The Most Popular Guitar Pedal, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the guitar pedal you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 8, 2024 06:40
A musician's quest for the perfect sound often leads to the extensive use of guitar pedals, each adding its unique flavor to a performance. However, with the abundance of options available, it can be challenging to determine which pedal would best suit an individual's artistic style. A system where guitar enthusiasts vote on their favorite pedals can simplify this decision-making process by highlighting the top choices within the community.
Such a voting system not only helps guitarists to make informed choices but also fosters a sense of community as users share their preferences and experiences. By participating in the ranking, users contribute to a dynamic resource that continually updates with the latest trends and user feedback, ensuring that the list remains relevant and valuable to anyone looking to enhance their musical arsenal.
What Is the Most Popular Guitar Pedal?
-
177votes
Kuriosatempel · CC BY-SA 4.0The Boss DS-1 is one of the most popular guitar pedals of all time, delivering a classic rock sound for over 40 years. It's been used by artists such as Kurt Cobain and Steve Vai.The Boss DS-1 Distortion is a classic guitar distortion pedal that has been a popular choice among guitarists for decades. It provides powerful and versatile distortion tones, ranging from mild overdrive to heavy, crunchy distortion. The pedal is known for its simplicity, durability, and affordability, making it accessible to musicians of all skill levels.- Controls: Level, Tone, Distortion
- Input Impedance: 470 k ohms
- Output Impedance: 10 k ohms
- Nominal Level: -20 dBu
- Power Supply: 9V DC battery or AC adapter (sold separately)
Boss DS-1 Distortion in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular distortion pedal
-
211votes
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Electro-HarmonixThe Big Muff Pi is another classic distortion pedal that has been used by artists such as David Gilmour and Jack White. It's known for its thick, fuzzy sound.The Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi is a legendary distortion pedal widely regarded as one of the most popular and iconic pedals in the history of electric guitar effects. It delivers a thick, sustain-laden, and harmonically rich tone that is favored by countless musicians across different genres.- Circuit Type: Fuzz/Distortion
- Controls: Volume, Tone, Sustain
- Sustain: High
- Tone: Wide range of tonal shaping
- Articulation: Clear, yet heavy
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi in other rankings- Position 4 of 10 in Most popular distortion pedal
-
325votesThe Boss TU-3 is a reliable and accurate tuner pedal that has become a staple for many guitarists. It's easy to use and can be used with any instrument.
-
410votes
A Magician · CC BY 3.0Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Pedal
Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc.The Cry Baby Wah is one of the most iconic guitar pedals, used by Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and many others. It adds a unique wah sound to guitar solos and riffs.The Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Pedal is a classic and iconic guitar effect pedal that has been a staple in the music world for decades. It is a wah-wah pedal that allows guitarists to produce a unique and expressive tone by manipulating the frequencies of the guitar signal. The Cry Baby Wah Pedal is known for its distinctive sound and responsive control, making it popular among guitar players of all genres.- Type: Wah pedal
- Model: Cry Baby GCB-95
- Control: Foot-operated rocking pedal
- Inductor: Fasel Inductor
- Input Impedance: 1 MOhm
-
516votes
TC Electronic Flashback Delay
TC ElectronicThe Flashback Delay is a versatile delay pedal that offers a wide range of features and settings. It can be used for anything from subtle reverb to dramatic echo effects.The TC Electronic Flashback Delay is a versatile and popular guitar pedal known for its wide range of delay effects. It offers studio-quality delay tones and a variety of features that can enhance any guitarist's playing.- Delay Types: 11 delay types including tape, analog, and dynamic delay
- Delay Time: Up to 7 seconds
- TonePrint Enabled: Allows guitarists to customize and download unique delay sounds
- Looper: Built-in 40-second looper for creating and layering loops
- Stereo Output: Enables spacious and immersive sound when used with stereo setups
-
611votes
Strymon Timeline Delay
StrymonThe Timeline is a high-end delay pedal that offers a wide range of features and settings. It's known for its pristine sound quality and ability to create complex delay patterns.The Strymon Timeline Delay is a versatile and highly acclaimed guitar pedal that offers a wide range of delay effects. Its pristine sound quality and intuitive controls make it a favorite among professional guitarists.- Delay Types: 12 unique delay machines
- Presets: 200 programmable presets
- Tone Shaping: Extensive control over tone with EQ and Filter options
- Tap Tempo: Built-in tap tempo functionality
- Stereo: True stereo inputs and outputs
-
77votes
MXR Phase 90
Keith BarrThe Phase 90 is a classic phaser pedal that has been used by guitarists since the 1970s. It adds a swirling, psychedelic effect to guitar solos and riffs.The MXR Phase 90 is a classic analog phaser pedal known for its warm and rich modulation effect. It was designed by Keith Barr and first released in 1974.- Type: Analog Phaser
- Controls: Speed knob
- Phasing Stages: 4
- Input/Output: 1 x 1/4" (instrument)
- Power: 9V battery or external power supply
-
85votes
Fulltone OCD Overdrive
FulltoneThe OCD Overdrive is a popular overdrive pedal that offers a wide range of distortion options. It's known for its transparent sound and ability to preserve the natural tone of the guitar.The Fulltone OCD Overdrive is a widely popular guitar pedal known for its versatile overdrive capabilities. It delivers a wide range of smooth and dynamic tones, making it a favorite among guitarists across genres. With its robust build quality and intuitive controls, the OCD Overdrive offers both reliability and ease of use.- Type: Overdrive
- Controls: Volume, Drive, Tone
- Switches: HP/LP (High Peak/Low Peak)
- Power: 9V DC power supply or 9V battery
- Bypass: True bypass
-
93votes
Eventide H9 Harmonizer
EventideThe H9 Harmonizer is a high-end effects pedal that offers a wide range of effects, including delay, reverb, and pitch shifting. It's known for its pristine sound quality and ability to create complex, layered effects.The Eventide H9 Harmonizer is a versatile guitar pedal that combines the power of multiple effects in a compact and user-friendly package. It offers a wide range of high-quality effects and emulations, making it a popular choice among guitarists of all genres.- Effect Types: Over 50
- Presets: 99
- Algorithm Control: Bluetooth via iOS, Android, Mac, and PC
- MIDI Control: Full MIDI implementation
- Expression Pedal: Supports external expression pedal
-
106votes
Line 6 Helix
Line 6The Helix is a digital modeling pedal that offers a wide range of amp and effect simulations. It's known for its versatility and ability to recreate the sounds of classic amps and pedals.The Line 6 Helix is a highly versatile guitar multi-effects pedal that combines amp and cab modeling with a wide range of effects and routing options. It is designed to provide guitarists with a comprehensive solution for achieving a variety of tones and sonic possibilities.- Amp Modeling: Over 200 amp models
- Cab Modeling: Over 100 cab models
- Effects: Over 70 effect models
- Routing: Flexible input/output options
- Signal Processing: Dual-DSP-powered for high-quality sound
Line 6 Helix in other rankings- Position 9 of 10 in Most reliable guitar amp
Missing your favorite guitar pedal?
Graphs
Discussion
Ranking factors for popular guitar pedal
-
Sound qualityThe primary purpose of a guitar pedal is to shape and enhance the sound of the guitar. A high-quality pedal should produce clear, rich, and dynamic tones with minimal noise interference.
-
VersatilityA good guitar pedal should offer multiple effects and parameters to allow guitarists to shape their sound according to their preferences and playing style. This could include a range of effects such as overdrive, distortion, delay, reverb, modulation, and more.
-
User-friendlinessThe control interface should be easy to understand and use, allowing guitarists to quickly access the desired settings and effects. This includes well-labeled knobs and switches, as well as intuitive menu navigation for more advanced settings.
-
Build quality and durabilityGuitar pedals are often used in live performances and are subject to wear and tear. The pedal should be well-built, with a sturdy enclosure and high-quality components to ensure it can withstand heavy use.
-
Bypass optionsBypass options like true bypass or buffered bypass ensure that the guitar's signal maintains its integrity when the pedal is switched off. True bypass is preferred by many guitarists, as it allows the original guitar signal to flow through the pedal without any alteration or loss in tone.
-
PriceThe price of the guitar pedal should reflect its quality and features, while also being affordable to a wide range of guitar players. There may be a trade-off between quality and affordability, but great pedals can be found at various price points.
-
Popularity and reputationThe popularity and reputation of a guitar pedal brand or model can be an indication of its quality and performance. Look for pedals that have received positive reviews and endorsements from professional guitarists and industry experts.
-
Size and portabilityThe pedal's size and weight should be considered, as larger pedals might be harder to fit on crowded pedalboards or take up more space during transportation.
-
CompatibilityThe pedal should be compatible with various types of guitars, pickups, and amplifiers, ensuring that it works well in different setups and for different genres of music.
-
Customizability and upgradabilitySome guitar pedals offer the ability to customize or upgrade their internal components, software, or firmware, allowing for even greater flexibility and personalization in shaping the desired sound.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular guitar pedal. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or pedal is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1229 views
- 170 votes
- 10 ranked items
Movers & Shakers
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each pedal once every 24 hours. The rank of each pedal is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular guitar pedal
Guitar pedals have been an essential part of the guitar player's toolkit for decades. These small devices are used to alter the sound of the guitar in various ways, from adding distortion to creating delays and reverbs. The market is flooded with a wide range of guitar pedals, each with its unique features and characteristics. With so many options available, it can be challenging to determine which one is the most popular among guitar players. At StrawPoll, we've gathered data from thousands of guitar enthusiasts to find out which guitar pedal reigns supreme in the world of music. Read on to discover the most popular guitar pedal and why it's a favorite among guitar players worldwide.
Explore other rankings
Check out some of the other recommended rankings on StrawPoll and make your voice heard.
