Standing in the front row of the show, looking at the pedal system (pedal) arranged like… NASA's controller, you might feel "a bit dizzy". Guitarists stomp one pedal after another with ease, fiddling with the knobs, and it's hard to know what's doing what. What is the real difference between distortion and overdrive ? Should you buy a separate pedal or a multi-action kit? What are flags ?

Below, we cover the functional basics of the major line of effect pedals , and offer our recommendations for some of the best guitar pedals available today, from the Tube Screamer to the Tube Screamer. Big Muff to Carbon Copy, to help you in your quest for the ultimate guitar tone.

Best Overdrive pedals:

Ask nearly any guitarist their "ideal tone" and they'll likely tell you it's the sound of their tube amplifier being overloaded into a warm, stormy tone. peace. The overdrive pedal delivers that sound, but in a small, battery-powered box that you can use with any amplifier. Like a push-tube amplifier, the overdrive pedal is incredibly dynamic and responsive to your play. Play softly and you only need a little drive; the sound will be stronger and more broken. Loved by blues and rock players, overdrive gives you a boost that pushes your amplifier a little further.

Ibanez Tube Screamer: A Legendary Overdrive

The Ibanez Tube Screamer is the quintessential overdrive pedal. From Stevie Ray Vaughan to Gary Clark, Jr., this is a favorite effect of countless guitarists. Its moderately heavy punch is as recognizable as its green box. It is most commonly used before an amplifier that has been over-driven, to give you something "extra".

Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

More overdrive pedal options

Players love Boss Blues Driver because the overdrive sounds like real tube. Warm and authentic, with a little more bass than Tube Screamer, Blues Driver has made famous mods and clones, but the original is a classic.

Capturing the immense power of the Friedman BE-100 amplifier, the Friedman BE-OD pedal offers the variety of control and grand amplifier crispness, allowing you to encapsulate world-famous tunes into a single dimension. small area.

Based on a design by pedal builder Paul Cochrane, the MXR Timmy Overdrive is the result of Cochrane's desire to bring its highly sought-after pedal to more people. Timmy Overdrive offers three different clipping options to push your amplifier into different tonal areas. When Timmy pushes the front of the amplifier, the resulting sound is one of those pleasing blends that retains the overall character of your existing equipment.

Best Distortion Pedal

The distinction between pedal overdrive and distortion can be confusing. While overdrive simulates just enough power to disrupt your tone, distortion piles up on clipping and completely changes your sound. One big difference between distortion and overdrive lies in the dynamics. Pedal distortion will give you the same level of crunch no matter how loud you turn it or how hard or light you play. This is your goal of hard rock and metal.

Boss DS-1: Crunch in a Box

The Boss DS-1 is the most popular distortion pedal for several reasons. Both affordable and easy to use, this orange box can be seen in garages and arena stages around the world, delivering that… .

Boss DS-1

Several distortion pedal options

Rhythm players and lead players love the Pro Co Rat for its versatility. Whether you need a little more crunch in your chords or a little more punch in your solo, the Rat is a great addition to any pedal.

From highly adjustable low volume distortion to steady, fuzzy sustain, the MXR M-104 is a reliable choice. Originally released in the '70s, the M-104 has found its way across countless vintage recordings.

Best Fuzz Pedal

Fuzz is the option of distorted effects. Favored by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and other classic rock icons, the Fuzz pedal clamps and compresses the signal from your guitar to almost imperceptible levels, providing you with stability. Castle. Kinks' Dave Davies was the first famous pioneer of a Fuzz-like sound. He slashed one of his cones with a razor in a fit of rage, and ended with the tune you hear in “You Really Got Me.” Around that time, a number of Fuzz pedals, including the legendary Tone Bender and Fuzz Face, began to hit the market and be heard on some of the classic records of the biggest names in rock music. Older brother.

Electro-Harmonix Big Muff

Electro-Harmonix Big Muff is the only fuzz to rule them all. This is a pedal that originated in the late 60s and it has been used continuously, from David Gilmour to Thin Lizzy to Smashing Pumpkins. The durability it produces lasts nearly as long as the history of the pedal, and its distortion is legendary. While the Big Muff Pi, pictured below, is perhaps the most famous model, Electro-Harmonix offers a wide variety of Big Muffs to choose from, representing the many versions and variations released over the past five decades.

Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi

Added Fuzz pedal option

JHS delivers the legendary Tone Bender experience with the JHS Pedals Bender 1973 London . Inspired by the 1973 MKIII model, JHS Bender captures the feel and feedback that made the original so sought-after, while adapting the circuitry to accommodate the use of modern (and most recent) silicon transistors shop) more.

Of course, when you're talking about guitar pedigree, it's hard to refer to the Fuzz Face , used by none other than Jimi Hendrix.

Best Delay Pedal

There are so many subtleties to different Delay pedals that it's nearly impossible to understand them all. But there are some basic principles that make up delay.... Basically, it takes the signal of the sound you played and repeats it after a short period of time — like an echo. Instead of being set at a specific interval, the Delay pedal lets you choose how long before a repeat, how many repetitions you want, and the volume level of those repetitions. Some models allow you to choose the delay tempo, which matches the tempo of the song you are performing. U2's Edge is perhaps the most famous delay user, playing it as if it were another musician in the band.

MXR Carbon Copy: An Analog Delay Icon

With a 600 millisecond Delay and Delay timing, mixing, and repeat controls, the MXR Carbon Copy can take you from classic reverberation to psychedelic wooziness with just a few simple tweaks. MXR has turned its iconic Delay pedal into a variety of configurations, depending on your needs and budget.

MXR Carbon Copy

Add Delay pedal option

Boss DD-7 offers great delay options. Boasting a digital delay of up to 6.4 seconds and a hold mode that allows for up to 40 seconds of recordable input, it also features stereo output for incredibly wide, deep Delays.

The 3 Series Delay from JHS Pedals is an affordable, studio-quality Delay pedal with simple controls and great tonal versatility. With Delay times ranging from 80 milliseconds to 800 milliseconds, it covers everything from bass to ambient sound, while a Type switch lets you choose between pristine digital clarity or analog audio.

Best Reverb Pedal

Pedal reverb simulates the natural sound reflections you hear in many different rooms. The larger the room, the more it tends to bounce. Not quite echo or delay, it's an effect that gives depth and richness to a guitar's tone.

A typical reverb pedal will include Time, Level, and Tone controls. Tweaking each of these buttons opens up a host of sound changes.

BOSS RV-6: All-in-one reverb package

The versatile BOSS RV-6 delivers everything you'd expect from a reverb pedal and more. Echoes include Spring, Plate Hall, Room, Shimmer, etc. Auto-switching jacks let you integrate with any pedal sequence, supporting mono, mono-to-stereo and stereo-to-stereo operation. As with the Delay DD-7, there's also a jack for connecting an optional expression pedal, allowing you to control effect levels in real time as you play.

Boss RV-6

More Reverb pedal options

Want a reliable, classic reverb sound based on the reverb units found in '60s Fender guitar amplifiers? TC Electronic Drip Spring can take you from surfing to swinging in a flash, with simple controls and near-indestructible construction.

Best Tremolo Pedal

Tremolo and Vibrato are two different things. Tremolo is a variation in the volume of a musical note. Vibrato is the change in pitch. That's a really important distinction when you're buying a pedal. The tremolo pedal changes your volume rhythmically, delivering a rhythmically textured sound. With controls to adjust the speed and depth of the volume oscillation, the tremolo pedal can take you from “Crimson and Clover” to “Howlin' for You” in a snap.

JHS Kodiak Tremolo Pedal: Fully analog Tremolo with modern features

Embellished with all the bells and whistles a tremolo could ask for, the JHS Pedals Kodiak Tremolo lets you choose between four different wave shapes to change the way the tremolo increases and decreases your volume. It also has a Mix knob, so you can control how much effect you want to mix with your live signal. In addition, tap tempo allows you to easily synchronize the effect with the timing of the song.

JHS Kodiak Tremolo Pedal

More Tremolo . pedal options

For truly time-tested tremolo, you can't go wrong with the Boss TR-2 . The built-in wave knob allows you to change the LFO waveform from triangle to square. In other words, you have many tremolo options. Simple and reliable, this is a traditional option.

The JHS Tidewater is simple, small, and produces a warm, classic tremolo amp sound that all players will appreciate. An added bonus - with the combo control fully turned off, you can use the Tidewater as a preamplifier.

Best Vibrato Pedal

Like we mentioned, vibrato (vibration) gives you a change in pitch, similar to bending or handling a whammy (tremolo horse). From simple pitch adjustments to swirling noises, this pedal is a must-have for any guitarist looking to push their sound outside of everyday life.

BOSS VB-2W Waza Vibrato: The Return of Classic Vibes

Since its debut in 1982, the BOSS VB-2 Vibrato's unique and expressive pitch modulation has been widely adopted as the standard for vibrato effects. Now reincarnated in the Waza Craft VB-2W , this pedal recreates the fully analog circuit and sound of the original with some player-friendly updates. The new Custom mode features an updated filter wave, resulting in a deeper and darker vibrating effect. Unlutch mode only activates the effect when the foot pedal is held down.

Waza BOSS VB-2W . Vibrating Pedal

Added vibrato pedal option

The high-end Earthquaker Devices Aqueduct utilizes a short delay line with eight different modulation modes to provide a wide variety of vibration options. While it is equipped with eight modes that go with a lot of names and very technical descriptions, it basically goes from simple amplifier-like vibration to almost unrecognizable sound.

Best Chorus Pedal

Chorus is a versatile tool for giving color to your sounds. By separating the guitar signal and only slightly adjusting the pitch and delay of a signal, Chorus thickens your sound and delivers dreamy, mirrored tones. It got a bit overused in the 80s, but when used well, it can bring a lot of warmth and depth to your sound.

Boss CH-1 Super Chorus: Versatility and Durability

The Boss CH-1 Super Chorus is the first chorus pedal that comes to mind for most players. This little blue box is synonymous with chorus since the 80s and it delivers a classic sound with crystal clear highs and unique stereo effects. And, like all Boss pedals, it's built with tank-like durability, so you can count on it day in and day out.

Boss CH-1 Super Chorus

More chorus pedal options:

The MXR Analog Chorus is a utilitarian, no-frills chorus monster. The deep, lush chorus it produces is proof of its all-analog circuitry.

With a switch and a knob, the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone seems simple, but don't let that fool you. It's incredibly versatile, an industry standard, and a true classic among chorus effects dating back to 1980.

Best Pedal Phaser

By mixing the guitar's live signal with a modulated signal to cancel out certain frequencies, the phaser pedal essentially makes your sound out of phase, creating a hissing, hissing sound. Eddie Van Halen is famous for his addiction to phaser, and it's a widely loved effect, in part because of its simplicity and tone-thumping power.

MXR Phase 90: Simple with the push of a button

The MXR M-101 Phase 90 has been a phase pedal for over 40 years. Originally released in 1974, it has the distinction of being MXR's first pedal. From the simple shimmer to the dizzying buzzing stage, this pedal delivers.

MXR M-101 Phase 90

More Phaser pedal options

Another industry standard, the Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter operates the scale from classic sounds to ultra-modern sounds. With tap-tempo sync and Boost and Decrease modes, this is amazingly customizable.

Best Pedal Flagger

When the effects work, the phaser and flanger modulation pedals are probably the easiest to combine. On the surface, they achieve almost identical effects. However, in the case of a phaser pedal that focuses solely on manipulating the frequency spectrum of the signal, flanger adds a delay to your signal. This greatly increases the depth of the swing in that buzzing sound and also allows you to control the depth and speed of the swing.

Electro-Harmonix Neo Mistress Flager

EHX introduced one of the first flanger pedals, the Electric Mistress, in the 1970s. The Flanger Neo Mistress provided the original's lush, classic jet take-off harmonic sound at a price that was a fraction of the price. Small portion compared to classic pedal rack.

Pedal Electro-Harmonix Neo Mistress Flanger

More flanger . pedal options

Guitarists and bassists have loved the little purple Boss BF-3 Flanger for decades, depending on its wide sweep, detailed control, and loud, thick stereo sound. Whether you're recreating a classic or building a futuristic sound, you can do it with this box.

Best Pedal Wah

From '70s cop show themes to funk to hard rock, the wah pedal is one of the most versatile and underrated effects pedals available. Its simple operation is based on a multitude of sound options. At its most basic, the wah pedal allows you to adjust the tone from heavy bass to high treble by simply adjusting the foot lever. While swinging the pedal rhythmically up and down can give you a classic '70s "wocka-chicka" sound, this pedal offers so much more. Mick Ronson famously left his pedal in place to create the tight sound heard in David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust".

Dunlop Cry Baby: Rockin' Melodies

You can't talk about the wah pedal without talking about the Dunlop Cry Baby. First and foremost among the wah pedals, the Cry Baby is the pedal used by all sound pioneers.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Added Wah . pedal option

Although the CryBaby is the most famous wah pedal, it is not the only Wah pedal. The Vox V847A builds on the specifications of the original Vox wahs also used by all audio pioneers. Redesigned for greater dynamics and improved tonality, the Vox sample delivers clear, bright tones to contrast with Cry Baby's warmer, more muffled sound.

Other pedals:

There are many other pedals and the range is ever-expanding. Classic effects like compressors and boost customize your signal and give you loud volume and control, while harmonizers and pitch shifters do what the name suggests. The Pedal Looper traps a bit of a signal and plays it over and over, for as long as you need, allowing you to play through that part and layer your sound.

Pedal Looper Acoustic Loop1: Simple and Compact

With the simplicity of one-button operation and an ultra-small footprint, the Acoustic Loop1 is the perfect pedal to start looping. Loop1 offers up to 30 minutes of recording time and an unlimited number of recordings, so you can record longer passages to create parts of a song or build layered sound scenes.

Loop1 . Audio Repeater

Multi-Effect Units (multi-function pedals)

Multi-function pedals give you a variety of effects in one spot and are a great choice for beginners as well as professionals. Cost-effective and easy to move from place to place, these options free you from signal flow and power issues, and allow you to choose from effects specific to your needs. specific songs, eliminating the need to use buttons between songs. With expression control and amp modeling options built into many of these options, including options from BOSS, Line 6 and more, a multi-effects unit can simulate multiple devices in a gig-friendly setting. As with any multi-function, some will say the downside of these pedals is that they're not the masters of anything. Many people like the result where individual pedals focus on a single effect.

Line 6 Pod Go

Sort the signal stream:

How do you position the pedals? This is more important than you think. While there is no right or wrong here, there are certainly more efficient ways to use your signal chain. Always keep in mind how each pedal affects the others. Do you want that vibrating pedal to change the pitch of your pure or distorted sound?

Usually, you should start with your tuner. This ensures that it always receives a pure signal directly from your guitar. Then there are filters and dynamic pedals like wah and volume/boost. Next came the pitch converter and modulation pedal, then the compressor, and then the big components like distortion, drive, and fuzz. Then place your delay and reverb pedals at the end. This signal sequence allows you to efficiently arrange the colors the pedal delivers. But you should also try as many ways as you like. Trial and error will bring you better results next time.

Other pedal buying experiences:

There has to be a way to power these without spending a fortune on a 9 volt battery, right? And you just have to carry all those pedals in your arms? How do you organize this toolkit?

Power sources like Truetone's 1Spot range and Voodoo Lab's Pedal Power allow for chain-link and power-block options that help keep your pedals at their peak without running through batteries.

Road Runner Pedal Board Combo Pack with 1 Spot

Once you've established your signal sequence and placed the pedal where you can hit them all with your eyes closed, you won't want to mess with your gear. Pedaltrain , Gator , Road Runner and more make a variety of pedals, carrying cases and carrying cases to keep your pedals organized, stable and easy to transport.

Choosing the right cables for your pedals is more important than you think. Different pedal manufacturers prefer different arrangements, which means that sometimes the input/output of one pedal has the exact opposite configuration to all of your other pedals, or that little pedal is twice as big. your classic Boss or TC Electronic mini pedal. The right cable eliminates kinks and short circuits. In addition, quality cables ensure the purest signal flow.