Guitar pedals are compact effects units that shape and enhance a guitar’s sound, sitting between the instrument and the amplifier. They include gain pedals like overdrive and distortion, modulation effects such as chorus and tremolo, time-based effects like delay and reverb, and essential utilities including tuners, compressors and loopers. Understanding basic things such as pedal type, signal order, power requirements and intended use helps players choose pedals that suit their style, setup and playing environment.
The Important stuff
Amplification. Distortion — Distortion pedals deliver the raw, aggressive edge that defines rock and metal, transforming your clean tone into something powerful and full of attitude. By pushing your signal into rich harmonic saturation, they create thick, sustaining sounds that cut through any mix. From classic crunchy riffs to high-gain modern mayhem, distortion pedals give you total control over how wild or tight your tone gets. Whether you’re crafting searing leads or heavy rhythm walls, they’re an essential tool for adding energy, bite, and character to your playing.. Overdrive — Overdrive pedals add warmth, grit, and natural compression to your tone, capturing the feel of a pushed tube amp. They respond dynamically to your playing, offering everything from a light bluesy crunch to full, saturated rock tones. Perfect for boosting solos or shaping your core sound, an overdrive pedal brings character and life to any setup. Whether you prefer vintage smoothness or modern bite, these pedals are essential for players who want expressive, touch-sensitive drive with plenty of personality.. Pedal — Pedals are the tools that let you shape, colour and transform your sound, from subtle tone enhancement to bold, creative effects. Whether you are adding grit, space, movement or control, a pedal becomes part of your playing rather than just an add-on. Exploring different pedals is about discovering what responds to your touch and helps your sound feel more like your own.. preamp — A preamp is a stage in the signal chain that boosts the guitar’s signal and shapes its core tone before it reaches the power amp or recording interface. Preamp pedals and units can add gain, EQ, and character, helping define clarity, warmth, and drive while forming the foundation of a player’s overall sound.. v2.