By: Eric Nail – Guitar Instructor | Olympia/Dupont
As a studio, we work with many beginning guitarists. Here are five pedals I suggest you pick up to get your pedal board started.
1. Volume Pedal
The volume pedal should be the first or last pedal in your rig. Depending on whether or not you like the pedal to act like a overall volume cut (after all your pedals) , or the knob on your guitar (before all your pedals). Try both to see how you like it! I’d suggest you run your tuner out of this same pedal. You will usually see an extra output from your volume pedal specifically designed for a tuner.
Ernie ball VP/VP Jr. – $89.99-$109.99
2. Tuner Pedal
Keeping your guitar in tune is just the start of your guitar playing. Having a good, solid tuner is an important part of any setup. The Boss Chromatic Tuner is a great option and will work on any instrument that can plug into it. It is very versatile and great option when considering a tuner pedal.
Boss TU-2 Tuner – $99.99
3. Overdrive Pedal
The subject of gain, overdrive and distortion can be confusing for a beginner. They are all kind of the same thing. Gain is usually referred to as the control. It is marked “gain” on your amp and pedals and controls how much drive you give the pedal or amp. It controls how distorted you want it. Distortion is a heavy sounding drive/gain effect that is usually used in metal music, or harder rock. Overdrive is a softer version of distortion. Harmonically enriched, crunch, is probably the best way to describe it.
Ibanez Ts9 Overdrive – $99.99
4. Delay Pedal
Delay is a trailing…delay effect. Think the Edge from U2. His signature Dotted 8th Delay sound is from a simple delay pedal.
Another option is an Analog delay pedal. Electro harmonix makes a really great little pedal if you’re not worried about timing (it doesn’t have a tap tempo). It was made after the classic Memory Boy or Memory Man delay pedals.
Boss Digital Delay(DD) 3 – $99.99(used) – $139.99(new) – I’d suggest finding it used at the local shop,
or craigslist it if the $139.99 price tag is too high for your budget.
Electro Harmonix Memory Toy – $103.50
5. Wah Pedal
I use the Wah Wah Pedal a lot. One of the songs that you hear this prominently used in is “Voodoo Child” by Jimi Hendrix.
Jim Dunlop Cry Baby wah – $69.99 (extremely popular pedal…find it used)
There are many more pedals to consider. These are just a few suggestions to get you started.