Tag: Guitar effects

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4 Best Distortion Pedals For Dirty Sound

The best distortion pedals

Distortion is the heart and soul of metal and rock ‘n’ roll. However, distortion is a nuanced effect, and finding the right pedal is vital for your sound. To help in your search for dirt, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best distortion pedals you can get today. Whether you crave light gains or full-blown snarls, these pedals have you covered. Read on and find your match.

1. Pro Co RAT 2 Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal

Pro Co RAT2

The Pro Co RAT 2 covers all the bases: distortion, sustain, fuzz, and overdrive. This legendary pedal is perfect for those wanting a versatile distortion pedal that sounds thick and aggressive. While it excels at higher gain settings, it can also be used as a lower-gain boost. If you crave filthy gains with a hint of fuzz, you’ll love the affordable Pro Co RAT 2.

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2. TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal

TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal

TC Electronic was inspired by the powerful roar of the Marshall Plexi. The result – the extremely versatile TC Electronic Dark Matter distortion stompbox. This pedal offers an enormous range of gritty and rich distortion sounds, covering everything from light fuzz to a roaring Plexi pushed into overdrive. No matter how much grit you crave, the extremely affordable TC Electronic Dark Matter will be sure to satiate. 

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3. Keeley Electronics Filaments Distortion

Keeley Filaments High Gain Distortion Effects Pedal

Metalheads, look no further than the Keeley Electronics Filaments distortion pedal. Although it is marketed as a high-gain drive pedal, it brilliantly dials in everything from light gain drive to crunching metal. With three toggles for Boost, Sag, and Crunch, you can fine-tune your desired tone. Experience everything the Keeley Electronics Filaments distortion pedal has to offer today.

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4. Boss MD-2 Mega Distortion

Boss MD-2 Mega Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal

The Boss MD-2 Mega Distortion is every modern metal guitarist’s dream come true. The secret weapon of this box is its dual-stage distortion circuit with an added Gain Boost, plus Bottom and Tone controls for crushing distortion with massive low end. Craft extreme new-school metal sounds with the Boss MD-2 Mega Distortion pedal today!

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Get Down and Dirty

A distortion pedal is arguably one of the most important effects for any metal or rock guitarist. No matter how much dirt you crave, you’ll be impressed with any of the pedals on this list. Want to browse more guitar effects pedals? Check out our extensive range of stompboxes for your choosing.

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6 Best Budget-Friendly Guitar Effects Pedals

 

Three guitar pedals on dark background.

Guitar effects pedals present endless opportunities for guitarists to shape their sounds. However, with this comes one big constraint – your budget.

Fortunately, there are many guitar effects pedals from top brands that deliver great sound without breaking the bank. Here are our choices of some of the best budget-friendly guitar effects pedals you should add to your pedalboard.

1. Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini Overdrive Pedal

 

Tube Screamer Mini

The Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini packs the iconic tone of the original Tube Screamer into a compact package. The Tube Screamer Mini comes with all of the features that made the TS808 legendary, including Overdrive, Tone, and Level controls, analog circuitry, and the JRC4558 IC chip. This highly affordable pedal is a must-have for those chasing the growling overdrive that made the original so famous.

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2. Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi Fuzz Pedal

Electro-Harmonix Classic Big Muff PI Distortion / Sustainer Guitar Effects Pedal

The Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi is famous for its rich, creamy, violin-like sustain. With Volume, Sustain, and Tone controls, you can dial into blissful distortion/sustain. For an affordable pedal trusted by legends such as Jimi Hendrix and Santana, get a piece of the Pi.

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3. Mooer Black Secret Distortion Pedal

Mooer Black Secret MDS1 Distortion Micro Series Guitar Effects Pedal

The Mooer Black Secret captures the legendary “Rat” distortion tone from the ’70s and ’80s. The pedal features two tones: Vintage and Turbo. Vintage delivers a raspy thinner distortion without overpowering your tone, while Turbo thickens up your tone to give you a beefy, modern sound. And thanks to its small stature, this pedal can easily find room on your pedalboard. Bring the Mooer Black Secret home today!

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4. Electro-Harmonix Neo Clone Analog Chorus Effects Pedal

Electro-Harmonix Neo Clone Guitar Effects Pedal

The Electro-Harmonix Neo Clone has been on countless tracks, including Nirvana’s Nevermind. With the same features and sounds found in the original Small Clone, you can easily achieve glassy chorus tones. And thanks to its simple and intuitive layout, shaping your tone is easy with the rate knob and depth switch. Add the Electro-Harmonix Neo Clone to your pedalboard today!

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5. Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Delay Pedal With Modulation

Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Guitar Effects Pedal

The Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy presents a pure analog delay for musicians who demand thick sound. With up to 550ms of delay time, you can easily add more depth and dimension to your sound. Also, you get the option of adding lush modulation to your sonic. The Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy is pedalboard- and budget-friendly, making it easy to add it to your collection.

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6. TC Electronic Spark Mini Booster

TC Electronic Spark Mini Booster Guitar Effects Pedal

Kick your playing into high gear with the TC Electronic Spark Mini Booster. This stompbox wonder delivers a completely clean boost and tone enhancement without degrading your tone. And thanks to its compact design, it can easily find a home on your pedalboard. Whether you need a subtle volume boost or want to send your amp into overdrive, the TC Electronic Spark Mini Booster has you covered. 

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Big Sounds At A Small Cost

Thankfully, it’s easy to craft your sound even when you’re on a tight budget. Add some effects pedals to your pedalboard today to supercharge your tone. If you want to see more options, check out our extensive range of guitar effects pedals.

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4 Best Reverb Pedals For Ambient Guitar Sounds

Best reverb pedals

So, you’re looking for one of the best reverb pedals to add to your pedalboard arsenal. Great choice.

Reverb is arguably one of the most popular guitar effects available. Simply put, this effect gives your guitar sound ambience and emulates the sounds of playing in different spaces. Whether you want to sound like you’re performing in a studio or a cathedral, this effect has you covered.

Today, there are many flavours of reverb you can try, including spring, plate, hall, shimmer, and more. With so many options out there, finding one that suits your style can be challenging. Worry not; we’ve compiled a list of some of the best reverb pedals, from classic spring reverbs to more exotic types.

1. Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12 Reverb Pedal

 

Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12

With 12 different reverb styles in one affordable pedal, the Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12 is every reverb enthusiast’s dream.

This pedal features both ends of the spectrum with classic and exotic reverb sounds. Players can enjoy 12 different settings, including room, hall, spring, plate, reverse, echo, tremolo, modulated, dynamic, auto-infinite, shimmer, polyphonic, and resonant. For even more creative expression, most of the pedals have several modes, and you can run the dual stereo reverb engines in series or parallel. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll love the creative potential of the Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12 reverb pedal.

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2. TC Electronic Hall of Fame Reverb Pedal

TC Electronic Hall Of Fame Reverb TonePrint Series Guitar Effects Pedal

The TC Electronic Hall of Fame reverb pedal packs versatility into a compact stompbox. The 10 different reverb types consist of spring, hall, plate, room, church, ambiance, modulation, lo-fi, tile, gate, and TonePrint. And with three sound-crafting controls, including decay, effects level, and tone, you’ll love experimenting with this pedal. 

One of the truly unique features of the Hall of Fame pedal is TonePrint, which allows you to import custom tunings into the pedal. Whether you’re a beginner looking for basic sound tweaking or an advanced player craving more, you’ll find something to love in the TC Electronic Hall of Fame reverb pedal.

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3. Keeley Caverns V2 Delay Reverb Pedal

Keeley KCAVERNS Caverns V2 Delay/Reverb Effects Pedal

Keeley’s Caverns combines delay and reverb into one versatile stompbox. It features Keeley’s analog-style tape delay with modulation options. Then, 650ms of warm delay combine with spring, shimmer, or modulated reverb. Both sides can be activated independently and blended for perfect bliss. For a modern pedal with traditional reverb and delay sounds, add the Keeley Caverns v2 delay/reverb pedal to your pedalboard today.

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4. Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano Reverb Pedal

Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal

The Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano packs the legendary sounds of the original into a bite-sized stompbox. With classic spring, hall, and “flerb”, a flanged reverb with haunting spatial definition, this nano chassis is ready when you are. For a legendary reverb pedal with classic sounds, add the Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano reverb pedal to your pedalboard today. 

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 The reverb effect is an essential sound for any guitarist. No matter what tone you’re after, there is an option on our list for you.

Want to browse more guitar effects pedals? Check out our entire line of reverb and other effects.

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5 Legendary Guitar Pedals Every Guitarist Needs

Guitar pedals are the foundation of your sound. So, it’s important to grace your pedalboard with effects that will help you achieve your desired tone. Want to equip yourself with some classic pedals trusted by legendary guitarists? Look no further. This guide will take you through some of the most famous guitar effects pedals trusted by iconic musicians. 

Ibanez TS9 – Overdrive

Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer Guitar Effects Pedal

The Ibanez TS9 is a legendary pedal used on countless records. This pedal is a reissue of the original TS9 that remains faithful with the same components, same housing, same famous seasick-green paint, and the same sounds. For classic stompbox distortion and drive, pick up the Ibanez TS9.

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Electro Harmonix Big Muff Pi – Fuzz

Electro-Harmonix Classic Big Muff PI Distortion / Sustainer Guitar Effects Pedal

The Electro Harmonix Big Muff Pi is a big name in the fuzz world. Legends including Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, and Jack White have all used this pedal. Its widespread adoption is due to its rich and creamy sustain. For an iconic sound that has shaped rock guitar history, add the Big Muff Pi to your collection.

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 TC Electronic Flashback – Delay

TC Electronic Flashback Delay TonePrint Series Guitar Effects Pedal

The TC Electronic Flashback has impressive delay and looping capabilities. With 11 solid delay types, including the 40-second looper and audio tapping, this pedal provides every delay type you could wish for. For a feature-loaded delay pedal, add the TC Electronic Flashback to your arsenal. 

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Dunlop Fuzz Face – Distortion

Dunlop JDF2 Original Fuzz Face Guitar Effects Pedal

Another pedal that has toured on the boards of legends is the Dunlop Fuzz Face. Used by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmour, this classic fuzz box is famous for its thick, warm tones. To achieve great guitar tones from the ’60s and ’70s, plug into the Dunlop Fuzz Face. 

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Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q – Wah

Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q Multi-Wah Guitar Effects Pedal

The Cry Baby is an industry-standard wah pedal. Easily customize the shape and sound of your wah with a turn of the Q dial. And with six guitar wah ranges with a variable boost from 0 to +16dB, this pedal is like having your own custom Cry Baby wah. 

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Each of these guitar effects pedals have been trusted by legendary guitarists for years. You’ll know that you’re making good use out of your precious pedalboard space when you install one of these effects. Want to look for more sounds to shape your ideal tone? Shop our extensive range of guitar effect pedals. 

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Mini Pedals: Are They Worth Buying?

Guitar beside pedalboard showcasing regular and mini pedals.

Guitar pedals allow us to achieve new tones and textures in our playing. More recently, mini pedals have grown in popularity due to their lower prices and size versus their full-size counterparts. There is an ongoing debate throughout the guitar world – are mini pedals better than full-size pedals, or are you sacrificing too much? We’ll add our two cents into this discussion.

Mini Pedals: What’s Their Deal?

The most apparent feature of mini pedals is their size. Their small stature allows you to save on precious pedalboard space, meaning there is more room to add other effects. Also, mini pedals are cheaper than full-size pedals and can sound just as good. On average, mini pedals can cost between 20 to 30 percent less expensive than the original. However, limitations come from the fewer controls and customization available and the fact that they need an external power source to run. Some musicians also note that the mini pedals can be harder to step on while performing, which may be something to consider.

Are Mini Pedals Worth Buying?

Yes, we think so. In fact, most guitarists have a mixture of mini and full-size pedals on their board. However, every guitarist is different – you could have an entire board of just mini pedals if you wanted to!

Generally, we think mini pedals are worthwhile for effects you won’t use as often or want to save pedalboard space. Also, if you are on a budget, consider checking if the pedal has a mini alternative – it could save you some cash!

What Are Some Classic Mini Pedals?

Some classics that have gone mini include:

When Should I Get The Full-Size Pedal?

If you want more tone-shaping controls, you should opt for the full-size pedal. Generally, there are controls and knobs on the original omitted on the miniature versions. Sometimes, the tone can vary from the original to the miniature, so you should research before purchasing to see if this is a common complaint.

Ultimately, the choice boils down to your individual preference. We recommend that you try regular- and mini-size pedals to see what you prefer. You may find that a mixture works best for you! Check out our wide selection of guitar effects to find your next tone or texture.

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Best Guitar Effects For Jazz

Fender Jazz Bass guitar with pedals

Jazzy tones are renowned for their clean, simple, and transparent tones. However, many jazz players turn to guitar pedals for character and flavour to enhance a mellow tone. We’ll go over some of the best guitar effects for jazz that you can get right now.

Best Guitar Effects For Jazz

There are many guitar effects out there. Some are used more often by jazz players than others. The most popular guitar effects for jazz are as follow:

  • Chorus
  • Compression
  • Delay
  • Octave
  • Reverb

Chorus

TC Electronic Corona Chorus TonePrint Series Effects Pedal
TC Electronic Corona Chorus

Chorus gives your playing the illusion of two guitar signals, providing texture to an otherwise clean tone. It also provides ambience and lush sounds that are essential when it comes to jazz. To add a different dimension to your clean jazzy tones, consider picking up a chorus pedal.

Best Chorus Pedals

Delay

TC Electronic Flashback Delay TonePrint Series Guitar Effects Pedal
TC Electronic Flashback

Delay is an incredibly versatile effect suitable for any jazz player. From lengthy, echoing nuances to slapback tones, this effect allows you to create larger-than-life sounds, especially when combined with other effects. Every jazzist should have a delay pedal in their arsenal to unlock thicker, more emotional tones.

Best Delay Pedals

Octave

Electro-Harmonix EHX Nano Pog Polyphonic Octave Generator Guitar Effects Pedal
Electro-Harmonix EHX Nano Pog

An octave pedal unlocks massive creative potential for jazz players. The most useful feature of the octave effect is the ability to mimic the sound of bass using a regular guitar. You can also create the illusion of a full band with different rhythmic cords.

Best Octave Pedals

Reverb

 

TC Electronic Hall Of Fame Reverb TonePrint Series Guitar Effects Pedal
TC Electronic Hall Of Fame

Reverb provides the illusion of space and gives your playing texture and ambience. This effect is considered an essential effect in the jazz scene because it adds depth and texture to clean tones. For instance, many players traditionally rely on a lush spring reverb for pristine texture and ambience.

Best Reverb Pedals

Add Some Texture

Now, you should have a better idea of what guitar effects are best for jazz music. However, you can experiment with other effects if you would like more creative liberty. If you would like to see more options, browse our entire line of guitar effects pedals.

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