The Top 10 Effects of Pedals for the Electric Guitar
One of the most important lessons for any guitarist is learning to recognize effects and the way they manipulate guitar tone. Listening to a record with a killer guitar sound, such as Smashing Pumpkins' "Siamese Dream," and having the confidence to re-create the tone in your bedroom with effects pedals can be deeply satisfying. You can find many different effects, from distortion to chorus, but the same pedals crop up on every expert's top 10.
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Distortion Pedals
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Of all the distortion pedals, one surpasses all the rest: the Big Muff. It came into prominence thanks to Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana, and became prized for its thick fuzz and frazzled sustain. After a dip in popularity in the 1980s, it came back into fashion with the alternative scene emerging from the Pacific Northwest, notably bands such as Mudhoney and the Melvins. It remains a commonly used effect as of 2011. Other well-known distortion pedals include the Fuzz Factory and Boss DS-1.
Delay Pedals
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From the echoing arpeggios favored by U2's The Edge to the "plastic" reggae of The Police, the delay pedal is a must-have for any guitarist's collection. Boss' DD-3 has a reputation for versatility and adaptability. As with most effects pedals, single pedals will give a more varied tone than multi-effects boxes. Close runners-up include the Line 6 DL4 and the Boss RE-20.
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Wah Wah Pedals
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Favored by classic rockers Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton and used by heavy rock bands such as Velvet Revolver and Metallica, the wah wah pedal is probably the most famous effect pedal. It works by bending the tone and giving out a funky "wacka wacka" sound. Dunlop's Cry Baby Wah tops many lists in this category. The Digitech Whammy pedal is a modern twist on the classic.
Far Out Pedals
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Boss' BF-3 flange pedal, also known as the "Purple" flange, is an extremely widely used flange pedal. As well as providing a dense fuzz sound, it emits a variable oscillating tone avored by alternative rocker Billy Corgan. Nirvana's Kurt Cobain championed the chorus pedal and used it extensively on the band's definitive "Nevermind" album. The Electro-Harmonix Small Clone was the pedal behind the spaced-out sound of the song "Come As You Are," which appeared on that album.
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