Guitar & Musician Forums

Hey everyone! I've been putting together my pedal board and I'm finding that I keep gravitating towards the same few effects. I was chatting with a mate the other day and he mentioned some pedals that really opened my eyes to how much I might be missing out on. I'm curious, what do you all think is the most underrated pedal out there? You know, the ones that don't get the attention they deserve but can really elevate a sound?

I’ve been thinking of adding something unexpected to my rig and would love to hear about any hidden gems you’ve come across. Cheers!

I've been using a little Boss DS-1 for ages, and honestly, I think it's pretty underrated. Sure, it’s not the fanciest pedal out there, but you can dial in some great tones, especially when you push the gain a bit. It’s surprisingly versatile for a basic distortion pedal!

The DS-1 can get overlooked because it’s so common. I think a lot of people don't realise how well it can blend with an acoustic too, especially when you want to make it sound a bit more edgy. Have you tried it with an overdrive in front?

For me, it’s got to be the EHX Holy Grail reverb. Everyone raves about the more popular ones, but the Holy Grail is just so straightforward and it sounds lovely. I’ve found it gives a nice warm wash without getting muddy, which is perfect for my style.

Great shout, Sam! The Holy Grail’s spring reverb mode is particularly nice for that vintage vibe. I’d add that you can’t underestimate how important it is to place your reverb in the right part of the signal chain. Placing it after delays can give you some really lush sounds that a lot of people miss out on.