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Our friends at Reverb publish a list of the best-selling guitar effects pedals annually, and we’ve leveraged their data to put this list together of the best
The Best Guitar Effects Pedals in 2022
1. Keeley Compressor Plus
Keeley’s compressor pedals have gathered worldwide acclaim, and the Keeley Compressor Plus pedal continues the trend by incorporating player-requested features. Like the Blend control, which allows you to bring in some of your dry signal along with the compressed signal for the best of both worlds — dynamic and fatter at the same time. A much-requested Tone control allows you to fine-tune the Keeley Compressor Plus appropriately for any
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2. TC Electronic Ditto Looper
The TC Electronic Ditto+ is a next-gen 60-minute looper with loads of player-friendly features. Enjoy total creative freedom with unlimited overdubs, while dynamic loop length enables you to layer long overdubs onto shorter loops. Experience easy import and export of your loops via USB. Benefit from detailed real-time information about your loops, thanks to a high-resolution color display. The Ditto+ also retains your loops in its internal memory after you power the stompbox down. Feeling nostalgic for the simplicity of your old-school looper? No problem. The Ditto+’s 1-knob control and easy-to-navigate layout supplies a familiar feel that lets you concentrate on your playing, not your pedalboard. The Ditto+ employs uncompressed 24-bit audio for maximum sound quality, while its analog-dry-through design maintains the integrity of your dry signal — even while the effect is on. If you appreciated TC’s original Ditto looper, you’ll flip over the Ditto+.
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3. Line 6 HX Stomp
The Line 6 HX Stomp is a professional-grade multi-effects processor that delivers the sound of Helix amps, cabs, and effects in an ultra-compact pedal. Whereas the Line 6 HX Effects pedal is designed to be the centerpiece of a pedalboard, providing full control over individual effects, amp switching, and external MIDI-equipped pedals—HX Stomp is a programmable amp/cab/effects/IR pedal that seamlessly integrates into a variety of environments and applications. Use it as a “super stompbox,” a backup or travel rig, an add-on tone expander when combined with other modelers, an audio interface—or even a complete
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4. Boss DS-1 Distortion
Simply put, the BOSS DS-1 distortion pedal is a modern classic. For the better part of 30 years, you’ve heard this orange box put through its paces on countless top rock recordings – from Kurt Cobain’s “Nevermind”-era grunge to the renowned distorted tones of Steve Vai. The DS-1 is affordable, it’s incredible sounding, and it’s a rock pedalboard staple – the perfect first distortion stompbox and one that may well be your last. Whether you pair it with your
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5. Hologram Electronics Microcosm
Microcosm is a granular effects pedal that rearranges and reinterprets your sound in new and exciting ways using a variety of sampling, pitch-shifting, delay, and looping techniques. Cascading micro-loops can be locked into tight, tap-tempo synced rhythms, diffused into glacial ambient textures, woven into hypnotic drones, and much more. Microcosm’s 11 groundbreaking effects (with a total of 44 preset variations) allow you to slice, stretch, rearrange, and manipulate your playing in musical ways. Tweak the sound further using Microcosm’s built-in pitch modulation, lush stereo reverb (with 4 selectable modes), and resonant lowpass filter. When you’ve found a sound you like, the built-in stereo phrase looper can capture up to 60 seconds of your performance and even allows for layering phrases from different effects. All loops, overdubs, and settings can be saved and recalled later using the pedal’s 16 user presets.
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6. ProCo Rat 2
The TurboRAT expands the versatility and sustain of the unique rat tone, and its maximum output of 2.8V is more than double that of the Turbo’s predecessors. Features a nearly indestructible steel housing with “no tools” battery compartment. Built for trouble-free reliability on the road. An LED indicates on/off status, and luminescent control graphics enhance visibility. Powered by 9V battery, or a special jack accommodates the RPS-1 power supply (sold separately).
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7. MXR M169 Carbon Copy
The MXR Carbon Copy analog delay features an entirely analog audio path, delivering rich, warm delay using old-school bucket brigade technology. The Carbon Copy boasts 600ms of delay time, with optional modulation via a top-mounted switch, and its simple three-knob layout gives you complete control over Delay, Mix (dry/wet blend), and Regeneration (delay repeats) – all in one incredibly compact pedal! For even more tonal options, you can also adjust width and rate control of the modulation via two internal trim pots. This pedal gives you everything from crisp bathroom slap echoes to epic delays, all with the simple twist of a knob. Stage-worthy blue LEDs and 9-volt operation round out this MXR Carbon Copy analog delay!
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8. Boss BD-2 Blues Driver
The BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver
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9. Strymon Iridium
Love your pedals but tired of hauling an amp to practice or play out? The pedal-sized Strymon Iridium gives you the tube staging, tone stack, and touch response of three iconic amplifiers, each with three corresponding cabinet choices, all in a line-level stereo output, which you can send straight to FOH — no amp required. Iridium’s Class A JFET preamp handles your
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10. Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive
Back in 1981, BOSS unveiled their workhorse SD-1 Super Overdrive, a core gain pedal that has been subsequently wielded by generations of players across genres. The BOSS 40th Anniversary SD-1 Super Overdrive celebrates four decades of this classic stompbox, vaunting the same asymmetrical clipping circuit, along with a head-turning reverse color scheme that will stand out on even the most crowded pedalboard. The SD-1 has long been renowned for its mid-focused tone and natural tubelike overdrive characteristics. It’s ideal for warming up or adding grit to a clean or edge-of-breakup tube amplifier, and it’s a great way to add tightness and definition to a high-gain setup. It also makes a stellar lead boost and stacks well with other dirt pedals. If you’re searching for a drive stomp with a rich, harmonic-infused tone, join the legions of satisfied guitarists who build their sound around the SD-1. Grab the BOSS 40th Anniversary SD-1 Super Overdrive today!
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11. Ibanez TS9 Tubescreamer
Here’s a reissue of the original Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer distortion/overdrive pedal for an incredibly reasonable price. The TS9 Tube Screamer is one of the most imitated classic distortion pedals ever made. Now you can get your hands on a reissue that’s every bit as authentic as an original. In fact, this TS9 Tube Screamer features the same components, housing, and seasick-green paint used to make the original models. They’re even made in the same factory! What’s even more important is that the sound is dead on. Discover classic stompbox distortion and drive – plug into an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer!
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12. EarthQuaker Devices Plumes
Ready to cook some tubes? Then put the EarthQuaker Devices Plumes between your
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13. Electro-Harmonix Op-Amp Big Muff Reissue
Billy Corgan and James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) built an empire on Siamese Dream’s distinct brand of psychedelia-meets-rock-alternative. A key ingredient to this record’s iconic sound, as guitarists today know, is Billy’s famed late-’70s V4 IC Big Muff. Now, Corgan and EHX have carefully bottled the tone and response of the original in the Electro-Harmonix Op-Amp Big Muff Pi. This pedal faithfully captures the fuzz-laden and explosive textures of Billy’s op-amp equipped ’70s Muff. Controls for Volume, Tone, and Sustain (gain) make it quick to dial in the textures your music demands. Meanwhile, a tone bypass toggle temporarily bypasses the pedal’s tone circuit for maximum output and aggression. The new compact size and die-cast durability preserve the Siamese Dream tone for a new generation of fuzz fans.
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14. TC Electronic Polytune 3
The PolyTune 3 Mini manages to pack all the pedal-tuning and tone-preserving power of TC’s full-sized PolyTune 3 into a miniature pedal format. The TC Electronic PolyTune 3 Mini is just as fast, dependable, and intuitive as ever, boasting accuracy within 0.02 cents and delivering a no-nonsense approach to
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15. Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner
One of the world’s top-selling stage tuners, the BOSS TU-2, has evolved and improved into the TU-3 pedal tuner. Housed in a tank-tough BOSS stompbox body, the TU-3 chromatic tuner features a smooth 21-segment LED meter with a High-Brightness mode that cuts through the harshest outdoor glare. Choose between Chromatic or
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16. Dunlop Cry Baby Wah GCB-95
Like the guitarist himself, the Dunlop SW-95 Slash Cry Baby Wah is revolutionary and a classic at the same time. It sports a hot rod, metallic-red finish and a cutting edge, high gain circuit for a different and distinct sound. It also has a modified Fasel inductor for sweet, singing top end and upper midrange bite and sparkle on the wah. 18V operation yields tons of extra headroom. LED indicators for distortion on/off and wah on/off modes keep you clued in at all times. Top hat not included.
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17. Keeley Caverns Delay Reverb V2
Combining three sweet reverb types with analog-style tape delay, the Keeley Caverns V2 effects pedal for electric
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18. JHS Morning Glory V4
The JHS Morning Glory overdrive pedal adds dirt to your
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19. Boss GE-7 Graphic EQ
One of the handiest effects pedals we’ve seen at Sweetwater. The GE-7 has seven bands ranging from 100Hz to 6.4kHz — ideal for
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20. Digitech Drop
The DigiTech Drop is a dedicated polyphonic drop tune pedal that allows you to drop your tuning from one semitone all the way down to a full octave. Get down-tuned chunk without having to change guitars! The Drop also features a momentary/latching switch. With the switch set to momentary, you can turn the Drop into a true performance pedal. Fast trills and roller-coaster pitch dips are at the tip of your toes. Controls: Effects Selector Knob – Selects which of the Drop effect settings is used when the effect is active. Momentary On/Off Switch: Selects how the effect footswitch will operate. Setting this switch to “ON” will cause the footswitch to act as a momentary switch (the effect will be enabled or disabled only as long as the footswitch is pressed and held). Setting this switch to “OFF” will cause the footswitch to act as a standard latching on/off switch.
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Put the Best Guitar Effects Pedals to Good Use!
Now that you’ve checked out the best
Looking for a great place to start once you’ve signed up? Check out our Guitar Effects Survival Guide!