By Raymond V. | Last Update on February 10, 2023 | Home → Essential Guitar Pedals
Guitar Pedal Buying Guide
Building a pedalboard is one of the most exciting things a guitarist can do. Given how many different effects there are and the massive number of options for each type of effect, this can be a daunting task. To make things a little bit more convenient, we have compiled a list of the best essential pedals you can get.
A pedalboard comprising of these pedals should be good enough for pretty much any music genre that involves a guitarist and it is a great platform to expand upon with the more experimental types of pedals.
Keep in mind that we have listed the pedals in a generally accepted “standard” order of pedals in a signal chain, but you can experiment with the placement of the pedals as per your preferences.
So, without further ado, let us dive right in.
Compressor Pedals
Even though there are thousands of compressor pedals around, the MXR Dyna Comp is still seen as the industry standard and can be found on the pedalboards of many guitar pros around the world. Compression is not a very complicated effect and the Dyna Comp keeps things simple but extremely reliable and dependable. The two-knob control is perfect and allows you to make your guitar as sensitive as you want it to be. It is built like a tank and can last for years even with rough use. To top it all off, it is very affordable which is really surprising considering its high tonal quality.
MXR Dyna Comp
Even though there are thousands of compressor pedals around, the MXR Dyna Comp is still seen as the industry standard and can be found on the pedalboards of many guitar pros around the world. Compression is not a very complicated effect and the Dyna Comp keeps things simple but extremely reliable and dependable. The two-knob control is perfect and allows you to make your guitar as sensitive as you want it to be. It is built like a tank and can last for years even with rough use. To top it all off, it is very affordable which is really surprising considering its high tonal quality.
MXR Dyna Compression Pedal
The MXR Dyna Comp offers crisp and clean compression that belts out the low-end but keeps a perfect treble.
Xotic SP compressor
A more distinguished option would be the Xotic SP Compressor. It is a mini-pedal but one that doesn’t sacrifice functionality or sound quality. It is very similar in operation to the Dyna Comp and does everything a compression pedal should do. One understandable shortcoming of this form factor is the accessibility of the knobs. They are very close to each other and fine-tuning on the go can be a real hassle. As for the price, it is another very good bargain.
Boost Pedals
MXR MicroAmp
Boost pedals are often overlooked in pedalboard builds but it is a crucial part of the signal chain. It is an effect where less is more is the way to go and the MicroAmp epitomizes this quality. It has a single knob as that is all you need to control the amount of boost. It looks very plain and can get underestimated. It performs brilliantly where it matters. It can be quiet when you want it to be and when needed, it can crank things up to insane levels. It is also conducive to plenty of experimentation as far as placement is concerned.
Try placing it before and after distortion and choose the one that suits your music and playing style the best. Boost should be an effect that is easy to dial in and the MicroAmp makes sure that it stays that way.
Overdrive Pedals
There is a small group of pedals that have achieved a sort of mythical status in the world of guitarists. Among these, there is an even rarified group of pedals that are truly legendary and the Ibanez Tube Screamer is a prominent member of this group and can be found on the pedalboards of some of the greatest guitarists ever. So, what makes this pedal so universally loved? It produces an almost magical overdrive sound that is unrivalled.
Ibanez Tube Screamer
As the name suggests, this pedal became famous for replicating the sound of an overdriven tube amplifier and it does a really good job of it. For modern players, it is an even better proposition as it sounds equally good through solid-state amps or even straight into monitors. Of course, it sounds its best when played through a tube amplifier.
The sound of the Tubescreamer is smooth and creamy and it can go from a light crunch to a mighty overdriven sound that is good enough even for metal players.
The Tubescreamer does come in quite a few flavours. The TS9 is the standard Tubescreamer and the one you should get if you do not want to think too much about it. It is also the most commonly available model. A mini version also exists which is perfect for those minimalist pedalboards.
Classics: Ibanez Tube Screamer (Legendary Shredding!)
The tube screamer replicates the fierce and high-end range of a tube amplifier. This pedal can compliment any amplifier and create a guitar tone similar to many of our favorite famous songs.
Distortion Pedals
Boss DS-1
Boss pedals often get some unwarranted ridicule but the matter of fact is simple. They make extremely great and versatile pedals that are extremely affordable and there is no better example of this than the DS1. It is also a pedal that has stood the test of time just like the Tubescreamer. For a long time, it has been the go-to option for distortion and this is true even today.
The reason we feel this is “the” distortion pedal to get is that it can do all the distortion sounds you could want. In fact, the classic distortion sound that most casual players associate with distortion is the forte of this pedal. Another plus point with the DS1 is that, like all Boss pedals, it has a buffered bypass which means that your signal will stay intact, especially in a long chain.
The DS1 is fairly simple to use. The three-knob interface has become synonymous with distortion pedals. The level is pretty much a simple volume control. The tone is a very simple EQ that increases treble to the right and bass to the left. The third knob is the distortion knob and that is pretty self-explanatory. Irrespective of what genre you play, as long as you need distortion, you cannot go wrong with the DS1.
The MXR Blue Box is an excellent octave pedal with a dirty low-end tone, perfect for smooth shredding!
Fuzz Pedals
Big Muff
Fuzz is a very special effect as it can take a pretty standard sound and turn it into something extraordinary and that is why we have chosen a fuzz pedal that is really special. The Big Muff Pi has everything you would want from a fuzz pedal. It is simple and very user-friendly which should come as no surprise for a fuzz pedal but where it truly shines is with regard to its flexibility and the tonal options it can provide.
The big muff comes in two flavors, the smaller compact version, and a larger recording version.
A problem common to most fuzz pedals is that they tend to be quite rigid and one-dimensional. The Big Muff Pi is not like that. It can produce a wide range of muff sounds from warm and barely there to full-on powerful lead sounds. Another speciality of this pedal is the sustain it can generate. Once you get it dialled in just right, you can hold a note for days. The icing on the cake is that the Big Muff manages to do all of this without breaking the bank.
Of all the recreations of classic pedals, this is also one of the most faithful to the original down to the looks and it will add a bit of retro styling to your pedalboard.
Delay-Analog / Tape Pedals
MXR Carbon Copy
Just like the fuzz, a tape delay adds that special character to your sound that just makes everything warm and smooth. Thanks to an all-analogue bucket-brigade circuit in the Carbon Copy, the textured delay is thick and multi-faceted and it can take both lead tones and heavy chugging to the next level. It is very versatile too as it can do everything from slapback to dreamy, shimmery cascades that can transport your audience to a different dimension. Delay pedals can be quite complicated but MXR didn’t take that route with the carbon copy and kept things very simple and straightforward. There are three knobs and all are very self-explanatory. The delay time can go up to 600ms which is the perfect range for an analogue delay. The build quality is amazing and for those with smaller pedalboards, a mini version of this pedal is also available.
Ibanez Analog Delay Mini
Another wonderful option is a mini pedal, the Ibanez Analog Delay Mini. It is very eye-catching to look at but more importantly, it sounds simply amazing. It also uses bucket-brigade circuitry and can offer the same versatility and ease of use as the Carbon Copy. It is a matter of personal taste as you cannot go wrong with either pedal. The Ibanez Analog Delay Mini sounds slightly more retro and has a bit more high-end clarity. The controls are a bit more sensitive and you will have to be very precise with your inputs. It looks cute but is built like a tank and will last for years if not decades.
TC Flashback Delay
While an analogue delay is pretty good in its own right, it does come with a few shortcomings, such as a shorter delay time, and it is to mitigate those shortcomings that you need a digital delay and we have two wonderful options to choose from. The first of these is the TC Flashback Delay.
The advantage of using digital circuitry is that it can allow pedal makers to produce highly versatile and great-quality devices at a very affordable price point and this pedal is a testament to that. In fact, this pedal isn’t just a delay but a combination of a looper and a delay.
This makes it the perfect practising tool while also doubling up as an excellent delay pedal that can accentuate the analogue delay or create its own mesmerizing sounds. If you do not want the looper functionality, then go for the Flashback mini. As for the sound, you get really high-quality tonal options. With a maximum delay of 7 seconds, there is probably no delay sound that you cannot create with this pedal.
Boss DD8
The other very strong contender for the spot of a digital delay on your pedalboard is the ever-dependable Boss DD8. Boss has ditched simplicity for versatility on this one and you can spend a lifetime exploring the possibilities that this pedal offers. A big plus point with this pedal is its stereo input and output. This allows you to create truly mesmerizing sounds with the right rig. There is probably no time-based effect that this pedal can’t do. It even has a looper mode. So, you could essentially not only use it as a primary delay but also as a backup for your looper and reverb pedals. Even the tape delay mode is very useful and if you want to keep the footprint of your pedalboard low, this is a perfect choice.
No pedalboard would be complete without a reverb pedal and these are two of the most no-brainer options out there for reverb. It is an effect that is very subtle yet very powerful and both these pedals dance that fine line to perfection. They are built to last and both feature very similar controls.
TC Hall of Fame 2
The layout is slightly different but you couldn’t go wrong with either. It all boils down to what sounds and feels better to you. Both offer plenty of modes and this is where some of the subtle differences arise.
The Hall of Fame 2 has an arguably better spring reverb while the RV6 does the lush ambience effects slightly better. Both have stereo capabilities and add a tonal warmth that is unmatched, at least in the affordable price range these two pedals come in.
All the aforementioned effects should be good enough for what can be called a complete pedalboard but if you want to expand its possibilities even further then either a chorus pedal or a phasor pedal or both is the next step.
Chorus / Phaser Pedals
Boss CH-1 or EHX Small Clone
These effects are much more subtle but they have to be dialled in just right to both make a discernible addition to your sound and to make a worthwhile addition to your sound. The Boss CH1 and the EHX Small Clone offer just that. They offer very precise control over the chorus so that it enhances your sound instead of drowning it. The CH1 like most Boss pedals is packed with features while the Small Clone keeps things a lot simpler. The choice comes down to versatility and ease of use.
MXR Phase 90
As for the phasor, The MXR Phase 90 is the go-to option for most guitarists. The Small Stone Phase shifter is a slightly less popular but almost identical pedal in terms of operation and tonal characteristics. Here, the choice essentially comes down to aesthetics.
There you have it! A pedalboard with all the essential pedals. This is by no means a comprehensive list of every effect type that a guitarist can get but it is a very good jumping-off point.
With a pedalboard armed with these pedals, you can create pretty much any guitar sound you want. It is also just easy enough to use that it isn’t too intimidating but feature-rich enough to help you master each effect type which in turn will make you a better guitarist.