Playing the electric guitar is an expensive hobby and people can often spend hundreds of dollars without even meaning to. A Guitar pedal is an essential accessory for all guitar players. And oftentimes this device can be extremely expensive, especially if you are just a beginner and don’t know which set of features you need or want in a guitar pedals. There are many different types of guitar pedals that give different kinds of sounds and amplify different aspects of a guitar player’s skills. Hence, it is extremely important to choose the best one for you. As a good guitar pedal is subjective, In this list of the best guitar pedals under $100 that are of different types. And it is evident that you don’t need expensive accessories to sound good. Note: As an Amazon Associate, We earn from qualifying purchases.
1. BOSS Distortion Guitar Pedal
The BOSS distortion Guitar effects pedal is a high-quality guitar pedal that allows you to level your tone. It boasts a bold new sound and a hard-edged attack and a smooth sustain. The distortion provided by this guitar pedal is used by guitarists everywhere. It works great as a booster at a low distortion setting which is another bonus. It has a modest 3 knob interface that allows many different sounds to be coaxed from it, The distortion knob offers an extremely wide range from mild boosts to a full-throttle gain that is ideal for monster riffs. This guitar pedal has a powerful tone shaping feature that allows you to dial in everything from tight cutting rhythm sounds to smooth fat lead voices. All these features make it one of the best guitar pedals for under $100.
What we like
- Genre defining distortion
- Gain from mild to heavy
- Powerful tone shaping
What we don’t like
- Does not have a rich low end zone
2. MXR Dyna Comp Guitar Pedal
The MXR Dyna Comp Guitar effects peal is a high-quality guitar pedal that features an inline compressor that evens out the signal to your amplifier. It is extremely useful for allowing increased sustain with stable dynamics that help make your guitar sound even better. This device is made in accordance with the Nashville studio standard thus proving that is effective and durable. It has a single 9-volt battery that gives a constant output signal along with good sensitivity control and a superb tone. It has all the key elements of a decent guitar pedal that allow it to give your guitar sound a little more boost to help it sound better than ever. All these features make this device one of the Best Guitar Pedals under $100.
What we like
- High quality
- Meets professional standard
- Allows sustain with stable dynamics
- Sound is even, loud and clea
What we don’t like
- Knobs are loose
3. Rowin Plexion Distortion Guitar Pedal
This classic Rowin Plexion distortion guitar pedal is one that mirrors the original Plexi amps. It has 2 working modes that are normal and bright. The Bright channel allows you to create music that resembles that of classic rock to late the 80s and early 90s. It varies depending on how much gain you wish to apply. The Normal channel, despite its name, is nothing ordinary. It allows you to adjust the gain, tone, and volume dials to get your desired output. This guitar pedal has a solid built as it is made of high-quality Zinc-alloy that is durable and sturdy. It’s small size also makes it extremely portable and convenient to use on the go. All these features make it one of the best guitar pedals out there.
What we like
- 2 working modes for versatility
- Solid Construction
- Portable
- Durable
What we don’t like
- Does not include proper instructions
4. NUX Recto Distortion Guitar Pedal
The NUX Recto Distortion Guitar Pedal allows you to add a heavy distortion sound with tight bass response. It has a pure analog circuit that allows the device to simulate that typical American pre-amp high gain tome that was popular in the 90s. It has an extra amount of gain boost to the higher frequency due to which there is a more upfront distortion effect if that is what you are in the search for. Housing a true-bypass Hardware switching feature, it is built with high-quality material that makes it one of the best guitar pedals for under $100. This guitar pedal is a testament to the fact that you do not need to spend hundreds of dollars for a good quality product.
What we like
- Heavy distortion sound with tight bass response
- Simulates the typical American pre-amp high gain tone from the 90s.
- True Bypass hardware switching
What we don’t like
- Knobs are flimsy
5. Compressor Guitar Pedal
This high-quality Compressor Guitar Pedal by Compressor is a fully analog circuit that has a true bypass. This allows for a broader adjustable range that is desirable by all guitar players. It houses an LED indicator that shows the status of the effect. It is powered by an AC adapter that rids the use of batteries completely. The rubber pads installed on the backside enhance stability and prevent skidding. Made of reliable quality, it is built from a high-quality aluminum alloy that is durable. This affordable guitar pedal is proof that you do not need to spend a lot of money to get a good device like this. Its mini size makes it portable and hence, one of the best guitar pedals under $100.
What we like
- True Bypass
- LED indicator
- Anti-skid
- Reliable quality
- Does not require batteries
What we don’t like
- Needs experimenting to understand it fully
6. EarthQuaker Device Guitar Pedals
The Earth Quaker Guitar Pedal is an all-analog approach to a classic tube-like overdrive circuit. It allows you to have 3 different clipping voices. It lowers noise that allows you to have better signal integrity and more chime in the high end. Having loads of headroom and an almost three-dimensional clarity, it pushes your amp over the edge. The tone control that this device offers is finely tuned to sculpt low end, clear high end, and focus midrange with blooming sustain. All these features make this guitar pedal one of the best guitar pedals for under $100. This device by Earth Quaker is proof that you do not need an expensive guitar pedal to showcase your true potential.
What we like
- All analogue approach
- Lower noise
- Loads of headroom
- 3 different clipping voices
- Reimagined tone control
What we don’t like
- Inputs and outputs are poorly designed.
7. MXR M101 Phase 90 Guitar Pedal
This MXR M101 Phase 90 Guitar pedal has been a mainstay on the pedalboards of millions of musicians around the world. This guitar pedalboard can work through all genres of music to provide you with a distinctly lush voice to your tone palette. It has a simple utilitarian design that is tough and rugged. It provides you with a rich, warm, and tone that is desirable than many. Adding a shimmery velocity and dramatic smoothness to your tone and will make sure that the tone produced is exactly how you want it to be. This affordable Guitar pedal is almost as good if not more than its expensive counterparts and is an absolute steal. One that will perform just as well and not dent your pocket. Hence, it is one of the best guitar pedals under $100.
What we like
- Rich, warm analog tone
- Adds dramatics nd shimmery velocity to your tone
- Beautiful utilitarian design
What we don’t like
- Sound lacks definition.
8. JOYO JF-06 Vintage Guitar Pedal
The JOYO JF-06 Vintage Guitar Pedalboard is a trusted device that is able to replicate the sound of phaser guitars from the 70s and 80s. It has an excellent tone guitar effect pedal with a true bypass that provides a transparent tone that minimizes tone loss to keep the tone quality at its best. This device is made of whole aluminum-alloy housing that has a varnish finish and small LED flash indicators that light up when the device is on. The JOYO Vintage guitar pedal is an extremely affordable guitar pedal that allows you to alter the tone of your heart’s content without spending a lot of money. It is stable and small hence, one of the best guitar pedals under $100.
What we like
- Replicates sound of phaser guitars from the 70s and 80s
- High quality built
- Durable
- LED indicator
What we don’t like
- Noisy
9. SanJune GB-CP Optical Compressor Guitar Pedal
This high-quality SanJune GB-CP Optical Compressor Guitar Pedal is designed to be a professional studio compressor in a compact pedal form. It is extremely simple to use yet extremely powerful as it has the ability to take an instrument such as an electrical guitar or bass guitar and amplifiers or compresses it and restores the average volume later on. The PhotoOptical compressor is what gives this guitar pedal a unique character. It makes an instrument sound denser which is what most musicians want. Due to all these features, it is one of the best guitar pedals under $100. This device is a testament to the fact that a high price does not always mean quality, as this highly inexpensive guitar pedal works just as well as the more expensive ones.
What we like
- Simple to use
- Professional studio quality
- Makes the instrument sound denser
- Durable
What we don’t like
- Knobs are flimsy and may have to be taped down
10. EX-Ambience Echo Mini Guitar Pedal
This Guitar pedal by EX-Ambiance is one that provides a unique and intense ambiance echo effect, with soft and natural sound. It features four functional knobs including a level knob, tone knob, rate knob, and a repeat knob that allows for maximum control over the tone. This device is compact yet powerful and also has an analog circuit and a true bypass which means that the input jack is connected directly to the output when the pedal is switched off. Made of high-quality materials, it has 1/4 inch input and output jacks and an AC adapter on top of the unit. At an extremely affordable price, it is as capable as its more expensive competitor and hence, one of the best guitar pedals under $100.
What we like
- Unique and intense ambiance echo effect
- Features 4 knobs
- Compact and powerful analog circuit
What we don’t like
- Flimsy knobs
Conclusion
Guitar pedals are extremely important for budding and professional guitarists but not all of them can afford expensive pedals. Guitar pedals are used to help change the tone of your guitar and can be extremely useful for those who play around with guitar sounds. Choosing the right guitar pedal is also of utmost importance thus you should choose the one that suits you the most. The guitar pedals in the list above prove that you do not need expensive ones to create the sound you desire.
BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR PURCHASE!
Buyer’s Guide
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Use of a Guitar pedal
Guitar effects are very popular in the music industry and oftentimes guitarists want that extra boost and change in tone. This may help enhance their tone and the sound that their guitar produces. A guitar pedal is very useful in that case. They are usually in the form of foot pedals with knobs, buttons, and switches. Placed on the floor for easy access. Often times guitarists have multiple guitar pedals that are arranged on a custom-made pedalboard so they can produce any sound they want at a moment’s notice. They often kick on the pedals to enable or disable a particular one.
These guitar pedals manipulate the sound of your guitar tones and allow you to create special sound effects. This helps improve your overall sound or help produce the exact effect you want your tone to have. They also help in eliminating unwanted noises that result in your sound is polished and clear sounding. They work with electric, bass, acoustic guitars, while some can even work well with keyboards. There are a lot of different kinds of guitar pedals but one must choose them based on what effect they are looking for.
There are many kinds of guitar pedals out there like distortion pedal, overdrive pedal, a fuzz pedal, delay pedal, reverb pedal, Chorus pedal, etc. Each produces a different tone to have a different effect on the listener. Few other things to consider when choosing a guitar pedal are the size, quality, the type of sound produced, and how it would fit into your pedalboard. They are often expensive but many cheap ones work just as well if not better. In the list above, you can find the best guitar pedals under $100. They provide quality of tone, durability, and ease of use to help you sound whatever way you want without hurting your bank account.
2. Pedals & Effects Types
There are many kinds of guitar pedals and each and every one of them has a different setup that allows it to produce a different kind of sound. As each person has their own preference, they should choose a guitar pedal that helps your guitar produce the sound that appeals to you the most. Some of the popular Guitar pedals are distortion pedal, overdrive pedal, a phaser pedal, delay pedal, reverb pedal, and octave pedal among many many others:
Distortion Pedal:
This kind of pedal is the most popular kind of guitar pedal amongst professional and aspiring guitarists. These kinds of pedals are often attached to electric guitars and used in many songs. It produces a sound that is heavy and aggressive. These sounds are often heard in genres such as alternative rock and heavy metal music. Using this guitar instant adds a rock sound by adding sustain and crunch to your guitar tones. Something to look out for is the fact that it ends up hiding the actual tone of the guitar.
Overdrive Pedal:
An overdrive guitar pedal is a favorite among many guitarists as it is extremely versatile. It produces a crunchy and gritty sound to your guitar tones while also providing more sustain than a distortion pedal. It also helps keep the sound of your guitar and amp more prominent. This particular kind of pedal provides a milder distortion and is perfect for rock and solos. They are often used for classic rock, pop, country music, etc.
Phaser Pedal:
A Phaser pedal adds a more dramatic effect to your guitar tone with a shimming and swirling effect. It also has the capability to add distinct sweeping sounds with alterable peaks and roughs in the guitar tone. The knobs on such a guitar pedal can be used to adjust the speed or rate of the sound. This helps to customize the sound to your liking. Its effect is most noticeable and appreciated when a single note or chord is played.
Delay Pedal:
A delay pedal delays your guitar’s sound signals and plays it back for a unique effect. These guitar pedals allow you control over the volume of the sound, the number of times a sound is repeated, and after how long that sound is played. It is often used to allow you to experiment with sounds and smoothing out your guitar solos. It is often found on many guitarists’ pedalboards thus contesting to how well-likes this sound is
Reverb Pedal:
A reverb pedal creates an echo effect that sounds like a delay pedal but is more natural than the sound created by a delay pedal. This control is often in the hands of an amplifier but for a more professional sound, a reverb pedal is better, especially for clean guitar tones. It is highly effective at creating an atmosphere as it works in tandem with other pedals and complements their tone to provide a wonderful tone that many guitarists like.
Octave Pedal:
An octave pedal is a pedal that supplies notes that are one octave higher or lower than the one you are playing when using this guitar pedal. This pedal is powerful and has the ability to to give you a tone that is fuller and thicker in sound. These guitar pedals are also capable of producing a bass tone that is often desirable. It can also be used to produce guitar tones that are unusual hence, it is very essential for that amateur guitarist and professional guitarists that like experimenting with guitar tones and generally playing around with the sound that they create.
3. Best Guitar Pedals under $100
Guitar pedals are an essential part of every professional and amateur guitarist player. It allows them to add or subtract certain features of the sound that their instrument creates to make a sound that appeals to them and what they want others to hear. Many different kinds of guitar pedals do that, here are the three best guitar pedals under $100:
The Boss Distortion Guitar Pedal:
The Boss Distortion guitar pedal is a high-quality guitar pedal that is responsible for creating genre-defining distortion in your guitar tone. It allows you to add gain that is mild to heavy hence, creating a tone that is unique and to your liking. The powerful tone shaping that this device is capable of is extremely sought after. All of these features for under $100 is a price tag you cannot ignore.
The MXR Dyna Comp Pedal:
At a close second is The MXR Dyna Comp Pedal is made with high-quality material as it is built in accordance with the Nashville studio standard in mind. This professional guitar pedal allows you to add sustain while keeping the dynamics stable. The sound that results from using this guitar pedal is even, loud and clear. It has all the key elements of a decent guitar pedal that allow it to give your guitar sound a little more boost to help it sound better than ever. All these features make this device one of the Best Guitar Pedals under $100.
The Rowin Plexion Distortion Pedal:
At number 3 we have the Rowin Plexion Distortion Guitar Pedal which is a high-quality device as it is made from high-quality zinc-alloy. It is thus, durable and is also extremely portable meaning you can easily carry it around with you without any worries. This guitar pedal also has 2 working modes including normal and bright that add versatility making it worth more than its extremely affordable price.
4. What to look out for in a guitar pedal
As there are many different kinds of guitar pedals, choosing one that is perfect for you can be a challenging task. There are many factors you have to take into consideration especially if you plan on spending a decent amount of money on an expensive guitar pedal and making a good choice is also important because it will allow you to further discover your love for music.
Type of Music:
When purchasing a guitar pedal or any kind of accessory related to music, you have to make sure that it is of your music taste. That it will allow you to make the sound you want it to. It is essential that it complements your skill level and skill set to allow you to fully display your talent and not be held back by a poor choice of equipment. You should ask yourself, what music genre do you want to explore? Is this guitar pedal going to ruin that sound or enhance it?
Size and Portability:
Most pedals are rectangular in shape and can be heavy. Especially if they are of high quality, they are often built with zinc-alloys that can be a bit hefty and hence a little difficult to carry around and that may not be an issue if you just have one but if your collection exceeds 10, you might want to go for one that is light and easy to carry with the rest of your guitar pedals.
Pedal Board:
Your pedalboard and the different kinds of guitar pedals included in it is also a factor that you have to look into when deciding to purchase a new guitar pedalboard. You have to make sure that the different pedals in the pedalboards work well with the new one you are to buy. It has to complement the sound the different guitar pedals create.
