Let’s face it: guitars and pedals are a rich man’s passion. With guitars costing minimum wage, amplifiers blowing your bank account and boutique pedals at €300 a box, you’d think you’d have to rob a bank to get a good sound… Fortunately, there are a few nuggets at riquiqui prices that allow you to experiment without breaking the bank.
Here are 10 pedals under €50 that we think are worth a visit:
Behringer OD300 Overdrive/Distortion – €27
The Behringer OD300is the Swiss Army Knife of crunches and inexpensive distos. Soft overdrive or hard-charging distortion, it gets the job done with its simple controls (level, tone, gain and an OD/Disto switch). Is it a Tube Screamer? No. Is it enough to riff without breaking the bank? Yes.
SONICAKE Rude Mouse Distortion – €29.99
A little monster of distortion, the Rude Mouse offers 2 modes for switching from a nervous crunch to a real fat saturation. We’re in the RAT spirit, with a very rock sound, perfect for kick-ass solos. Here are a few settings to help you get to grips with this little pedal and find your sound.
M-VAVE Mini Universe – 9 reverb modes – €49.99
9 reverb modes to transform your sound: from cosy small room to cathedral to more ambient effects. The Mini Universe is an excellent option for adding depth to your playing, with great diversity and versatility. Now you can explore the world of reverbs!
Electro Harmonix LPB-1 Power Booster – €40
And yes, there are also “big” brands in this selection at under €50. Here’s a simple and effective boost from Electro Harmonix, which lets you push your amp into natural saturation or add volume without altering your sound. The LPB-1 Power Booster is a classic that never fails to impress.
Walfront Ultimate Drive JF-02 Distortion – €29.17
Fat distortion, perfect for rock and metal, at a price that defies all competition. With its simple settings and big sound, the Walfront Ultimate Drive allows you to produce a biting crunch or a massive distortion to suit your mood.
SONICAKE Mini Wah and Volume 2-in-1 – €41
La Sonicake Volwah an original proposition for its price: a compact pedal that does both volume and wah. The format is super-convenient and the sound correct for the price. A good deal for those who want a wah without blowing their pedalboard budget. Well, it may not be a Cry Baby, but for a pedal at this price, it’s downright honest!
Getaria Portable Multi-effects – €47.99
Seriously, a multi-effect at this price? Yes, and it does the job. IR charger, Bluetooth, recorder, headphone output… Ideal for working at home without blowing out the neighbors’ eardrums or your budget. Well, it’s no Helix, but for the price, you can’t beat it. The Getaria Multi-effects can clearly be a good first purchase to discover all the effects and learn how to master them.
MICFENY Noise Gate – €41.29
Tired of the infernal background noise? Visit Micfeny Noise Gate cuts noise and cleans your signal for a cleaner sound. Ideal if you’re piling up distos and your amp is starting to sound like an overheated nuclear power plant. Often the kind of pedal you don’t want to spend a lot of money on!
Donner Lax Comp – Compression Pedal – € 39.99
A good compressor balances your playing and boosts sustain. This one does the job with a two-band EQ and True Bypass effect. The Donner Lax Comp looks like a nice surprise for the price, so give it a try!
Donner EQ Seeker – Equalizer 10 Bands – €39.99
The Donner EQ Seeker is a 10-band graphic EQ for sculpting your sound with precision. Whether you want to boost the midrange to stand out from the mix, or deepen the bass for a more biting sound, it’s a formidable tool for fine-tuning your setup.
Bonus: an inexpensive pedalboard!
Because a good setup also means good storage, a pedalboard pedalboard is just as important. Handy for organizing your pedals when you start to have a few of your own!
Of course, when it comes to these inexpensive pedals, it’ s hard to know what they’re really worth, and especially hard to compare them with the much more expensive pedals usually featured on this blog… The fact remains that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get gear that works. These affordable pedals prove that, with a little research, you can build a pretty complete pedalboard without blowing your budget!
