Founded by Robert Keeley in 2001. Pioneering boutique pedal company famous for its Compressor and transformative mods of classic effects.
robertkeeley.com Pedals
53 products →Boutique Guitar Pedals
Overdrive, fuzz, delay, reverb and more from independent pedal makers. Compare their models and the prices they publish in one place.
23 makers 566 models 555 with published prices Maker links checked Oct 26, 2026
Browse by type
Overdrive 131 models Pushes a clean amp into grit, from light breakup to crunch. Modulation 82 models Chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo and vibrato. Fuzz 71 models The most clipped corner of the drive family. Think Big Muff or Fuzz Face. Delay 70 models Repeats, from slapback to long ambient trails. Reverb 55 models Spring, plate, room and hall ambience. Distortion 32 models More gain than an overdrive. Think RAT or DS-1. Compression 32 models Evens out your pick attack and adds sustain. Boost 31 models Pushes your volume or your amp harder without adding much dirt. Pitch Shift 13 models Octaves, harmonies and pitch bends. Eq 10 models Boosts or cuts specific frequencies anywhere on your board. Preamp 9 models An amp's front end in a pedal, often with a DI out. Amp Cab Sim 8 models Amp and cab simulation for direct recording or silent practice. Wah 8 models Foot-controlled sweep filters. Lo Fi 7 models Bitcrush, warble and tape-style degradation. Envelope Filter 3 models An auto-wah that follows how hard you pick. Looper 2 models Records and layers phrases for live looping.
Makers with the most models
All 23 makers →Boutique guitar pedal manufacturer founded by Josh Scott. Known for pedals like the Morning Glory overdrive and the Colour Box preamp.
jhspedals.com Pedals
51 products →Established 2007 by Brian Wampler. Produces boutique guitar pedals (drives, distortions, etc.) known for amp-like tones and player-centric designs.
wamplerpedals.com Pedals
46 products →Boutique pedal maker creating innovative effects since early 2000s. Known for their Echorec delay and Dirty Little Secret overdrive, all hand-built in Portland.
catalinbread.com Pedals
43 products →One of the original boutique pedal companies (founded 1995 by Zachary Vex). Famous for hand-painted pedals like the Fuzz Factory and inventive designs.
zvex.com Pedals
39 products →Hand-built effects pedal company founded in 2004 by Jamie Stillman. Offers a wide range of creative pedals (fuzz, delay, modulation) all made in Ohio.
earthquakerdevices.com Pedals
38 products →Boutique pedal builder creating artistic, high-quality effects. Established in 2011 and known for pedals like the Julia chorus and ARP-87 delay.
walrusaudio.com Pedals
38 products →High-end effects pedal maker (formerly Damage Control Engineering) known for studio-quality delay, reverb, and modulation pedals. Designs combine analog circuits with digital signal processing.
strymon.net Pedals
34 products →Founded by Mike Fuller in 1991. A pioneering boutique pedal brand best known for the OCD overdrive and Full-Drive pedals; built in the USA (now under new ownership).
fulltoneusa.com Pedals
26 products →Before you buy
You’ve got a board that mostly works and one spot on it you keep second-guessing. Small pedal makers are where a lot of players go to fix that, because most of them started the same way: building the version of a circuit they couldn’t buy anywhere else.
What counts as boutique
We use it for pedals designed and built in small batches by independent makers. Some are one-person shops. Others, like JHS, Walrus Audio and EarthQuaker Devices, have grown into real companies with full lineups, and they’re listed here too.
A lot of these makers learned by cloning the classics, and plenty still build their own takes on a Tube Screamer, Big Muff or Klon. That’s how this scene moves forward, so we treat clones, kits and DIY builds as part of it.
What they cost
Every price on our product pages comes from the maker’s own site. As of Oct 2026, the middle half of the 551 priced pedals in our directory runs from about $180 to $299. Overdrives cluster lower (about $180 to $249), while delays and reverbs stretch higher (about $199 to $349).
Buying used is the cheapest way to try a circuit, and if it doesn’t earn a spot on your board you can sell it on.
Check these before you buy
- Power: most pedals run on 9V, center-negative, but some want 18V or more. Check the current draw (listed in mA) against what each output on your power supply can deliver.
- Bypass: true bypass means the signal skips the circuit when the pedal is off. Buffered bypass keeps a small amplifier in the path, which helps with long cable runs. A board usually wants at least one buffer.
- Size and jacks: top-mounted jacks save room on a crowded board. Measure before you order.
If a pedal stops working, a lot of problems are a bad switch, jack or power connector. Those are usually quick fixes for a pedal repair tech.
Common questions
What makes a pedal 'boutique'?
It's built in small batches by an independent maker, usually around the maker's own circuit or their take on a classic. Some are one-person shops and some have grown into full companies.
How much do boutique pedals cost?
As of Oct 2026, the middle half of priced pedals in our directory runs from about $180 to $299. Overdrives tend to sit lower and delays and reverbs higher. Every price comes from the maker's own site.
True bypass or buffered?
True bypass takes the circuit out of your signal when the pedal is off. A buffer keeps a small amplifier in the path to protect your signal over long cable runs. Most boards want at least one buffer somewhere.
Are boutique pedals worth it over mass-market ones?
Sometimes. A Boss or MXR pedal is a great tool at a fair price. Small makers win when you want a specific circuit, a control layout nobody else offers or a repairable build from someone you can email directly.