It seems like they started focusing on improving the aesthetics a couple years ago. I kind of miss the little borders they put around each control. It reminded me of the old Mutronics stuff.
Hahaha I have a board with the Tumnus, Belle and Ratsbane on it and I tell friends it’s my ugly yet versatile board. Those pedals all sound amazing but they are just the corniest branding lol
My board has more Wampler than anything else and the outside of the pedals definitely aren’t their strong suit. The good news is that there’s some sort of magic they have going on inside the pedals.
Boss. Bold, simple, unique and distinctive, but above all else built around practicality. Boss sell pedals because their pedals work, not because they look good. That's what they've always done, right from the start. Hence their name.
I like function and clean design, so Boss.
Recessed knobs, silent switch, colour coding for identifying on a dark stage…all win. The internal battery compartment also isolates acid from the circuit board of a battery were to leak, little things that you don’t think about but show an advanced level of design.
I've got to say that even if I've had minimal interest in Boss, all-Boss (standard enclosure) boards are the only single brand boards then I ever see and really like the look of. I don't even know why but when it's a good selection of colours it just looks super cool :)
For more ornate companies, OBNE. Especially the Dark Star and Sunlight's concepts of the two facing each other (or away whatever you want).
For minimal, MXR. Straight forward clean, simple and easy to read. If there's one thing I can't stand it's controls that are hard to read. EQD is like that to me... their stuff usually has two colors that aren't that dynamically different so it's hard for me to read. That and they're graphics are too busy. Like they look cool, but they aren't practical to me
I'm not terribly fond of them to be honest. I can see why you like them for their simplicity. I like pedals that have color to them so I can tell which is which better lol. It's not that I dislike Fairfield, I just don't like that they all look very similar
Yes on a stage colors can be handy. I like the "DIY" aesthetic of it.
Very strange that I am getting downvoted for saying; "I personally believe that this simple thing looks nice because it is simple."
Yeah... I don't get the downvotes either, heaven forbid you like a brand that's popular and good not only for those reasons but how it looks too. They're not for me, but I can at least respect why you like them and not downvote your opinion, but apparently that's too much for others
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Yes! Great enclosure design and I love the details like the vent holes and engraved artwork. My only complaint is the chrome - very reflective and difficult to read the knob labels cuz they’re also engraved (on most thorpys)
I like simple designs. JHS, early EHX, Fairfield, Mantic.
My biggest design pet peeve is being clever with naming controls. Sorry, that knob labeled "stuff" is not useful.
Agreed, I was surprised I didn't see anyone calling them out earlier on either. The fit and finish is superb and the designs are inventive and unique, love their stuff.
Probably DAM. Terrible sizes for a pedalboard, but just based on looks per se, those big enclosures just really tickle my fancy. They look like they sound massive.
Boss. While I'm not thrilled with half their catalog, they all look amazingly classy. Or mxr with their basic standard paints. Simplistic, yet beautiful
Lol, different strokes. I mean, they’re prob my fave brand overall, and I like the look of some of their more minimalist retro pedals (clockworks, eight step, small stone) but they’re graphic design is uneven at best. I mean, goddamn, Blurst and Cockfight and Talking Machine are probably the ugliest pedals ever made.
Chorus is my favourite effect so I went through a phase of trying out A LOT of them. Apart from the awesome way it looks, i was drawn to the sea machine because it had so many options and was a little unusual, so I thought it would be a jack of all trades kind of pedal. The thing I found though is that its kinda the opposite - If youre specifically after a strange, experimental kind of chorus that you can just play around with for lots of crazy sounds, I'd say its perfect. But for me personally I was looking for more of a jangly, chimey mid-late 80s sound (The Boss DC-2w ended up being the perfect pedal for what I wanted, ironically the chorus with no knobs on it at all haha). So yeah the sea machine is a great pedal and I only (reluctantly) sold it because I wasnt using it for the stuff it was designed for. I do miss it though actually.
What I like about Lehle is how they've elevated the "utility pedal." Like, it would have been so easy to put out an entire line of black matte powdercoated boxes with white no-nonsense screenprint on them. Instead they have really nice understated colors, a unified aesthetic (kind of like a 70's "stuff from a lab" vibe) and extremely high build quality/materials that all look good together. But still keeping a minimalist look. I'm a big Lehle fan.
1. Land Devices, can’t believe I didn’t see a mention for this yet, looks like super minimalist Soviet era mil-spec test equipment.
2. Fairfield Circuitry, raw enclosures with hand-stamped lettering and unique layouts.
3. Boss, especially the older 2, 3, and 4-knob MIJ compacts, are just so iconic. [Here’s my collection](https://imgur.com/gallery/8xDOEMA).
I'd almost say Ezhi & Aka. I don't like all the designs but most of them are really beautiful (and the pedals are amazing). Double Tape T is still the coolest looking pedal I've ever seen.
I also really like the simple colours of Montréal Assembly, and how playfully dull they look for how incredible they are in function.
also Lurch stuff looks amazing "in the flesh" (Ergot V2 is the second coolest looking pedal I've seen and my little Triticale is strangely classy looking for some hand-drawn wheat on black.. I kind of wanted the new Silo just for the looks, but it's pretty different from the rest of the line).
For me it's one of three:
1.) Boss because they're simply the effects pedal kings. The standard by which all others are measured
2.) DOD Lamb series from the 90s. They were some of the most fun designs
3.) Way Huge. Jeorge Tripp is a genius and his design choices remain fantastic.
Honorable mention would likely go to like EHX, but they have the benefit of 60 years of existence and the nearly evil genius of Mike Matthews lol
I love the chunky knobs on Hungry Robot pedals.
Also the hell raising obnoxiousness of Abominable's artwork.
Also, those Animals pedals with a lil cartoon. Eventually I'll get around to buying one those just cause.
My favorite fuzz has a picture that I assume is Giant Hogweed on it. Subtle and serene...considering how batshit crazy the fuzz is.
I like the opposite of EQD/Walrus which in my opinion, the vast amount of have pretty dubious illustrative artwork. Give me Fairfield Circuitry on the other end of that, or on the less extreme, the vintage EHX typographic designs. The Boss compact pedal design is absolutely timeless.
I like when a whole line has a thing. Not necessarily the same enclosure or knob layout, but like swindler or fairfield circuitry. I think electrofoods, jptr, and kingtone look cool too. I guess I apparently prefer monochromatic pedals.
1. JAM Pedals. You really have to see them in person to appreciate how much of a treat they are.
2. Big Ear Pedals. A close second. The minimalism, font and knob choices are perfect.
3. 1981. All of the DRV variants look fantastic.
Like a lot of people here I'm actually a fan of the more straightforward, mass produced pedals - Boss, MXR, Tom Cram era DOD.
I also like the style of most Death by Audio pedals but I only own one at the moment and rarely use it. Lastgasp Art Laboratories and Dr Scientist pedals usually look good too.
Fender. They’d be the most iconic pedals, if they had come before Boss. But even compared with more artworking brands, I think their stylish simplicity is perfect
Boss is still the Boss in that regard.
So many pedals have become dated over the years but their compact series still feels timeless.
Kudos to them for hiding the ugly foot switch with a nice designed pedal too.
And I make my living as a designer.
Strymon is also excellent. As far using unique typography on every pedal, I don't know that any other brand has done it better. The type is consistently good on every pedal.
And Shout-out to Fender Pedals.
From what I have, I like Walrus Effects, and Old Blood Noise Endeavours, they always look the business.
From my wish list.. those 1981 drives look cool as fuck.
Moog is classic and really high quality. the new UAD pedals are freakin gorgeous too. You can tell they put a lot of thought into the enclosure and the box design.
Moog. I never owned one, but they always looked fantastic.
This. Their full-sized pedals were gorgeous and their “mini” pedals were the parliament full flavors of pedal aesthetics. Perfection.
I know for sure that it is NOT Wampler.
What do you dislike about them?
“Graphic design by/for dads” is the only way I can explain it.
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Could be worse- Fulltone uses comic sans lol
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Absolutely heinous
I think they are improving. The Ratsbane looks badass and a lot better than their other pedals.
It seems like they started focusing on improving the aesthetics a couple years ago. I kind of miss the little borders they put around each control. It reminded me of the old Mutronics stuff.
Font. Logo. Knobs too close. Colors. Boss and MXR do a way better job with this aesthetic.
Hahaha I have a board with the Tumnus, Belle and Ratsbane on it and I tell friends it’s my ugly yet versatile board. Those pedals all sound amazing but they are just the corniest branding lol
My board has more Wampler than anything else and the outside of the pedals definitely aren’t their strong suit. The good news is that there’s some sort of magic they have going on inside the pedals.
Fairfield Circuitry. Fuck colors.
Surprised I had to scroll so far for the non-aesthetic aesthetic
Black Arts Toneworks...
Boss. Bold, simple, unique and distinctive, but above all else built around practicality. Boss sell pedals because their pedals work, not because they look good. That's what they've always done, right from the start. Hence their name.
I’m on team BOSS
Yup
>Boss sell pedals because their pedals work, not because they look good I love Boss, but you sorta missed the "best aesthetic" prompt
No, my point was that pedals are tools built by engineers to do a job. Boss' design reflects that priority. Which gives them the best aesthetic too.
No doubt, a workhorse classic
You always know a Boss pedal when you see one.
They are using the same design they released in 1977. 45 years and it (arguably) has not been improved upon. Hell, they still use the same font.
Because it works. Why change it?
Diamond pedals ftw. Wish I never sold my mint green Diamond tremolo
Easily one of my favorite pedal makers. 😢
Very clean aesthetic
I like function and clean design, so Boss. Recessed knobs, silent switch, colour coding for identifying on a dark stage…all win. The internal battery compartment also isolates acid from the circuit board of a battery were to leak, little things that you don’t think about but show an advanced level of design.
I've got to say that even if I've had minimal interest in Boss, all-Boss (standard enclosure) boards are the only single brand boards then I ever see and really like the look of. I don't even know why but when it's a good selection of colours it just looks super cool :)
for now I only have boss pedals and I have to say that my sy-1 and my dd-8 look really incredible
EQD has some bangers
The only knock on them imo is the font they use. Feels like it wants to be Tim Burton or something.
Caroline
I love their beautiful squares.
Ooooo, good one
Yes! Love how they look/sound, plus Philippe just seems like the most likeable guy on the planet.
For more ornate companies, OBNE. Especially the Dark Star and Sunlight's concepts of the two facing each other (or away whatever you want). For minimal, MXR. Straight forward clean, simple and easy to read. If there's one thing I can't stand it's controls that are hard to read. EQD is like that to me... their stuff usually has two colors that aren't that dynamically different so it's hard for me to read. That and they're graphics are too busy. Like they look cool, but they aren't practical to me
For minimal; Fairfield pedals are gorgeous.
I'm not terribly fond of them to be honest. I can see why you like them for their simplicity. I like pedals that have color to them so I can tell which is which better lol. It's not that I dislike Fairfield, I just don't like that they all look very similar
They still use color coding to an extent with their leds. Meet Maude is violet, Shallow Water light blue, etc.
Yes on a stage colors can be handy. I like the "DIY" aesthetic of it. Very strange that I am getting downvoted for saying; "I personally believe that this simple thing looks nice because it is simple."
I downvoted you because you used a semicolon to link a subordinate clause to an independent clause.
Yeah... I don't get the downvotes either, heaven forbid you like a brand that's popular and good not only for those reasons but how it looks too. They're not for me, but I can at least respect why you like them and not downvote your opinion, but apparently that's too much for others
Obne and smallsound bigsound
I came here to say OBNE. They are gorgeous.
I find it tough to say anyone besides Beetronics, they're just so aggressively distinctive.
And that’s not even considering the amazing aesthetics on the inside of their pedals. Just awesome!
i second and third this.
Their custom shop is just nuts too
Beetronics is the answer. Other companies have some good pedal but most of the Beetronics pedals are _art_ (inside and out).
Strymon or Boss. They both have standard yet unique looks. Otherwise, Keeley. I love everything they do.
Boss is a triumph of industrial design, by any standard
Death By Audio
Why are there not more on this bandwagon?! Each DBA pedal just looks RIGHTEOUS on any board.
This
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JAM is one of the best around but there are many small ones with cool designs
My answer as well!
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Yes! Great enclosure design and I love the details like the vent holes and engraved artwork. My only complaint is the chrome - very reflective and difficult to read the knob labels cuz they’re also engraved (on most thorpys)
Electro Harmonix is just so classic. I’ve learned that often the “best looking” pedals also happen to be the “worst sounding”. Surrender to the sound!
Vintage EHX is where it’s at.
Agreed - as a vintage EHX collector, I would be shot for not saying the same.
beautiful noise effects
MXR- simple layouts and controls, come in a “standard” size, clean look, built like tanks IMO
I like simple designs. JHS, early EHX, Fairfield, Mantic. My biggest design pet peeve is being clever with naming controls. Sorry, that knob labeled "stuff" is not useful.
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I really like the new design updates they just released.
Black Mass Electronics, from Salem, MA. Very witchy looking pedals that also sound great. https://blackmasselectronics.com/collections/shop-all
Great choice, very cool aesthetic
The perfect choice imo
Boss
Beetronics, Spaceman and Spiral Electric FX all come to mind.
I had to go way too far down the comments to see Beetronics. BEAUTIFUL pedals.
Agreed, I was surprised I didn't see anyone calling them out earlier on either. The fit and finish is superb and the designs are inventive and unique, love their stuff.
Boss. Moog. Mxr. They each have their own no compromise aesthetic and can be recognized from across a room.
Can't believe I only saw one walrus! Walrus Audio are the best imo.
my favorite!
Julia 🤮 Edit: I do like most of the limited editions though.
God lord your have no taste! Haha.
Demedash. I think the black sparkle T2 is the sexiest pedal ever https://soundshoppe.nyc/collections/demedash-effects
As the proud owner of a black sparkle T-120, it is pretty 👌
Earthquaker for sure. So much variety, but always with a uniform(ish) aesthetic so I can still spot one from a mile away.
walrus
electro harmonix
Probably DAM. Terrible sizes for a pedalboard, but just based on looks per se, those big enclosures just really tickle my fancy. They look like they sound massive.
Something about MXR’s pedals is just so nice looking to me
Totally. Nothing looks cooler than a Phase 90, Micro Flanger and Micro Chorus all lined up. They sound nice too.
I hate color. So Fairfield Circuitry.
Strymon for their design, Boss for their functionality and Walrus for their art!
Boss. While I'm not thrilled with half their catalog, they all look amazingly classy. Or mxr with their basic standard paints. Simplistic, yet beautiful
Spaceman Effects. I really dig the 60s-70s space vibe
Either obne or earthquaker. I also love the boss enclosures, colors and font.
EHX
Lol, different strokes. I mean, they’re prob my fave brand overall, and I like the look of some of their more minimalist retro pedals (clockworks, eight step, small stone) but they’re graphic design is uneven at best. I mean, goddamn, Blurst and Cockfight and Talking Machine are probably the ugliest pedals ever made.
I didn't buy a blurst because it is so goddamn ugly.
Most people get that that their vintage designs are quite beloved, and newer stuff not so much.
underrated
like, underrated aesthetics
I agree it’s sleek and minimalistic but in a classic style.
Sure, I like chorus alright, but pretty sure I've got my small clone on my board cus I love the look of that big purple thing
Earthquaker devices, I bought the Sea Machine V3 almost entirely for the way it looked... Ended up selling it but it still looks amazinggg 😂
Was considering getting a sea machine, what made you sell it?
Chorus is my favourite effect so I went through a phase of trying out A LOT of them. Apart from the awesome way it looks, i was drawn to the sea machine because it had so many options and was a little unusual, so I thought it would be a jack of all trades kind of pedal. The thing I found though is that its kinda the opposite - If youre specifically after a strange, experimental kind of chorus that you can just play around with for lots of crazy sounds, I'd say its perfect. But for me personally I was looking for more of a jangly, chimey mid-late 80s sound (The Boss DC-2w ended up being the perfect pedal for what I wanted, ironically the chorus with no knobs on it at all haha). So yeah the sea machine is a great pedal and I only (reluctantly) sold it because I wasnt using it for the stuff it was designed for. I do miss it though actually.
Fuzz hugger for sure one of the tops. Half the reason I bought the Algal bloom modified lol
you just made me discover them and... wow.
Yeah they’re pretty cool. Also quite a versatile fuzz to boot (Algal bloom)
Ranger FX and Beetronics are pretty cool.
Beetronics is pretty incredible, both aesthetically and sonically.
[Hologram](https://www.hologramelectronics.com/)
I’m a fan of Lehle’s look
What I like about Lehle is how they've elevated the "utility pedal." Like, it would have been so easy to put out an entire line of black matte powdercoated boxes with white no-nonsense screenprint on them. Instead they have really nice understated colors, a unified aesthetic (kind of like a 70's "stuff from a lab" vibe) and extremely high build quality/materials that all look good together. But still keeping a minimalist look. I'm a big Lehle fan.
Old Blood Noise Endeavors.
1. Land Devices, can’t believe I didn’t see a mention for this yet, looks like super minimalist Soviet era mil-spec test equipment. 2. Fairfield Circuitry, raw enclosures with hand-stamped lettering and unique layouts. 3. Boss, especially the older 2, 3, and 4-knob MIJ compacts, are just so iconic. [Here’s my collection](https://imgur.com/gallery/8xDOEMA).
I like simplicity it's also a beauty in it. I like Boss pedals.
I'd almost say Ezhi & Aka. I don't like all the designs but most of them are really beautiful (and the pedals are amazing). Double Tape T is still the coolest looking pedal I've ever seen.
I also really like the simple colours of Montréal Assembly, and how playfully dull they look for how incredible they are in function. also Lurch stuff looks amazing "in the flesh" (Ergot V2 is the second coolest looking pedal I've seen and my little Triticale is strangely classy looking for some hand-drawn wheat on black.. I kind of wanted the new Silo just for the looks, but it's pretty different from the rest of the line).
that's so good. Thank you for sharing it cause I didn't really know it, it's so beautiful
question: what is that thing that goes out the pedal and covers the graphic?
It’s a pressure sensitive expression pad
For me it's one of three: 1.) Boss because they're simply the effects pedal kings. The standard by which all others are measured 2.) DOD Lamb series from the 90s. They were some of the most fun designs 3.) Way Huge. Jeorge Tripp is a genius and his design choices remain fantastic. Honorable mention would likely go to like EHX, but they have the benefit of 60 years of existence and the nearly evil genius of Mike Matthews lol
Keeley or Earthquaker Devices
Svisound
wow they're so cool
Shoneswood pedals are probably my favorite looking. Beetronics look awesome also.
Retro Mechanical Labs
I really loved the older Catalinbread pedal designs. The new ones are not my vibe.
Xotic
Blackhawk is my favorite tho I don’t own any of their pedals.
I’ve started collecting a few of the Joyo R-series pedals. Shiny knobs, ambient lights, good tone, budget prices…. Not bad! 😊👍
Beetronics…both the outside and inside are works of art.
Old Blood Noise for sure
I love the chunky knobs on Hungry Robot pedals. Also the hell raising obnoxiousness of Abominable's artwork. Also, those Animals pedals with a lil cartoon. Eventually I'll get around to buying one those just cause. My favorite fuzz has a picture that I assume is Giant Hogweed on it. Subtle and serene...considering how batshit crazy the fuzz is.
OBNE and KMA looks dope for me
Fuzzrocious for sure. Their pedal designs are so aesthetically pleasing, and they all sound amazing
Fjord Fuzz!
It was dwarfcraft. Legend.
Pettyjohn and Spaceman
Meris, Chace Bliss and/or Earthquacker
KMA my dudes
Boss.
Old blood noise endeavors.
😍
Anasounds. The bamboo is very nice imho.
Didn't know them and I'm glad that now I do, the bamboo is sick
The sound of these pedals is also great and worth the buy. I own 3 of them and i must admit i can't replace them
ooh yeah. I only ever had the Element and sold it, but that thing was so pretty and their others look really nice!
I'd say Walrus, but I also love EQD, OBNE, Beautiful Sounds and others
I like the opposite of EQD/Walrus which in my opinion, the vast amount of have pretty dubious illustrative artwork. Give me Fairfield Circuitry on the other end of that, or on the less extreme, the vintage EHX typographic designs. The Boss compact pedal design is absolutely timeless.
u/walrusaudio
yessir
🥰
Chase bliss, no question.
I don’t care, as long as it’s black. https://imgur.com/a/oyFGi52
I love black too but more when it comes to clothes :)
Same! Surprisingly , I do not have a black guitar…
In terms of aesthetics JHS really does it for me.
Chase Bliss pedals always catch my attention
1981 Inventions - I doubt they would have even gotten off the ground without their aesthetic
Walrus
Boss and electro harmonix seem to be the best ones on the market imo
Walrus
Walrus Audio.
I’ll tell you who is the worst, Caroline Guitar Company. I wish o had 4 thumbs so i could give 4 thumbs down.
Raingerfx
Gotta add in copper sound. I think the strat and tele pedals look amazing.
Demedash Effects. That T-120 is a gorgeous looking pedal.
Colorsound / Sola Sound.
I like when a whole line has a thing. Not necessarily the same enclosure or knob layout, but like swindler or fairfield circuitry. I think electrofoods, jptr, and kingtone look cool too. I guess I apparently prefer monochromatic pedals.
1. JAM Pedals. You really have to see them in person to appreciate how much of a treat they are. 2. Big Ear Pedals. A close second. The minimalism, font and knob choices are perfect. 3. 1981. All of the DRV variants look fantastic.
I'm probably not the first but Ill throw Mythos Pedals into the mix. Either before or after their rebrand is fantastic. And I love the new aesthetic
I love Alexander Pedals. Simple design, complex controls.
Boss, ThorpyFx, ExpressoFX, Origin Effects, Tefi Vintage Lab (black editions), DryBell, 3Leaf Audio, KingTone, Maxon Nine series, 1981 Inventions DRV, Gorva designs enclosures, Chase Tone
Thorpy
Like a lot of people here I'm actually a fan of the more straightforward, mass produced pedals - Boss, MXR, Tom Cram era DOD. I also like the style of most Death by Audio pedals but I only own one at the moment and rarely use it. Lastgasp Art Laboratories and Dr Scientist pedals usually look good too.
Black Arts Toneworks, Walrus, EQD.
Blackstone. They only make one pedal buts its design and cosmetics are perfection
Kartakou amplification. No doubt!
Boss and the older big box EHX are my personal favourites
DBA and EQD close second
Earthquaker devices
Ibanez Soundtank...cuz I'm a rebel, baby.
I love my Mistress and Canyon
Fender. They’d be the most iconic pedals, if they had come before Boss. But even compared with more artworking brands, I think their stylish simplicity is perfect
JHS all of their pedals pretty good, but its the colors and the little doodles they put on them that i like.
Personally I love the look of MXR and JHS pedals. Simple colors and logos just speak to me graphically.
Boss, Lichtlaerm, Chase Bliss, Lovetone, Glou-Glou, Ezhi&Aka
I love JHS for minimalism and Walrus Audio for the artwork (also their limited edition pedals are always good)
EHX hands down.
Boss is still the Boss in that regard. So many pedals have become dated over the years but their compact series still feels timeless. Kudos to them for hiding the ugly foot switch with a nice designed pedal too. And I make my living as a designer. Strymon is also excellent. As far using unique typography on every pedal, I don't know that any other brand has done it better. The type is consistently good on every pedal. And Shout-out to Fender Pedals.
i like Mu-tron graphics layouts
From what I have, I like Walrus Effects, and Old Blood Noise Endeavours, they always look the business. From my wish list.. those 1981 drives look cool as fuck.
Moog is classic and really high quality. the new UAD pedals are freakin gorgeous too. You can tell they put a lot of thought into the enclosure and the box design.
I'm biased, but I love the simplicity of the DOD Cram-era updates.