Top 5 Guitar Effects of 2020

The Danes have done it again! They did everything right by putting five of their field-tested and popular TonePrint pedals into one housing and combining them with a clever control system. Just a reminder: TonePrint can be used to program a suitable TC pedal for almost any type of effects unit. You can only imagine the vast possibilities the Plethora X5 offers. You’ll find the possibility to connect an expression pedal or control the device via MIDI, as well as flexible routing options that allow you to include external effects – if you somehow need them at all.

A delay pedal. So what? What’s so great about it? A simple delay, that’s yesterday’s news, any multi-effect can do that. The Walrus Mako D1 is from a completely different world. In just one pedal it offers five different delay programs with different sounds, one of them even with two parallel delays, plus extensive control options for the exact behaviour you need. The attack as well as the rhythmic subdivision can be determined in the tap mode. Programmability and MIDI connectivity are also part of the portfolio. It sounds absolutely inspiring and is very easy to use!

Yes, the Harley Benton brand is represented with the DNAfx GIT! Under its simple housing, this multi-effect modeler has a lot more up its sleeve. Of course, the usual suspects can be found here: Famous replicas of well-known models as well as an almost unmanageable number of effects. In addition, there’s also a speaker simulation using impulse responses and a rhythm section including a looper, which makes practicing a lot more fun. Despite the few controls, the operation is quite intuitive. In addition, there is also a computer interface, which, among other things allows comfortable editing on a larger screen.

During the last millenium – that’s how long it’s been – the American company Line 6 launched its first modelling preamp. It was called POD, and it’s still a great choice for affordable modelling technology today. The sound quality is certainly up to date and it’s no wonder coming from a device that has the highly acclaimed Helix in the family. This is where many of the POD Go sounds come from, although you can still find a couple from the prehistoric times. And of course, you have a huge amount of different amp models, effects and speaker cabinets at your disposal – the latter working by impulse responses. Though the characteristic “bean shape” of the forefather is left in the past, this floor-ready multi-effect with an expression pedal is much more flexible!

From this overwhelming eclectic selection we arrive directly to an extraordinarily customised specialist: The Afterneath V3 from EarthQuaker Devices! It’s only equipped with reverb, but as a small floor pedal it has quite a few buttons. These control not so much the sound, but the behaviour of the device. We are actually not dealing with an effect, but rather with an extension of your own instrument, especially if you pair it with an expression pedal. The shimmering, waving clouds of sound float through space and time. Hard to explain, check out the sound demos instead. But be careful: It’s highly addictive!