[Latest for 2025] 5 Recommended Guitar Multi-Effects Pedals for Beginners

A multi-effects pedal is a very useful item for first-time buyers and those who are not sure where they want to start. There is no limit to the number of combinations of effects pedals you can buy, and for beginners, there is the financial problem of having to spend a lot of money on one pedal. However, when it comes time to buy a multi-effects pedal, there are so many different types that it is often difficult to know what to buy and how to go about it. Here are some multi-effects pedals that we recommend for first-timers!

■ What is a Multi-Effects Pedal in the First Place?

As the name suggests, a multi-effects pedal is an effects pedal that combines many types of effects pedals into one, including distortion systems like overdrive and spatial systems such as reverb/delay, compressors, equalizers, modulation systems, and more. As shown in the figure below, it’s like having various compact effects pedals in one box!

There are so many effects pedals that…

Are built into one effects pedal!

Now that you have an idea of what a multi-effects pedal is, let's take a look at what a multi-effects pedal is. You can set the effects you want to use on the footswitches, so you can get a variety of tones from a single unit without having to carry a lot of effects pedals with you!
Next, let's also check out the advantages and disadvantages of multi-effects pedals!

■ Advantages of Multi-Effects Pedals

1. Complete Sound Creation with a Single Unit!

This is what it all comes down to. If you look at the feet of artists, you will see that they have many compact effectors connected, which is something you can aspire to, but it will cost you a lot of money. I want to sound like one of those pro guitarists! But, it is often practically difficult to buy all the effects pedals you need.

(So many effects pedals are like this.... How much does it cost?)

That's where multi-effects pedals come in! Distortion and reverb, fuzz and wah, even compressed strumming can all be done with one unit! Many recent multi-effects pedals are inexpensive models with sufficient built-in effects, so this is a must-try product for beginners just starting out on the guitar.

2. Ideal for Practicing!

Many multi-effect pedals have a phone/phone out or AUX IN, allowing you to practice with headphones while playing external audio! In Japan, where amps are often purchased but not played at home, this is an ideal feature because it eliminates the need to buy an amp in the first place! It is a great way to check tones and practice while playing songs of the band you are copying, resulting in a high cost-effective solution . It also comes with a tuner, so you can tune it right at your feet instead of using an external tuner.

3. You can Study the Effects Pedals!

The guitarist is usually the one who yearns for compact effects pedals. (It depends on the individual) However, compact effects pedals can only be configured within the tones that the effector has, so they must be purchased with care. Is it really the sound you like? Is it suitable for your specific application? Does it have the settings you want, and so on?
A multi-effects pedal has many built-in tones, each with its own settings. Beginners will be happy to know that they can try out a variety of effectors on a single machine! Above all, you can play with it all day long.
Some multi-effect pedals can be connected in any order, so you can easily enjoy how the sound changes depending on the order in which the effect pedals are connected.

Although multi-effects pedals may seem difficult for beginners at first glance, once you get used to them, they are full of good things. Multi-effects pedals, which are easy to operate and allow you to use a variety of effectors, may actually be the best effectors for your first time.
Here are some popular and recommended multi-effects pedals brought to you by Sound House!

BOSS / GT-1 Multi-Effects Pedal

First of all, we would like to introduce the BOSS GT-1, a super standard multi-effects pedal! The charm of this product is its smooth operability! It looks very simple, but it has more than 100 effects and changing effects is as easy as stepping on the bottom button with your foot. It also has a pedal, so you can apply a wah or adjust the volume balance while playing. One thing I particularly recommend is the loop function. You can layer notes on top of chord playing, accompaniment, etc., with lead guitar or single-note playing, which is very enjoyable, so go try it out!

ZOOM / G2 FOUR Multi-effects pedal for guitar

Next, I will introduce the G2 FOUR from ZOOM! This product is one size smaller than the GT-1 I introduced earlier. It looks very simple. It has four main footswitches and a few other knobs and buttons. Its simple design makes it very easy for beginners to use. In addition, it comes with a dedicated app for iOS and Android, so you can easily set effects and create sounds with the app. If you want to operate effects easily with your smartphone, give this one a try!

ZOOM / MS-50G+ Multi-Stomp Multi-Effects Pedal

Next up is the ZOOM MS-50G+!
Despite being the size of a compact pedal, this unit packs a punch with all the features expected of a multi-effects pedal condensed into a single unit. It is the successor to the brand's best-selling MS-50G. Equipped with 80 types of guitar effects, the MS-50G+ includes modeling of famous boutique pedals and can create sounds with up to 6 effects connected in any order, so it is likely that this one unit will be enough to produce all the sounds you want. Another attractive feature is the ability to obtain additional effects/preset patches and edit patch memories from the Handy Guitar Lab app for iOS. It is very nice to be able to do so much at this price point! In addition, two AA alkaline batteries power the unit continuously for 7 hours, so you can easily enjoy your particular sound anywhere, even in your pocket, if you have one of these units tucked away.
It is a versatile multi-effects pedal that can meet all your needs, whether for fun or for practical use!

NUX / MG-300

Next up is the NUX MG-300, a compact yet versatile instrument. It is equipped with 13 types of pre-effects such as distortion and compressor, 23 types of spatial post-effects, and 25 types of amp modeling. In addition, the manufacturer's proprietary algorithms can reproduce the sound of a real tube amp! It also functions as an audio interface, making it ideal for live use as well as for recording and composing music by connecting to a PC! The effects are displayed in color on the main unit's display, making it easy for beginners to understand. The unit's display shows the effects pedals in color, making it easy for even beginners to understand.

Line 6 / POD GO

Finally, the last product we will introduce is Line 6's product standard, the POD GO. This one is recommended for beginners who want to achieve the same environment and sound as advanced and professional musicians. Once you have it in your hands, there is no doubt that you can create the best guitar sound using just one of these. The sound quality goes without saying that even those who are not accustomed to operating effectors can easily operate it by manipulating the buttons and knobs while looking at the display! In addition to being able to play and record with just one guitar, the main unit is designed to be lightweight and extremely compact in size, making it ideal for live houses and recording studios. It can be easily carried to live houses and recording studios, and is sure to be put to great use! I especially recommend this product for everyone from beginners to those who are looking for their next instrument.

What do you think? We hope this article will be of some help to those who are looking to buy a multi-effects pedal for the first time. Let's enhance your guitar life with a multi-effects pedal!

（2023-07-19 published 2025-01-22 updated）