Guitar effect pedals

Guitar Effects Pedals Reviewed – Everything You Need to Know

Last update 29/1/2024

Guitar effects pedals are almost mandatory for getting those sounds that you crave. Let’s look at the popular pedals you might want to consider.

Guitar Effects Pedals Reviewed

To help add a bit of variety to your sound. One of the best things is that you can add a few guitar effects pedals to your rig. Yes, there are many different ones, and yes – it really can be confusing as to which ones would be ‘must-haves’ for your particular tastesā€”making things potentially more complicated. There seem to be many different types of the same primary effect out on the market. So, how would you know which one is the right tool for the job?

Today, we will look at the significant types of guitar effects pedals. The intent is to educate you on what they do and how they do it. Once we’re done, you should be armed with enough background info to help do your search for the right tone set up a little less intimidating!

What are Guitar Effects Pedals Pedals?

Yes – that may seem to be kind of a silly question for those guitarists who have some time under their belt. For the beginner/uninitiated, though, effects pedals can seem to be a bit overwhelming.

An effects pedal is an enclosure (typically constructed from metal or plastic) in the simplest definition. It has a specific type of circuitry in it. It’s unique to the kind of effect you want to get. A footswitch mounted on the top uses your foot to turn the effect on or off.

Your guitar is plugged into one side using a standard instrument cable. The signal is processed as needed. Then, another cable plugs into the other side, and you can go right into your amp (or another effects pedal).

“And if I would have taken lessons I probably wouldn’t have done it, and what forced me to do all this weird stuff on the guitar was I couldn’t afford effects pedals, I didn’t have all this stuff when I was a kid so I just tried to squeeze all the weird noises I could out of the guitar, which brings me to building guitars.” Eddie Van Halen

The Major Types of Guitar Effects Pedals

So, how many effects pedals are out there? So many that it’s almost impossible to keep count! To help try and organize things a little better. We will approach grouping them into a few major categories as we go through each one. We will break them down into specific examples to demonstrate the differences. Trust us – there are more differences than you may realize!

Guitar effects | about Distortion

Distortion graph
Distortion graph

This section may be a little long compared to the others. However, distortion pedals are often misunderstood (on top of being the most used pedal type), So we will give you some background info first.

Distortion pedals were created to solve a massive issue for many players. Back in the late 1960s, the concept of ‘distorted guitar’ came on the scene. Guitarists started to recognize that the tube amps they were using could be pushed to a level (called ‘overdriven’; typically by many volumes). It refers to the output that wasn’t the typical sweet and clean sound prevalent.

We mention rock players specifically, but Distortion has made its way into several other music styles as well, such as country and jazz. And let’s face it – metal wouldn’t even exist without gobs and gobs of Distortion!

In our eyes, distortion pedals are probably the one effect pedal category with the most confusion associated with it. If you look at all that’s available, you’ll see three main types: overdrive, Distortion, and fuzz. Some people tend to lump these together, but they have some distinctions.

Overdrive pedals

Distortion pedal
Distortion pedal

Fuzz pedals

Fuzz pedal
Fuzz pedal

Compressors

Compressor pedal
Compressor pedal

Digital Delay

Delay pedal
Digital delay pedal

No surprise, delay pedals do exactly what the name implies. They take the input signal and repeat it, albeit slightly delayed from the original. That sounds simplistic, and it can be a bit more involved than that once you get into the details of how to configure one.

Effects are used for varying purposes. Some players use them subtly, adding thickness and depth to their overall sound. One particular use is ‘slapback.’ This refers to the delayed signal being very close to the original level. Typically set up for only one repeat and has a short delay time of around 100ms. This is the classic rockabilly sound found on many early rock and rockabilly recordings.

Others take the use of delays far beyond being subtle. U2’s The Edge pretty much based his early career on the intelligent use of delays (often several of them simultaneously). Rock players like Brian May (‘Brighton Rock,’ sounding like multiple guitars in harmony). Eddie Van Halen (‘Cathedral,’ sounding like a lush church organ solo) has used delays in more extreme manners to significant dramatic effect.

Modulation

Modulation pedal
Modulation pedal

These effects take the original signal and ‘modulate’ its waveform in ways. The resulting signal (often called the ‘wet’ instead of the ‘dry’ original). It is altered in a particular manner. This can be done on the base wave’s characteristics (or several). The amplitude, the pitch, the intensity, etc. Typically, this is achieved using an ‘oscillator’ integrated into the effect’s circuitry.

There are three main types of modulation effects: chorus, flanger, and phase shifter. This is another category where the main effect types are often confused, so we’ll take a few minutes to detail the differences.

Chorus

Chorus pedal
Chorus pedal

Flanger

Guitar flanger pedal
Guitar flanger pedal

Phase Shifter

Phase Shifter pedal
Phase Shifter pedal

Other types of modulation effects – tremolo and vibrato

Reverb

Delay pedal
Delay pedal

However, Reverbs can be a bit more complicated than that, which makes them prime candidates for being built into effects pedals in their own right.

Different reverb types include:

Room: Replicates sound as it reflects off surfaces in a relatively smaller room. Room reverb tends to be the most natural sounding and is often used for recording purposes.

Hall: Mimics the characteristics of being in a large concert hall. The effect is much more ambient and expansive than that of room reverb.

Chamber: Similar to hall reverb, they tend to add a touch of crispness and clarity to help negate the intensity and overall enveloping effect that a hall reverb can produce.

Plate: A type of reverb that isn’t necessarily intended to match a completely natural environment. Plate reverbs are often used to affect vocals significantly, and let’s say Eddie Van Halen’s early ‘brown sound’ wouldn’t be the same without liberal doses of it.

Spring: Some of the first reverb effects were generated by sending the guitar’s signal through a spring. They have a bright sound often considered ‘vintage,’ as many older (and even current) amplifiers have these spring units built right in.

Equalization (or ‘EQ’)

Equalization pedal
Equalization pedal

Filter pedals

Equalization or filter pedals are the go-to when you want to make things a little weird – sometimes, a lot weird!

A filter works because it takes a specific frequency (or a range of frequencies) in your signal and sweeps it toward different ends of the overall dynamic spectrum. For example, a mid-range selection can be swept towards the treble end or down towards the bass side of things.

This is essentially how a standard wah pedal works. Auto-wah pedals work similarly, but they are designed to make sweeping effects concerning the dynamics of how you play instead of manually engaging the rocking foot pedal.

For those extreme cases, a full-blown guitar synth system (which usually requires a special kind of pickup to be added to your instrument, along with an excellent-sized processing unit) would have to be used.
Exceptional cases…or ones that just do not fit with the others!

A few effects pedals don’t fall into our categories, but they are certainly worth an honorable mention.

Tuner pedals

Tuner pedal
Tuner pedal

It goes like this: if your guitar isn’t in tune, you will not sound perfect. Contrary to what some may think, trying to tune up by ear isn’t always the easiest – or the most accurate – way to go about things. Besides, no one wants to hear the guitar player tuning up in between songs at a gig!

Looper pedal

Loop pedal
Loop pedal

Analog vs. digital – does it matter?

Digital technology isn’t a bad thing, per se. Digital delays have been around for decades, and most multi-effects units are all digital (even the distortions).

So which is best? The truth can be found within your ears. There is no one correct answer. It’s a matter of personal preference, and technology improves over time. Making some analog vs. digital effects sound almost precisely the same.

What order should effects pedals be in?

Do an internet search of ‘What order should my effects pedals be in?. You’re bound to come up with a myriad of answers. And here’s the thing – all of them can be right (or wrong, depending on your point of view).

Guitar effects pedal board
Guitar effects pedalboard
Guitar Pedals For Beginners

Conclusion

In conclusion, guitar effects pedals offer a world of sonic possibilities that can elevate your playing, inspire creativity, and define your unique sound.

Remember, the key to effectively using pedals lies in understanding their functions, experimenting with different combinations, and knowing when less is more. Investing in quality cables and power supplies is crucial to ensure noise-free performance and the longevity of your pedals.

As we’ve seen, effects like distortion, delay, reverb, chorus, and wah-wah can dramatically alter your sound, each bringing its own flavor and character. But the true magic lies in how you integrate these effects into your playing style. Don’t be afraid to experiment and step out of your comfort zone. Sometimes the most iconic sounds are discovered by accident.

Moreover, in the digital age, the integration of technology with traditional pedals, such as multi-effects units and software-based effects, opens up even more avenues for exploration. However, the classic stompboxes, with their tactile nature and unique quirks, will always have a special place in the hearts of guitarists.

In the end, the world of guitar effects is about personal expression. Whether you’re looking to replicate the tones of your guitar heroes or forge a new path with your own signature sound, the journey is as rewarding as the destination. So plug in, play around, and let your creativity flow through the endless possibilities that guitar effects pedals have to offer.

And…most importantly…that all can lead to one elusive thing that no other guitar player on earth can ever have except you – your tone.

Transparency disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning that I may earn a commission if you click on a link and make a purchase. This commission comes at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services that I believe are helpful and valuable, and we never let the potential for a commission influence our recommendations.

Amazon guitar effects

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top