Chronicling pedalboards, as I do, I tend to see some of the same pedals over again. These staples are the perfect choices for anyone starting to build on their pedalboard. They cross genres. They keep their value. They apply to many different artists.

Which one lead the pack of the most essential? I would have to say the Ibanez Tube Screamer, which appears on most of the boards that appear on this site.

Ibanez Tube Screamer
From Trey Anastasio to Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, this is one of the most popular pedals. We even sometimes find 2 of these on one board.