Guitar World Staff Picks: Paul Riario’s Top 10 Effect Pedals of 2011

I initially was going to keep this list short and sweet, but when it comes to stompboxes, how do you stop?

Effects are like potato chips in that you just can’t expect me to offer you a handful because you’ll want the whole bag -- and besides, there are so many flavors of overdrive, modulation, delay, etc., that it’s nearly impossible to pick a top five. So I’ve decided to make it a top 10.

In choosing these wonderful toe toys, money was no object, so don’t expect to find cheap buys or bargains below. I’m going for the best, and with that, you’re going to have to shell out a little more dough if you really want great tone at your feet.

Coming this week: My picks for electric guitars, acoustic guitars and amps.

Check out the photo gallery below!

Paul Riario on Paul Riario:I try very hard to remain under the radar, despite being on camera as gear editor at Guitar World, but in this age of social media, it was only a matter of time before it had to come to this. So with that, I will make my blog painless and a quick and easy read so you can get on to more important things like practicing guitar and sweep picking, or if you’re like me, getting tiger blood transfusions and figuring out how to be Olivia Wilde’s boy toy. I will use this blog to inform you of things I find cool; like new gear I’m playing through and what I’m watching, reading or listening to at any given moment. So feel free to ask me anything that’s gear related — or if you have a problem with your girlfriend, ya know, life lesson stuff, I’m pretty good at that too — and I’ll do my best to answer or address it here.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**

Join now for unlimited access

US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year

UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year 

Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Prices from £2.99/$3.99/€3.49

Paul Riario

Paul Riario has been the tech/gear editor and online video presence for Guitar World for over 25 years. Paul is one of the few gear editors who has actually played and owned nearly all the original gear that most guitarists wax poetically about, and has survived this long by knowing every useless musical tidbit of classic rock, new wave, hair metal, grunge, and alternative genres. When Paul is not riding his road bike at any given moment, he remains a working musician, playing in two bands called SuperTrans Am and Radio Nashville.