108 Fuzz from MXR. Dunlop has packed all the guts of a BC-108 loaded Fuzz Face into a more compact chassis and incorporated the modern conveniences of a true bypass with LED, battery door, and optional AC operation. The Buffer switch eradicates the audible oscillation produced when wah-wahs are positioned in front of your Fuzz Face.
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof V2
Easily one of the most popular guitar effects pedals in EarthQuaker Devices’ catalog, the Hoof hybrid fuzz pedal regularly dishes out massive amounts of warm, thick, and filthy fuzz without losing any of your tone’s articulation and resonance. The Hoof features hybrid germanium/silicon transistors and circuitry inspired by old-school Russian muff-style fuzz effects for beautifully organic fuzz tones. V2 introduces silent soft-touch switching and retains the original’s true bypass functionality and all-analog dry signal path.
DOD Carcosa Fuzz
Enter an alternate fuzz world with the DOD Carcosa Fuzz. This two-voiced pedal delivers plenty of modern and vintage silicon colors within one box. The Carcosa Fuzz features switchable Demhe and Hali modes that take it from a bright, mild fuzz to uncontrolled destruction, both of which may be extensively adjusted using the Before and After knobs. These modest controls function interactively to bias the fuzz with several sweet spots between the two dials. Bassists and guitarists will love the clean note separation of Carcosa Fuzz.
Dunlop Octavio
The limited-edition JHM6 Jimi Hendrix Octavio Fuzz Pedal from Dunlop is perfect for producing fuzzy and psychedelic tones. It provides the iconic “octave up” effect that Jimi Hendrix used on tracks such as Purple Haze and One Rainy Wish. It sports the same circuit found in Jimi’s cheese wedge Octavio Fuzz. It also boasts modern features, including true bypass switching, 9V power jack, status LED, and pedalboard-friendly enclosure. The Jimi Hendrix Octavio Fuzz Pedal is limited only to 1500 pieces worldwide.
Black Cat Wee Buzz
The Wee Buzz is a more compact and affordable variant of the Bee Buzz and is based on the original Roland Bee Baa as well. The Wee Buzz is designed for players who want a little fuzz minus all the fancy features. It employs the similar circuity used by its big brother Buzz but comes in a more pedalboard-friendly package. Closely resembling other Black Cat pedals, the Wee Buzz carries only the basic features and is pure fuzz. It does not include a control to dial in the fuzz as it is handcrafted to be maxed out always.
Death by Audio Robot
The Death by Audio Robot is a fun, lo-fi 8-bit pitch transposer without any emotion. It is purely synthetic and makes every input a puree of resynthesized robot jargon. The Robot consists of a Rotary Selector (Normal, Octave Down, Octave Up, and Arpeggiator) as well as Control and Volume knobs. Volume controls the master volume while the Control adjusts the pitch of the effect. The Robot’s four switchable modes will bring you through a set of synth-like freakouts.
Fuzzrocious Playing Mantis
The Fuzzrocious Playing Mantis pedal is suitable for players who love to stand out from the crowd. Since this pedal is exceptional, you will sound unlike anyone else. You can use the left and right footswitches to activate the quirkiest oscillator and a natural-sounding drive respectively. The Playing Mantis carries a three-way toggle that lets you choose between drive, boost, and distortion. All three settings are jam-packed with volume on tap to push your speakers/amp or other pedals.
Maxon TBO-9 True Tube Booster/Overdrive
The Maxon TBO-9 True Tube Booster/Overdrive employs a pre-tube configuration similar to the TOD-9. It includes the Dry Blend feature available in Maxon’s famed VOP-9 and OD820 overdrives. It consists of Boost, Drive, Level, and Tone knobs. The Boost control lets you adjust the tube gain level while the dual-purpose Drive knob increases saturation and blends clean signal and distorted sound. The TBO-9 combines overdrive and clean boost functionalities with a tube gain stage to give you a flexible tone-sculpting tool.
Donner Boost Killer
Often likened to the Xotic RC Booster, Donner’s Boost Killer pedal is arguably one of the most aggressive boost effects available. For a budget-friendly effects pedal, it loads plenty of heat, making it an attractive option. If you are looking to enter the world of boosters, the Boost Killer could be a great starting point. Even with its lightweight and compact enclosure, this pedal features a bit more generous controls than your standard booster design. It consists of Treble, Bass, and Volume controls along with a dominant Gain knob.
Catalinbread Sabbra Cadabra
The Catalinbread Sabbra Cadabra is capable of transforming your setup into the “rig of doom.” It is a custom-tuned Rangemaster-based treble booster coupled with a Laney Supergroup preamp section. It will bring your tone to the dark side on its own, but you have Volume 4 (named after the album), Gain, Range, and Presence knobs to better fine-tune and shape your sound. The Range knob allows you to select frequency response from treble-only to full-range boost.
Rowin Booster
The RW-LEF-318 Booster from budget guitar effects brand Rowin is a solid boost pedal choice, especially if your wallet is hurting and your pedalboard is getting a little too crowded. It serves up a high headroom signal boost that’s surprisingly transparent. If any coloration still creeps into your tone, the Booster comes with dedicated Bass and Treble EQ knobs for fine-tuning your sound. This reliable clean boost will do well straight in front of an amp or behind another drive or dirt stomp.
Caline White Heat
The Caline CP-29 White Heat Mixing Boost is a simple, transparent boost pedal that sets out to do one thing and do it well: giving your signal that extra push it needs to cut through the mix. Heavily influenced by the DOD 250 Classic Overdrive Preamp, the CP-29 features a Gain knob that gives you a subtle, super-transparent boost at lower levels and a full, rich overdrive tone the closer you set it to the max. The Caline CP-29 White Heat Mixing Boost comes with a true bypass feature.
MOOER 007 Regal Tone
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 007 Regal Tone gives you a sound fit for a king by replicating the sweet, high-end tone of a boutique ToneKing Falcon. 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.
Darkglass Microtubes B7K Ultra Gold
Whether you are going direct or plugging into a bass amp, the Microtubes B7K Ultra V2 bass preamp pedal from Darkglass is an excellent way to optimize your bass tone. It combines an independently switchable overdrive, powerful preamp, and four-band EQ to bring ample sonic options. The Microtubes B7K Ultra V2 carries Grunt and Attack switches that determine how the overdrive circuit affects your lows and highs. This pedal is great for bolstering your bass tone for recording or performance.
Orange Bax Bangeetar
Responding to the strong urge of its customers and retailers to join the pedal party, Orange has introduced its first pedal since the 60s—the Bax Bangeetar Guitar Pre-EQ! Enabling you to dial in a massive range of tones, this pedal is definitely worth the wait. You can utilize the Bax Bangeetar Guitar Pre-EQ as a dirt box in front of your amplifier or EQ an amp’s effects loop to capture your ideal tone. With the Bax Bangeetar Guitar Pre-EQ, the possibilities are virtually boundless whatever your rig.
MOOER 001 Gas Station
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 001 Gas Station, in particular, takes its tonal cues from the Diezel Hagen, a German-engineered amp that’s become known for its versatile, modern tones. 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.
MOOER PreAMP Live
The Preamp Live gives you full control over your amp tone wherever you play without having to lug around an entire amp stack. It houses 12 IR-ready preamp channels, each with its own independent boost function that can be placed before or after the preamp section and a workhorse noise gate for keeping signal noise to an absolute minimum. The Preamp Live also comes with serial and A/B effects loops, a Tone Capture feature, and USB and Bluetooth connectivity.
GOKKO SPANISHFLY
The GOKKO Spanish FlyGK-32 acoustic guitar pedal does double duty as a preamp and a direct input (DI) box. You get dedicated Treble and Bass knobs for tone shaping plus an Input dial for setting the input level. There’s also a cool Anti-Feedback footswitch with its own dedicated Antu-Feedback dial for cutting out volume feedback. And since the Spanish Fly is a DI box, you can use the XLR Out jack to directly connect your guitar to a mixer.
Fulltone Catalyst
The Fulltone CT-1 Catalyst guitar effects pedal is one hardworking stompbox. It does the work of four different pedals: it’s a fuzz, distortion, overdrive, and clean boost pedal in one compact unit. If you use these four effects a lot and need to clear up precious pedalboard space, the Catalyst is the answer to your prayers. And don’t worry about the sound; the Catalyst can serve up gobs of ultra-fat non-compressed crunch, distortion, and fuzz sounds easily sculpted to your tastes via a two-band EQ. A true workhorse.
Electro-Harmonix LPB-1
The original LPB-1 circuit was instrumental in the arrival of the age of overdrive in the late ‘60s. Electro-Harmonix has recreated that exact same circuit for its LPB-1 Linear Power Booster pedal reissue. With the LP-B 1, you can achieve full control over the gain and saturation levels of any amp you want. Plug it in ahead of the other effects in your effects chain and you can easily increase their attack and sonic definition.
Xotic BB Plus
The BB Plus from boutique guitar effects pedal company Xotic is a dual channel boost and overdrive preamp stomp that boasts amazing tonal transparency. Channel A houses the heart of the original BB Preamp and packs the same amp-like tones that made the BB Preamp famous. Channel B, meanwhile, features one of Xotic’s most veratile booster circuits ever with its own three-band EQ stack. Go combo with Channel A, plexi with Channel B, or stack both in any order you want.
Tech 21 Boost Comp
Tech 21 brings together two essential effects into one handy stompbox with the Boost Comp, a combined compressor and boost unit designed for bass. The compressor section helps fill out your sound by letting you rein in wayward signal spikes and give you insane sustain. The separate boost section, meanwhile, helps push your amp over the edge with up to 21dB of extra signal juice. Engage the boost while you’re playing a solo and hear your sound soar.
Fulltone Full-Drive 2 V2
Juice up your sound with the natural, classic tube-style overdrive tones of the Fulltone Full-Drive 2 V2 guitar effects pedal. Powered by a JRC4558 chip and Fulltone’s classic ’90s Full-Drive circuit, the Full-Drive 2 V2 has enough tone-sculpting power to let you dial in your personal perfect overdrive sound. You get five control knobs, two clipping mode switches, and an extra channel that has its own dedicated Drive and Volume dials and lets you add more gain to what you’ve already set on the first overdrive channel.
WMD Goldilocks Planet
Touted as WMD’s easiest to use pedal, the Goldilocks Planet is a versatile and flexible distortion stomp that delivers top of the line dirt sans the overly complicated controls usually associated with boutique guitar effects pedals. It features three different clipping modes that you can switch between using a mini toggle. For tone shaping, the Goldilocks Planet has dedicated Tone and Presence pots plus a Density knob that lets you fatten up your signal’s low end and body.
Modulation Pedals
Maxon CS-550
Designed alongside professional guitarists, the Maxon CS550 provides you with a full range of distinctive chorus effects. It consists of Depth, Speed, and Delay Time knobs. The Delay Time control varies the effect’s modulation time. True Stereo outs enable stereo, mono, or inverted mono outputs. A rear-mounted Mix control combines your effected and dry signals for a better low-end response (works well with bass guitar). The CS550 leverages Panasonic MN3207 IC chip to give you the ultimate analog tone.
MXR EVH 5150 Chorus
Capture Eddie Van Halen’s classic chorus sound tweaked for modern rig flexibility with the EVH 5150 Chorus from MXR. It is inspired by the chorus unit utilized by Eddie to add dimension and texture to several of his classic recordings in the early 80s. The EVH 5150 Chorus features a straightforward three-knob design for convenience of use. It carries Output Level and Input Level switches for optimizing your signal-to-noise performance and obtaining unity throughput gain. Couple this pedal with your 5150 Overdrive for a massive chewy and thick sound.
MXR Stereo Chorus
A beautiful-sounding pedal evocative of just how cool chorus can be. The Stereo Chorus by MXR gives rich analog chorus various controls to maintain low end frequencies and sculpt the tone of your effect. You can tweak its Width and Rate knobs to taste and then set your desired chorus effect level with the Intensity control. Comfortable Treble and Bass knobs allow you to better shape your tone by EQ-ing modulated frequencies. A Bass Filter button can preserve your low end as your high frequencies sing with your Stereo Chorus tone.
EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine V3
EarthQuaker Devices broke new sonic ground with the sheer range of modulation effects the Sea Machine could serve up. Subtle, shimmering chorus and classic Leslie-type tones to wobbly, warbly pitch-bent detuning and space-bound alien sounds, the Sea Machine can quickly and easily go from classic to cuckoo bananas crazy. For V3, they’re improved upon the original with improved low-noise circuitry, wider parameters for every knob, and Flexi-Switching for both latching and momentary-type capabilities in one footswitch.
ammoon Chorus
The Nano Chorus from budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Ammoon is a tiny chorus stomp perfect for travel, compact, or crowded pedalboards. It serves up a lush analog chorus powered by an MN3207 bucket brigade device chip. You get the typical mix of chorus pedal control knobs: Level controls the dry/wet signal mix, Rate handles oscillation speed, and Depth is for the effect’s intensity. The Nano Chorus doesn’t have an EQ or tone pot, but it does have a two-position Deep/Normal voicing switch that lets you tweak the tone further.
Rowin Ensemble
The LN-304 Ensemble chorus pedal serves up the classic sound of a vintage Roland Jazz Chorus thanks to a circuit based around an MN3207 bucket brigade device chip. Budget guitar effects pedal maker Rowin managed to pack an impressive pure and warm chorus sound into the LN-304’s tiny chassis and even gave it two distinct voicing modes, Normal and Deep, which you can switch between using an integrated two-way selector toggle. The LN-304 Ensemble also features dedicated Level, Depth, and Rate pots for precise tonal control.
Xotic Robotalk 2
The original Robotalk has long been one of Xotic’s most popular boutique guitar effects pedals. They’ve since brought it back in a big way via the new and improved Robotalk 2. This dual channel envelope filter packs quite the feature list, with the two independently voiced and stackable channels being number one. Each channel is distinct, giving you a wide range of hyper-saturated wah tones whichever one you use. When you’re ready to get down and dirty, though, stacking them together is the way to go.
Electro-Harmonix Doctor Q
Small size, big funk tones. That’s what the DR. Q Nano envelope filter guitar effects pedal from Electro-Harmonix is all about. Its intuitive control layout is dead simple. A single knob controls the range while a Bass toggle lets you give your signal a quick low-end boost for some added oomph. The Dr. Q Nano is very responsive to your picking dynamics and guitar volume; giving you different and unique sounds depending on how hard you attack the strings.
Fairfield Circuitry Randy’s Revenge
We don’t know who pissed Randy off, but his revenge is pretty darn sweet. The Randy’s Revenge effects pedal from Fairfield Circuitry is a tonally rich, all-analog ring modulator with that patented Fairfield edge. This pedal takes the whole ring modulation concept—multiplying the guitar signal with a sine wave or another simple waveform—by using not one but two simple waveforms in the mix, in this case, a sine wave and a square wave. This gives you a very wide range of highly musical tremolo and vibe effects.
Mad Professor Hand-Wired Tiny Orange Phaser
The Tiny Orange Phaser from Mad Professor serves up everything from floating vibe-like tones to classic phase effects. Thanks to its premium quality parts and exquisite construction, the Tiny Orange Phaser gives you a very balanced and highly musical tone. You also get a choice between two very different phaser tones—a light and bright one and a deep tone with a fat low end—using a rotary switch knob. The Tiny Orange Phaser is hand-made and hand-wired in Finland using only top-quality components.
TWA Wah Rocker
Totally Wycked Audio’s Wah Rocker stomp resurrects the legendary Guyatone Wah Rocker “Duck Box,” a funk machine that has lent its distinctive sound to such greats as Lenny Kravitz and David Torn. The TWA Wah Rocker is based on Guyatone’s original WR3 circuit and adds a host of mechanical improvements including TWA’s Shortest Send Switching (S3) true bypass function. Tone-wise, it’s pure Wah Rocker funk; all the squawky, slippery, and souped-up grooves of the original, minus the vintage price tag.
Electro-Harmonix Micro Q-Tron
Elevate your sound to the funkiest of heights. The Micro Q-Tron Envelope Filter guitar effects pedal from Electro-Harmonix dishes out some of the grooviest wah effects known to man. Its internal envelope follower analyzes your unique picking dynamics playing to sweep the center of the envelope filter, giving you wahs that change dynamically depending on your pick attack. Controls are simple and intuitive, with three dials to set the filter mode, filter bandwidth, and drive amount.
TC Electronic Vortex
The Vortex Flanger by TC Electronic brings flanging to a different dimension. It consists of controls for Delay Time, Feedback, Depth, and Speed, taking you through an extensive range of flanging, from subtle to jet engine extremes. Its innovative Feedback knob lets you dial in both negative and positive feedback for very different tone styles. It also includes a toggle switch for choosing from vintage tape-esque warble to modern flanging. Set the toggle switch in the center position to access a TonePrint flanger style.
Donner Mod Square
The Donner Mod Square is a modulation pedal that lets you have seven modulation effects, including Flanger, Vibrato, Rotary, Tremolo, Phaser, Chorus A, and Chorus B, to add musical color to your tone. It comes in an aluminium-alloy chassis consists of three function knobs (Rate, Depth, and E.Level) for setting the effect level. Use the E.Level control to adjust the effect level, Depth for the effect depth, and Rate to set the effect speed. Mod Square also features a true bypass switch and an LED indicator that displays the working state.
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.
Mad Professor Double Moon
The Double Moon from Mad Professor is a true modulation effects workhorse powered analog bucket brigade signal paths. Compact and highly versatile, this guitar effects pedal comes packed with 11 different takes on tonal oscillation, from a sweet, subtle chorus to jet engine flange. Choose your modulation mode with the rotary dial then fine-tune the flavor with the dedicated Control knob. Speed, Depth, and Tone controls round out the Double Moon’s full complement of tone-shaping tools.
Empress Effects Nebulus
The Empress Effects Nebulus lets you enjoy exceptional flanger, chorus, and vibrato effects within a compact pedal. Each effect has three variations to expand the tone range further. You can conveniently access such flexibility through a preset system capable of recording as much as eight presets. The flanger setting features a 70’s negative feedback type flanger, classic tape flange, and thru-zero flange. The chorus mode gives you a rich and warm sounding chorus, unique tremolo’ed chorus, or dreamy and fluid multi-chorus. The vibrato sub-modes include a rotating speaker effect, classic vibe sound, and standard vibrato.
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.
Walrus Audio Lillian
The Lilian multi-stage analog phaser from boutique guitar effects pedal maker Walrus Audio gives you all the whirls, whooshes, and pulses that you could ever need from a phaser pedal. Dedicated Rate, Width, and Feedback controls let you dial in a wide range of phaser flavors, while the multi-stage select lets you switch between a tight four-stage phase and a more complex six-stage effect. The Lilian also features a special D-P-V knob that lets you blend the ratio of dry, phase-shifted, and vibrato-laced signals for pure phaser bliss.
Xvive V6 Phaser King
The 100% analog Phaser King from budget guitar effects maker Xvive is a bit of an odd duck, what with its 18v power requirement. The Phaser King’s tone, however, makes the power requirement completely worth it, as it delivers thick phaser sweeps reminiscent classic 10-stage phasers like the venerable MXR Phase 100 and the legendary Boss PH-2. The Phaser King also comes with an amazingly wide speed range, so you can dial in everything from slow-mo airplane takeoffs to almost vibrato-ish fast wobbles.
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.
MXR ILOVEDUST Phase 90
For years, the MXR Phase 90 has been a staple on the pedalboards of numerous players worldwide, including the likes of Eddie Van Halen, Nancy Wilson, Josh Homme, and Dave Grohl. Now, MXR has released a limited-edition version of Phase 90 featuring exclusive artwork by revered UK-based design collective, ILOVEDUST. True to the original Phase 90 design, the ILD101 Phase 90 captures a variety of classic phasing effects with only one knob. It works nicely with keyboards, bass, guitar, and vocals.
JAM Pedals Ripply Fall Bass
Following years of promoting the Ripple and WaterFall as a match made in heaven, Jam Pedals set out to offer both pedals, packed side-by-side, within one chassis—the Ripply Fall Bass. The WaterFall and Ripple still function as standalone units, but Jam Pedals incorporated several additional features. The combination of both pedals creates a rich and deep modulation making up for some excellent contemporary UniVibe tones. Engaging the middle footswitch lets you discover uncharted territories.
Xvive V16 Undulator
With two types of tremolo modulation writhing under its hood, the Undulator all analog tremolo effects stomp from budget guitar effects pedal maker Xvive is one versatile beast. It gives you a choice between sine and square wave shapes and features true stereo outputs. Want to stick to mono? The Undulator does that well, too. Simple Speed and Depth controls keep the Undulator an easy to use but extremely musical tremolo pedal. The Undulator also features true bypass switching.
Mojo Hand FX Bayou Trem
Designed to faithfully emulate the vintage amp-esque tremolo of yesteryear, the Bayou Trem by Mojo Hand FX concentrates on old-school sweetness while incorporating modern updates and features, including pulsating LED, true bypass switching, and top-notch build quality. Three external controls give you enough grip on the Bayous tonal performance. The Rate knob spans from slow warble to full-tilt flutter, while the Depth control provides anything from a light, buttery shimmer to deep pulsing throb. The Level knob enables you to find unity volume, and if wanted, can deliver a dramatic boost.
Donner Mod Square
The Donner Mod Square is a modulation pedal that lets you have seven modulation effects, including Flanger, Vibrato, Rotary, Tremolo, Phaser, Chorus A, and Chorus B, to add musical color to your tone. It comes in an aluminium-alloy chassis consists of three function knobs (Rate, Depth, and E.Level) for setting the effect level. Use the E.Level control to adjust the effect level, Depth for the effect depth, and Rate to set the effect speed. Mod Square also features a true bypass switch and an LED indicator that displays the working state.
J. Rockett Mr. Moto
A highly musical tremolo with very rich spring reverb, the J. Rockett Mr. Moto is all you wish your amp had built-in. It is an excellent multitasker for crowded pedalboards. You can run both the reverb and the tremolo individually or in tandem. Depth, Speed, and an adjustable waveshaper grant the tremolo effect an incredible range of tone-sculpting potential, from subtle and smooth to stuttering and clipped. Similar to your seminal standalone, Mr. Moto’s Verb control enables rapidly punching up the ambiance for solos.
Source Audio Soundblox2 Orbital Modulator
Boasting a diverse sound palette, the Source Audio Soundblox 2 Orbital Modulator is an ultra-compact, versatile, and sturdy multi-effects pedal. It features a dynamic arsenal of precision-engineered flanger, tremolo, chorus, and phaser effects. Nine adjustable parameters, twelve effect types, and internal/external modulation control elevate it way beyond the sonic limitations of old-school modulation pedals. The Orbital Modulator’s rack-mount power gives you infinite modulation possibilities, including variable notch phasers, rotary speaker simulation, through zero flange, multi-voiced choruses, and many more.
Keeley Super Mod Workstation
Pedalmeister Robert Keeley wasn’t kidding around when he named this modulation multi-effects pedal the Super Mod Workstation. It features two banks loaded with eight high-quality modulation effects each, from thick chorus and pristine digital delay to rotary emulation and wah. Mix ‘em, match ‘em, stack ‘em–you have the power. The Super Mod Workstation also comes with a dedicated tap tempo footswitch as well as expression pedal support for real-time parameter control. A truly super stompbox.
TC Electronic Shaker Mini
If you want some vibrato in your guitar tone, you have to check out the Shaker Mini Vibrato pedal from TC Electronic. The TonePrint technology allows you access to an infinite variety of vibrato effects, from mild flatters to mind-blowing modulation. The free TonePrint software editor is great for crafting your custom vibrato effects, and it is the key to unleashing this innovative pedal’s full potential. With a compact size that easily fits on your pedalboard, the Shaker Mini Vibrato will be a celebrated addition to your rig.
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.
TC Electronic Shaker
TC Electronic loads plenty of character and vibe into its amazing Shaker Vibrato pedal. This little and very pedalboard-friendly stompbox provides you with vintage vibrato effects ranging from subtle to head-spinning. Utilize the level, rise time, depth, and speed controls to dial in your preferred vibrato effect, then hit the switch. You can also program the Shaker to Latch mode, making it do its thing just while your foot is holding down the switch. The Shaker is equipped with TonePrint technology and a USB connector.
TC Electronic Dreamscape
Craft unique effects for your electric guitar with the Dreamscape John Petrucci Signature Modulation Pedal from TC Electronic. Leveraging TC Electronic’s revered TonePrint technology, John tailored six distinct tones for the Dreamscape. You get flanger, chorus, and vibrato effects, along with a custom voicing switch that provides you with the “dark” feel of John’s chorus sounds. Since it is a TonePrint unit, you may add new effects presets whenever you desire. It consists of controls for Speed, Depth, and FX Level.
Dunlop Rotovibe
The Dunlop Rotovibe Chorus/Vibrato is capable of reproducing the rotating speaker sounds made famous by Hendrix and several others. It is an extremely expressive effect, credits to its inbuilt real-time control. You can pick between Vibrato and Chorus, select the effect’s intensity, and control the speed of the effect by rocking the pedal back and forth. The Dunlop Rotovibe combines a rotary speaker’s vintage appeal with a tremolo or chorus effect, delivering an abundance of Hendrix-like warble.
Eventide H9 MAX
With 51 effect algorithms that include literally everything Eventide’s TimeFactor, ModFactor, PitchFactor, and Space pedals can do, the H9 MAX Harmonizer is basically an entire pedalboard in compact effects pedal form. It features reverb, chorus, delay, modulation, pitch-shifting, distortion effects, all of which can be tweaked and edited via an intuitive single-knob interface. The H9 MAX comes preloaded with 99 presets, plus you can get over 500 more for free via the H9 Control app.
Electro-Harmonix Holy Stain
The Holy Stain is notable for being Electro-Harmonix’s first true multi-effects pedal, and they really went all out. You get Room and Hall reverb, pitch shifting, and tremolo effects bolstered by analog overdrive and fuzz for creating a truly unique and rich sonic stew. The Holy Stain is like manna from heaven for true knob-twiddling aficionados, as all of its control dials dynamically interact with each other for an even wider range of custom tones and sounds.
TC Electronic Quintessence Harmony
The Quintessence Harmony pedal by TC Electronic produces smart two-voice harmonies over your playing, featuring complete creative control provided by the TonePrint app for crafting your custom settings. Armed with a MASH expressive footswitch, the Quintessence Harmony lets you bend the harmony voices down or up instantly for extreme or subtle effects. The analog-dry-through signal path guarantees your core tone preserves its sonic integrity. Whether you are after the possibility of crafting something different or want classic harmonized guitar tones, check out the Quintessence Harmony.
NUX Roctary
The term “Roctory” is combined with polyphonic Octave effects and Rotary speaker simulator. Lots of exceptional guitarists are recognized for their sound and playing skills. Many of them have added the rotary speaker to their rigs. The NUX Roctary is a homage to these icons and their sounds. It gives you adjustable horn and bass, brake, speed, overdrive and all the features regarding rotary effects with polyphonic octave effects. You can utilize the Roctary to capture distinctive organ sounds.
Dwarfcraft Devices Pitchgrinder
With the Pitchgrinder, Dwarfcraft Devices crushes its first foray into digital effects. This lo-fi monster of a pitch-shifting sequencer lets you set your sequence length from one to eight steps and precisely adjust each step’s pitch through eight dedicated control knobs. Speed can be controlled via a tap switch, which can also be held down to freeze the current sequence. And when you’re ready to jump into full-on weird sonic soundscapes, engage the Glide function to simulate an analog synth’s glide controls.
Emma Electronic OKTO-NOJS
The Okto-Nøjs from Emma Electronic gives you two pedals in one! It combines dead-on, fast-tracking Octave down (the Okto) with a dynamically sensitive, synth-like Octave-Fuzz (the Nøjs). Both circuit sides are all-analog and boast true bypass switching and high-quality buffers to give you the best sound quality possible. The Okto Nøjs transforms your signal into pure subsonic fire. It allows you to enter a world of never-heard-before tones. You may use the Octaver and Fuzz together or individually.
Mooer Pure Octave
The Pure Octave pitch shifter guitar effects pedal from budget stomp creator Mooer creates and blends sub and upper octaves with your original guitar signal for a ticker, wider sound. A rotary dial lets you mix and match a five-octave sonic range for a total of 11 octave modes. You can control the amount of the octave mixes via the Sub and Upper micro knobs while a Dry micro knob controls the level of your dry signal.
Top Categories
Timing, Dynamics & EQ Pedals
MOOER Ocean Machine
The Ocean Machine is the stompbox equivalent of a Swiss army knife. You get a 60-second looper, nine distinct reverb types, and two independent delays with a total of 17 different delay effects. This multi-effects monster is the brainchild of budget stompbox maker Mooer and self-confessed multitrack aficionado/metal maestro Devin Townsend, so you’ll definitely find some of the spaciest and craziest delay tones you’ve ever come across on the Ocean Machine. It’s a knob-twiddler’s dream instrument.
MXR M299
The MXR Carbon Copy has established itself as a rock ‘n’ roll staple. Its elegant simplicity and lush Bucket-Brigade warmth have endeared it to guitarists worldwide—recording pros and weekend warriors alike. The Carbon Copy is the go-to standard for those who seek a well-rounded, user-friendly delay pedal that sounds exceptional. But if you want a more travel gig- and pedalboard-friendly unit, consider the Carbon Copy Mini. It loads organic analog warmth and convenience into a compact enclosure with more sonic versatility so you can maximize your pedalboard real estate.
Mad Professor Dual Blue Delay
A clever and intuitive delay pedal packing enough versatility and tonal flexibility in which to lose yourself. The Dual Blue Delay guitar effects pedal from Mad Professor features two different delay effects; one is a short old-school delay, with a maximum delay time of 315ms, while the other, more modern delay effect can reach a maximum of 810ms. Each delay effect has its own dedicated Level, Tone, Repeat, and Delay control knobs, while the long delay features a tap tempo switch that can also be used to engage multi-head mode.
MXR Carbon Copy 10th Anniversary Analog Delay
In the decade since its introduction in 2008, the Carbon Copy Analog Delay from MXR has become a rock ‘n’ roll mainstay. Its elegant simplicity, a healthy reserve of delay time, and lush bucket-brigade warmth have endeared it to guitarists worldwide. The M169A is a special edition of this bestselling analog delay pedal, featuring a lightweight aluminum enclosure dressed in a metallic silver paint job to celebrate its 10th anniversary. It comes complete with all the Carbon Copy goodness that made it legendary.
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.
Dr. Scientist Atmosphere
The Atmosphere by Dr. Scientist boasts 16 custom programmed reverb patches that include classic reverb sounds such as spring, plate, room, hall, and there are several shimmer style octave patches, an interesting pitch-shifting patch, as well as a delay/reverse reverb patch. Aside from the Patches, the Atmosphere also has a large display screen containing valuable info in a readable format. Other features include powerful inbuilt LFO for modulating parameters, full MIDI implementation, plus you can even choose your preferred bypass screen.
Mooer Woodverb
The Woodverb from budget stompbox maker Mooer is a reverb guitar effects pedal tuned specifically for expanding the tonal palettes of acoustic guitars. The Woodverb comes with three reverb modes, all selectable via a three-position toggle switch. First is the classic, lush space of the pedal’s magnificent plate reverb. The second mode adds a subtle chorus effect to the reverb. The third and final mode adds mild filtering into the mix for a snappier attack.
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Dark Star V2
Designed for producing long reverberated pads, the Old Blood Noise Endeavors Dark Star is the mood setter and the noises beneath the lead. The Reverb signal passes through three modes: Crush, Delay, and Pitch. CTRL 1 and CTRL 2 correspond with the mode you picked. In Pitch, you have two separate pitch controls for +/- an octave. In Delay, you get Delay Feedback and Delay Time. Crush gives you a pitch control for +/- an octave as well as a control for Bit Crush. The Reverb and Mix controls set the reverb decay and blend of wet/dry signal, respectively.
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.
TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2
The legendary reverb pedal is back better than ever with an added shimmer effect and revolutionary pressure-sensitive footswitch. The Hall of Fame 2 Reverb by TC Electronic boasts cutting-edge technology that takes an extensive range of creative expression to the party, controlled only by the amount of pressure you give to the depressed footswitch. Years in the making, and found only in select TC Electronic units, this groundbreaking innovation elevates the standard footswitch well above typical functions like on/off. Ultimately, MASH levels up your performance.
Eventide Space
Pierce the sky with Space, an effects pedal that packs Eventide’s industry-acclaimed rack-based reverb effects into a handy floor-based unit. Space dishes out a wide range of reverb effects, from the natural and the unnatural to the downright out-of-this-world. Standard reverbs like Room, Plate, Spring, and Hall are bolstered by Reverse and Shimmer effects along with unique Eventide offerings such as ModEchoVerb, DualVerb, Blackhole, MangledVerb, TremoloVerb, and DynaVerb. From classic tones to next-level weirdness, you won’t run out of options with the Space pedal.
NUX Sculpture Compressor
The Sculpture Compressor by NUX sharpens your signals on top and bottom edges and gives you a steady volume output level. Once you begin picking your guitar, the Sculpture Compressor will clean the loud (peak) notes and raise sustain by increasing the level of decaying (quiet) notes. It also adds to the signal foundation fed into the remainder of your effects chain. The Sculpture Compressor consists of Blend, Level, and Sustain knobs. It lets you select between two clip modes—Clip Mode and Clean Mode.
Friedman Amplification Sir-Compre
The Friedman Amplification Sir-Compre is a meaty compressor pedal with some extra crunch, marrying super-transparent optical compression with smooth overdrive to give you the tools you need for epic guitar tone. Compression forms the meat of the pedal, with dedicated Volume, Treble, Compression, and Tight knobs for precise and powerful tone sculpting. The yummy, sizzling fat on top comes courtesy of a Gain control that lets you shape your tone further, from ultra-clean to semi-overdriven.
ammoon Mosky Electric Guitar
Every pedal board needs a good power supply. And an overdrive. And maybe a compressor. Ammoon combines these three essentials into one multipurpose floor unit: the Tone Bus + Power Supply. You get not one, but two overdrive effects. Overdrive 1 is voiced like the popular OCD stomp with a High/Low Peak switch while Overdrive 2 is more tube-style like the TS9 Tube Screamer. It also comes with a Dyna Comp-based compressor and can supply power to up to eight separate pedals.
Electro-Harmonix Soul Preacher
Whether you rock a guitar or a bass, the Soul Preacher compressor pedal from Electro-Harmonix will fit right in your pedalboard. It packs three selectable attack modes–a 20ms Fast rise, a 50ms Medium rise, and a 100ms Slow rise–coupled with a Sustain knob that lets you dial in silky, lengthy sustains. The Soul Preacher gives you highly articulate compression without compromising your core tone. This compact, road-tough pedal also comes with a true bypass feature.
Maxon Reissue Series CP101
All guitarists appreciate the idea of a compressor, until they plug it in and discover that it is extremely noisy, ruins their pick attack, and colors their tone. The CP101 Compressor pedal from Maxon gives you a smooth, clean compression with incredible transparency and low noise. It features a low compression ratio that prevents changes to the attack characteristics of a note, achieving a more natural picking response. You can utilize the CP101 to raise your instrument’s sustain or limit signal peaks for an even output.
TC Electronics Hypergravity
The HyperGravity Compressor pedal from TC Electronic is the missing link that will make your good tone great. Boasting at least three cool modes, the HyperGravity Compressor incorporates an awesome vintage compressor, a cutting-edge multi-band compressor, as well as infinite compression combinations via TonePrint. It serves as the key to achieving the coveted pro tone with balanced dynamics. It consists of controls for Blend, Attack, Level, and Sustain. Kick it in and get ready to shine.
MXR 6-Band EQ
The Six Band EQ from MXR grants you control over all the fundamental guitar frequencies, with every slider capable of providing 18dB of boost or cut. It is perfect for producing scooped-mid rhythm tones with massive low end. The Six Band EQ can remove onstage feedback and impart natural-sounding warmth to a quack acoustic pickup. You may also utilize it in the effects loop of your amp for a massive, customizable lead boost. The Six Band EQ is great for pickups on acoustic guitars.
Tom’sline Guitar EQ
Budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Tomsline’s Guitar EQ stomp does exactly what it says on the tin: let you shape the overall EQ and tone of your guitar signal. The five EQ bands—100Hz, 250Hz, 630Hz, 1.6KHz, and 4KHz—can each be cut or boosted by up to 18dB. You also get a single Level pot for controlling the overall volume output. Use the Guitar EQ to brighten up your sound, build a heftier bottom end, or tame any unwanted frequencies in your signal.
Mooer Graphic G
Budget stompbox master Mooer is touting the Graphic G as the world’s smallest guitar EQ pedal. It does everything that the Graphic B does for bass, only this time for guitar signals. You get a level control range of up to +/- 18 dB across five EQ bands: 62.5 Hz, 125Hz, 500Hz, 1kHz, and 4kHz. It also features an independent Level control knob for even more precise tone tuning. You can also make it pull double duty as a booster.
MXR Six Band EQ
Covering all the fundamental guitar frequencies, the M109S Six Band EQ from MXR has been revamped with brighter LEDs for improved visibility, true bypass switching, noise-reduction circuitry, and lightweight aluminum enclosure. Each slider is ready to provide +/-18dB of boost or cut for unparalleled control of your sound. The M109S Six Band EQ is capable of eradicating onstage feedback, adding natural-sounding warmth to a quack acoustic pickup, producing scooped-mid rhythm tones with massive low end, and many more.
Tom’sline Bass EQ Mini
Budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Tomsline’s Bass EQ stomp does exactly what it says on the tin: let you shape the overall EQ and tone of your bass signal. The five EQ bands—62.5Hz, 125Hz, 500Hz, 1KHz, and 4KHz—can each be cut or boosted by up to 18dB. You also get a single Level pot for controlling the overall volume output. Use the Bass EQ to brighten up your sound, build a heftier bottom end, or tame any unwanted frequencies in your signal.
Fulltone Secret Freq
Serving up everything from clean boost to overdrive and through to full-on distorted rock tones, the Fulltone Secret Freq Overdrive guitar effects pedal is one versatile stompbox. It’s got all the hallmarks of a classic overdrive stomp; it’s highly dynamic, has a natural tube-style overdrive tone, and is very responsive to picking attack. The Secret Freq also has a secret weapon: a Freq control knob that lets you dial in up to 20db of active, narrow-band midrange for more tone-shaping possibilities.
Utility Pedals
Caline Tuner Power
The Caline CP-09 Tuner-Power may not serve up any bizarre, mind bending guitar effects, but it can serve as the literal heart of any pedalboard rig by acting as both a tuner and a power supply device. In Tuner mode, you get a sensitive and stable chromatic tuner with am easy-to-see LED display. Switch it to Power mode and you can power up to six standard 100mA effects pedals and up to two 500ma power guzzlers.
Donner DT-1
The Donner DT-1 is among the most affordable and best tuner pedals for both live and solo situations. Despite its price range, this chromatic tuner includes a true bypass and insane visibility. At first, it looks faded since it is different from what other tuners give you. You cannot clearly read the letter from afar, but you may still tune your string and recognize when you have hit the right spot. The whole screen becomes green when you are at the perfect frequency. The DT-1 is very handy if you love wandering around the stage.
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.
BOSS TU-3s Tuner
The Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner is the go-to stompbox tuner for any and all serious musicians, and its little brother the Boss TU-3S Compact Chromatic Tuner serves up everything the TU-3 can, in a more compact form factor. Everything from the bigger TU-3’s performance and durability to its tuning functions and display are recreated in the TU-3S, minus the actual pedal switch. If you’re running low on precious pedalboard space, the Boss TU-3S Compact Chromatic Tuner is what you need.
Rowin LT-901
A tuner is arguably the most important tool a musician can have in their arsenal. The tiny LT-901 mini chromatic guitar tuner from budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Rowin is an ideal fit for those who want to make efficient use of space on their pedalboards. Short of a clip-on tuner, the LT-901 is one of the most inconspicuous and affordable tuners available on the market. Don’t let its small size deter you, though; it’s fast and has a large display so you won’t have to squint.
Carl Martin Tuner
The Carl Martin Tuner is attractive, simple, efficient, and handy for any type of guitarist. Housed in a classic die-cast black enclosure, the Tuner is switchable between standard readout and strobe. Both are clear, bright, and readable from a standing position. The Tuner is an excellent addition to your Carl Martin pedal collection. It features a true bypass on/off for a clean signal path, mute switch for silent tuning, and can be calibrated from 437 to 443.
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.
Boss RC-202 Loop Station
The Boss RC-202 Loop Station is the perfect weapon for always-mobile beatboxers, club performers, and electronic musicians. With powerful looping and multi-effect functions packed into a compact tabletop unit, this two-track version of the popular RC-505 Loop Station features four Input FX and four Track FX, the ability to save loops to memories in real-time, and expanded foot control and MIDI capabilities. The Boss RC-202 Loop Station gives you full creative freedom whether you’re on stage or off.
Electro-Harmonix 22500
The Electro-Harmonix 22500 Dual Stereo Looper packs powerful looping capabilities in a compact, pedalboard-friendly chassis. Affordable and easy to use, the 22500 features dual stereo loops with selectable independent or locked loop lengths, sequential and parallel looping modes, Reverse and Octave functions, 16 built-in drum loops, and more. The 22500 can record up to 100 individual high-quality, uncompressed audio to a removable SDHC card. It comes with a free 8GB card and can support up to 32GB cards.
Walrus Audio Transit 5
Keep your pedalboard well organized and equipped with true bypass capability with the Transit 5 standard signal loop unit from Walrus Audio. The Transit 5 can also be used to create an effects loop, which lets you activate multiple effects pedals with a single Transit 5 footswitch. With five dedicated channels, you can create up to five loops with the Transit 5. Plus, all pedals that you connect to the Transit 5 will also effectively become true bypass pedals, keeping your core signal untainted.
Rowin Looper
Looper pedals are becoming more and more ubiquitous these days, especially on the pedalboards of solo artists and home recording enthusiasts. Budget guitar effects pedal maker Rowin’s LEF-332 Looper is a compact looping pedal that lets you record up to 10 minutes of audio. You can also store and upload pre-recorded audio onto the LEF-332 Looper via USB. Controls are easy; there’s a Volume knob and a single footswitch that controls recording, playback, and overdubs.
Mosky DTC
Mosky Audio’s DTC multi-effects unit is a four-in-one stompbox that combines three different effects with an effects loop function. Even if you don’t count the effects loop as an effect, the four-in-one designation still kinda works since the distortion section is actually split into two voicings: a vintage-leaning Crunch-style sound and a more modern high-gain tone based on the Riot. The DTC also comes with an overdrive section based on the TS9 Tube Screamer and a delay with a range of 25ms to 600ms.
Korg EXP-2
The Korg EXP-2 Foot Controller can serve as a handy and lightweight expression or volume pedal. You can utilize it as a volume pedal when using OUTPUT-1 and INPUT-1 or an expression pedal when employing OUTPUT-2. The EXP-2 Foot Controller is extremely versatile and works with various Korg keyboards, modules and effect processors. It includes a tweakable minimum setting through the side-mounted slide control as well as a three-conductor cable. Express yourself now with the EXP-2.
Mission Engineering EP-11
The EP-11 by Mission Engineering is the most suitable expression pedal for the Pro Tools Eleven Rack. For a natural and accurate response, the linear potentiometer is matched precisely to the Eleven Rack’s specifications. Simply connect to the Exp. Pedal input on the Eleven Rack’s rear panel with a 1/4″ TRS cable, then choose EP-11 on the Eleven Rack expression pedal settings. If you are leveraging the Eleven Rack with a MIDI controller, flip the EP-11’s toggle switch then plug it into an expression pedal input.
TC Electronic Ditto X4 Looper
A straightforward and intuitive dual-track guitar looper featuring powerful loop effects allows you to produce multilayered sonic masterpieces. The Ditto X4 Looper from TC Electronic is specially designed for and by guitarists to guarantee you get the greatest simplicity with full creative potential. You can transform one moment in time into something truly spectacular. By perfectly combining convenience with stellar creative features, the Ditto X4 Looper will quickly serve as the canvas where you paint your multilayered sonic artworks.
Carl Martin Noise Terminator
The Carl Martin Noise Terminator is designed to maintain the original tonal characteristics while eliminating unwanted noise occurring from using multiple effects. It outperforms traditional noise gates by allowing you to switch between two threshold settings—Hard when more radical settings are necessary or Soft with less noisy equipment. Using the remote jack, you can connect the Noise Terminator to an external midi switching system that lets you go between Hard and Soft settings conveniently. The Noise Terminator is a 9V-battery-powered pedal featuring an AC adapter jack.
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.
Boss GT-100
The GT-100 COSM Amp Effects Processor gives you unfettered access to all the power and potential Boss’s Composite Object Sound Modeling (COSM) technology can bring to bear. Next-gen amp modeling offers up incredible vintage guitar amp sounds a well as new COSM-powered tones and effects, while the unique Accel pedal provides simultaneous control over multiple parameters. Effects maniacs will also love the level of control provided by the GP-10’s EZ Tone, Amp Customize, and OD/DS Customize functions.
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.
Boss FS5U Unlatched Footswitch
The Boss FS-5U is a compact, lightweight, and durable momentary or non-latching footswitch built to withstand even the roughest and toughest of tours and stages. Plug the FS-5U into any guitar effects pedal that has external footswitch compatibility, and you can engage that pedal’s effect only for as long as you keep your foot on the switch. The FS-5U is the perfect non-latching footswitch for getting those insane solo-punctuating sustains or hitting precisely-timed spot delays.
Throne Room Pedals Tiny Tap Tempo (Normal, 2 Outputs)
With even smaller enclosures made from solid aluminum, Throne Room Pedals’ Tiny line of pedal switches are some of the tiniest and most road tough control pedals out right now. The Tiny Tap Tempo is built to work with other guitar effects pedals that comes with external tap tempo compatibility, such as a delay pedal or tremolo stomp. This particular version features two tap outputs and works with pedals that require a normally open switch.
Morley Mini Maverick Switchless Wah
The Mini Maverick Switchless Wah pedal, now updated with Morley’s iconic trapezoid treadle! The Mini Maverick is all about bringing you big sound and expansive features in a tough, compact chassis ideal for crowded pedalboards. It packs a hybrid punch of vintage and modern wah tones powered by a custom MQ2 inductor. The Mini Maverick features Morley’s whole slate of modern wah innovations: it’s electro-optical, it has True-Tone Bypass Buffer circuitry, and it has a switchless operation.
NUX Dual FootSwitch
The NMP-2 Dual Footswitch from NUX is a universal two switch controller with Latch, Open, and Close modes. It is a mix of WTB-005 (momentary) and latch type controllers. This multi-foot controller is intended for arranger instruments (modules, keyboards, effect pedals, and others). This controller allows you to conveniently activate all the primary functionalities of the equipment. The NMP-2 Dual Footswitch is compatible with NUX Cerberus, NUX Loop Core Deluxe, and NUX JTC Drum & Loop PRO.
Boss LS-2 Line Selector
Simplify your setup with the Boss LS-2 Line Selector, a pedal that lets you easily and quickly switch between different effects loops and amplifiers as well as route input and output signals on the fly. The LS-2 has two line loops with independent level controls and comes with six looping modes. Use it with an AC adapter and you can turn the LS-2 into the ideal power supply and master switching unit for other Boss pedals in your pedalboard.
Mission Engineering VM-Pro (Red)
Housed in a fiery red chassis, the VM-PRO by Mission Engineering is the most sophisticated volume pedal you will find. It addresses several common issues with volume pedals, which result in mismatching and tone sucking problems. It works with your baritone, bass, electro-acoustic, or electric guitars. The VM-PRO is also compatible with other electric and acoustic instruments such as steel guitars, electronic keyboards, and instrument microphones. It incorporates compatibility switches for utilization with passive/active pickups as well as fuzz pedals.
Truetone Pure Tone
Before it changed its name to Truetone, Visual Sound had been making guitar effects pedals for two decades. Among the many innovations it created was the buffer circuit in its pedal releases. Now, under the Truetone moniker, that very same buffer circuit has been made available in pedal form. Put it first in your effects chain and the Truetone Pure Tone Buffer pedal will eliminate cable capacitance and tone suck, common headaches for musicians with long guitar cables.
J. Rockett Steampunk
Easy yet ultra-versatile, the J. Rockett Steampunk is an exceptional two-in-one Buffer Booster. The Buffer is great for addressing impedance issues caused by employing big boards and long cables. It will let you save your tone and recover any high end loss. An LED indicator watches the Buffer control while it is in phase. The Boost feature gives a clean 20+ Db push to your effects and amps. The Steampunk can also take perfectly clean tones and impart clarity and sustain.
Lehle Sunday Driver SW
The Sunday Driver SW from Lehle is a portable high-end preamp for acoustic and electrical instruments. It allows acoustic guitars, electric guitars and basses, as well as other stringed instruments like cellos, double basses, and violins to unleash their musical potential. Boasting a high-quality JFET technology, the Sunday Driver SW lets you switch between two operation modes: D (Driver) and S (Sunday). In off status, the Sunday Driver SW offers two modes of operation—TB (True Bypass) and TS (True Sound).
Suhr Buffer
Modern players demand reliability, quality, and exceptional tone. The Suhr Buffer leverages only top-grade components, including a machined billet aluminum chassis, Glass Epoxy PCB, and low noise audiophile Op-Amps, to guarantee that your tone investment is preserved across your signal chain. Regarding reliability and quality, Suhr designed the Buffer with the same attention to detail as its other award-winning products. It is equipped with two individual outputs and comes in a portable, solid, aluminum enclosure.
ammoon Clean Buffer
Housed in a compact, heavy-duty zinc-aluminium alloy body, ammoon’s Mini Clean Buffer pedal sounds amazing no matter how many pedals you utilize. It includes 1/4” monaural input and output jacks, pure signal path, and ON/OFF LED indicator light. The Mini Clean Buffer pedal is the remedy for weak guitar sound resulting from using multiple pedals. It reduces the loss of guitar signal and tone efficiently. It addresses capacitance issues by delivering the perfect input impedance for your rig. You can now utilize effect pedals, long cable, and speakers with your guitar without experiencing signal degradation.
Xvive Noise Gate
The innocuously named Noise Gate from budget guitar effects pedal creator Xvive is a wide range noise suppressor that packs an excellent amount of dynamic response. It features 100% attenuation when gated and makes great use of ultra-high speed circuitry to get rid of all the unwanted noise lurking in your signal. Perhaps best of all, it doesn’t require a manual to get the settings right. The Naoise Gate is easy to use, compact, road-tough, and comes with true bypass switching.
GOKKO KULT
Rein in unruly and unwanted signal noise with the Kult Noise Gate GK-28 guitar effects pedal from GOKKO. This budget- and pedalboard-friendly stompbox helps reduce the hums, hisses, and buzzes that invariably show up to pollute your signal when you have a lot of pedals, especially high-gain ones, in your chain. Use the sensitivity control knob to tell the noise gate when to kick in and use the two-way selector switch to choose between a soft, gradual volume cut or a hard and steep drop.
Koogo Noise Gate
Minimize the noise from your input signal without sacrificing your original signal’s quality with the Koogo Noise Gate. It provides you with a choice between two working modes: Soft and Hard. Soft gives you soft noise reduction effect while Hard delivers hard noise reduction effect. You can adjust the noise reduction degree from -70 to +10dB. Boasting solid construction, the Noise Gate comes in an all-metal chassis that makes it ultra-compact and exquisite, and like other exceptional effects pedals, it features true bypass.
Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor
Noisy signals are the bane of musicians the world over. That’s why noise suppressor pedals have become pedalboard mainstays, and the Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor is one of the best options available. It uses a unique noise detection circuit that identifies and separates your instrument’s signal from the noise and hum components, eliminating the latter while letting the former shine through with its natural attack and sonic envelope perfectly preserved. You can dial in the precise amount of noise elimination and suppression via dedicated Threshold and Decay knobs.
Rowin Nosie Gate
Get rid of unwanted buzzes, hisses, and hums in your guitar signal with the LEF-319 Noise Gate from budget guitar effects pedal manufacturer Rowin. The Noise Gate does exactly what it says on the tin; it takes you guitar’s dry signal and eliminates the noise level within your effects loop. Just set the minimum volume threshold where the pedal’s functions kick in via a dedicated Threshold knob, choose Hard or Soft gating via the two-way selector, hit the footswitch, and enjoy noise-free playing.
TC Electronic Iron Curtain
Presenting the no-nonsense way to get rid of your sound gremlins, the Iron Curtain Noise Gate by TC Electronic. It is an ultra-fast and efficient noise gate that minimizes unwanted noise from your instrument signal. Its convenient two-knob interface controls decay and threshold. The toggle switch allows you to select between reducing unwanted noise or muting signal entirely. Designed and engineered in Denmark, the Iron Curtain Noise Gate comes in a durable metal chassis. It features a true bypass for supreme signal integrity.
DigiTech SDRUM
The DigiTech SDRUM is an intelligent drum machine for bassists and guitarists. By merely scratching across your guitar strings, the SDRUM learns a kick and snare pattern which establishes the foundation of the beat you wish to hear. The SDRUM yields, according to this pattern, a professional sounding drum beat with different variations and embellishments to complement your beat. You no longer have to disrupt your creative flow when browsing through lists in a frustrating attempt to get your desired beat.
JOYO O.M.B
Joyo’s OMB Looper and Drum Machine turns you into a one-man band with a single stomp. This single pedal can act as a looper, a drum machine, or a combo looper plus drum machine. The looper function lets you record up to 40 minutes of audio and features unlimited overdubs, auto-align, and count-in. You get seven drum patterns and seven drumbeats in drum machine mode, plus you can add fills to the patterns and use a tap tempo function. The OMB is an R Series pedal, meaning it has cool ambient LED effects built into it.
Singular Sound BeatBuddy Mini
The Singular Sound BeatBuddy Mini is a drummer within a guitar pedal enclosure. It provides entirely hands-free, creative control of the beat. No matter what instrument you use, you can easily transition from verse to chorus, insert fills, throw in drum breaks, add accent hits, and more to yield an unparalleled live drummer effect. Utilized in the music programs of Berklee College of Music and Frost School of Music, the BeatBuddy Mini is arguably the most efficient way to enhance your rhythm and master different genres while improvising and having a great time.
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.
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.
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.
Other Pedals
Morley Power Fuzz Wah
Any pedal that pays tribute to thrash metal god Cliff Burton should come with a snarl and a growl, and the Cliff Burton PowerFuzz Wah pedal from Morley is no different. This wah/fuzz hybrid bass effects pedal packs a lot of hairy aggression but is also versatile enough to be used effectively in styles other than metal. This 500-piece limited edition run of the PowerFuzz Wah comes with a premium chrome finish and a cleaning cloth.
Rowin Auto Wah
Boutique level auto wah sound at a price that won’t flatten your wallet. The LEF=3804 Auto Wah from budget guitar effects pedal maker Rowin can serve up a wide range of classic wah tones, from a soft, slow wah to a faster, more watery Cry Baby-esque attack. You can dial these in using the dedicated Cutoff, Shape, Reso, and Speed control knobs. The LEF-3804’s Auto Wah’s footswitch also has a secondary function: hold it down to store a parameter to create some interesting layered tones.
Fulltone Clyde Deluxe Wah
It’s Fulltone’s popular Clyde Standard wah pedal, but more versatile. The Clyde Deluxe Wah enhances the original Clyde’s Vox-style wah voicings and added a 10-step variable input level control pot and three new selectable modes. You get a Wacked mode, a Jimi mode that recreates the Clyde Standard sound, and a Shaft mode for fighting your way to the top of Funk Mountain. The Clyde Deluxe Wah also features true bypass and is powered by the most authentic and most quiet ’60’s Vox type inductor available.
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.
Morley Bad Horsie II
Steve Vai’s signature wah, the Bad Horsie, has become one of the most legendary wah pedals today—not to mention Morley’s best selling wah ever. Now, Morley has gone and enhanced the Bad Horsie with an all-new Contour Wah mode that lets you alter the pedal’s wah frequency and output via dedicated control dials. If you’re still hankering for the classic Bad Horsie wah tone, don’t worry. The Bad Horsie II over to Bad Horsie Wah mode and you’ll get the original’s Vai-approved wah tone.
Behringer Hellbabe Wah-Wah
Versatile, impressive tonal control, built to last, and affordable—the Behringer Hellbabe HB01 Ultimate Wah-Wah pedal is the perfect wah pedal for the guitar hero on a budget. Thanks to the Hellbabe’s fully optical controls, there are no mechanical pots and switches always in danger of wearing out in the middle of a gig. It also comes with an adjustable spring-back mechanism that you can remove if you want a more standard approach to your wah pedal’s operation.
Joyo Wooden Sound
Despite its name, the simulated acoustic sounds served up by Joyo’s JF-323 Wooden Sound guitar effects pedal are far from stiff and flat. You can coax rich, natural acoustic tones from your electric guitar without any signal squish, especially when you’re strumming out a rhythm. As one of Joyo’s Ironman pedals, the JF-323 Wooden Sound is small enough to fit in your front pocket and features a flip cover for keeping your control dial settings safe from stray stomps. Way better than lugging around another guitar to a gig.
Tech 21 Acoustic Fly Rig
The Acoustic Fly Rig from multi effects wizards Tech 21 is a complete set of acoustic performance-focused tools that you can carry around in your backpack. It comes with an effects section that packs built in delay, chorus, and reverb effects and a dedicated analog compressor section for more precise tonal control. Sandwiched between these two is Tech 21’s renowned SansAmp amp emulator, which serves up the warm, natural tones of some of the most legendary amplifiers ever built.
Rowin AC Stage
The LEF-320 AC Stage pedal from budget guitar effects stompbox maker Rowin gives your electric guitar the strummy goodness of an acoustic. The AC Stage is particularly adept at adding a deep layer of the shortened, glassy resonance that characterizes a good acoustic guitar. It features three acoustic modes, with Standard being the basic acoustic sound. Jumbo mode simulates the deep voice of a full bodied dreadnought guitar while a Piezo mode rounds out the three voicings.
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.
Tom’sline Acoustic
The aptly named Acoustic budget guitar effects pedal from Tomsline is a workhorse acoustic simulator pedal that gets the job done. Plug in an electric guitar and you can give it the body and natural woody sound of an acoustic. You can adjust the gain with the Top knob, the resonance of the simulated acoustic body with the Body dial, and the overall volume with the Volume pot. The Acoustic also features a three-way toggle that lets you switch between three voicing modes: Piezo, Standard, and Jumbo.
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.
EBS Multi Drive
Spice up your sustain with the MultiDrive pedal by EBS. This Class A overdrive pedal is capable of yielding overdrive, sustain, and several other valuable tube amp distortion sounds. It carries a Mode switch that lets you choose from standard, tube-simulation, or flat overdrive sounds, as well as Volume and Drive knobs for controlling the output level and amount of effect. EBS bass effect pedals are crafted to maintain the whole frequency range of your bass signal, leverage silent FET switching, and are perfect both for live and studio use.
Vertex Ultraphonix
The Ultraphonix Overdrive by Vertex is a smooth and clear overdrive pedal inspired by elusive American boutique amps. Modeled after four different amps, it will give a remarkable and distinctive character to your tone. Built with mechanical true bypass and all-analog circuitry, the Ultraphonix recreates the iconic fat overdrive, harmonic overtones, and note bloom generated by an elusive American boutique amp. With only Gain, Volume, and Filter knobs, you can access an arsenal of tones from various genres.
TC Electronic Spectra Comp
The SpectraComp Bass Compression by TC Electronic is a portable multi-band compressor specifically voiced for bass guitar. Spec’d from the famed MD3 engine from TC Electronic’s System 6000 processor, the pedal delivers transparent and musical compression to tame low-end woof and midrange bark without affecting your dynamics. One-knob compression will have your mind on the music as you perform. An arsenal of signature TonePrint algorithms will keep your creative juices flowing and tones fresh. The SpectraComp boasts studio-quality sounds and a True Bypass output for keeping your input signal clean.
Tech 21 Red Ripper
The Red Ripper fuzz box for bass from Tech 21 is more than your bog standard dirt stomp. It is highly responsive to you picking dynamics; the harder you hit your bass strings, the more saturated your tone becomes. Pull back on your attack and you get a smoother sound and heavier lower harmonics. The Red Ripper’s unique R.I.P. pot also lets you dial in a wide range of fuzzed-out bass tones, from vintage hair to octaver fuzz and even through to a Moogie-like synth tone.
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.
Xvive W2 Overdrive Fuzz
The Fuzz Overdrive from Xvive delivers a tube-style drive that goes from subtle dirt to a screaming, highly compressed edge of breakup tube amp sound. It packs an insanely long sustain fuzz while giving you plenty of iron fisted tonal control. The Fuzz Overdrive also features impressively enhanced picking dynamics that you don’t usually hear in normally compressed fuzz and drive boxes. You can mix and match the Fuzz Overdrive’s effects any way you want.
Ernie Ball 250k Mono Volume Pedal
Get complete and precise volume control right at your feet. The Ernie Ball 6166 250k Mono Volume Pedal is an excellent hands-free option for controlling your volume. It features a super-smooth sweep and has a micro taper switch that lets you choose between two different volume swell rates. It’s calibrated specifically for the perfect handling of passive audio signals and comes with an independent tuner output for unobtrusive onstage tuning. The 250k’s rugged aluminum construction means it can withstand the rigors of constant use.
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.
Boss FV-500H
The FV-500 series takes Boss’s industry-standard volume pedal designs into the future. Tank-tough with a stylishly designed high-grade aluminum body and packing silky smooth action, the FV-500 line of volume pedals were created to go above and beyond the needs of even the most hard-touring and demanding musician. The FV-500H is the line’s mono high-impedance model with inst. level input, a tuner-output jack, and an expression output for use with expression pedal-compatible amps, effects, and synthesizers.
Tom’sline Slow Hand
Create dramatic volume swells to make your sound more epic with budget guitar effects pedal maker Tomsline’s Slow Hand stompbox. It cuts off the attack of each note you play to produce a volume swell similar to rolling up your guitar’s volume knob from zero. You can even use it to make your guitar sound like a violin. The Slow Hand features Tomsline’s patented stop bar design to keep your foot from messing up the pedal’s settings when you stomp on it.
Ernie Ball MVP
The Ernie Ball MVP definitely deserves its “Most Valuable Pedal” name. This volume pedal gives you a silky smooth, super-precise volume sweep that doesn’t lose any high frequencies at any volume level. It’s very versatile, as well, working extremely well with both active and passive electronics. The MVP also features a minimum volume knob that lets you set the open position to have anywhere from 0% to 50% volume, plus a gain boost control lets you set the closed rocker position either to 100% volume or a pretty significant signal boost of up to +20dB.
Mission Engineering VM-PRO Carbon Print
Featuring a beautiful carbon print, the VM-PRO from Mission Engineering is the most sophisticated volume pedal available. It resolves typical volume pedal issues, which result in mismatching and tone sucking problems. The VM-PRO works with your baritone, bass, electric, or electro-acoustic guitars. It is also great with other electric and acoustic instruments, including steel guitars, electronic keyboards, and instrument microphones. It incorporates a sparkle control, isolated tuner out, onboard buffers, and compatibility switches for use with fuzz pedals and active/passive pickups.
Electro Harmonix Dual Expression
So many wonderful stompboxes now come with expression pedal support, so choosing which one to use with your lone expression pedal can be a headache. The Dual Expression Pedal from Electro-Harmonix eases that headache a bit by letting you control two individual functions or two separate devices using one expression pedal. Both EXP outputs have independent range and reverse, plus they each have their own polarity switch for enhanced compatibility with a wider range of pedals.
Zoom FP02M
Get a pitch bender, a wah pedal, and a volume pedal in one with the FP02M expression pedal from Zoom. Plug it into your bass effects device or guitar to add real-time command over the pitch, wah, or volume, as well as effect parameters like distortion gain, modulation rate, and reverb or delay level. Sturdy enough for the road, the FP02M comes in a metal enclosure and includes a ¼” to ¼” connection cable. It works with various Zoom effects processors.
Source Audio Reflex Universal Expression Controller
The Reflex Universal Expression Controller from Source Audio serves as a standalone command center for your every expression pedal need. This programmable expression pedal can control DAW software via USB and connect to any rack system, effects pedal, or synthesizer with an expression or MIDI jack. Its outputs include a USB port, MIDI five-pin DIN in/out connectors, three 1/4 ” analog expression outs, and the proprietary 1/8″ Sensor Out. The Reflex is capable of sending six LFO wave shapes with expression control over the depth, beat division, or modulation speed.
Ernie Ball Expression Tremolo
WIth its rocker-style pedal form, the Ernie Ball Expression Series Tremolo pedal gives you complete and precise control over its sweepable tremolo effects without requiring any extra expression pedal attachments. Choose from five different tremolo waveforms—Slow Rise, Slow Fall, Sine, Square, and Harmonic—and then use the treadle to control the tremolo depth and rate individually or both at the same time. Leave the treadle open in the zero position and you get an ultra-clear transparent signal that doesn’t color your core tone at all.
Line 6 EX-1
Designed for utilization with Line 6 stompbox modelers and other pedals, the EX-1 expression pedal lets you morph seamlessly between any two settings of a model. For the AX2, it can be employed for volume or wah. Boasting durable construction, the EX-1 features custom wahs, pitch control, and two preset variations. The EX-1 is compatible with stompbox modelers (M5, M9, M13, DL4, DM4, FM4, MM4), POD HD400, POD HD500, POD HD500X, POD XT Live, POD X3 Live, and others.
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.
MOOER Radar
The tiny Radar guitar effects pedal from budget stomp maker Mooer might just be the next mainstay on your pedalboard. It’s a full-featured pro-grade cab sim that comes packed not only with 30 different cab models, but it also features 11 mic models and 4 power amp models. You can store and recall up to 36 user presets, connect it to a computer via USB, or plug in headphones when you want to squeeze in a quick practice sesh.
JOYO CAB BOX
Calling the Joyo Cab Box an amp modeler and IR loader is technically accurate, but it does so much more that it stretches the definition. You get four different tube amp models, 20 cabinet models, and 11 classic mic models. Tweak the model parameters, load up to 30 impulse response (IR) files, and then save all your personal presets in up to 128 cab memory slots. The Cab Box also comes with a three configurable five-band post-EQs for guitar, bass & parametric.
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 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.
Two Notes Torpedo C.A.B.
A lot of things may change between each gig, from your backline to the room quality, but with Two Notes’ Torpedo C.A.B. you can be sure your preferred tone will stay the same. The Torpedo C.A.B. is a high-end cabinet simulator in stompbox form that gives you a direct line from your guitar rig to a PA system, mixer, or recording interface. Use the Torpedo C.A.B.’s selection of 32 pre-loaded cabinets or load your own IR files to capture your perfect tone.
Joyo Boogie Master
The JF-309 Boogie Master guitar effects pedal from Joyo is a Mesa Boogie amp sim that gives you that trademark “roided-out Marshall” sound without having to spend over a thousand bucks on an actual Mesa Boogie amp. Crank the Drive knob up for a high-gain Mesa sound or stay clean to hew closer to a Boogie. The JF-309 Boogie Master is an Ironman pedal, so it’s small enough to fit in your front pocket and features a flip cover to keep your control dial settings safe from stray stomps.
T-Rex Quint Machine
While standard octave doubling is nice, throwing in a fifth up and providing all three modulated sounds with a separate volume control unlocks a different world. The Quint Machine by T-Rex Engineering lets you emulate an organ, 12-string, or synth sound. Eliminate your dry signal and sound like a synth merely possessing that lonely heart. Designed to give you more, the Quint Machine will keep you discovering new sounds for years. It consists of +1 Fifth, +1 Octave, -1 Octave, and Mix knobs.
Boss MO-2 Multi Overtone
The Boss MO-2 Multi Overtone guitar effects pedal is among the vanguard of Boss’s next generation of stompboxes. Powered by the magic of Roland’s innovative Multi-Dimensional Processing (MPD) technology, the MO-2 generates harmonically rich overtones that complement, enhance, and thicken your guitar or bass sound, whether you’re playing clean or distorted. Three unique modes and a dedicated Detune knob let you add all-new dynamic resonance textures to your sound, ranging from shimmering multi-string sounds to organ- and synth-like voicings.
Earthquaker Devices Data Corrupter
EarthQuaker Devices’ Data Corrupter puts your guitar signal through a meat grinder, mangling it beyond all recognition—and in this context, that’s a good thing! A modulated monophonic PLL circuit turns your tone into a three-voice synth with a heaping helping of thick fuzz, and with six dials, two rotary selectors, and two toggle switches you get all the tone sculpting tools you’ll ever need. If you really want your guitar to stop sounding like an actual guitar, plug it into the Data Corrupter and watch the sonic sparks fly.
Dwarfcraft Devices HAX2
Dwafcraft Devices has mastered the art of crafting guitar effect pedals that do many things extremely well, and the HAX2 ring modulator is no different. Lightyears ahead of the original HAX circuit it’s based on, the HAX2 combines ring modulation, an envelope follower, and a filter in one sturdy stompbox that can serve up everything from deep tremolo-style effects and psychedelic modulation to a pleasant, sparkly chorus. Four dials and four toggle switches give you all the control you could ever need.
WMD Geiger Counter Civilian Issue
This is the future of digital dirt. WMD’s Geiger Counter boutique distortion guitar effects pedal delivers a cornucopia of dirt tones, from the classic and recognizable to some insanely twisted, octave folded lo fi fuzz that brings to mind the irradiated wind that follows in the wake of a mushroom cloud. The Geiger Counter Civilian Issue is a stripped down version of the original, featuring 32 preset sounds and a far less complicated control layout.
Seymour Duncan FOOZ
The FOOZ pedal from Seymour Duncan transforms your guitar into an over-the-top analog synth. It leverages an extremely saturated square-wave fuzz to turn your instrument into the “oscillator,” geared to be shaped by other blocks—it also makes for an exceptional fuzz tone alone. It consists of Depth, Speed, Wave, Shape, Freq, Resonance, Level, and Gain controls. Inspired by synth flexibility and iconic guitar tones, the FOOZ imparts the spirit of synth creativity in your guitar.





















































































































































































































