Who is building the best Pedals, Strymon? or......chime in please

[Nashville76]

It seems like everywhere I turn people are talking about Strymon pedals: El Capistan, Brigadir, Blue Sky.....and on and on.

It used to be Zvex and Fulltone.

So, who's making the best pedals overall right now. Thanks!

[StopReferencing]

Jbrazz.

[groovetube]

depends on what youre talking about

personally i'd go with fulltone for dirt, and strymon for modulation+timebased effects whatever

application is really the issue here.............


Not to hijack the thread at all, but have you (anyone?) checked out VFE pedals?


do yourself a favor and look up VFE pedals. it is a boutique company run by a gifted electronics engineer/guitarist who makes gorgeous sounding pedals. Oh, and each one is like $100!!!!!!!!!!!!! he is undiscovered right now, but i know once his stuff hits the fan it'll be worth triple. Great pedals, and no i am not even remotely affiliated either. just sayin.

[R_S_G_7]

I would say there are a lot of pedal makers who have a couple good pedals not just a couple that rule supreme. Tons of dirt from a lot of different makers, same a delays etc.

[dcmak5]

the hottest trend isn't necessary the "best" pedal on the market

[rockstarzusa]

I've really been impressed with various Diamond pedals offerings (Memory Lane, Vibrato, Compressor) I also like Empress effects (Superdelay, Tremolo) I'm really new to Strymon, but actually playing through them yesterday, they really are offering some new twist and place of relevance in a busy boutique market (which is no small feat). Nuenaber-who make the WET reverb, really really impressed me as well. I wouldn't look to one builder, many builders offer at least 1-2 pedals in their lineup which can be identified as breakout hits or game changers for them ....or the category of pedal they belong to ie, Empress Vintage Modified Superdelay as an example.

I think what we are seeing is a second golden age of pedals where some clever technicians or companies are bursting onto the scene and are offering either new effects, excellent updates or realism to older analog or digital effects, and a general steering back to a time where pedals are generally 'hip' again.

[jakeowen]

Well you see, these new flavor of the month pedals come out, and everyone gets themselves all in a tissy over them, creating all this hype, lots of threads get started, so everyone thinks it is the newest bestest thing out there, which far surpasses everything that came before it. It is not like the maker studied everything that was good that came out prior, and incorparated all that and more into his pedal. It's just the next guys take on a particular effect. Every effect is going to sound different with every amp and guitar combo, and even your other effects, so there really can never be a "best," except best for your rig, or style or particular needs. Don't confuse newest, or most hyped, with best.

But as far as guitars go, the 1983 Strat Elite IS THE BEST, now somebody buy this thing so I can eat!

[green88fender]

I just got a JHS All American off ebay and wow! I have never played a more flexible and yet musical overdrive in my life! I'm getting tones out of a my neck lace sensor I never thought possible. It sounds nothing like the other $200 range of pedals out there now. Sooo right now i'd have to say JHS and Strymon.
Strymon, for the El capistan alone.
JHS, because Josh has a serious knowledge of how to make FUN pedals that are useful and very different.

[jimtaka]

Diamond and Empress are the two companies putting out the most impressive pedals recently imo.

[KevinFinn]

I think there is so much available and to such a variety of wants... It might be tough to ever crown a champ. There isn't one.

I do know, however, that Rothwell is ridiculously overlooked and underappreciated on this board system.

[green88fender]

the Hellbender could put the OCD out of commission.

[fieldsroyal]

IMO the finest dirt pedals are made by menatone so many classic circuits not flavour of the month though

[lux_interior]

DAM is teh bestest.

[Boytbpc]

Nobody is the best at everything, but if I could only have 1 company on my board it would be a toss up between Analogman or Fulltone, not exciting answers but quality stuff.

[peridot1]

With all the boutique makers out there there's no way I have enough money to find out who's the best. Wampler ended my dirt search but like there's dozens I haven't tried. Just don't feel any need to too now. I'm happy with Strymon on delay/reverb.

[overture2005]

imo
BJFE, DAM, KINGSLEY, BROWN TONE

[Muse FTW]

I still think Z.Vex is doing a great job, but it's undeniable that Strymon makes damn good pedals.

[spentron]

the hottest trend isn't necessary the "best" pedal on the market

:horse

(The best doesn't have to be more than one, but if this was total it would have to be Digitech or Line 6.)

[traviswalk]

Boss. Hey, who sells more pedals than Boss does, must mean they are the best!?

:rimshot

[Csgband]

I have been digging Stigtronics, I am using the Trem and chorus.
Very Very good.
I do love my Strymon's

[BTBAM]

get pedals

use pedals

rock

profit?

doesn't matter what. the "newest" or "best" thing doesn't mean it will be the "perfect" tool in certain applications

[sanhozay]

The Pedal Olympics scored by the population at TGP is never anything but individual preference. However, if the pedal builders were to pool their votes exclusively - that would be sorta kinda interesting to learn.

[Wolfboy1]

I gotta fess....pound for pound, dollar for dollar I seriously think the Digitech Hardwire are the best pedals on the market. The delay DL-8, reverb RV-7, chorus and the 2 dirt boxes (CM-2 and SC-2) are all REALLY good sound ing pedals with lots of tonal options. Plus the knobs and construction on these things is fantastic. You can do different but you really can't do much better :hide2

[bjjp2]

It seems like everywhere I turn people are talking about Strymon pedals: El Capistan, Brigadir, Blue Sky.....and on and on.

It used to be Zvex and Fulltone.

So, who's making the best pedals overall right now. Thanks!

I'll still go with BJF.

[ES330]

Hmmm... who's the best builders ??

For every 50 responses, I'm sure you'll get at leat 100 opinions...

[splatt]

different pedals by different builders, for different purposes.
IOW?
there is no best, only what's best for you, personally, for what you do.....
which is subject to change.

i currently use pedals by:
PTD
TC
skreddy
lovepedal
guyatone
goodrich
boss
frostwave
crowther
matt wells
BJF

incoming:
neunaber
hexeguitar

dt / spltrcl

[sabby]

IMO the finest dirt pedals are made by menatone so many classic circuits not flavour of the month though

There's a ton of quality out there. This isn't really rocket science, folks. But in terms of top shelf-quality and sound tuned to what my ear likes, I have to agree with the above statement.

[andy888]

+1 on diamond and empress.

[minorbravo]

I've never heard of any pedals made by chime in please.

[Jet Age Eric]

I still think Solid Gold FX does dirt as well as (if not better than) anyone. Thus far the Superdrive has kept Tim, KOT, and Eternity off my board. I adore the Agent 13 fuzz and my custom Sonic Boom (muff), and plan on buying the Nitro. PGS has demos of his analog delay (fantastic sounding and cool feedback function but I need tap) and mod pedals, and Gearmanndude has demo'ed some of the dirt pedals (Agent 13 demo is seriously flawed because he really needed to play with the bias knob):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePTmIQW6MWo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Je0QAKz1M (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Je0QAKz1M)

-E

[muffinMan74]

Strymon are certainly the TGP favorite lately, aren't they? They definitely did their homework, not just in product development but in marketing to their target demographic; the tease, the slight reveal, another slight reveal, oh the drama! Some folks just eat that up, or else bite on the impossibly glowing reviews. They'll come back down to sanity soon enough, or find another darling to put the steam in their stride. It seems to go in cycles. Grain of salt, YMMV, find out for yourself, buy not on hype alone, etc.

[73171]

There's lots of great pedal makers today....just to limit this to pedals that I actually own:

Effectrode
Keeley
Strymon
Hardwire
Jacques
Creation Audio Labs

....and this one is dirt cheap and loads of fun:

The EHX Little Big Muff !!



....and I'm still hoping that Eventide will make a Reverbfactor......

[bsic]

For good ol' 100% handmade, 100% analog, cool paint, solid construction, killer tonez... BJFE is the way to go!

[Rowz]

In my opinion after tried a lot pedals.
Bjfe, Mark Alf from Skreddy pedals, Ed Rembold from Toneczar, Chris Campbell from Rockbox, Steve from Empress and Pete Cornish are some of the greatest designer/engineer pedals.

I hate strymon pedals;)

[Overdriver18]

In my opinion after tried a lot pedals.
Bjfe, Mark Alf from Skreddy pedals, Ed Rembold from Toneczar, Chris Campbell from Rockbox, Steve from Empress and Pete Cornish are some of the greatest designer/engineer pedals.

I hate strymon pedals;)

Why do you hate them?

[dohootowl]

I just got a JHS All American off ebay and wow! I have never played a more flexible and yet musical overdrive in my life! I'm getting tones out of a my neck lace sensor I never thought possible. It sounds nothing like the other $200 range of pedals out there now. Sooo right now i'd have to say JHS and Strymon.
Strymon, for the El capistan alone.
JHS, because Josh has a serious knowledge of how to make FUN pedals that are useful and very different.

Tell me more! I have a Strat Plus with gold lace sensors as my main axe. Give me some details on your All American! You can pm me. Right now, I'm using a Tim and a DLS, but still haven't found some of the dirt I'm looking for. Also, let me know what amp you're using--that's always a factor.

[Meriphew]

Another vote for Diamond.

[jguitarnash]

Paul Cochrane makes the best stuff out there. The Timmy and Tim are absolutely fantastic.

[candletears7]

This thread is silly.
Best at what?
Looks? The sound through your amp? Best amount of hype? Hyped amound of best? Makes you look the best in the 'Showoff your pedalboard thread?'
Makes you feel the best when you buy it?

Maxon make solid pedals that sound great out of the box. But I found their overdrives to be really dry through some rigs, fantastic through others.
I played a silver Marshall Vibratrem that was a boatload of fun for an hour today...
BYOC kits are brilliant for people starting to begin the world of DIY, to make a pedal to the best of your ability. But to some people, kits ain't pedals, just a 'bunch of parts'.
For ingenuity and beasty-ness I would look at Farndurk and Soulsonic. But some people will hate those sounds/looks etc.

Best is too subjective a term to pigeonhole anything.

[roquero]

for fuzz- my pick is Basic Audio
for OD / Distortion- Rockbox
for modulation- Strymon, Empress, Bigfoot
and for versatility- Malekko, Subdecay, Frommel

[rsm]

Who's building the best pedals? The makers of pedals on my boards.
Who's building the worst pedals? The makers of pedals not on my boards.

:crazyguy

IOW, so many choices from great builders...tough to say who's best IMO, just what works for you.

:D

[10strings]

For me:
Compression = Diamond
Modulation = Strymon
Drives = Barber
Di's = Radial

[ERGExplorer]

As others have noticed, the original post only allows one to have a narrow-minded world view. If one's favorite pedal was the Electro-Harmonix HOG, then there would be no question that EHX is the best pedal builder, no? *laugh* There's a few synth pedals on the market, but Strymon isn't among the builders, just as Strymon doesn't make a basic overdrive pedal.

On the plus side, it's always gratifying to see that my worldview isn't as narrow as that of some in comparison....

[cj_wattage]

As many have pointed out, "best" is kind of a loose term. I think OP is asking about "current TGP darling" rather than build quality or tone.

In the latter case, yes, Strymon is the "best".

In the former case, I'd have to go with Electro-Harmonix. They have a full product range (ie - not just 18 kinds of fuzz), the pedals are generally very well made, they make wacky stuff for the noise and ambient crowd, and the pricing is very reasonable...with no wait list.

Also, a few of their products (Muff, Small Stone, Small Clone) are the genesis for a sizeable portion of the boutique pedal market. They've got a lot of people standing on their shoulders.

[Painasusual]

What a weird thread. It's like asking who makes the best food. I vote everybody except z-vex.

[feedbacker89]

my favorite builders :

D*A*M
Skreddy
Strymon
Lovepedal
Wampler
Himmelstrutz
OKKO
Menatone
Blackout Effectors

[Rocket Brother]

Skrydstrup

[hathisisfunnyha]

TONECZAR!!!

[Cheap Trick]

Electro-Harmonix