On Stage Mini Pedal Board & Bag GPB2000

Product Information

You’ll likely find that the best mini pedals for guitarists excel at one thing, but might not be a do-it-all pedal like some bigger ones. This makes sense logically, as there’s less room for circuitry. But if you want a pedal that gives you an overdriven/delayed/chorus sound etc and nothing else, then that’s not a worry. It’s only if you want a few different things from a single pedal that might make you feel limited. Due to the size of the Carbon Copy Mini, I expected there to be a significant reduction in the number of adjustable controls and parameters included on the pedal. To my surprise, MXR has managed to improve the functionality of the pedal with the addition of the convenient ‘Bright’ mode button. These awesome circus-themed stompboxes come in at a truly micro-size, allowing them to be squeezed onto even the tightest of pedalboards.

Perhaps the most obvious advantage to using mini guitar pedals is that they take up very little space on your pedalboard. This is particularly useful if you like to keep your effects pedals on a smaller-sized board, as you will be able to increase the number of dynamic and tone-shaping devices in your signal chain.Keep an eye out for trusted pedal manufacturers such as Boss, Electro Harmonix, T-Rex and Ibanez – all legends in the business who have been making top notch pedals at good for prices for decades. Simplicity is particularly valuable for guitarists who have limited experience with effects pedals. By using smaller devices, you can build up your knowledge of the various controls and functions of each effect without becoming overwhelmed by the possibilities of full-sized guitar pedals. Run your guitar/bass/keyboard through the first pedal, then to the next one, and so on until you get to the last one. Another standout quality I discovered when testing the Xotic EP Booster Mini was its compatibility with other guitar effects. This device can be used with any family of effects! It enhances the prominence of distortion or overdrive pedals, adds more power and clarity to modulation effects, and allows reverbs or delays to flourish thanks to the 20dB volume increase it provides. Fitting all of your favourite effects pedals onto your pedalboard can be a challenge. Building a guitar rig is a never-ending quest for perfect tone, with new pedals constantly coming to market and fighting for your precious pedalboard real estate!

My Review: The Fuzz Face is one of the most iconic guitar pedals ever to be created, thanks to one man in particular – Jimi Hendrix. The legendary guitarist heavily relied on his Fuzz Face to create red-hot tones, wailing solos, and his immersive blends of rhythm and lead playing. Included: IEC Power Inlet C13 pigtail used to connect power supplies such as Voodoo Lab, Strymon, Truetone and more 110-250 Volt Compatible Sleek, lightweight, and durable, the Pedaltrain Metro 16 is a premium three-rail aluminum board that offers plenty of customization and heavy duty construction for the guitarist who gigs often (or just wants a pretty-looking pedal station for their home).Find out how to sound like Deftones in our complete Deftones Guitar Gear Guide, including the amplifiers, guitar pedals, and tunings that Deftones use First and foremost, we are guitarists, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best pedalboard on the market right now. Who is this best suited for: The Mini Ego is a great choice for guitarists looking to gain more control over their dynamics. This pedal isn’t complex like some other compressors, so it’s suitable for beginners and those who don’t have much experience with compression. It is also worth noting that there will be many other considerations in making your own pedalboard. You will need to make sure you have enough power outlets (a power strip), and cables for your pedals (you may need long cables or even an extra power strip). You will also need to consider if you want a board for all of your pedals or just certain sections of them. #3. DIY Guitar/Bass Pedalboard I must admit that before testing the EP Booster, I was wondering why Xotic chose to use a tape echo machine’s preamp circuit on a pedal designed to increase volume. However, it didn’t take long for me to realize that the warm, analog tone of the aforementioned device was a perfect match for a booster pedal.

Compressor pedals don’t need to be complex, especially if you’re using them with a guitar. The Dyna Comp Mini includes two large rotary knobs, one for tweaking the output volume of the pedal, and the other for adjusting the sensitivity of the compressor. The standout feature of the Mini Cry Baby has to be its internal preset switches. I loved the classic 60’s wah tones of the ‘Vintage’ setting and found the ‘Low’ setting to be an effective way to remove some of the harsher tones from the pedal’s output. Due to the reduction in the size of mini guitar pedals, manufacturers inevitably have to compromise on the number of controls they can fit onto the device. The buttons, switches, and knobs must be large enough to be easily adjustable, so only those that are the most necessary make the cut. First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best pedalboards on the market right now.Mini pedals are exactly what they say on the tin. They’re guitar pedals that have been made more compact so that you can either use more of them on a ‘board, or you can run a much smaller rig. You’ll often find that two versions of a pedal are available – a ‘full-sized’ one, and a compact one. In a lot of instances they’re exactly the same thing, just in different sized casings, and the smaller one can be cheaper. Many mini guitar pedals can also be powered using a 9V battery, but you should avoid relying on them too much as there’s always the risk that they will run flat at a vital moment in a performance or recording take. It may seem logical that smaller-sized guitar pedals are likely to be inferior to larger devices, but this often isn’t the case. In many cases, mini guitar pedals perform just as impressively as their full-sized guitar pedal counterparts. Ibanez’s TS Mini is a downsized version of its iconic Tube Screamer, which since its debut in 1979 has been one of the most recognizable, respected and employed overdrive pedals on the market.

Should you want more headroom out of it, you can run it at 18v, plus it plays well with other gain pedals which can lead to some really interesting results. Who is this best suited for: The EP Booster by Xotic is a highly useful tool for any guitarist looking to ensure that their instrument is always at the required volume. This mini pedal is one of the most versatile stompboxes I’ve come across, and I believe that all guitarists would benefit from acquiring it. It’s a transparent overdrive, so you will hear all the nuances of your guitar and amp shine through. There are three modes – Boost, Overdrive and Distortion, with each one giving you a little more gain and compression as you step it up. This makes it a really versatile pedal and, no matter how you’re using it, you can expect incredible tones – warm, with just the right amount of bite and attitude. It’s always best to start with a tuner, as you don’t want pedals getting in the way of tuning your guitar properly. Next dynamic effects like compressors and volume pedals, followed by fuzz, overdrive, and distortion pedals. If you have a boost pedal you can add it after your drive pedals for a boost in volume, or before to help shape the tone of your guitar. Many pedalboards offer bespoke solutions for cable management, with special clips and runners that will keep things nice and tidy, making it a lot easier to chop and change as you need. However many pedalboards leave you to work this out yourself, which means getting out the cable ties and getting creative. It’s easier than you think to create a neat looking pedalboard, but it does take time, and you should always plan out your cable runs before committing to cable tying them. Trust us, there’s nothing more annoying than undoing all your hard work because something is wired wrong, or won’t reach its destination. How we choose the best pedalboardsBy this point you’ve got yourself a complete pedalboard, but there’s more you can do! We’ve finally reached the point where a great sounding pedalboard amp setup is a realistic option for space-savvy guitarists. My Review: Wampler’s Mini Faux Spring pedal brings the irresistible sound of spring reverb to your pedalboard. It may be compact, but this pedal can produce long reverb times which replicate the effect of long springs used in tube amplifiers. The Boss BCB-60 is another popular option, built within a case that also features power outputs. This all-encompassing pedalboard is a great choice for the beginner looking for an easy way to get started on their pedal collection. My Review: I’ve used many overdrive pedals over the years, and I can confidently say that very few meet the standard set by the Tube Screamer Mini. This pedal may be tiny in terms of its dimensions, but it makes a huge difference to your guitar’s tone. Find out more about how we make our recommendations and how we test each of the products in our buyer's guides. Related buyer's guides