Our friends over at Reverb recently posted a killer list of the 20 most popular guitar pedals under $50 that we just had to share. If you play guitar, you’re certainly familiar with the never-ending quest to assemble the perfect pedalboard, and while there are plenty of expensive options out there, you can certainly find some winners for less than 50 bucks.
Here’s the list, based on sales at Reverb in 2017:
1. Boss DS-1 Distortion
“A fantastic pedal for someone who is just looking to get into stompboxes.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
2. Dunlop GCB95 Cry Baby Wah
“If you’re looking for that classic wah sound, then this is the one to get.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
3. Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer
“I’ve tried many different compressors of all price ranges, and I keep coming back to this one.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
4. MXR M101 Phase 90
“A simple pedal that really opens your spectrum for a different sound.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
5. Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive
“If I could only take one pedal to a gig, it would be the SD–1.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
6. MXR M-102 Dyna Comp
“Simple, inexpensive, rugged, and does what you need it to do.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
7. BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer
“This pedal belongs on any board, right next to other unsung heroes like EQs and volume pedals.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
8. TC Electronic Spark Mini Booster
“This little guy adds a big punch — especially when put after dirt pedals.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
9. Boss CH-1 Super Chorus
“For the classic chorus sounds of the ’80s, you can pretty much nail most everything with this pedal.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
10. Boss MT-2 Metal Zone Distortion
“The boutique market seems to stay away from over–the–top Distortion, probably because the Metal Zone already nailed it.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
11. Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble
“High and low filters make it very bass friendly.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
12. Danelectro Cool Cat Chorus
“A great sounding chorus with just the right amount of adjustability.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
13. Electro-Harmonix Silencer Noise Gate
“Does an excellent job, with plenty of options to tweak.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
14. Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter
“From subtle to aggressive, it adds class and quality to anything you play.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
15. TC Electronic MojoMojo Overdrive
“Delivers a rich and creamy tone, perfect for blues or classic rock.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
16. Marshall JH-1 Jackhammer Distortion
“Monster heavy tones are lurking in this box.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
17. Danelectro Daddy O
“This is a real gem of a distortion pedal if you like the British style overdrive tonality.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
18. Danelectro Fish and Chips EQ
“Don’t let the plastic casing scare you; you’d have to literally try and break it on purpose for anything to go south.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
19. MXR M78 Custom Badass ’78 Distortion
“The crunch button at the top adds a bit more gain and makes the notes ‘pop’ more.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
20. Joyo Tremolo
“A nice approximation of the Fender Brownface sound.”
Buy now at Reverb >
Buy now at Amazon >
What do you think of the list? Are there any other guitar pedals under $50 you think should be included? Share in the comments!