Modulation Pedals

Modulation Pedals cover a lot of ground in terms of sounds. Modulation, and by that we mean phaser, flanger, chorus and vibe pedals, create movement in your sound. This ranges from a subtle shift in tone to a dramatic jet-engine noise depending on effect. All of these effects achieve different results by doing largely the same thing: they split the guitar signal into two parts, delaying one and gradually changing before feeding it back into the first one to create a blend that was elements of filtering going one, all relating to linear natural frequency changes.

Of the three types, chorus is the slowest and perhaps most often used: lots of guitar sounds in the 80s used chorus for a thick, shifting clean sound.

Phasers have a very characteristic sweep that is an almost 'underwater' sound. Lots of rock legends have used in the past. Two prime examples are the main riff to 'Aint Talkin' 'Bout Love' by Van Halen and 'Breathe' at the beginning of Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon'. Classic stuff indeed.

Flangers have an altogether more dramatic tone. The sweep of a flanger can be high pitched and audible compared to the other modulation types, leading to lots of comparisons with aeroplanes! They can be devastatingly effective though, as heard on tracks like 'Barracuda' by Heart, 'Station to Station' by David Bowie and the middle section of 'Are You Gonna Go My Way?' by Lenny Kravitz. Subtle use can yield great results, too. The Police's Andy Summers used a flanger on most of his tones to subtle, tasteful and influential effect.

It surely goes without saying that modulation is a big deal in the pedal world. Every major manufacturer has their versions of these classic effects. We stock all of these, along with scores of pedals from boutique manufacturers from across the world. Browse our full range online or try them out for yourself in-store.

Why Should I Choose a Modulation Pedal?

• Guitar modulation pedals allow you to explore new sounds
• Can be a great tool for songwriting
• Add a new dimension to existing parts