Best Modulation Pedals under 250$ in 2023!
Chorus, Flanger, Vibrato and more!
Modulation is a generic category that includes a few different types of effects. The most common ones are Chorus, Flanger, and Vibrato but there are quite a few more like Tremolo, Phaser, Bitcrusher, etc. So today, we decided to make a list of our favorite modulation pedals that also happen to be under 250$. The pedals are sorted by ascending price.
10. Walrus Audio Fundamental Phaser
We start off with a Phaser. Phasers alongside Flangers are the most misunderstood effects mainly because they have been used in a very distinctive way back in the 80s and 90s. The Fundamental Series by Walrus Audio is a series of very budget-friendly pedals (just like the Series 3 by JHS) that do a single effect and have just a few controls. Those pedals are an amazing starting point in the world of guitar pedals but also a great way to try out some effects without spending a ton of money. The Phaser has 3 modes - Light, Medium, and Heavy, and 3 sliders to control the Rate, Depth, and Feedback of the effect. And to be honest, that’s pretty much all you need for a nice phasing tone. Especially for some dreamy indie music, the Fundamental Phaser is an awesome tool to add that quirky sound to your guitar or synths!
9. MXR Analog Chorus
MXR is known for its simple analog pedals that may not be feature-packed, but they are cheap and sound amazing! The Analog Chorus is another example of a very warm chorus that just works. The Analog Chorus is a one-trick pony but the trick is performed perfectly. The Chorus sounds rich and crisp and you have EQ control to shape the High and Low frequencies. There’s not much more to say other that this is one of the best budget chorus pedals out there. It’s perfect for guitar but also synths when you want a chorus effect that won’t drown your signal like most cheap chorus pedals.
8. Dreadbox Komorebi Chorus / Flanger
I’m not sure that everyone knows that Dreadbox was initially a pedal builder. We now know Dreadbox for its beautiful synthesizers and Eurorack modules but they have a long history and a pretty cool lineup of pedals that most people are not aware of. Komorebi is one of them and it’s a Chorus/ Flanger and everything in between. A unique feature is that Komorebi also has CV control over the Static & Rate knobs and an LFO output so you can use it alongside your modular gear. Dreadbox pedals have a very fresh approach on classic effects and they surely stand out from the crowd. They urge to experiment and go wild so if you’re up for the challenge, you should give them a go!
7. Walrus Audio Julianna Stereo Chorus / Vibrato
Walrus Julia was one of the first pedals that made Walrus Audio famous around the world. It is a pedal that encapsulates the nostalgic dreamy sound and became a huge hit. So our friends at Walrus Audio decided to upgrade it and they released Julianna which has a few more modulation waveforms, subdivisions, tap tempo, and it’s Stereo! The fluid nature of the D-C-V knob that goes from Dry to Chorus and then to Vibrato is whatmakes the Julianna pedal such a beautiful sounding pedal.
6. Old Blood Noise Endeavors - Visitor
Visitor is a parallel tremolo, chorus, and phaser pedal that is not your typical tremolo, chorus, or phaser! The unique thing about this one is that it has a primary channel with a Tremolo, Chorus, or Phaser mode and a secondary channel that can be a tremolo or chorus that interacts with the primary channel creating all sorts of weird modulation effects. The Visitor is a really great modulation pedal that has a sound you won’t be able to find on any other pedal so I would definitely suggest it to people who like to get experimental and adventurous with modulation.
5. Earthquaker Devices - Aqueduct
Aqueduct is a vibrato pedal with just two controls. Rate & Depth. But while there’s not much to mess around with, it also has 8 distinct vibrato modes. From your typical selection of waveforms like Sine or Triangle to Envelope-controlled modes that respond to your playing and adjust the vibrato accordingly. This is a nice example of a single effect done well so if you love vibrato pedals, the Aqueduct is one of the best options out there mostly due to its great sound and flexibility. While still being the easiest to control.
4. JAM Pedals - Harmonious Monk MKII
Harmonious Monk by JAM Pedals is a harmonic tremolo, fully analog pedal. But what’s a Harmonic Tremolo compared to a standard Tremolo you may ask. In a nutshell, Harmonic Tremolos split your signal into two pieces based on harmonic context. Think of using a highpass filter for one and a lowpass for the other one. Then there are two tremolo lines for those pieces that run in parallel and phase in and out of each other creating a much more interesting effect than your typical tremolo that’s just the volume going up and down. So the Harmonious Monk, made in collaboration with Mick and Dan of That Pedal Show, is one of the best harmonic tremolos ever made that can go from subtle to stuttery, rhythmic tremolos. The Amplitude mode is the more slow and subtle mode and the Harmonic mode is where the pedal can go full-on intense! JAM Pedals is famously known for their craftmanship and their Harmonious Monk is not an exception!
3. Caroline Guitar Company - Somersault
In the past few years, you cannot think of modulation without thinking of all the Lofi pedals and plugins that have emerged. Somersault is a lo-fi modulator that uses chorus and vibrato to give you that 80s nostalgia in a box or even glitch your sounds to the extreme making them sound like broken tape. And just like in most Caroline pedals, there is the Havoc footswitch that does what the name implies. It’s a momentary switch that pushes the speed up and makes things rattle!
2. ZVex - Instant Lo-Fi Junky
The Instant Lo-Fi Junky is not a new pedal but it’s definitely a classic. It’s another lofi, tape-like effects pedal that introduces Chorus and Vibrato and makes your tone warbly and drifting. It has three vibrato waveforms - Sine, Triangle, and Square, a Volume and Tone control, and a very interesting Compression + Lo-fi knob that’s the soul of the pedal. The compression on this thing is pretty powerful so the volume knob comes in very handy and you must know that it also has quite a lot of white noise coming through that adds that lofi character. It’s a pedal dedicated to giving you those noisy, warbly tones so be prepared for that.
1. Dr. Scientist - BitQuest
The most versatile pedal on this list, and right below 250$, is the BitQuest multi-effects pedal by Dr. Scientist. This one has quite a collection of digital effects, 8 to be exact, and a switch to go from Clean to Fuzz that adds even more dirt to your sound. The 8 modes have a flanger, high pass, and low pass filters, a bit crusher with sample rate reducer, an infinite reverb, a deep notch filter, a ring modulator with reverb, a +/- 1 octave pitch shifter, and a wild glitch delay. As you understand, BitQuest is capable of a ton of wildly different sounds. This pedal is really versatile and diverse, great for synthesizers, and the sounds you’re getting out of it are pretty unique while being quite straightforward to use once you get a hold of what the CTRL knobs are doing for each mode. Definitely a great bargain for such a deep pedal!
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