If you're a rock guitarist you have, no doubt, heard the flange effect from some legendary players like Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, and Nancy Wilson. If you want to rock out in a similar style, or create your own unique sounds, you definitely need to pick up the best flanger pedal you can find.
We've all heard the flanger "jet flyby" sound. But not all flangers sound the same. Some of them give you more control functions while some are pretty straight forward. How do you know which flanger is the right one for you?
We have reviewed our top 10 best flanger pedals so that you can decide for yourself.
The Best Flanger Pedal
If you want to skip the rest of the list and just get straight to our top pick, then this is the section for you.
The Best Sounding Flanger Pedal
Our top pick from this list is the EarthQuaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanging Device. This one is kind of on the pricier side of pedals but it has ANYTHING you could want in a pure flanger pedal.
You have 6 presets that you can also update to your own personal sounds. You can also choose between 8 different flanger modes with a modify rotary to control each one. You will never run out of options or inspirations with all of the different sounds you can make with this pedal.
Our Top Picks
Best Budget Pedal
1. JOYO JF-07
2. Mooer E-Lady
Best Mid-Range Pedal
5. Boss BF-3
6. Source Audio SA240 Mercury Flanger Effect Pedal
7. Electro Harmonix Electric Mistress
Best Premium Pedal
8. EarthQuaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanging Device
9. Boss MD-500
Best Flanger Pedal Review
As you can see, we've split this list into three categories; best budget pedal, best mid-range pedal, and best premium.
Best Budget Pedal
1. JOYO JF-07
Description: Let's start this list out with a bang...or jet swoosh. Anyway, this pedal is an absolute steal! You can almost always find it sub forty bucks. And it packs the sound, tone, and versatility of a pedal 4 times the price.
The Joyo JF-07 features a true bypass circuitry so you aren't going to be getting any extra noise when it isn't in use. The knob layout is very similar to a Boss flange with delay, rate, width, and regen controls.
Joyo has made a point of avoiding a more modern sound and modeled their pedal after more a classic flange sound. If you want to relive the rock tones of the 60's and 70's, this boutique pedal is one you should give a try.
Features: true bypass, regen control, delay, width, speed
Dimensions: 4.65 x 3.43 x 1.5 inches
Weight: 10.2 oz
True Bypass? yes
Input: 1 x ¼"
Output: 1 x ¼"
Pros:
- comparable flange range to a more expensive pedal
- true bypass
Cons:
- no stereo output
2. Mooer E-Lady
Description: The Mooer ElecLady is a small profile, classic flanger. Play in two different modes; normal and filter. Normal will give you that jet flyby, swirling sounds you're craving. While filter will let you freeze the effect so that you can make a static filter sound.
You can adjust the rate and range in normal mode and the range on filter mode. This pedal also features a fun color control in both modes. Basically, you can add in some feedback and, depending on the dial position, get a really cool oscillator noise tone.
Features: classic analog flanger sound, filter mode, oscillator effects; small pedal board profile, true bypass
Dimensions: 1.75 x 4.25 x 2.25 inches
Weight: 1 lb
True Bypass? yes
Input: 1 x ¼"
Output: 1 x ¼"
Pros:
- doesn't take much space on a pedal board
- versatile sweep and filter modes
Cons:
- reports of some pedals input/output jacks not machined at a complete 90 degree angle
Best Mid-Range Pedal
3. MXR M152 Micro Flanger
Description: The MXR M152 Micro Flanger is the little brother to the massively popular MXR M117 from the 80s. This pedal has been updated to include true bypass for noise reduction. The delay is created through bucket brigade technology to give your flange an old school, tape style flange sound.
This model has also been stripped down to just a pair of control knobs; rate and regen. Rate, of course, is going to adjust your speed. This pedal was designed to already have the swirls and sweeps dialed in automatically. The regen will help you adjust the level of intensity.
Features: true bypass w/ LED, rate knob, regen knob, all-analog circuitry with bucket brigade technology for warm analog tone
Dimensions: 8 x 3 x 3 inches
Weight: 1 lb
True Bypass? yes
Input: 1 x ¼"
Output: 1 x ¼"
Pros:
- only 2 knobs means it's simpler to dial in your sound
- sturdy build
Cons:
- large size despite "micro" name
- no depth control
4. TC Electronic Vortex
Description:
This sweet looking pedal fits easily onto the most overcrowded pedal boards with it's small size. It also features four distinct control knobs to let you dial in the exact sound you are searching for.
These controls are speed, to control the rate at which the signal will modulate. Depth controls how high and low your audio will go. Feedback controls the intensity of flange. And delay controls the timing of the flange to give you that jet flyby, watery sound.
This pedal also features a mode selection toggle with flanger, tape, and toneprint. The flanger option, which sounds like a good, standard flange. Tape which will give you a nice, warm, classic flange sound.
Toneprint allows you to browse a library online of artists who have created their own pedal profiles that you can upload into your pedal. This function is really cool and allows you to get the actual settings from huge artists. Artists like Brian May, Dweezil Zappa, and John Petrucci, just to name a few.
Features: speed, depth, feedback, delay-time controls, Toneprint Artist library
Dimensions: 5 x 3 x 4 inches
Weight: 1.5 lbs
True Bypass? yes
Input: 2 x ¼"
Output: 2 x ¼"
Pros:
- download pro artist "Toneprints" directly to the pedal
- nails the Gilmour "Comfortably Numb" sound and vibe
- stereo in and stereo out
Cons:
- reports of a volume drop when the effect is engaged
5. Boss BF-3
Description: The Boss BF-3 Flanger pedal is likely the most well known pedal on this list. That is by no means an unearned reputation. The Boss BF-2 was a huge hit and reigned supreme until the mid 2000s when the BF-3 was released.
This pedal gives you a massive amount of control over every aspect of your sound. It has a traditional four knob setup but it is really kind of 4 ½ or 5.
You have your standard rate and depth knobs to control how fast the flanger goes and how deep and high the signal will range. Then you have a Manual and Resonance knob playing double duty. Finally you have a mode knob with four settings; Ultra, standard, gate/pan, and momentary.
Standard mode will give you a classic flanger sound. Ultra is similar to standard but packs an ultra-fat flange effect. Gate/pan has a more futuristic slicing effect and is at it’s best when paired with a couple of amps in stereo out.
Momentary mode only engages the effect while you have the pedal depressed. It’s good for a quick lick or a phrase you want to emphasize. You can also hold the switch down for a few seconds and trigger the tap tempo feature.
This pedal is a must have in every guitarist’s collection.
Features: Ultra, Gate/Pan, tap tempo
Dimensions: 2.4 x 2.9 s 5.1 inches
Weight: .9 lb
True Bypass? no
Input: 2 x ¼" (1 guitar, 1 bass)
Output: 2 x ¼"
Pros:
- individual input/output for guitar and bass
- sounds good played clean or overdrive
- improves on the super popular BF-2
Cons:
- no true bypass
6. Source Audio SA240 Mercury Flanger Effect Pedal
Description: This pedal is a digital wonder. It is a multi modulation pedal. That means because it includes the same hardware found in several other Source Audio pedals, it is able to modulate sound in ways other than just as a flanger. You can use this pedal as a flanger, phaser, chorus, vibrato, tremolo, and more.
The Source Audio Mercury Flanger has a four knob setup. You can easily control the depth, speed, delay, and resonance of the flange effect. You can also switch between three different modes; classic, shadow, and thru-zero.
Classic mode is the Source Audio take on the classic flange sound. Shadow mode is smooth and gives the jet engine effect. Finally, Thru-Zero is a form of tape flange; when the original signal and the duplicate meet.
What’s really cool about this pedal is the Neuro Mobile App. It is a free app and it gives you a much larger set of editing parameters than available with the physical pedal knobs. You can also access the software for the Lunar Phaser and Gemini Chorus. So this pedal is kind of like a buy-1-get-3 deal.
Features: download phaser and chorus, access more presets through companion Neuro Mobile App, MIDI
Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 2.5 inches
Weight: 14.4 oz
True Bypass? yes
Input: 2 x ¼"
Output: 2 x ¼"
Pros:
- can edit sound with companion software
- you can assign settings from Source Audio's Gemini Chorus and Lunar Phaser pedals making this 3 pedals for the price of 1
Cons:
- can be noisy when editing through app (but quiet when playing)
7. Electro Harmonix Electric Mistress
Description: The Electro-Harmonix Stereo Electric Mistress is a combination flanger and chorus pedal. You can use either effect individually or in combination with each other.
This pedal has a three knob setup; rate, flanger depth, and chorus depth. Rate controls the speed of both modulations. Flanger depth and chorus depth each control their own depth, obviously. This pedal also includes a nice blinking/glowing LED to show you the rate of the modulation wave while you fine tune the dials.
The flange has your standard flange sounds as well as a really cool filter matrix effect. When the rate knob is between 6 and 10 o’clock manually goes through the flange. You can freeze how it sweeps through the flange.
The chorus mode also has a nice chorus sound. You can manipulate it from a basic chorus sound to a big swooshing sound to an almost Leslie cabinet effect.
Features: stereo chorus, flanger
Dimensions: 8.5 x 3.8 x 4.2 inches
Weight: 1.8 lbs
True Bypass? no
Input: 1 x ¼"
Output: 2 x ¼"
Pros:
- true stereo
- combine chorus & flange effects
- also works well with a bass guitar
Cons:
- not a great replacement for an individual chorus pedal
Best Premium Pedal
8. EarthQuaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanging Device
Description: Aside from looking awesome, the EarthQuaker Devices Pyramis Stereo Flanging Device is a heavy duty, sound bending, machine. You have a whole host of sound manipulating options including a manual knob, rate control, width, mis, feedback, and modify.
You also have a six option presets rotary switch. It is preloaded but they can also be swapped for your own. There is also a Mode rotary with eight flange options; classic, through-zero, barber pole up, barber pole down, trigger up, trigger down, step, and random.
Finally, you have a rate & tap toggle switch, a tap tempo switch, and an effect activation switch.
The presets are meant to get you started on your flanging journey and give you inspiration to create your own. The Pyramid includes two stereo inputs and two stereo outputs but the hookup options are pretty vast.
You can route in to out in mono, mono in to stereo out, stereo in to stereo out, two mono in to stereo out. This pedal gives you so many options. You will have a blast just exploring everything you can do with it.
Features: 8 modes, stereo in/out, 5 user presets
Dimensions: 7 x 3 x 5 inches
Weight: 1.35 lbs
True Bypass? yes
Input: 2 x ¼"
Output: 2 x ¼"
Pros:
- 5 presets allows you to store other unique sounds (like chorus, phaser, etc) - great analog sound
- minimal backgroud noise compared to other flangers
- 8 different, customizable flanger modes
Cons:
- may take a while to dial in your settings
9. Boss MD-500
Description: So this one is not technically just a flanger pedal. This is a complete digital, modulation station. You can choose between twelve different modes; flanger, phaser, classic vibe, vibrato, tremolo, dimension, mod, rotary, filter, slicer, overtone, and chorus.
You can get studio quality sound and a whole plethora of unique modulation sounds. with multiple switch options you can run two patches at once and produce even more interesting sounds.
You can control every aspect of your sound with five rotary knobs. This pedal also includes a bright LED display so you can dial in exactly what you want with pinpoint accuracy. There are almost 300 onboard patch memories.
You can switch between true bypass mode and buffered bypass. You can hook up to the MD-500 editor or your personal DAW through the USB-MIDI port. It also has MIDI in/out for compatibility with MIDI control devices.
Features: Midi in/out, multi-modulation effects
Dimensions: 5.4 x 6.7 x 2.4 inches
Weight: 2.2 lbs
True Bypass? yes
Input: 2 x ¼"
Output: 2 x ¼"
Pros:
- all in one modulation package (flanger, phase, vibrato, tremolo, etc)
- can take the place of several pedals and clean up your pedal board
Cons:
- You can get lost in all of the settings
How To Choose The Right Flanger Pedal For You
Flanger pedals run the gamut of sound. Just because it says flanger doesn't exactly mean they will all sound the same. Here are some tips to help you choose which is the right flanger pedal for you.
What Does It Do And How Does It Work?
A flanger pedal will pass your audio through the flanging effect. It will then duplicate that sound, and stack it on top of the original sound with a slight delay. Generally this delay is controlled through a rate or speed knob. We have a more in-depth section later in this article.
What's It Sound Like?
Most people describe the sound kind of like an airplane. It sounds like a jet is flying over head. The higher the rate the more extreme and "watery" the effect starts to sound.
What Sound Are You Looking For?
Most flangers will process your sound in the same way. Each pedal will sound a bit different though, depending on the model and controls. In order to pick which pedal is the right one for you, you will want to know what kind of sound you are going for.
Some guitar greats like Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, and David Gilmour, to name a few, shaped their iconic sounds with a flanger. You can typically do a quick Youtube search for a specific pedal and hear what it sounds like. How you want to sound is going to determine how it is used.
What To Look For
There a some features that you will want to consider when picking out a pedal for you.
True Bypass
Is it true bypass or not? It used to be that when you turned your foot switch "off" the signal still passed through the same effect circuitry. This would lead to a weaker signal coming through the output, oftentimes losing some of the highs.
True bypass has a secondary circuitry design that toggles when you switch the pedal from "off" to "on". So you lose no sound quality at all.
Voicing
You want to make sure this pedal has the sound you are looking for.
Tap Tempo
Tap tempo is a cool feature, especially if you are playing live and you can't reach down to turn the rate knob. When tap tempo is active you can set the rate speed by tapping the foot switch to the tempo you want the flange to repeat.
Stereo
The flanger makes a copy of your original audio. Some pedals are capable of stereo output. Meaning, you can route each guitar signal individually. This can give you some really creative opportunities and make your sound feel a lot bigger.
Knobs/Controls
Many flangers have around three knobs or controls; mode, rate, and depth. Some have more or less, but these functions are generally present.
Mode selects what style of flange the pedal will deliver. For example, the Boss BF-3 mode toggles from ultra, standard, pan/gate (for stereo output to two amps or speakers), and momentary (which only activates when the pedal is depressed).
Rate is another term for speed. Basically, how long of a delay between the two signals is present.
Depth determines how "big" the waves of sound are. Think of it in terms of a clock. The further clockwise you turn the knob, the longer and deeper the signal gets. That means it takes a little longer to to get from the top of the wave to the bottom and back again. If the knob is all the way to the left, or counter clockwise, the ripples are more shallow.
Common Questions
Guitar effects almost always inspire a lot of questions. Here are some of the more common questions asked about the flanger pedal.
Do You Need To Buy A Fancy And Expensive One?
Not at all! In the list above, the pedals cover a wide range of affordability. What matters is not the price tag but how it sounds when you play. The flange effect is a standard process but each pedal can add it's own distinct flare to the sound.
Figure out which one you like best and use that one. If it only costs $30, even better!
What Is The Difference Between A Flanger And A Phaser?
Can it sound like a phaser? A flanger is often confused with a phaser. If you hear them side by side, you can probably tell a difference, but the effects are very, very similar.
The difference is in the way the input audio is processed and output. Both are time delay effects. Basically, the original sound passes through the effect. Then a second, identical signal is layered on top of the original with a slight delay (hence the name "time delay effect").
Then each device will add notches somewhere within the frequency and then sweep them up and down, giving them that "watery" sound we all know. The rate and placement of those notches is the key difference between a phaser and a flanger.
If you want a more detailed explanation of the science behind how they both work, Sound on Sound has an excellent write up on how they work from a technology stand point.
Who Invented The Flanger?
There are some other claims out there but the generally accepted inventor of the Flange effect was Les Paul. He started experimenting with the sound in the 40's and 50's.
What Songs Use A Flanger?
There have been a ton of pretty well known songs and guitarists that use the flanger pedal. Some songs you may instantly recognize are:
Bold As Love by Jimi Hendrix
Life in The Fast Lane by The Eagles
Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz
The Spirit of Radio by Rush
Barracuda by Heart
If you want to mimic a sound similar to any of those songs, a flanger is the way to go.
Best Budget Flanger Pedal
The top pick for the best flanger pedal on a budget is, hands down, the JOYO JF-07! If you don't go to the flanger sound too often or you just want to get a feel for one before you drop the cash for something more expensive, this pedal can't be beat.
It has a small profile, similar knob layout and control to the more well known Boss BF-3, and packs a whole lot of fun into a pedal with a price tag generally under $40.
Overall Top choice
Again, our top pick for best flanger pedal is the EarthQuaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanging Device. You have so many different functions and sounds to explore. This pedal will keep you exploring and discovering new soundscapes than you ever thought possible.
Conclusion
A flanger pedal will add a completely new dimension to your playing. It's a fun effect and there is no doubt that you can find an awesome pedal out of the choices above. Happy playing!
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