Guitar pedals are devices used to modify the sound of an electric guitar. From classic, analog-style overdrive to modern multi-effects processors, guitar pedals offer a diverse range of sounds and effects. With so many pedals now available, it can be difficult to decide which ones will best suit your style and needs. Fortunately, there are some general rules to follow that can help you pick the right pedal for you. In this guide, we’ll explore the best guitar pedals on the market today and provide you with tips on how to choose the right one.
Best Guitar Pedals
| Rank | Product Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
|
1
 |
Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
|
9. 7
|
|
2
 |
Pro Co Deucetone Rat
|
9. 5
|
|
3
 |
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Nano
|
9. 1
|
|
4
 |
TC Electronic Polytune
|
8. 8
|
|
5
 |
TC Electronic Booster Spark
|
8. 6
|
|
6
 |
Electro-Harmonix Cathedral Reverb
|
8. 2
|
|
7
 |
Electro-Harmonix Canyon Delay & Looper
|
8. 0
|
|
8
 |
Fulltone Full Drive 3
|
7 .7
|
|
9
|
Boss Audio RC-3 Loop Station
|
7. 4
|
|
10
 |
EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine V3
|
7. 2
|
1. Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
The Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Wah is an excellent choice for a classic wah tone. It offers a smooth action and a wide range of expression. The sound is warm and vintage-like, and the classic wah tone is perfect for funk, rock, and blues styles. The build quality is solid, with metal construction and heavy-duty parts. It’s easy to use and has a great range of sound. The price is affordable, making it a great choice for the budget-conscious musician. Overall, the Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Wah is a great option for anyone looking for a classic and reliable wah sound.
- All-analog circuitry
- Classic Wah voicing
- True bypass switching
- Adjustable rocker pedal
- Variable range control
- Switchable boost
- Input and output jacks for both 1/4 and XLR cables
- Bass and treble frequency controls
2. Pro Co Deucetone Rat
I recently purchased the Pro Co Deucetone Rat and I have been extremely pleased with its performance. It is a dual-channel distortion pedal that delivers a classic rock sound with punchy mids and tight lows. It has an onboard 3-band EQ to tailor your sound, as well as a level control and drive knob. The pedal is built with a sturdy metal chassis, so it can handle a lot of abuse without breaking. The sound quality is great and the pedal is versatile enough to be used in a variety of genres. I highly recommend the Pro Co Deucetone Rat for anyone looking for a great distortion pedal.
- 2-in-1 pedal with both distortion and fuzz tones
- Each side offers independent distortion or fuzz tones with adjustable level, distortion, and tone controls
- Noiseless switching technology for silent switching between settings
- True bypass switching for a clean signal through the pedal
- High-quality construction with all-metal components
- Requires a 9V power supply (not included)
3. Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Nano
I recently purchased the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Nano and I’m so glad I did! It’s a great, compact pedal that still packs a punch. It has four controls – Volume, Tone, Sustain, and a toggle switch to choose between two different modes. It’s easy to dial in the perfect sound, and it has a great range of sounds from classic fuzz to smooth overdrive. I’ve been using it in my live setup and it sounds great, especially when paired with a good overdrive pedal. Overall, I’m very pleased with the Big Muff Nano and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a versatile, reliable fuzz/overdrive pedal!
- Compact, pedalboard-friendly size
- True bypass switching
- Three knobs for Volume, Tone and Sustain control
- Scoop switch for varying levels of midrange
- Four selectable mode options to choose from: Classic Muff, Bass Boost, Treble Boost, and Dual Stage
- Analog dry-through signal chain
- Standard 9V DC power supply
4. TC Electronic Polytune
The TC Electronic Polytune is an incredible tuning pedal! It offers an intuitive tuning experience and makes it easy to tune your guitar in an instant. It features an ultra-bright LED display that makes it easy to see when you’re in tune, and it has a true bypass design so your tone won’t be affected when the pedal is not engaged. It also features a polyphonic tuning mode which allows you to tune all your strings at once. The pedal is easy to set up and use, and its sturdy metal construction ensures it will last a long time. I highly recommend the TC Electronic Polytune for any guitarist who needs a reliable and accurate tuning pedal.
- Real-time polyphonic tuning for standard guitar and bass tuning
- Ultra-bright LED matrix display
- Four tuning modes: polyphonic, chromatic, strobe, and half-step
- Built-in BonaFide Buffer ensures that your tone is not compromised
- True bypass for ultimate tone preservation
- Ultra-precise tuning detection
- Tuned with a tuning range of A0-C8
- Supports guitar and bass string gauges from 8-56
- Compact and easy to use
5. TC Electronic Booster Spark
I recently purchased the TC Electronic Booster Spark and I couldn’t be happier. As a guitarist, I wanted something to give me a bit of a boost in my tone without changing it too much. The Booster Spark is perfect for that. It gives my sound just enough of a lift without being too overpowering. I’ve been using it for both practice sessions and live shows, and it has definitely worked out great. The construction is solid and the controls are easy to use. I highly recommend this pedal for anyone looking for a boost in their guitar tone.
- Increase your volume without sacrificing tone
- Boost up to 15db of pure analog gain
- Set your ideal volume level with an intuitive level knob
- TonePrint technology gives you instant access to custom tones
- True bypass design and compact size for easy portability
6. Electro-Harmonix Cathedral Reverb
I recently purchased the Electro-Harmonix Cathedral Reverb, and I am very pleased with the results. This reverb pedal offers a unique sound that is perfect for creating an atmospheric, spacious sound. It has a wide range of settings, from subtle reverb to a more pronounced effect. I particularly like the decay and mix setting, which allow me to customize the sound to fit the vibe of my song. The stereo output also creates a nice spread effect that adds depth and dimension to my sound. Overall, I think this is a great reverb pedal for any musician looking to explore the sonic possibilities of their music. Highly recommended!
- High Quality Stereo Reverb
- 18 Reverb Types: including Spring, Hall, Plate, Room, and Modulated Reverbs
- Up to 2 seconds of decay time
- Selectable Pre-delay
- Tap Tempo switch
- True Bypass: ensures no coloration of your tone when the effect is off
- Expression pedal input: connect an expression pedal to control parameters
7. Electro-Harmonix Canyon Delay & Looper
I recently got the Electro-Harmonix Canyon Delay & Looper and I’m absolutely in love with it! It’s easy to use with its intuitive control knobs and simple LED display. The wide range of delay and loop effects it delivers are truly impressive. It also has a great feature that allows you to store up to 6 presets, so you can store your favorite settings and have them ready to go whenever you need them. The sound quality is top-notch and it will make your guitar playing sound like a pro! I couldn’t be happier with my purchase and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great sounding delay and looper pedal.
- Delay & Looper Pedal with an Independent Footswitch
- Up to 1200ms of Delay
- Extensive Tap Tempo Functionality
- Reverse Mode
- 7 Preset Memory Slots
- Independent Looper with Overdubbing
- Analog-Dry-Through
8. Fulltone Full Drive 3
The Fulltone Full Drive 3 is an amazing pedal that I would highly recommend to any guitarist. It’s great for getting a really strong, punchy sound from your guitar, and the wide range of tones you can get from it are amazing. The boosting capabilities of the pedal are fantastic, and the ability to dial in just the right amount of gain is incredibly useful. The true bypass on the pedal is an added bonus. It’s very easy to use and the LED indicators help you keep track of your settings. I highly recommend this pedal for any player looking to get an awesome sound from their guitar.
- Boost button for added sustain and presence
- 3-band tone control for ultimate sound shaping
- 3-way clip switch for different modes of distortion
- True bypass switching preserves your tone
- High grade components preserve your tone
- Expression pedal capable for more versatility
- Solid construction ensures high repeatability
- Uses 9V battery or power supply
9. Boss Audio RC-3 Loop Station
I recently purchased the Boss Audio RC-3 Loop Station and I’m so glad I did! It’s a great piece of equipment that is easy to use and really lets me create some cool music. The sound quality is really good and you can layer up to three different loops at once. The built-in drum machine is perfect for jamming and the looper can be used to create some unique and intricate chords. Overall I’m really impressed with the RC-3 and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great loop station.
- 3 Hours of Recording Time
- 99 Memory Slots for Loops
- Stereo Inputs and Outputs
- Records in CD Quality Audio
- Built-in Drum Machine
- Built-in Metronome to Keep You in Time
- Controls for Inputs, Outputs, and Loops
- Sturdy, Lightweight Design
- USB Port for Easy Data Transfer
10. EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine V3
The EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine V3 is an excellent reverb pedal for any guitar player. It has a wide range of reverbs, from classic spring to shimmer, that can be adjusted to capture the desired sound. The delay and modulate options add an extra layer of versatility to the pedal, allowing for a wide range of sonic possibilities. The build quality is top notch, and the pedal is surprisingly easy to use. The tones are smooth and natural sounding, and the reverb trails are long and lush. Overall, the EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine V3 is a great choice for any guitarist looking to add some unique reverb textures to their sound. Highly recommended!
- Quad-function chorus/vibrato with Rate, Depth, Shape and Voice controls
- Rate control knob adjusts the speed of the effect
- Depth control knob adjusts the intensity of the effect
- Shape control knob adjusts the tone of the effect
- Voice control knob adjusts the width of the stereo image
- True bypass for a clean signal path when the effect is turned off
- Compact and easy to use design
- Compatible with a wide range of instruments and amplifiers
- Powered by a 9V battery or external power supply (not included)
- Made in the USA with top-quality components
