How to Combine Different Guitar Pedals in a Unique Way
No matter if you're a beginner or an experienced guitar player, combining different effects is a topic that remains covered in mystery for most musicians. With the sheer number of pedals we have at our disposal nowadays, it may be daunting to explore the world of effect combination.
One thing is certain though: many of the most iconic guitar tones in history were made by combining two or more effects to achieve new soundscapes. In fact, most legendary players have their favorite combinations.
In this guide, we will explain how to combine different guitar effects plus explore some of the most famous pedal pairings in the history of music. Let's get started!
Classic and Creative Effect Combinations
Fuzz and Overdrive
This is the quintessential pairing in many styles of music. A fuzz can be paired with an overdrive to add sustain, power, and character to a distorted tone. This can be done with any pedal.
The most common way to pair both pedals is to put the fuzz in front of the overdrive, as it will allow for the overdrive to tame the distortion and give you a more controllable tone. Of course, the other way around can also be done if you're after a more rugged sound. Let's see an example of a potential pairing.
Spicy Pedals Jalapeno Screamer + BLAMMO! Electronics L.A. Square Face
A great pairing would be the Jalapeño Screamer (a Tube Screamer inspired overdrive) and the Square Face Fuzz (inspired by the Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face). Such a combination is quite versatile and can help you achieve anything from Hendrix to late 80s Stevie Ray Vaughn inspired tones.
Alternative: Humanoid FX Goblin
If you're on a budget, the Humanoid FX Goblin is a solid option, as it combines high-quality overdrive, fuzz, and distortion in a single unit for $100 (by the time this article was written). This pedal is very responsive thanks to its wideband EQ and two high-gain silicon transistors.
Fuzz and Distortion
If you want to go a step further and achieve an even dirtier tone, using a distortion with a fuzz instead of an overdrive can get you there. The theory is the same, putting your fuzz in front of the distortion will make the second pedal act as a boost for a tone that cuts through the mix easily and is perfect for solos. Here is a pairing example.
Joe Gore Gross Distortion + Mojo Hand FX One Ton Bee
This combination is not for the faint of heart. If you want to achieve some real grittiness without losing total control over your tone, the Gross Distortion and its many parameters and possible combinations can help you sculpt your sound more precisely when put in front of the One Ton Bee.
Alternative: IK Multimedia AmpliTube X-Drive
If you really want to dive deep into the world of stacking overdrive, distortion, and fuzz, the X-Drive can help you achieve virtually infinite tones, with 16 built-in effects and an ability to switch through presets on the fly. An excellent option if you're unsure about what pedals to pair or if you're looking for the most versatile option.
Fuzz and Wah
One of the most beloved and classic combinations in rock n roll is a fuzz and a wah. Heard on countless records from Jimi Hendrix to John Frusciante, you can use the wah to either give the fuzz some character or make it sound more expressive.
With this pairing, the position of each pedal is up to taste, and both are frequently done. A classic way to do this combination is to keep the wah pedal in a middle position while the fuzz is engaged, giving your tone a mid-range-heavy vibe that's perfect for riffs and solos.
BMF Effects Wah + BLAMMO! Electronics P2P Tone Bender MKii
You can, for example, pair the BMF Effects Wah with a Tone Bender Mkii style fuzz, such as this one from BLAMMO! Electronics. The result is a tone that's even dirtier than what the fuzz unit can offer alone. It can also sound very expressive depending on your skills with the wah pedal.
Alternative: Hotone Audio Ampero One
The Hotone Audio Ampero One is a compact multi-fx unit that features an expression pedal and can be an excellent option if you're on a budget, thanks to its affordable price. You can even use it as a full-rig, without the need for any other pedals.
Overdrive/Distortion and Chorus
A chorus pedal can be combined with any other effect to thicken your tone and give it some texture, but it sounds particularly good when combined with overdrive and distortion. This is a combination that was heavily explored in the 1980s and 1990s by acts such as Van Halen.
Guitarists playing genres other than hair metal and grunge can also reap the benefits of this combo. If you play shoegaze, for example, the distortion and modulation combination is a classic.
Danelectro Roebuck Distortion + Mojo Hand FX Swim Team
Here is a potential pairing that sounds pretty good: the Danelectro Roebuck Distortion and the Mojo Hand FX Swim Team. The Roebuck Distortion is based on the Japanese-made MOSFET from the 1990s, so paired with a chorus it can easily deliver some grunge tones reminiscent of the decade.
Alternative: Hotone Audio Ampero Mini
While we couldn't find any pedals that combine distortion and chorus, the Hotone Audio Ampero Mini can get you there, as it's a superb multi-fx unit with many built-in effects and presets.
Chorus and Reverb
Getting into the world of modulation and time-based effects, the chorus and reverb combination is a tried-and-tested classic present on many records throughout history, frequently used not only on guitar but also on other instruments such as vocals.
In this pairing, the chorus pedal usually goes before the reverb. You can also easily find reverb pedals that incorporate chorus, which can be a great option to save space on your pedalboard or if you're on a budget.
BMF Effects Liquid Sky Chorus + EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo
A great way to reap the benefits of this combination is to pair a chorus like the Liquid Sky from BMF Effects with a more vintage-sounding spring reverb like the EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo. The result is an ambience with more texture than what the reverb is capable of doing alone.
Alternative: Wonderful Audio Technology Ancient Echoes
The Wonderful Audio Technology Ancient Echoes is a pedal that combines delay, modulation, and reverb, so it gives you plenty of options to choose from. With this pedal, you can achieve anything from subtle modulated ambiance to crazy cavernous soundscapes. A perfect choice if you're into experimental and ambient music.
Chorus and Delay
Similarly to chorus and reverb, chorus and delay is also a match made in heaven. The pairing can produce some pretty unique effects and is a particularly great choice if you're after some experimental tones, or simply looking to give a bit of texture to your delay.
The combination is usually done by putting the chorus in front of the delay, though you can experiment with different positions. Let's see an example.
Mojo Hand FX Swim Team + Death By Audio Micro Dream
A great pair to try is the Mojo Hand FX Swim Team and the Death By Audio Micro Dream, both pedals sound really good together, with the former also featuring a flanger mode, and the delay featuring up to 1k of reflection time, plenty to experiment with.
Alternative: Cusack Music Tap-a-Delay
The Cusack Music Tap-a-Delay has many features to keep you busy for a long time, including a modulation section with 8 different effects to choose from and unique effects such as the brake mode. An excellent choice if you're looking to save some space on your pedalboard.
Vibrato and Delay
A vibrato, when paired with a time-based effect such as delay, can yield great results. With this combination, you can emulate a tape-like warble tone that's perfect for lo-fi music and indie pop with jangly chords.
A similar result can also be achieved by combining a chorus pedal with a delay, but with a vibrato, the effect will be more pronounced. Try putting the vibrato before the delay first, but don't be afraid to change things up.
Joe Gore Purr Vibrato + EarthQuaker Devices Silos Pedal
The Joe Gore Purr Vibrato and the EarthQuaker Devices Silos Delay are two pedals that work well together. The Silos has three distinct echo modes, and putting a vibrato in front of it will allow you to squeeze even more tone and texture from the unit.
Alternative: Demedash Effects T-60
The Demedash Effects T-60 is a delay that features a very complex modulation section. While we wouldn't recommend this pedal for purists, it's a superb choice for experimental-inclined players.
Delay and Reverb
What better way to finish our list than with a combination of this time-based dynamic duo? When paired, a delay and reverb can do wonders to your tone, no matter if you plan on using the effects sparingly or going all in into experimental territory.
With this particular pairing, there is no magic formula: you'll have to test if for yourself, but we guarantee that you'll most likely find a tone you dig. One thing to keep in mind is that putting the delay before the reverb gives you a more natural-sounding tone in most cases, but of course, feel free to experiment.
Line 6 DL4 MkII Delay + Death By Audio Rooms
By combining the Line 6 DL4 MkII delay and the Death By Audio Rooms reverb you can achieve virtually infinite possibilities of ambience effects. Both pedals have a lot of parameters to play with, the latter having 6 different reverb modes going from subtle to extreme soundscapes.
Alternative: Mojo Hand FX Park Theatre
If you're on a budget or simply want to save space on your pedalboard, the Mojo Hand FX Park Theatre is a great option, featuring a realistic reverb and a delay. Although the delay only goes up to 365ms of time, it still offers a myriad of tone possibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Stack Similar Effects Like Two Overdrive Pedals?
Yes! Stacking two overdrives, for example, can create rich textures and more nuanced gain stages. The practice is perfect for achieving a unique tone that you otherwise wouldn't be able to get with a single pedal.
Will Stacking Too Many Pedals Cause Noise Issues?
Yes, it is possible that stacking too many pedals causes noise issues, especially if you're pairing multiple high-gain pedals together. Make sure to control the gain wisely and consider using a noise-gate to tame your tone.
How Can I Maintain Tone Clarity When Stacking Multiple Pedals?
A great tip to maintain tone clarity when stacking multiple pedals is to use a buffer pedal or to strategically place true bypass units in your setup. This will help maintain signal strength when you're using too many effects at once.
Conclusion
Combining effects allow you to achieve unique tone possibilities and can lead you to great sound discoveries. While we covered the most common and famous pedal pairings in our article, there are many more potential combinations to explore, so make sure to experiment as much as possible.
Last but not least, thank you for reading this article! Below is a recap of every pedal mentioned in our post.
|
Effect |
Pedal |
Price |
|
Overdrive |
$150.00 |
|
|
Fuzz |
$164.99 |
|
|
Overdrive/Fuzz |
$100.00 |
|
|
Distortion |
$289.00 |
|
|
Fuzz |
$125.00 |
|
|
Overdrive/Distortion/Fuzz |
$329.99 |
|
|
Wah |
$239.00 |
|
|
Fuzz |
$199.99 |
|
|
Multi-FX |
$299.99 |
|
|
Distortion |
$199.00 |
|
|
Chorus/Flanger |
$159.00 |
|
|
Multi-Fx |
$229.99 |
|
|
Chorus |
$249.00 |
|
|
Reverb |
$199.00 |
|
|
Reverb/Delay |
$225.00 |
|
|
Delay |
$200.00 |
|
|
Delay |
$195.00 |
|
|
Vibrato |
$219.00 |
|
|
Delay |
$149.00 |
|
|
Delay |
$300.00 |
|
|
Delay |
$299.99 |
|
|
Reverb |
$395.00 |
|
|
Reverb/Delay |
$149.00 |
You can check these and many other pedals in our store!
More Interesting Reads:
Modulation Pedals Explained: A Guide to Finding the Perfect Effects Unit
Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz Pedals | Understanding the Differences
How to Set Up Your Pedalboard | Guitar Pedal Order Explained
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