Recommended Effects Pedals for Backing Guitar [For Single Coil Pickups]

This is my second time here. As always, I’m broke – it’s Saku.

Let me ask you, fellow guitarists, do you use effects pedals for backing?
I assume the majority of you do, but there may be some minimalists who create distortion through their amp and switch between clean and distorted tones with a footswitch.
For both types of players, I’ll be introducing effects pedals that are perfect for backing, based purely on my own opinion.
Please note that all sound impressions are my personal thoughts, so your experience may differ. Keep that in mind beforehand.

The selection criteria are basically:

• Easy to set up for low gain (crunch)
• Good sound separation when playing chords
• Affordable price
• Good responsiveness to the guitar’s volume and picking

Since these are the standards, I’ll avoid covering some subjective opinions.

Without further ado, let’s get started!

1. BOSS / BD-2

Some of you might be thinking, “It’s this one, after all!” This pedal is a legendary ‘go-to’ choice when you’re unsure what to pick.
It’s the first compact effects pedal many beginners choose, yet it’s beloved by professionals, making it an excellent choice for players of all levels.

Here are the features of the BD-2:

• It has a wide range of gain settings, from clean boost to fuzzy distortion.
• It produces a bright, sharp sound with a strong high end, making it a perfect match for single coils.
• It’s easy to dial in for low gain settings, so you won’t get lost in tone shaping.
• Raising the tone control increases presence, which can make your backing parts stand out too much.
• Some may find BOSS’s typical limited range not to their liking.

This was the second compact pedal I ever bought, and it fit into any genre and was very useful.
My favorite settings were gain between 12 and 1 o’clock, and tone between 10 and 11 o’clock.
Though I eventually sold it, I seriously want to buy it again – it’s that good.
I used the classic setup of placing an SD-1 before it to boost the signal, which is a great way to get a solid tone without too much fuss. Plus, you can assemble this setup for under ¥20,000, making it highly recommended for everyone.

You can listen to the sound here.

By the way, there’s also the BD-2W, a factory-modified version of the BD-2 by BOSS. It includes a custom mode that adds thickness to the sound, making it even better for lead tones. This might be the one to recommend to beginners.。

2. MXR / CSP027 Timmy Overdrive

This is another well-known pedal. It’s considered the pioneer of ‘transparent overdrives’ and is the successor to the Paul Cochrane Timmy Overdrive.
Since it’s produced through a collaboration between MXR and Mr. Cochrane, it produces a sound that’s very close to the original.

Here are the features of the CSP027 Timmy Overdrive:

• It offers a clean, slightly flavored distortion, as if your clean tone is just being driven harder.
• While it distorts reasonably well when the gain is raised, the quality of the distortion remains intact.
• Its 2-band EQ (high and low) works effectively, functioning both as a corrective tool and a boost.
• It pairs well with any booster.
• The compression effect from the clipping is satisfying.

Timmy is the original inspiration for the Vemuram Jan Ray, a pedal many guitarists admire. I own a Jan Ray myself, but I feel there’s a notable difference between the two.
The Jan Ray feels more characterful, so if you’re looking for a truly neutral sound, Timmy might be the better choice.
The Jan Ray costs over ¥40,000, which is pricey for a distortion pedal. However, the Timmy comes in at ¥23,800 (tax included), roughly half the price, and produces a sound close to the Jan Ray. For those who can’t quite reach for the Jan Ray, the Timmy is a great alternative.

You can listen to the sound here.

3. Warm Audio / Centavo

Here it is – the Centaur. All three pedals I’ve introduced so far are quite famous, but I couldn’t leave this one out. The Centavo is a clone of the KLON / Centaur (commonly known as the "Centaur"). The Centaur is famous for its use as a booster. I personally love using it before my Jan Ray, no matter the amp, but I recently discovered it sounds great even when Jan Ray is turned off. This led me to realize it works surprisingly well for backing, too.

Here are the features of the Centavo:

• The well-known Centaur sound with its strong midrange warmth.
• The more you raise the gain, the stronger the midrange becomes. By adjusting the treble, you can balance warmth with a sharp edge.
• At low gain, it produces a warm distortion, capable of delivering a thick sound even with a Strat’s single coil pickups.
• Each string distorts individually. While the overall sound is cohesive, the presence of each string remains.
• The MOD switch allows you to expand the low-end, producing a sound with more body.

There are many Centaur clones, but the Centavo looks the most similar to the original. The size might take up space on your board, but for those who admire the Centaur, this resemblance is a nice touch.
Most importantly, it excels as both a main distortion and a booster, offering versatility that many other pedals can’t match.

You can listen to the sound here.

As a side note, Klon officially released the KTR in 2012 as a successor to the Centaur.
While it doesn’t resemble the Centavo visually, its sound is identical. If you’re into niche products, why not check this one out too?

4. Mad Professor / Royal Blue Overdrive Factory

Lastly, I have the Royal Blue Overdrive from Mad Professor, another transparent overdrive pedal.

Here are the features of the Royal Blue Overdrive Factory:

• It offers a wide gain range, from clean boost to distortion-like overdrive.
• As the gain increases, the midrange becomes more pronounced, making it great for cutting lead tones.
• The bass and treble controls have a perfect range, so you can get a good sound no matter where you set them.
• Compared to Timmy, the distortion feels rougher, giving it a more Tube Screamer-like quality.

While it’s transparent and minimally colored, it has a wider range than other models.
Compared to Timmy or Jan Ray, this one has more character and delivers a sharper distortion. It’s worth trying if you want more personality or are tired of purely transparent tones.

You can listen to the sound here.

How was it? I’m sure many of you are familiar with these pedals, but you probably haven’t thought about them from a backing perspective.
While many guitarists (in my personal experience) are picky about their lead tones, they can be surprisingly careless with their backing tones.
For me, I always create a clean tone through the amp, keep my main distortion on most of the time, and use a booster for special moments. As a result, I’m always careful when choosing my main distortion.

Aside from the pedals introduced today, other great options for backing include the Warm Audio Warmdrive, a clone of the Zen Drive with a low-mid character, JHS Pedals Morning Glory as a third choice for transparent overdrives, and Warm Audio ODD Box V1, a clone of the amp-like OCD.

Creating a good backing tone may seem simple, but it’s very sensitive to fitting in without standing out too much or getting lost in the band.
When you finally achieve a sound you like, I can guarantee the satisfaction rivals that of a lead tone.
So, go ahead and craft your own unique backing sound!

[Other Effects Pedals to Check Out for Backing]

BOSS / SD-1

Warm Audio / ODD Box v1

Maxon / VOP9 Vintage Overdrive Pro

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