‘The Best Guitar Pedals for Serious Musicians: Stepping Up Your Live Performance.’
Are you looking to improve your live performance but aren’t sure where to start? Single guitar pedals, also known as effect pedals, offer an affordable and easy entryway into growing your sound palette. By adding effects to your sound, you’re able to amplify your guitar playing and expand your repertoire.
From crunchy fuzz to shimmery modulation, there’s a world of opportunity for guitarists to explore. If you’re new to the world of effects, this guide is for you. We’ll take a look at the best guitar pedals on the market, helping you to find the right ones for your musicianship.
The most basic type of effect pedal is the guitar distortion pedal. A distortion pedal is designed to essentially overdrive your signal, sending it into a controlled state of ‘distortion’. By increasing the signal’s gain, you’re able to get a crunchy tone that works especially well in heavy and rock genres. The BOSS DS1 Distortion pedal is a great choice for beginners, and you don’t have to break the bank. Other great distortion pedals include the MXR M116 Fullbore Metal, which offers a deep and weighty distortion.
Delay and echo effects are another popular choice for guitarists. By using a delay pedal, you’re able to add a reverberating echo to your tone. Essentially, a delay pedal adds a repeat of your sound to the mix. This effect can be used as an added ambience to give your sound a fuller and more spacious quality. The BOSS DD-3 Digital Delay is an industry standard, offering precision and quality. Other great delay pedals include theCatalinbread Ethereal Delay and theEarthQuaker Devices Avalanche Run.
Modulation effects are another part of the effect pedal puzzle. These effects add elements of modulation to the signal, creating movement in the sound. Chorus, flanger and phaser are some of the most popular modulation effects. The BOSS CH-1 Super Chorus is great for a classic and shimmery chorus effect. Other quality modulation pedals include the MXR Flanger M117 and the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone Phase Shifter.
Reverb and compression are two more essential effect pedals for any guitarist’s arsenal. Reverb is able to create a sense of ‘space’ in a guitar part, adding depth and atmosphere. The BOSS RV-6 Digital Reverb is a great choice for creating lush reverbs. Another fantastic reverb option is the Earthquaker Devices Dispatch Master. Compression pedals are able to even out the signal, and create a more balanced and consistent sound. The BOSS CS-3 Compression Sustainer is great for creating consistent dynamics and can even be used as a boost.
Overall, effect pedals are essential for creating a strong and varied sound on stage. Whether you’re looking to add atmosphere, crunch, modulation or compression, there are plenty of options available at all price points. By using the information in this guide, you should be able to find the perfect pedals for your setup.