Guitar Pedals to Refine Your Sound (Without Busting Your Bank Account)
I play music part-time, and have for decades. I've used all kinds of gear chasing after better bass and guitar tones, from low-end junk to high-end wallet-busters. What I have learned is that there are a lot of inexpensive options that can refine you...
The Basics
Here are the emulators and tone shapers that are the foundations of my guitar and bass sounds.
This classy looking mini pedal offers classic, big Reverb tone on a low budget
It's crazy home much this sturdy multi-effects pedal can do (amp emulation, chorus, auto-filter, boost, tuner), and it even has DI and effects loop outputs. Best of all, it sounds great for both bass and guitar.
This Marshall stack emulator is as close as you can get to sounding like you are on the Apple Records rooftop jamming with the Beatles…
Donner's compressor is an affordable and easy way to add punch and sustain to your sound with minimal fuss.
The Sexy Stuff (Effects)
Here are the pedals that create the sounds that get you noticed!
This is a jam-packed modulation unit, with multiple variations of Chorus, Phaser, Tremolo, Flanger, Vibrato, and Auto Filter effects in a ¾-sized stompbox package.
Tiny format, but a HUGE heavy metal distortion tone!
10 minutes of great-sounding looping (with unlimited overdubs) in a TINY footprint? Sign me up for that.
This pedal provides two modes of classic `70s style distortion for jamming and solos.
Tons of possibilities are packed into this small pedal, which offers 20 minutes of phrase looping that can be combined with 16 different drum grooves.
This take on the classic Cube Baby is tough, rechargeable, portable, and contains everything you need to use as a portable amp (I have even used it live as my main effects unit before!)
Accessories
Don't leave home for a gig without these.
These longer cables make planning out longer distances on your pedalboard super easy.
You need something to power up all of these effects. This is compact power unit that offers several isolated 9V outputs, and even a 5V USB output.
Bottom line: you can NEVER have too many of these patch cables!!
You need somewhere to put all of those pedals, right? This lightweight board is sturdy and comes with everything you need to secure a power supply and plenty of pedals.
I always keep one of these on hand as a backup in case my power supply gets fried at a gig!
