Guitar Effects & Pedals for Guitar and Bass

Effects are the color palette of guitar and bass players: from subtle chorus to heavy distortion, from ambient delays to experimental textures. Whether you play rock, pop, metal, funk or in a cover band, a good selection of guitar effects and pedals helps you shape a personal tone.

On Muviber you can browse new and used pedals, build your board over time and optimise your budget by comparing different listings of guitar pedals. This page explains what effects do, which types exist, how to choose them in a practical way and how to move through the product search on the platform.

What effects are and how they work

An effect is a device (usually a pedal or rack unit) that processes your instrument signal before it reaches the amp or mixer. It can:

• increase gain and saturation;
• add space (echo, ambience, room);
• create movement (modulations);
• control dynamics and EQ.

Today you will find:

• analog pedals often warmer and more immediate, with simple, hands-on controls;
• digital pedals lots of parameters, presets and amp/cab simulations;
• multi-effect units an entire pedalboard in a single box, perfect if you need many sounds;
• rack effects more common in studios or high-end touring rigs.

Main types of effects

Overdrive, distortion and fuzz: gain section

Gain-based effects are the core of many rigs:

• Overdrive: pushes your amp like a cranked tube stage; great for rock, blues and pop. Check overdrive pedals if you want warmth and sustain without losing touch sensitivity.
• Distortion: more compressed and aggressive, ideal for hard rock and metal.
• Fuzz: dirty, raw and vintage, perfect for psychedelic rock and grunge-style tones.

On Muviber you can find classic staples and also boutique pedals for a more unique voice.

Delay and reverb: space and ambience

• Delay: repeats your note after a set time, from short slapbacks to long ambient echoes.
• Reverb: recreates rooms, halls, plates or springs; essential to avoid a dry, lifeless sound.

If you love spacious textures, explore delay and reverb pedals available on Muviber.

Modulation: chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo

Modulation effects add movement to your tone:

• Chorus: doubles and detunes the signal for a wider sound.
• Flanger: similar to chorus but more metallic and pronounced.
• Phaser: shifts frequency bands to create a swirling effect.
• Tremolo: rhythmically changes the volume.

Many multi-effect units include these sounds; if you prefer an all-in-one solution, look for multi-effect units.

Dynamics, filters and more

• Compressors: tame peaks and increase perceived sustain.
• EQ pedals: sculpt your frequencies to sit better in the mix.
• Wah and filter effects: add a vocal-like character to riffs and solos.
• Pitch shifters / octave pedals: add higher or lower notes for fuller lines.

Bass players should consider bass pedals designed for low frequencies, which keep more definition and punch.

How to choose the right effects

1. Start from your instrument and style

• Single-coil guitars often love open overdrives and subtle modulation.
• Humbucker guitars handle higher gain, distortion and aggressive fuzz tones.
• Bass benefits a lot from compression, light drive and octave pedals.

Ask yourself: what is really missing from your current sound? If you need more sustain and presence, look at distortion pedals. If your tone is too dry, consider delay or reverb.

2. Think about where you play

• At home / in the studio: you can experiment with many combinations and complex multi-effects.
• Rehearsal room: you need reliability and quick tweaks.
• On stage: focus on build quality, good bypass/buffering and easy preset recall.

3. Budget and long-term plan

It is usually better to grow your board step by step. Start with one or two key pedals (for example an overdrive and a delay) and add more guitar pedals as your needs become clearer.

Price ranges: entry, mid and pro

Entry level

• typically up to around €80 per pedal;
• great for beginners and for testing different types of effects;
• the used market on Muviber makes this range even more affordable.

Mid-range

• roughly €80–200 per pedal;
• better components, more defined tone and sturdier enclosures;
• many players stay in this range for life, adding one or two special pedals.

Pro and boutique

• €200 and above;
• original designs, premium parts and often small-batch production;
• if you are chasing a signature sound, check the boutique pedals and higher-end brands.

Practical tips and exercises with effects

1. Build a solid clean tone first Before switching on any pedal, dial in a clean sound you really like from your amp. Then add effects one by one.

2. Dynamic practice with overdrive Set a mild overdrive and play the same riff with different right-hand intensity. Learn how much gain you can control with your touch.

3. Delay in time with a metronome Use a metronome and set your delay to dotted eighths. Play simple arpeggios and listen to how the repeats fill the groove.

4. Experiment with pedal order Try the same progression with modulation before and after distortion, or delay before and after reverb. Take notes on what works better for your rig.

How to use Muviber to find the right effects

To quickly find the right pedals:

1. Start from a broad search such as guitar effects.

2. Narrow it down with more specific queries:

   • overdrive pedals for crunchy tones;
   • distortion pedals for rock and metal;
   • delay and reverb pedals for ambient and spacious sounds;
   • multi-effect units if you want a compact all-in-one;
   • bass pedals if bass is your main instrument.

3. Use filters like condition, price range and location to spot the best deals near you.

FAQ about guitar effects

What are guitar and bass effects used for? Effects are used to shape your tone by adding gain, space, modulation or dynamic control, making your playing more expressive and suitable for the style you play.

Is it better to use a multi-effect unit or separate pedals? A multi-effect is convenient, compact and often cheaper if you need many sounds; single pedals give you deeper control over each tone and are perfect if you want to build a custom board over time.

How much budget do I need to start buying effects? With about €50–100 you can find entry-level pedals, especially on the used market; between €100 and €200 you get into solid mid-range gear, and above that you step into professional and boutique territory.

What is the best order for pedals on a pedalboard? A common starting point is wah and dynamics first, then drives and distortions, modulation such as chorus or phaser, and finally delay and reverb in the amp’s effects loop, but the ideal order depends on your rig and the sound you want.