Bogner Ecstasy Blue Mini
The Bogner Ecstasy Blue Mini is an incredibly versatile pedal that offers a limitless range of tonal options, similar to the high-end amplifier it is based on. However, it can be a little difficult to dial in and operate due to the complex interactions between the various switches and controls.
Digitech Drop
The Digitech Drop is an amazing pedal from a company with a long track record of making pitch-shifting guitar pedals. If you ever want to play down-tuned songs, it is an absolutely essential tool for practising, gigging and even recording. It will save you so much time and money while letting you focus on actually playing your favourite songs.
Boss TR-2 Tremolo
The Boss TR-2 is a great guitar pedal for anyone looking to add tremolo effects to their playing. It is versatile, easy to use, and capable of producing a wide range of sounds. Whether you want a fast stuttering effect or a more organic tremolo sound, the TR-2 has you covered.
Boss TU-3 Tuner
The Boss TU-3 is a reliable and well-built tuner pedal, but there are better value options available on the market. If you can find a TU-3 second-hand or with a good discount, you will not be disappointed. I have no plans to replace mine any time soon. At full price though, consider other options from Korg and TC Electronic.
MXR Duke of Tone
The MXR Duke of Tone can't quite replicate the unique sound of the King of Tone, which requires two pedals and additional features to achieve. As an alternative to the Prince of Tone, however, the Duke of Tone is a worthy contender, offering the same sound at a more accessible price point.
TC Electronic Ditto Looper X2
Overall, the TC Electronic Ditto X2 Looper pedal is a versatile and reliable tool that offers a number of useful features for both recording and live use. Its user-friendly interface and impressive feature set make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to add looping capabilities to their pedalboard.
Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer
The Ibanez TS808 is an essential pedal for any guitarist looking to add some classic overdrive tones to their sound. Its iconic sound and build quality make it a great investment, despite its few quirks.
Boss OD-3
The OD-3 might just be the most underrated Boss pedal. At £99, nothing really comes close to the sound quality and versatility of this overdrive. It is also very easy to dial in a great guitar tone with it, as all the knob ranges will sound great! Just keep in mind that it is a very transparent overdrive, so don’t expect it to transform your tone!
Boss DS-1
The Boss DS-1 is not a very versatile pedal. If you want to push an already distorted amp even further, it will do the job, but it is not a great source of distortion on its own. At £65, it is priced just a little bit below its competition. There are however more versatile pedals out there that cost about the same and will do what the DS-1 does, but more and better.
Pedal Baby vs Powerstage vs Amped1
All three units we compared are incredibly versatile power amps. Either one of them will probably suit your needs with a bit of EQ tweaking. Because of this, the Orange Pedal Baby wins on price point alone!
Epiphone Les Paul Custom
The low price and great feature set mean that compromises had to be made somewhere. In this case, they compromised on fretwork and finishing. The guitar sounds very good and authentic, and with the right setup it can be a great player’s guitar too!
JHS 3 Series Screamer
The JHS Screamer is a very versatile and modern take on a Tube Screamer. It compares favourably to the more expensive Japan-made reissues by Ibanez, while offering enough extra features to consider it over the much cheaper Ibanez TS Mini.
Fender Player Stratocaster
The Fender Player Series Stratocaster is a rare case of getting much more than you pay for, especially when compared to the American Performer and Professional series. The guitars are extremely reliable and sound and play very well! You really can’t go wrong with picking up one of these.
Epiphone SG Custom
At £489, the Epiphone SG Custom is competing with some very high-quality Schecter and ESP LTD guitars that would not have such glaring quality control issues. That said, it is still a good player’s guitar, especially after a setup.
Xotic SP Compressor
The SP Compressor is on the pricier side, but in this instance you get what you pay for. The sound quality is a step above many other compression pedals. It is very easy to dial in a great tone and the small footprint ensures you will find space for it on your board.
Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail
The Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail is an incredible analog delay pedal. It is packed with unique features, built like a tank (in the U.S.A.) and sounds better than any analog delay I’ve tried. At £140 pounds, it is very competitive with other pedals.
Friedman Dirty Shirley
The Friedman Dirty Shirley is an extremely versatile pedal. Just like the amp of the same name, it will cover vintage Marshall and BE-100 distortion tones, as well as light gain scenarios. While primarily designed for hard rock and metal, it will do much more than that with unmatched clarity and response.
Boss DD-500
The Boss DD-500 is a best-in-class high-fidelity delay pedal and looper. After a bit of a learning curve, it will easily replace all your existing delay units.