logo

These were Reverb’s bestselling pedals that came out in 2020

Here’s a look at some of the highlights.

Strymon NightSky

Image: Strymon

When you purchase through affiliate links on Guitar.com, you may contribute to our site through commissions. Learn more.

Each year, Reverb.com dives into its sales figures, and they’re always interesting to gauge the shape of the year in pedals, especially when it comes to the top-selling effects of 2020 that came out in this year.

The marketplace also put together a list of top sellers overall – and taking home a place on that were old favourites like the TC Electronic Ditto Looper and the Boss DS-1.

But what were some of the bestsellers to arrive on the scene in the weird, weird year that was 2020?

Taking the number 10 slot was Strymon’s NightSky Time-Warped Reverberator. A new Strymon pedal is big news in any case, but this particular model was unveiled to be an enormous source of ambient weirdness. The stranger, shoegazier cousin to Strymon’s BigSky, we were thoroughly impressed with the NightSky when it came to our review.

2020 also saw the introduction of the Chase Bliss Audio Automatone MKII Preamp, which gave the world an exciting new form factor, complete with motorised sliders for different parameters. Its combination of what-you-see-is-what-you-get simplicity and trademark Chase Bliss complexity saw it land at number six on the new bestsellers list.

Speaking of complexity, pedal number three was anything but: JHS’ Legends Series’ take on the Tone Bender. This wedge-shaped three-knob wonder recreated the classic fuzz sounds of the 60s, in all their spitty, velcro-esque glory.

The number one spot – perhaps surprisingly – was EarthQuaker’s second collaboration with Sunn O))). The Life Pedal V2 combines a crushing octave fuzz with a Rat-style distortion and a clean boost, emulating the tones achieved on the band’s 2019 records Life Metal and Pyroclasts.

Despite its roots in two extreme metal albums, the pedal’s unique approach could be what granted it the top spot – not just aimed at tight percussive chugging, the tones on tap from the Life Pedal can range from retro-tinged psychedelia to avant-garde, feedback soundscapes – which, apparently, captured the biggest number of pedal lovers’ hearts.

You can hear all of the top 10 list in Reverb’s video below. Note that this video omits two of the three JHS Legends Series Fuzzes that made the top sellers list.

Reverb’s list of top 10 selling pedals that came out in 2020 is below:

  1. EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) Life Pedal V2
  2. Chase Bliss Audio Blooper
  3. JHS Legends Series Bender 1973 London Fuzz
  4. JHS Legends Series Supreme 1972 Japan Fuzz
  5. MXR CSP027 Timmy Overdrive
  6. Chase Bliss Audio Automatone MKII Preamp
  7. Line 6 POD GO
  8. JHS Legends Series Smiley 1969 London Fuzz
  9. Hologram Electronics Microcosm
  10. Strymon NightSky Time-Warped Reverberator

Read more about Reverb’s end-of-year report here.

For more gear news, click here.

Related Brands

Related Tags

logo

The world’s leading authority and resource for all things guitar.

© 2024 Guitar.com is part of NME Networks.