With hundreds of boutique drive pedals on the market, it’s easy to believe the misconception that great tone can only be achieved by spending lots of money. However, if you dig a bit deeper, there are budget-friendly alternatives that sound just as good and won’t break the bank.
Disclaimer: The BOSS SD-1 and NUX Steel Singer were provided to me by the respective companies. However, these companies have no say in the things I mention in the video. Nor do they get to see the video/post before it is published.
NUX Steel Singer
This pedal aims to replicate the sound of a mythical amp that rhymes with ‘fumble’. There’s no need to dive deeper; all you need to know is that it’s a low-to-mid gain overdrive that you might forget is on. Take it out and you will miss it immediately. You can use it to give your sterile clean sounds life and character, turn up the gain for raunchy blues sounds, or boost for leads while controlling the amount of high-end with the filter control. I find the pedal surprisingly versatile given its 3-knob control layout, and the build quality is very decent. Moreover, it’s very affordable. Check out the pedal in the video above to hear how it sounds in the mix and soloed out.
Caline Pure Sky
Another super affordable pedal that sounds killer. I learned about the Pure Sky years ago through the Finnish guitar forums and bought one used here in Finland.
I think mine is part of the old run of this pedal, that’s why it looks different from the ones you can buy now. This pedal is a true rock machine and has been part of my setup for at least a decade. Not only does it sound great with a guitar, but it also works great with a bass guitar. Anything from a slight boost to proper rock tones is available via its four controls. One of my favorite ways to use it is to boost leads with it. The two-band EQ paired with gain and volume controls allows me to dial in exactly the kind of lead tone I want with any guitar.
BOSS SD-1
(My SD-1 is the 40th-anniversary edition, that’s why it’s black.)
SD-1 is a staple in the history of drive pedals. It’s been used on countless recordings since 1981, and for a good reason! It’s more aggressive than the other two pedals on this list. And basically gives you an instant rock sound we’ve all heard on our favorite albums. The pedal helps you cut through any mix and is built to the highest standards. Good luck trying to break a BOSS pedal.
Are Budget Friendly Guitar Pedals good?
Budget friendly pedals are getting incredibly good. Whether it’s a ‘transparent boost’ or ‘all-out-metal-pedal’, there’s a budget friendly option available.
Not all of them are made equal though, as lot of the companies try to throw as many products on the market as possible without any regards to durability of the pedals for example.
I recommend doing a bit of research and watching and reading reviews from the people you trust. You might find true budget friendly gems that will last you a long time.
If you’d like to acquire any of these pedals and support what I do, there are affiliate links below:
►►Sweetwater (SD-1): sweetwater.sjv.io/VmjQ4k
►►Thomann (SD-1): https://thmn.to/thoprod/103975?offid=1&affid=394
►►Reverb (SD-1): https://reverb.partnerlinks.io/bossSD1
►►Reverb (Caline Pure Sky): https://reverb.partnerlinks.io/puresky
►►Reverb (NUX Steel Singer): https://reverb.partnerlinks.io/steel-singer
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