Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Heart of Gold
  • Vince Clarke's favourite synth
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • The Beatles' medley masterpiece
  1. Guitars
  2. Guitar Pedals

The 18 best new guitar effects pedals of 2016

News
By The MusicRadar Team published 24 December 2016

Which stompbox made its way onto your 'board this year?

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

CKK Electronic Destruction Drive

CKK Electronic Destruction Drive

The Total Guitar Best in guitars 2016 polls have received over 68,000 votes, and we're now ready to roll out the winners. The nominees were what we considered to be the guitarists and guitar gear that have excelled in 2016. Here, we present the best guitar effects pedals of 2016. First up we have the CKK Electronic Destruction Drive…

We said: “With varied tone options and good value for money, the Destruction Drive is pretty much unbeatable at its price point.”

Full review:CKK Electronic Destruction Drive

Page 1 of 18
Page 1 of 18
DigiTech Dirty Robot

DigiTech Dirty Robot

We said: “For the adventurous guitarist, this could be the ticket to a brave new world.”

Full review: DigiTech Dirty Robot

Page 2 of 18
Page 2 of 18
Electro-Harmonix Wailer Wah

Electro-Harmonix Wailer Wah

We said: “While the Wailer doesn't follow the trend of newer compact wahs such as the Cry Baby Mini, we appreciate the lightweight enclosure on offer here.”

Page 3 of 18
Page 3 of 18
DOD Looking Glass

DOD Looking Glass

We said: “Clever controls for adjusting to any guitar plus a wide gain range equals incredible flexibility.”

Full review: DOD Looking Glass

Page 4 of 18
Page 4 of 18
Electro-Harmonix Lester G

Electro-Harmonix Lester G

We said: “There are a bunch of great rotary speaker simulators on the market, but the Lester G is the most convincing example we've given a spin for a long time.”

Full review: Electro-Harmonix Lester G

Page 5 of 18
Page 5 of 18
Tone City Sweet Cream Overdrive

Tone City Sweet Cream Overdrive

We said: “Small and portable, whilst retaining the great quality sound Tone City is known for, this is well worth considering for your ‘board.”

Page 6 of 18
Page 6 of 18
Ibanez Analog Delay Mini

Ibanez Analog Delay Mini

We said: “As far as dark-voiced mini delays go, it doesn't get much better. Fantastic pitch-bending oscillation, too."

Full review: Ibanez Analog Delay Mini

Page 7 of 18
Page 7 of 18
DigiTech Trio+

DigiTech Trio+

We said: “Adds everything on our wish list from the original. This is truly a band in a box, and one that you can use live to boot."

Full review: DigiTech Trio+

Page 8 of 18
Page 8 of 18
Stone Deaf Fig Fumb Paracentric Fuzz Filter

Stone Deaf Fig Fumb Paracentric Fuzz Filter

We said: “Like that guy that can never remember where he left his car
 in a multi-storey car park, this life-changing pedal is on a different level. Pure and simple – superb fuzz.”

Full review: Stone Deaf Fig Fumb Paracentric Fuzz Filter

Page 9 of 18
Page 9 of 18
Dunlop Echoplex Delay

Dunlop Echoplex Delay

We said: “The Echoplex's authentic vibes are hugely addictive, and once you've played with it, you may struggle to play without…”

Full review: Dunlop Echoplex Delay

Page 10 of 18
Page 10 of 18
TC Electronic Mimiq Doubler

TC Electronic Mimiq Doubler

We said: “TC is aiming this one at the metalheads among you, and based on the evidence we've seen so far, it should fatten up riffs and solos a treat.”

Page 11 of 18
Page 11 of 18
Seymour Duncan Palladium Gain Stage

Seymour Duncan Palladium Gain Stage

We said: “A fully formed channel in its own right, and it sounds absolutely incredible. Simply superb!”

Full review: Seymour Duncan Palladium Gain Stage

Page 12 of 18
Page 12 of 18
Boss CE-2W Chorus

Boss CE-2W Chorus

We said: “It comes with a hefty price tag, but none of its competitors can match this Waza winner.”

Full review: Boss CE-2W Chorus

Page 13 of 18
Page 13 of 18
MXR Reverb

MXR Reverb

We said: “Given the price, the M300 doesn't offer a whole lot of features over its competitors, but the sound quality puts it firmly among the top shelf of reverb pedals.”

Full review: MXR Reverb

Page 14 of 18
Page 14 of 18
TC Electronic Sub 'N' Up

TC Electronic Sub 'N' Up

We said: “This easy-to-use pedal is small enough to slot into most pedalboard scenarios
 and costs a lot less than the immediate competition while offering more versatility.”

Full review: TC Electronic Sub 'N' Up

Page 15 of 18
Page 15 of 18
Fractal AX8

Fractal AX8

We said: “A complete rig you can carry to a gig in a backpack and it could also take care of your recording needs. Axellent!”

Full review: Fractal AX8

Page 16 of 18
Page 16 of 18
Line 6 Helix

Line 6 Helix

We said: “The Helix is a real powerhouse that can be used on its own or as the centre piece of an extended gear system.”

Full review: Line 6 Helix

Page 17 of 18
Page 17 of 18
Winner: KHDK Ghoul Screamer

Winner: KHDK Ghoul Screamer

We said: “When it comes to boosting and tightening up metal tones, the Ghoul Screamer is among the best TS-alikes we've used.”

Full review: KHDK Ghoul Screamer

Page 18 of 18
Page 18 of 18
The MusicRadar Team
The MusicRadar Team
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the internet's most popular website for music-makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, DJs or producers.

GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high-quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.

TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.

STARS: We talk to artists and musicians about their creative processes, digging deep into the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the actual craft of music-making that no other music website can.

Read more
Neural DSP Quad Cortex
Guitar Pedals Best multi-effects pedals 2026: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
 
 
Electro-Harmonix Neo Clone pedal on a wooden floor
Guitar Pedals Best chorus pedals 2026: Our pick of the top chorus pedals
 
 
Three new additions to the $99 JHS Pedals range: Glitch Delay, Bit Crusher and Ring Modulator – all compact stompboxes with white enclosures and three knobs
Guitars Meet the $99 stompbox that’ll crush your bits – JHS expands its affordable 3 Series with three exotic effects for your pedalboard
 
 
A pair of Boss Waza-Air guitar amp headphones
Guitar Pedals As a pro guitarist, I think Boss makes the most reliable pedals around, so with 26% off everything from the DD-8 to the Waza Metal Zone in Amazon's Spring Deal Days sale, it's time to stock up
 
 
[L-R] Khemmis' Phil Pendergast and Ben Hutcherson [inset] A Behringer Super Fuzz
Artists Khemmis just made one of the heavy metal records of the year using a $28 plastic fuzz pedal
 
 
Crazy Tube Circuits Triptychon
Guitars Crazy Tube Circuits’ Triptychon might just be the only pedal you need for classic rock
 
 
Latest in Guitar Pedals
Meris Ottobit X
Guitars Meris unveils the Ottobit X, a high-end purveyor of lo-fi guitar sounds inspired by the ‘80s
 
 
Fender Tone Master Pro & FR-15 cab
Guitars Fender gives the Tone Master Pro a mighty firmware update, adding some classics from its amp archive
 
 
JHS Fumble
Guitars “I had confused the two similar circuits and made a horrible mistake. I made a video. I told everyone”: JHS Pedals unveils the Fumble – an $89 boost pedal with a seriously complicated back story involving John Mayer, Dumble amps and a ‘70s acoustic preamp
 
 
Fractal FM4 amp modeller
Guitar Pedals “Make no mistake, it could grace any professional stage”: Fractal AM4 review
 
 
Morley Wah-ocTo-Fuzz
Guitars Stompbox stalwarts Morley and DOD team up for a "WTF" 3-in-1 fuzz, wah and octave pedal
 
 
[L-R] Khemmis' Phil Pendergast and Ben Hutcherson [inset] A Behringer Super Fuzz
Artists Khemmis just made one of the heavy metal records of the year using a $28 plastic fuzz pedal
 
 
Latest in News
Taylor Swift Randy Newman
Artists Taylor Swift thanks “the incomparable” Randy Newman as she releases her Toy Story 5 song
 
 
antonoff
Tech “It’s boring to know what you’re doing in the studio – once you know what you’re doing, the magic leaves”: Jack Antonoff on why music production "expertise" is overrated
 
 
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 01: Olivia Rodrigo performs during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 01, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Josh Brasted/FilmMagic)
Artists “They inspire me to be weirder and more myself”: Olivia Rodrigo names her current favourite band
 
 
Meris Ottobit X
Guitars Meris unveils the Ottobit X, a high-end purveyor of lo-fi guitar sounds inspired by the ‘80s
 
 
Harley Benton ST-Modern HH 2026: New models with metallic finishes.
Guitars Harley Benton unleashes a $185 shred-ready hotrod with a roasted maple neck and dual-humbuckers
 
 
American Pop Rock musician Christopher Cross plays electric guitar as he performs onstage at Greenwich Village's Bottom Line, New York, New York, May 28, 1980. His instrument is a Fender twin-neck, six & twelve string guitar.
Artists Christopher Cross admits that he "ripped off" Paul McCartney on Ride Like The Wind
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...