Start Your Tone Journey: Building Your First Pedalboard

You’ve been playing guitar for a while, and now you’re ready to build your first pedalboard. But with so many pedals and effects, where do you start? Which ones do you buy first?

Getting lost in the sea of options is easy, but building your first pedalboard is about simplicity and intention. Instead of trying to get everything at once, focus on the core sounds that inspire you. In this article, we’ll break down the essentials, offer practical tips, and help you piece together a setup that’s both effective and fun to play.

Define Your Sound Goals

Before you buy your first pedals, it’s important to define your sound goals. Ask yourself the simple question: what kind of sound are you going for? Your style and influences will help you determine which pedals are essential and which can wait.

For example, if you love blues and classic rock, buying an overdrive pedal first makes sense. If you’re into ambient or shoegaze music, a delay or reverb will be essential. Think about the tones and the artist you admire.

Now, let’s discuss how each effect will contribute to your setup and which pedals are the best to start with.

Essential Guitar Pedals to Start With

Overdrive/Distortion

It’s no secret that overdrive and distortion are the main building blocks of many guitar-oriented musical styles. For the average guitarist, a classic tube-like overdrive can be the most versatile addition to your rig and open up a world of possibilities.

Consider getting a distortion pedal instead if you’re into heavier styles such as metal and hard rock. Unlike overdrive, which tends to be more subtle and mimics the natural saturation of a tube amp, distortion delivers a more saturated effect.

Of course, you will find many different flavors for both effects. Some overdrive pedals are more subtle than others, and some distortion pedals have a busier sound. For your first one, a pedal that can deliver a wide range of sounds is the best bet.

Spicy Pedals Jalapeño Screamer

Thanks to its versatility, the Spicy Pedals Jalapeño Screamer is a great choice for your first overdrive. It is based on the classic Tube Screamer sound heard in countless records, but with many improvements.

ProCo RAT 2

If you like heavier music styles, the ProCo RAT 2 is a classic heard in countless records for a price that won’t break the bank. Even though it’s dirtier than a standard overdrive, you can still get plenty of tones from this unit.

Modulation

A modulation pedal is a great way to add some movement to your playing. There are many effects that fall under this category, with the most popular ones being chorus, phaser, and flanger.

Chorus is the most versatile type of modulation: it’s that swirly sound commonly associated with the 80s and pop music. Phaser offers a more sweeping effect that works especially well for funk. Flanger is similar, but more intense: it adds a dramatic jet-swoop effect to your tone.

Each modulation pedal has its own personality, and choosing the right one depends on how much texture and movement you want in your tone. For beginners, starting with a chorus or phaser is usually a safe bet, as both are easy to dial in and blend well with other effects.

Mojo Hand FX Swim Team

A great option for your first pedalboard is the Mojo Hand FX Swim Team. It offers chorus and flanger effects in a single, compact unit.

MXR Phase 90

Want to go with a phaser instead? The MXR Phase 90 is a classic and straightforward pedal used by guitar players such as Eddie Van Halen, and it has an affordable price for the quality.

Delay

Want to add some dimension to your tone or go wild with experimental textures? A delay is your best friend. This effect records your signal and plays it back after a short time, creating an echo that can range from subtle repeats to endless, atmospheric trails.

There are several types of delay pedals: digital, analog, and tape-style, each with its own vibe. Digital delays are crisp and precise, great for rhythmic patterns or clean repeats. Analog delays have a warmer, darker tone that blends more naturally into your playing. Tape-style delays emulate vintage echo units, adding a bit of vintage character to each repeat.

Cusack Music Tap-a-Delay

As an example, we have the Cusack Music Tap-a-Delay. Despite the number of knobs and controls, this unit is pretty simple to use and, most importantly, versatile. You can get everything from vintage slapback echo to experimental madness with its innovative functions.

Reverb

Do you ever feel like your playing is a bit dry and lacking some ambience? A reverb pedal can fix that. Reverb pedals simulate all kinds of rooms, halls, and environments, making your tone feel bigger and more natural.

This effect can add atmosphere without overwhelming your core tone. Most pedals offer several types—room, hall, plate, and sometimes more creative modes like shimmer or spring. A touch of reverb can make solos sing, chords feel lush, and your overall sound more immersive.

Electro-Harmonix Oceans 11

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a reverb that’s more versatile than this one. The Electro-Harmonix Oceans 11 offers a whopping eleven different reverb types, ranging from plate to spring, and even shimmer. This is an excellent option for first-timers.

Compressor

While compressor pedals are often overlooked by many guitarists, they can instantly take your tone to the next level and help you achieve that studio-like sound. But what exactly does a compressor pedal do?

In basic terms, a compressor evens out the dynamics of your playing by reducing the volume of loud notes and boosting softer ones. This results in a more consistent, polished tone with added sustain and clarity. It’s especially useful for clean tones, funk rhythm playing, and country-style picking, where you want every note to pop with equal intensity.

MXR Dyna Comp

For a simple and easy to use compressor without any extra fluff, go with the MXR Dyna Comp. It’s a pedal that features only two knobs, but allows you to tighten up your tone in no time.

Signal Chain Basics

Here are some extra tips to set up your pedalboard, including ordering your pedals, the best connection solutions, and how to power your rig properly.

Signal Chain Order

You got the pedals, now you need decent cables and a great power supply to bring everything together. But just as important is the order in which you connect your pedals.

A common starting point for your signal chain looks like this:
Tuner ? Compressor ? Overdrive/Distortion ? Modulation (Chorus/Phaser) ? Delay ? Reverb

This order flows from tone-shaping to ambience effects for a clean and balanced tone. For example, placing delay and reverb at the end ensures that the echoes and ambience reflect your full tone, not just your dry signal.

That said, there are no strict rules. Some players prefer putting modulation before gain or experimenting with reverb into distortion for unique experimental results. Start with the basic layout, then tweak it to suit your style. Trust your ears and don’t be afraid to experiment.

Cables and Connectivity

The quality of your cables can and will affect your pedalboard and your tone. Cheap cables can introduce noise when you begin to add multiple pedals into the chain. You don’t necessarily need to break the bank, though: there are many budget options that do a decent job.

For connecting your guitar pedals, you will need patch cables. Patch cables are short cables designed specifically for linking your pedals together on a pedalboard. They tend to be quite cheap, but it’s important to choose high-quality ones to avoid hum or interference.

Power Supply

A high-quality power supply is essential for any pedalboard. While some beginners start with daisy chains or 9V batteries, a proper isolated power supply is a valuable investment that will give you cleaner sound, more consistency, and fewer headaches down the line.

Voodoo Lab Pedal Power X4

For smaller pedalboards, an isolated power supply like the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power X4 works well. This particular unit can power up to four 9V pedals.

Speaking of power, another thing to keep in mind is the voltage of your pedals: most units run with 9V, but some require 12V or even 18V. Using the wrong voltage can damage your pedal, so it’s important to double-check the label or manufacturer’s specs before plugging in.

Conclusion

You’re now ready to build your first pedalboard! Remember, it’s all about finding the right balance between function and creativity. Start with the essentials, keep things simple, and focus on the sounds that inspire you. As your playing evolves, your pedalboard can grow with you. Most importantly, have fun and let your tone reflect your unique style!

Written by Ian Sniesko from DeathCloud, curating the finest guitar pedals for tone chasers and gear heads alike.