Essential Guitar Pedals

Updated: October 8th, 2012

These essential guitar pedals are a must for any guitarist looking to have a pedalboard that can cross many genres and artists.  Since we don’t all have but one influence when it comes to guitar, and more importantly since we don’t all have tons of cash to blow, it’s best to stick to the essentials.  Here are a few of what we would consider “essential pedals” for each type of effect.

Our list of essential guitar pedals has been curated by viewing many of today’s top guitarists’ pedalboards, checking what on them and choosing the most popular pedals.

Also, if you’re looking to buy, then take a look at the coupons in the sidebar to help you get the best price.

Most Popular Overdrive Pedal

Overdrive, almost synonymous with distortion, is often the first pedal a beginning guitarist gets, as its sound is so iconic and linked with Rock N’ Roll.  It remains also the last word on many of the today’s top guitarists sound.  They swear by their overdrive pedals.  One pedal stand above all others, and that is the Ibanez Tube Screamer, which used by various top artists of their genres, like Trey Anastasio, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, or even John Mayer.

Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer Effects PedalMusician’s Friend
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Most Popular Wah Pedal

Indisputably, the Dunlop Original Crybaby Wah Wah  is the most popular wah pedal.  It’s so ubiquitous, that it is jarring to see another wah pedal on a pedalboard.  It just seems out of place and alien.  Everyone needs this on their pedalboard.

Dunlop Original Crybaby Wah PedalMusician’s Friend
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Most Popular Tuner Pedal

Everyone needs a tuner (Well, almost everyone). A tuner pedal cuts the sound while tuning, and quick to turn on and off, getting that nasty time waster done quickly and gets the show to continue without a hitch. This makes the Boss Tuner pedal one of the most popular guitar pedals.  Though recently, we have seen the TC Electronic Polytune creep up more and more into popular pedalboards, making it the rising star and our bet on the most the popular tuner pedal in shops today.

Tc Electronic Polytune Chromatic Pedal TunerMusician’s Friend
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Best Compressor Pedal

Compression is subtle, so not everyone immediately feels the need for it.  And its need also depends on your gear.  But still, everyone could use some compression to tighten up their sound.
Mxr M-102 Dyna Comp Compressor PedalMusician’s Friend
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Essential Guitar Pedals for Specific Effects

This next batch of pedals are essential models for the effects they produce, but the said effects aren’t as universal; you’re sound might just not need them.  But if it does, then these ones are definitely for you.

Most Popular Fuzz Pedal

Fuzz is a distinct type of overdrive/distortion, a because of this distinction it isn’t as nearly as ubiquitous.  What’s interesting about this effect is the variety of great boutique pedals that do this effect justice.  But when it comes to a more readily available solution, there is one clear winner, used by most of the greats, such as Billy Corgan and Dan Auerbach, and that is the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff.  Many different versions of this pedal has been used, but the USA or the current Bass Big Muff are all good choices.

Electro-Harmonix Classics Usa Big Muff Pi Distortion / Sustainer Guitar Effects PedalMusician’s Friend
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Most Popular Delay Pedal

Delay can be more versatile than you believe, from echo and looping to simply doubling up a solo.  The Line 6 DL4 is our vote for the most popular delay guitar pedal.  Whether the artist is serious about looping, are just applying more subtly, like John Mayer, they all seem to gravitate to this.  The Boss digital is also popular, but not as much as this one.
Line 6 DL4 Delay Guitar Effects PedalMusician’s Friend
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Most Popular Phase Pedal

The following pedal was a staple among 90’s grunge bands, and it, and its variations, still remains on many pedalboards, such as Zakk Wylde, Mike McCready and Tom Morello.

MXR M-101 Phase 90 PedalMusician’s Friend
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Most Popular Tremolo Pedal

Tremolos aren’t as common as other types of effects, but there is still one clear winner.  The best, most often seen tremolo pedal goes to the Boss Tremolo, used by artist such as Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys.
Boss Tr-2 Tremolo PedalMusician’s Friend
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Most Popular Reverb Pedal

Reverb is a very distinct sound, and isn’t found on many artists’ pedalboards.  But it does get employed by great guitarists such as Noel Gallagher and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead.  And when they do reverb, they use a Boss Reverb.

Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb Effects PedalMusician’s Friend
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Most Popular Chorus Pedal

The most popular chorus pedal would probably be the Analogman chorus.  A more readily available alternative, purchased from nearly any retailer, is the TC Electronic Corona, which is part of the innovative Toneprint series.

Tc Electronic Corona Chorus Toneprint Series Guitar Effects PedalMusician’s Friend
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Let us know what you think are the most popular guitar pedals