What to look for in an Effects Pedal
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There are so many effects on offer to the modern guitarist that choosing the right pedal to unleash the full
potential of the guitar can become a confusing minefield. So what exactly do you need to do to look out for when
buying a guitar effects pedal?
Choosing the Right Effect(s)
The first, and possibly most important thing to consider is the type of effect that you want to create. There
are effects pedals to cover each and every possible guitar effect - from varying sustain to increasing
distortion - therefore you need to work out exactly what it is you're looking to do. For detailed lowdown on
what exactly each pedal does, why not take a look at our
Guitar Effects Explained guide.
Quality Pedals from Top Manufacturers
Effects pedals or, perhaps more appropriately, stomp boxes, may refine the tone of your guitar, however there
is often very little refinement in the way they are treated. On stage or in the studio, effects pedals can really
be put through the mill. Caught in a moment of musical euphoria they can be subjected to some real punishment,
with guitarists stamping on and levering them at regular intervals, mostly without taking any real notice as to
the welfare of the device. As such, an effects pedal really does need to be tough.
Fortunately though, modern manufacturing techniques and materials have ensured that all effects pedals that
are controlled by the foot are built to last. Leading producers, such as Boss, Ibanez and Marshall, have led the
way in producing pedals with increased strength as well as developing new and improved usability and connectivity
with other devices.
Multi-Effects & Rackmounts
It is on the subject of connectivity that the final shred of advice that we can offer on buying a guitar pedal
is based. Whilst some effects pedals are simply run straight from the guitar and usually offer just a single type
of effect, for which connecting is effortless; others can be a little more complex. For the more adventurous
musical maestro you may find yourself using a multi-effect pedal and even an effects rack. In this case you'll
need to amalgamate numerous effects using the rackmount as a sort of central processor. In these instances the
pedal just needs to be able to connect and function with another multi-effect device - from where you can fine
tune your own unique sound.