10 Best Effects Pedals 2025 in the United States

The Line 6 POD Go is a versatile multi-effects pedal offering a wide range of over 270 amp and effect models, making it great for guitarists who want many sound options in one unit. Its simple interface with a large color display helps with easy navigation and tweaking, which is a plus if you want straightforward control over your tones. The pedal supports third-party impulse responses (IRs), allowing you to customize your sound further, a feature often found in higher-end gear.

It includes a stereo effects loop and an input for expression pedals or footswitches, offering good flexibility for live play or studio setups. The pedal runs on a standard 9-volt corded electric supply, which is common and convenient. The build is compact and lightweight at 6 pounds, making it portable enough for gigging musicians while still being sturdy. Although it is on the larger side compared to some single-effect pedals and may take up more space on a pedalboard, the included features justify its size.

The product uses an analog signal format. For those focused on a highly portable, all-in-one solution with solid build quality and a broad palette of sounds, the POD Go is a fitting choice. However, if you want a very small pedal or specific requirements such as true bypass assurance, you might consider other options.

The Line 6 HX Stomp is a compact and powerful multi-effects pedal that fits well for guitarists or musicians who want a wide variety of tones in a small package. It offers over 300 effects and amp models, all based on the same technology as the higher-end Helix series, giving you a lot of creative options. You can run up to six effects or amp blocks at once, which means you can build complex sounds including a looper and even load custom impulse responses for speaker simulation.

The pedal’s three touch-sensitive footswitches with colorful LED rings make switching and editing effects quick and intuitive, and there’s also an input for an expression pedal to add more control. It runs on a standard 9-volt power supply, which is convenient for most pedalboards. The build feels solid and durable, suitable for gigging musicians. At a little under 7 inches long and about 3.3 pounds, it’s compact enough to fit on most pedalboards without taking up much space.

This versatile pedal is ideal for players wanting professional-grade sounds and flexibility in a small form factor, though beginners might find the range of options a bit overwhelming at first.

The Strymon BigSky MX Reverb Workstation stands out for its exceptional versatility and high-quality reverb effects. With 12 different reverb machines, musicians can explore a wide range of ambient sounds, from small spaces to elaborate dreamscapes. Its unique capability to run two reverb effects simultaneously, thanks to the powerful 800MHz ARM processor, adds significant creative flexibility.

The inclusion of Impulse Response control with extensive editing options and 22 stereo impulse captures further enhances its appeal for both studio and live performances. Additionally, the pedal offers premium features such as full stereo IO, a discrete Class A JFET input preamp, TRS MIDI, DIN MIDI, USB-C connectivity, a dedicated Freeze/Infinite footswitch, and an OLED display, making it a comprehensive tool for serious musicians.

This pedal may be overkill for beginners due to its complexity and high number of features. The 9V power requirement is standard but does necessitate a compatible power supply. Its build quality is robust, with a relatively compact size (7 x 5 x 1.75 inches) and manageable weight (1.9 pounds), making it suitable for most pedalboards. The Strymon BigSky MX is ideal for experienced guitarists or musicians who demand high-fidelity reverb effects and extensive control over their soundscapes.