32 Key Guitar Effects Pedal Types - Preferred Compact Pedal per Type : 2022 Edition

Alt : Sonic Research ST-300 Strobe / Turbo Tuner - $130

For mini Tuners my preference is for the TCE PolyTune or Mini ST-300 Turbo Tuner, while at the compact size I feel the latest Peterson StroboStomp is probably at the top of that pile. Of course Boss's TU-3 is a solid industry-standard choice too in standard and Waza Craft editions, as is the larger of the ST-300's. General consensus seems to be that Peterson's latest is the king of the Tuners. I myself prefer to use a Roadie Automated Tuner - where I prefer the ergonomics of the previous model, while the newer one has more features and a better screen.

Alt : MXR Poly Blue Octave 4-Octaves + Modulation + Fuzz - $199

The OC-5 is a fantastic update on two Boss classics and sounds very much to my liking in the OC-2 Mode. In the past I've had the Sub N Up or Mu-Tron Octavider in the top slot - while the new Boss does some clever things that those cannot. The OC-5 has controls for Direct Level, +1 Octave Level, -1 Octave Level and -2 Octave Level / Range. And you get a two way mode selector for Vintage (OC-2) and Polyphonic Modes. The MXR Poly Blue Octave is in many ways even more formidable than the OC-5 - with its 4-Octaves, Modulation and Fuzz onboard.

Alt : Alexander Pedals Marshmallow Artificial Sweetener Dual Pitch-Shifter - $200

I had several close choices here, while the pedal I use most often in this area is indeed the Whammy Ricochet - and mostly to do that Tom Morello thing! Otherwise probably the Boss PS-6 Harmonist, EHX Pitch Fork or TC Electronic Brainwaves - also the recent Alexander Marshmallow is sweet too!

Alt : Boss PS-6 Harmonist Pitch-Shifter and Harmonizer - £129

I own the TCE Quintessence which I find some fiddly and frustrating - same as its TCE Brainwaves sibling - which is why I swing more towards the Boss PS-6 which is rather more easy and effortless - while it doesn't have the Quintessence's TonePrints and more complex modes. The pedal I mostly deploy in this role is actually the medium-box Meris Hedra. While for compact - the PS-6 would be my choice. It has controls for Balance / Rise Time, Shift / Harmony, Key ' Fall Time, and Modes. EHX's recent Intelligent Harmony Machine has a further advantage in having a full Pitch Fork onboard too. In fact I probably have to give this to the EHX on balance!

Alt  1 : Subdecay M3 Monophonic 3 Oscillator Guitar Synth - $199

Alt 2 : DigiTech Dirty Robot Stereo Analog Synth - discontinued - $170 when new

I have a number of favourite compact Synth Pedals - including of course the hugely versatile SU-1 with no less than 121 total algorithms. In the past the DigiTech Dirty Robot and Pigtronix Mothership 2 have been top dogs - while I really need to start adding one or two of those Subdecay Synths to the collection too - same for Alexander Pedals really. The SY-1 has two dual-concentric knobs out of 4 - for 6 parameter controls overall - Effect Level, Direct Level, Tone/Rate & Depth, 1-11 Variation and 1-11 Modes/Types.

Alt 1 : Catalinbread Heliotrope Harmonic Pixelator - discontinued : $199 when new

Alt 2 : Malekko Scrutator Sample Rate and Bit Reducer - $189

Alt 3 : Iron Ether Frantabit Bitcrusher - $245

I have two equally valid favourites here - one proper Bitcrusher - the EHX Mainframe - which has no less than 8 controls - Expression/Preset button, HPF/BPF/LPF Filter, Volume, Peak, Frequency, Blend, Bit Depth, and Sample Rate. And the other being the actually analog Modulator - the Catalinbread Heliotrope - which does a sort of really cool Bitrcrusher thing by really clever analog means. I've always had a soft spot for an Iron Ether Frantabit - which are still in very short supply - I will for sure add one of those eventually too! While nowadays my most wanted Bitcruhsers are actually both medium-sized - the Red Banda Bitmap 2, and WMD Geiger Counter.

Alt : Plutoneium V2 Chi-Wah-Wah - $199

I've always loved the Mini CryBaby and Dunlop treadle pedals - with their properly compact form factor. Some of those other WAH pedals are just monstrous in size and totally dominate a pedalboard. I love the convenience of the spring-loaded Auto-Return / Auto-Switching Wah of the latest edition - while you can't do the cocked Wah thing with that type. I may still get a few more Mini-Wahs along the way - likely the Chi-Wah-Wah and one of the Wilson Mini-Wahs. The CBM535AR has the exact same controls as the 535Q version that I also have - a boost switch with level, then 4-way Range-Selector and Q-Adjust.

Alt : CryBaby CSP030 Q-Zone Auto-Wah - £159

I actually use three Fixed / Auto-Wahs quite regularly - the medium-sized Fulltone Wahful, and the referenced Custom Shop CSP030 edition of Q-Zone with extended controls - as well as the latest addition - the Flower Pedals Hosta Wah Filter. The full-fat Q-Zone has 5 controls - Boost, Bandpass, Q-Adjust, Expand, and 3-way Range Selector. While the Hosta is even more impressive with 7 controls and dual footswitches. The Hosta is most certainly my favourite Auto-Wah to-date - it sounds sublime!

Alt 1 : Pigtronix Resotron Analog Tracking Filter - $249
Alt 2 : Source Audio Spectrum Intelligent Filter - $199

My go-to Filter pedal is really the Dr Scientist Dusk which I love for its easy versatility and smart playability. The Dusk has a really smart dual-footswitch control topology with knobs for Filter, Resonance and Volume, and selector push-buttons for Mode and Function / Sub-Mode. I also really like the Pigtronix Resotron Source Audio Spectrum - which I have still to add to the collection.

Alt 1 : ThorpyFX Team Medic Analog Boost + EQ + PreAmp + Buffer - £219

Alt 2 : Chase Bliss Audio Condor EQ / Preamp / Boost / Filter - discontinued - $349

Alt 3 : Hamstead Soundworks Zenith Amplitude Controller Clean Boost + EQ + Compressor - £279

Alt 4 : Source Audio Zio Analog Front End + Boost - $199

Alt 5 : ThorpyFX Heavy Watler Dual Boost Germanium + Clean - $210

Despite my desire to not promote Jackson Audio in the slightest, it cannot be avoided in a couple of instances as there just isn't any direct equivalent that renders precisely the same results. I've tried various alternatives here in an attempt to displace the Prism - but that pedal has a warmth, softness and sustain to it that I've hitherto been unable to replicate elsewhere. I had the ThorpyFX Team Medic on this slot for quiet a while - which by default delivers a slightly brighter and more articular tone - where I've discovered that the Prism is actually a core component of my own signature sound. I would like it to be a little more like it's siblings - with a second footswitch and some smart foot-manipulation like the Bloom - yet it is largely and comparatively relatively traditional compared to those - as least in terms of live playback. The Prism has 5 elegant controls - Boost, Tone and Body knobs, and 3-way Gain and Boost Type Switches - for 3 modes Color / Treble Booster, Amp/Preamp, and Transparent/Clean. The Chase Bliss Audio Condor is also an excellent understudy here - as is Source Audio's new Zio.

Alt 1 : Crazy Tube Circuits Phi Golden Ratio V2 Triple Analog Compressor - €229
Alt 2 : Becos FX CompIQ Stella Pro Compression Pedal - €249
Alt 3 : DryBell Unit67 Compressor + EQ + Boost - €289

Alt 4 : Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Deluxe Compressor Pedal - £269

This is another Jackson Audio that I unsuccessfully tried to unseat - but there is nothing out there with the same smart footswitch controllability over Compressor Modes, EQ, and Swelling Boost - which I all use fully granularly all the time. Nearest equivalents are the Hamstead Zenith Amplitude Controller and DryBell Unit67 - but neither of those gets quite close enough. It's really about the granularity of application of those three functional modes on-the-fly. While if I just wanted a pure studio-style compressor, then I would likely go for the Becos FX CompIQ Stella Pro! The Bloom has 7 controls to go with its dual footswitches - Blooming Boost, 3-Band EQ, and Volume, Blend and Compression. This time around the new CTC Phi Golden Ratio - with its 3 analog circuits onboard takes the second spot!

Obviously we have the new Hotone variety for the Mini selection. I find it slightly odd that there aren't any more modern equivalents here - something like the Hotone with a screen and a couple or more controls - EQ etc. As it is the Boss AC-3 has become quite a traditional pedal and the only game at this enclosure size level as far as I can discern. The AC-3 has one dual-concentric knob out of the 4, for a total of 5 controls - Reverb, Level, Body, Top and Mode : Standard / Jumbo / Enhance / Piezo.

Alt 1 : Dr Scientist Frazz Dazzler - $219
Alt 2 : ThorpyFX The Boneyard Germanium Multi-Bender - discontinued -  £299
Alt 3 : Menatone Lawbender Germanium Face-Bender - $189

Alt 4 : Drunk Beaver Fluff Muff Style Fuzz with Octave and Linear Boost - $150

So I currently have around 350 or so fuzzes in my collection - so it's not really about ranking all those to preferences, but rather identifying which of those are the most versatile Multi-Fuzz style varieties - i.e. deliver some significant variety in voicing - either via Mode switch or multiple controls. So this is really a Multi-Voice / Multi-Fuzz category - where I can't think of anything more handy than the alas now discontinued Chase Bliss Audio Brothers - which gives you the widest range of fuzz voicings in the one box that I'm aware of. Some Brothers owners use it mostly as a Drive pedal - while I always have at least one Fuzz voicing active on one of it's two channels - and often both. The Brothers has 10 main controls + those 16 dip-switches on the top age. The key controls are Gain A and Tone A, Gain B and Tone B, Master, 3-way Boost/Drive/Fuzz selector for each channel, Stacking Options, A/B Mix, and 3-way Presets Toggle switch. My favourite fuzz overall is still probably the Dr Scientist Frazz Dazzler - while the ThorpyFX Boneyard is my current favourite Germanium type - followed by Menatone's Fuzz Face / Tone Bender straddling Law Bender.

Alt 1 :  Redbeard Angry Rhubarb Paradynamic Drive - £185

Alt 2 : ThorpyFX Peacekeeper Low Gain Overdrive - £215

Alt 3 : Neunaber Neuron Gain Intelligence - $259

This is quite a tough category really as there isn't a compact equivalent of the superb DSM & Humboldt Silver Linings. We really don't yet have any do-everything compact analog overdrives with multiple voicings and at least 3-Band EQ. Surely one will materialise at some stage. The Keeley Freak Fuzz Modded BD-2 Blues Driver is still my favourite all-time overdrive - with its 3 playback modes, superb Tone control, gain range, and guitar volume cleanup - has so many different voicings for its simplicity. The Redbeard Angry Rhubarb is genius with its single Parametric control. Also the ThorpyFX Peacekeeper is incredibly versatile. While I'm also still intrigued by the Neunaber DSP-based Neuron - which I've still to acquire. What I'd really like to see here is an analog overdrive with multiple voicings and at least 3-Band EQ. Hopefully DSM & Humboldt can do a streamlined compact version of their Silver Linings some day!

Alt 1 : Boss JB-2 Angry Driver Blues Driver + JCM800 - $214
Alt 2 : Dr Scientist The Elements Multi-Drive - $199
Alt 3 : Tsakalis Audio Works Room #40 Dual MIAB + Boost - €240

Would that there were more pedals like the Sinvertek N5+ 3D Gold - which oust the former N5+ in reaching even more extraordinary heights of amp-like dynamics and clarity. I still have a soft spot for the Boss / JHS / JB-2 Angry Driver with its pretty unique 3-way stacking options - including Parallel. The Dr Scientist Elements has always been a classic for me, and the recent Tsakalis Audio Works Room #40 Plexi / JCM800 + Boost is another classic in the making!

Alt 1 : Boss NS-2 Noise Supressor Alchemy Audio Edition - c£100
Alt 2 : REVV G8 Noise Gate - $199
Alt 3 : TC Electronic Sentry Noise Gate with TonePrint

My trusty old Alchemy Audio Modded Boss NS-2 has never let me down, while there are a slew of other more recent candidates that could perhaps do a little more for me - and where the new KMA Machines Pylon is the new king really with its smart feature set. All these are what I call 'Parallel Processing' Noise Gates - which is something Boss started off back in 1987 I believe. The new REVV G8 is pretty cool too, and I've always had a soft spot for the TCE Sentry. I don't feel I really need change up from the Modded NS-2 - but if I did these other 3 are what I would look into - starting with the Pylon!

Alt 1 : Alchemy Audio Modded Boss GE-7 7-Band Equalizer - $125

I'm actually in two minds here as my favourite ever compact EQ is the Alchemy Audio Modded Boss GE-7 - which was only relatively recently unseated by its more powerful EQ-200 sibling. While at the compact size - you'd have to say that Source Audio's EQ2 most definitely has the best feature set. I would prefer more of a touch-screen interface for hands-on tweaking of each of the 10 frequency bands - while currently you need to move the cursor along with a single control knob. A small touch-screen display would be perfect here. There are just 3 controls on the EQ2 - a main function rotary controller, a Select/Save button, and mini Output knob. This also doubles as a Noise Gate and Limiter, and even has an onboard Chromatic Tuner. I still question if a couple of more controls would not have made it a much better proposition. Having to navigate to a specific band to update it cannot compare with instantly nudging a slider on a Graphic EQ!

Alt 1 : PastFX MN3002 Chorus Ensemble Mini - $489
Alt 2 : VS Audio Alchemy Analog Chorus - €249
Alt 3 : Chase Bliss Audio Warped Vinyl MKII / Hi-Fi Analog Chorus / Vibrato - $349

Alt 4 : Walrus Audio Julianna Deluxe Stereo Chorus - $249

Alt 5 : Neunaber Inspire Stereo Tri-Chorus Plus - $249

There's no shortage of great analog choruses out there - where the recent Demedash T-60 is probably top of the pile for all the unique voicings it can deliver - including those really cool step-filter-like warbles. I'm currently really loving the PastFX MN3002 CEM, where the preset-assisted VS Audio Alchemy is also really clever - as is the Chase Bliss Audio Warped Vinyl - which was my number one Chorus for the longest time. There are several more I intend to get - including the Walrus Audio Julianna.

This pedal is best connected with my love of Prince, and the opening of Purple Rain specifically - where this is that phasey-chorusey sound - actually probably rather the SDD-320 Dimension D mode versus the core Dimension C algorithm. Has the easiest control interface of any chorus pedal - just 4 push-buttons / keys that can be selected individually or in pairs - to build up the intensity of the effect. TC Electronic has a cheap alternative in the guise of its '3D' which doesn't allow you to do the dual key-presses as far as I'm aware and is a comparatively poor take - not in fact the same effect at all. The DC-2W is very classic and distinctive style of chorus that Prince fans in particular should love!

Alt 1 : Chase Bliss Audio Spectre Thru-Zero Analog Flanger BKM - discontinued - $349 when new
Alt 2 : A/DA PBF Analog Flanger - $250
Alt 3 : PastFX Elastic Mattress MN3007 Analog BBD Flanger - $299 AUD

I've named this year the 'Year of the Flanger' while it actually seems to be more of a hangover of last year's 'Year of the Phaser' with mostly more new phasers so far this year. We do see the very recent launch of the PastFx Reticon Flanger - which has to be the top of the pile currently, while I of course love my perennial favourite Chase Bliss Audio Spectre, and A/DA PBF Analog Flanger. While I'm still contemplating if I need the PastFX Elastic Mattress too - I'm pretty much compelled to get that just on the basis of its fantastic moniker!

Alt 1 : Crazy Tube Circuits Cyclone 4-Mode Analog Phaser - €189
Alt 2 : Chase Bliss Audio Wombtone MKII Analog Phaser - discontinued - $349
Alt 3 : Mattoverse Just a Phase 8 WaveForm Analog Phaser - $209
Alt 4 : Spaceman Effects Compact Explorer 6 Stage Optical Phaser - $279

Last year was obviously the 'Year of the Phaser' while we still seem to be in the afterwave of that - with several more significant phasers released this year. Top of the pile for me is the Flower Pedals Castilleja - which smartly includes and alternative Uni-Vibe voicing. Long-term perennial favourites for me have been the CTC Cyclone, and CBA Wombtone before that. While I fully intend to get the new Spaceman Explorer too - and possibly even the Catalinbread Many Worlds!

Alt 1 : Chase Bliss Audio Gravitas Harmonic Tremolo - $349
Alt 2 : Spaceman Effects Delta II Harmonic Tremolo - $229
Alt 3 : Anasounds Ages Touch-Sensitive Harmonic Tremolo - €249
Alt 4 : Swindler Effects Red Mountain Stereo Harmonic Tremolo - $250
Alt 5 : Flower Pedals Dandelion Harmonic Tremolo - $249
Alt 6 : Walrus Audio Monument V2 Harmonic Tap Tremolo $199

My favourite formula of Tremolo is the harmonic variety - and the JAM Pedals Harmonious Monk sits at the top - with the deepest and juiciest texture of that style to-date. I also have and love the CBA Gravitas, Spaceman Delta II and Anasounds Ages. And the Swindler Red Mountain, Flower Pedals Dandelion and Walrus Audio Monument V2 have long been on my acquisitions list - exactly in that order of priority. I would really like to get the Red Mountain one next - as that has stereo output - which is rare for tremolos!

Alt 1 - JHS Pedals Unicorn V2 Analog Photocell Tap-Tempo Uni-Vibe - $219
Alt 2 - Dawner Prince Viberator Stereo Photocell Uni-Vibe - $300

I only got around to the Vibe Machine last year - for its 10 Year Anniversary V3 Version - and it was well worth the wait - just sublime Vibe Textures - with an incredibly rich feature set. That goes ahead of the tap-tempo JHS Unicorn V2, and where I still intend to get the Dawner Prince Viberator too - on account of its Stereo capabilities. These 3 are the cream of the crop of compact enclosure Uni-Vibes for sure!

Alt : DigiTech Ventura Vibe Rotary and Vibe - discontinued - c$150 when new

To my mind ROTARY is a 3D spatial effect which is only authentic if delivered in stereo. Which means there are fairly limited options - particularly in compact enclosure - where the Alexander Pedals Sugarcube is the only one still currently available. The DigiTech Ventura, and Hardwire TR-7 Stereo Tremolo / Rotary are long since discontinued.

Alt 1 : DOD Electronics Gonkulator Ring Modulator - discontinued - $159 when new
Alt 2 : Subdecay Vitruvian Mod Ring Modulator - $199

I'm not exactly the biggest fan of Ring Modulation - while this Trio does enough interesting things to mostly make it worthwhile. The only one here I've acquired to date is the Pigtronix Ringmaster - which with its overall really impressive 12 controls - including no less than 5 pairs of Dual-Concentric knobs. I may just get the DOD Gonkulator and Subdecay Vitruvian eventually - while there's no priority on that!

Alt 1 : Alexander Pedals Syntax Error Audio Computer System - $199
Alt 2 : Montreal Assembly Count to Five Granular Delay - $150
Alt 3 : The King Of Gear Mini Glitch Pedal (Stutter) - $180 
Alt 4 : Malekko Charlie Foxtrot Digital Buffer / Granular Pedal - $189
Alt 5 : MWFX Mini Judder 2K Stutterer - £165

There's plenty of choice for compact Glitch pedals - where this quintet probably leads the line - with the CBA MOOD at the head of this list. Perennial favourite CT5 from Montreal Assembly is a little opaque in its usability - which is why it goes behind the Syntax Error - whileI know for many it's still their favourite and leading variety.

Alt 1 : Boss DD-8 Digital Delay - $182
Alt 2 : Keeley ECCOS Stereo Flange Modulated Delay and Looper- $249
Alt 3 : TC Electronic Alter Ego V2 Vintage Echo - discontinued - €202
Alt 4 : Digitech Obscura Altered Stereo Delay - discontinued - $170

Alt 5 : Mooer D7 X2 Stereo Delay - c$160

I always feel that spatial and time-based effects are at their very best in stereo - which is what this selection is about. It's a combination of feature set, sounds and practicalities - like presets onboard etc. these 6 are the head of the pack really - with the D1 the most sophisticated overall!

Alt 1 : Boss RV-6 Stereo Multi-Mode Reverb - $171
Alt 2 : Neunaber Immerse MKII Reverberator - $249
Alt 3 : DigiTech Polara Stereo Multi-Mode Reverb - discontinued - $170

Alt 4 : TC Electronic Arena Reverb - €200
Alt 5 : Mooer R7 X2 Stereo Reverb - c$160

Same with the Reverbs as for the Delays - they even more so need to be Stereo output to fully generate that same sort of amtmosphere. Again the Walrus Audio Mako Series R1 is top of the pile here - but each of these others has its own distinct advantages. I tend to mostly use the larger workstations for Time-Based Effecst - so I don't have any of these yet. While the R1 is just the sort of thing I would be looking for - with multiple modes and presets onboard!

Alt 1 : Boss RC-5 Stereo Loop Station with Beats - $235
Alt 2 : Flamma FS01 Stereo Drum Loop - $128

I feel that there aren't enough high quality compact stereo loopers out there - especially with added beats! That would be my perfect candidate - with top-mounted jacks and all! I don't think that there is any disagreement that the Chase Bliss Audio Blooper is the most innovative and ambitious creative Looper of all time - while it is Mono playback only. For my rig I need an extended feature-set looper - ideally with beats onboard too. That's what the 2nd and 3rd options do well here, while I'm not sure those are quite at the heights of what is possible with today's technology. For my circumstances - it would really be the RC-5 here. Wile the only ones of these I have is the Blooper! Note that I also don't see the Blooper as a stompbox - it's really much more of a hands-on tabletop utility!

I'm a huge fan of Dunlop's Mini pedals - and I don't feel anyone else makes anything really at an equivalent level of quality and reliability. Some of the budget brands like Hotone have combined Volume / Expressions pedals too - while those are seemingly beset with reliability issues. I've looked around - and really can't see anything within the size range and of similar quality to the Dunlops - which is why I have no alternative here!

Seems like the magic price tag for Cab Sims these days is $399 with the 3 main contenders all at that same level - the newest Boss IR-200, Strymon Iridium, and of course Walrus Audio ACS1. For my money the Boss is the most complete, the Strymon the most popular typically, and the Walrus Audio the most practical - being full stereo and full-featured and still within compact enclosure. There is nothing else in a compact box that comes close to any of these. Which makes the Walrus Audio ACS1 the undisputed and uncontested champion of the compact pedals. We will surely have further options at some stage in the near future - while if you want a high quality Cab Sim at the compact size - you only really have the ACS1 to go for.