Top Pedal Brands to Amp Up Your Cycling Experience

In the world of music, pedals are essential tools for musicians seeking to expand their sonic horizons. From guitarists looking to add layers of effects to their sound to keyboardists aiming for nuanced modulation, the right pedal can dramatically enhance performance. With numerous brands on the market, each offering a unique array of features and innovations, choosing the right pedal can be a daunting task. To help make your selection easier, we've compiled a list of the best pedal brands, noted for their quality and distinctive offerings, below.

Illustration of pedals

Best brands of pedals in 2025

Boss

Boss is a leading brand in the guitar pedals market, known for its innovative and high-quality products. The company's recent introduction of the SL-2 Slicer pedal exemplifies its commitment to compact and versatile designs, catering to both professional musicians and amateurs. With a market expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% to 5.6% from 2024 to 2031, Boss continues to be a significant player, offering a wide range of pedals including gain effects, compressors, and time-based effects.

Electro-Harmonix

Electro-Harmonix is a renowned brand in the guitar pedals market, known for its innovative and high-quality products. Founded in the late 1960s by Mike Matthews, the company initially gained popularity with its fuzz pedal and later expanded its product line to include iconic models like the Big Muff and Linear Power Booster. Electro-Harmonix experienced a resurgence in the mid-1990s with the reissue of its vintage effect boxes, and by 2009, it had introduced new products such as the v256 Vocoder. The brand continues to be a major player, contributing to the market's growth, which is projected to reach USD 5.43 billion by 2031 with a CAGR of 3.6%. For more information about their innovative guitar pedals, visit the Electro-Harmonix website.

MXR

MXR is a legendary brand in the guitar pedals industry, founded in 1972 by Keith Barr, Michael Laiacona, and Terry Sherwood in Rochester, New York. Known for their high-quality and reliable pedals, MXR's first product, the Phase 90, was released in 1974 and became an instant hit, used by iconic guitarists like Eddie Van Halen. The company's success led to the creation of other famous pedals such as the Distortion + and Dyna Comp Compressor. MXR was acquired by Jim Dunlop in 1987 and continues to produce faithful recreations of their vintage pedals. The brand's influence on the pedal industry is unparalleled, with their products still highly sought after today. For more insights on how MXR pedals became legendary, visit their detailed article.

Strymon

Strymon is renowned as one of the top producers of guitar pedals, celebrated for their exceptional build and sound quality. Since their inception, they have maintained a high standard, often compared favorably to other top brands like Boss and EHX. In the market, single-effect pedals, which Strymon excels in, held a 57.43% market share in 2021, indicating a strong preference among musicians for their specific sound effects. Strymon's products, such as the El Capistan, are praised for their rich, vintage tape echo tones and advanced features like MIDI implementation and sound on sound looping. Their pedals are highly regarded by professional musicians and amateurs alike, contributing to their significant market presence.

TC Electronic

TC Electronic is renowned as one of the leading producers of guitar pedals, known for their high-quality and innovative products. The company's G*Major effects processor, for example, offers advanced features like relay switching and MIDI integration, making it a favorite among professional and amateur musicians. TC Electronic's commitment to quality is evident in their products, which often win awards for their reverb, compression, and delay techniques. Their pedals are designed to deliver top-notch sound processing without unwanted tone coloring, as seen in the G*Major's ability to handle multiple effect block routings and instant parameter control via expression pedals. With a strong presence in the market, TC Electronic continues to innovate and meet the evolving needs of musicians. For more information, visit TC Electronic's official website.

Dunlop

Dunlop, one of the leading brands in the guitar pedals market, is renowned for its high-quality and innovative products. The company has been a staple in the music industry, especially with its iconic Cry Baby wah-wah pedal, a favorite among professional musicians. The global guitar pedals market, which includes brands like Dunlop, was valued at USD 4.09 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% from 2024 to 2031. Dunlop's products are popular among both professional and amateur musicians, contributing to the market's growth driven by rising disposable incomes and a growing interest in music. Single-effect pedals, a category where Dunlop excels, held a 57.43% share of the total guitar pedals market in 2021.

Line 6

Line 6 is one of the leading brands in the guitar pedals market, known for its innovative and high-quality products. The brand has contributed significantly to the market's growth, with the overall guitar pedals market valued at $3.46 billion in 2023 and expected to reach $4.53 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 5.6%. Line 6's products, such as their popular multi-effect pedals, appeal to both professional musicians and amateurs, with single-effect pedals holding a 57.43% market share in 2021. The brand's integration of digital technology and MIDI capabilities further enhances its market position. As the market continues to grow, brands like Line 6 are expected to remain at the forefront.

Fulltone

Fulltone is renowned as one of the top producers of guitar pedals, known for their high-quality and robust products. The brand, founded by Mike Fuller, has been a staple in the pedal market for years, offering a wide range of effects such as drive, distortion, delay, and more. Despite facing challenges, Fulltone has been revitalized with the help of Brad Jackson and Jackson Audio, who have taken over the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of Fulltone USA products under license. Fulltone pedals, like the OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive, are highly regarded for their sound and build quality, with the Custom Shop v1.4 edition being a favorite among many players. The brand's resurgence is expected to contribute to the growing guitar pedals market, which is projected to reach USD 5.43 billion by 2031 with a CAGR of 3.6%. For more information, visit their official Fulltone website.

Keeley Electronics

Keeley Electronics is a renowned brand in the guitar pedal industry, known for its high-quality and highly musical effects. Founded by Robert Keeley in 2001, the company has grown from a small operation to a cutting-edge facility in Oklahoma, producing over 55,000 pedals annually. By investing in advanced surface mount technology (SMT) equipment from Manncorp, Keeley Electronics has significantly enhanced their production speed and accuracy, capable of placing over 40,000 SMT chips per hour with their two full SMT lines. This upgrade has earned them accolades, including a 'Premier Gear Award' in December 2023. Keeley Electronics continues to innovate, releasing new products like the Rotary pedal, which promises to deliver exceptional tone and customization. For more information, visit their official website.

EarthQuaker Devices

EarthQuaker Devices, founded in 2004 by Jamie Stillman and Julie Robbins in Akron, Ohio, is a renowned boutique manufacturer of high-quality guitar effects pedals. Known for their hand-built, hand-tested products, the company ensures each pedal is guaranteed for life and uses only the highest quality components. By 2019, EarthQuaker Devices had grown to employ 50 people and operate out of a 15,000-square-foot facility, distributing products to 47 countries. The company has been recognized as the U.S. Small Business Administration's Small Business Exporter of the Year in 2019. EarthQuaker Devices' pedals are favored by professional musicians, including The Black Keys, Coldplay, and Paul Simon. For more information about their journey and offerings, visit their official website.