Best Guitar Pedals for a Fender Stratocaster?
For a Fender Stratocaster (or any Strat-style guitar), I'd recommend starting with a distortion/overdrive, wah, delay, chorus, and reverb. Namely the Ibanez TS9, the Morley Bad Horsie, and Boss chorus pedal (CE-2w), among others. These pedals are practical for most guitar rigs, but meld particularly well with the Stratocasters single coil pickup sound and style, giving you more of a lead and blues-focused pedalboard, as opposed to metal or modern rock.
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Strats and pedals, completely subjective based on my personal experience.
Which pedals would you pair with your Stratocaster? Let me know in the comments section.
1. Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
Best overdrive pedal for a Fender Stratocaster
Anything from the TS9 series will pair well with a Strat, while honorable mentions include the Boss BD-2 and the Fuzz Face (Jimi Hendrix staple).
2. Morley Bad Horsie Wah Pedal
Best wah pedal for a Fender Stratocaster
For lead guitar styles, which is where Strats make their money, I'd recommend going with a switchless wah pedal like the Morley Bad Horsie. Alternatives would be the VOX wah and any one of the Cry Baby series pedals.
Gear Recommended by Real Guitar Players
Bobby Kittleberger
Guitar Chalk’s Founder and Editor · Bobby has developed guitar and music-related content and worked with a number of companies including Guitar World, Sweetwater, Paul Reed Smith, and Seymour Duncan. Get in touch via email.
3. MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay
Best analog delay pedal for Fender Stratocasters
I'd go with an analog delay to compliment the single coil pickups. The Carbon Copy is one of the best value options. If you want something digital with more flexibility, the Line 6 DL4 MK2 is your next stop.
4. Boss CE-2w Waza Craft Chorus
Best chorus pedal for Stratocasters
If you want to add some modulation, start with an analog chorus. I've tested the CE-2w and have been a big fan ever since.
5. Strymon BlueSky
Best reverb pedal for Stratocasters
If you have an amp with reverb, like one of the Fender tube amps, this might be more than you want/need, but an expansive digital reverb will sound really nice with clean Stratocaster tones.
Questions or additions?
What pedals do you like pairing with your Fender Stratocaster? Let me know in the comments section. Leave questions and additional thoughts there as well. Thanks for reading and trusting our content.
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Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Electrics & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Effects & Roundups
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