Simple! The World of One-Knob Pedals

Hello everyone! This is Kito, a guitar teacher and guitarist.
There are literally countless effects pedals out there:

From highly functional digital pedals to primitive fuzz pedals and vintage reproductions... The variety is endless, and the demand is equally broad.

Today, I’d like to introduce some super convenient pedals that can be controlled with just one knob. These pedals eliminate the headache of complicated settings! Let’s jump right in.

1. Limetone Audio / irodori

This one-knob pedal comes from Limetone Audio, a brand known for their popular Focus compressor and Jackal distortion pedal.

Since around 2018, Limetone has gained popularity among both guitarists and bassists for their high-quality volume pedals. They’ve recently released a variety of pedals that are worth keeping an eye on!

The irodori is one of Limetone’s early creations and seems more focused on “shaping the sound into something usable” rather than just boosting it.

With a toggle switch, you can switch between mellow and vivid modes, allowing you to select the one that fits your musical style or performance. It’s a very user-friendly feature.

2. MXR / CSP026 '74 Vintage Phase90

When you think of ‘one-knob’, many people probably picture MXR’s phasers or Micro Amp. There are several versions of MXR’s phaser pedals.

In my experience, compared to the most standard M101 Phase90 (the one with the LED), I think the CSP026 '74 Vintage Phase90 has a slightly more subtle effect in a good way.

Like with chorus pedals, sometimes the effect can drastically change the original tone, which can be both a pro and a con.

Personally, I prefer to use modulation effects more subtly, so that’s why I’m introducing the CSP026 '74 Vintage Phase90 here.

By the way, my ideal phaser sound is from Eric Gale’s performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival with Stuff. You should definitely give it a listen.

3. Xotic / Super Sweet Booster

This is a very handy one-knob pedal that I’ve used myself. True to its name, just stepping on the Super Sweet delivers a rich, sweet, and mellow sound.

The DIP switch on the right side of the unit allows you to decide which frequency range to boost or cut, letting you adapt it to the unique characteristics of your guitar.

For example, you can use it to make a Strat sound more like a hollow-body, or boost the mids when using a hollow-body guitar. You can use it to complement distortion pedals or as a clean booster.

4. Fairfield Circuitry / The Accountant

The final pedal is a bit of a curveball. With its rugged case and vintage typewriter-like font, you can already tell this is a bit different from your standard pedal.

Honestly, I think the design alone makes it worth buying!

Inside is an all-analog JFET compressor circuit that can be used not only with guitars but also with bass or vocals.

I expected a pretty extreme sound, but after listening to demos on YouTube, I found it to be a surprisingly reliable compressor.

It can go from a strong, punchy compression to a subtle, supportive tone like a cool older gentleman.

That wraps up today’s introduction to the “Simple! The World of One-Knob Pedals”. Did any pedals catch your eye? Be sure to check out different one-knob pedals at Sound House and find the one that suits your taste. Thanks for reading!

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