Expensive pedals that have been worth it

ICBM

Sassafras said:

Not an effect pedal but a pedal sized amp.
The ZVex Nano Head.
Utterly brilliant little thing.

I had one of those but the fan noise drove me nuts, even after Zachary gave me instructions to make it quieter. I don’t know if mine just had an unusually noisy one but it made it difficult to use quietly.

Lewy

Origin Revival Trem. Most expensive pedal I've ever bought and I umm-ed and ah-ed for a long time, but it's a little box of happiness for me. 

PudWud

I love the Strymon Deco. Great pedal, can do tape chorus, flange, great great slapback or single repeat tape delay. And the tape saturation sounds phenomenal to me. Sometimes I actually prefer using it as my drive sound rather than use my actual drive pedals. 

Sassafras

ICBM said:

Sassafras said:

Not an effect pedal but a pedal sized amp.
The ZVex Nano Head.
Utterly brilliant little thing.

I had one of those but the fan noise drove me nuts, even after Zachary gave me instructions to make it quieter. I don’t know if mine just had an unusually noisy one but it made it difficult to use quietly.

I think maybe you were unlucky, mine isn't that noticeable.
It's certainly quieter than any laptops I've owned.

smudge_lad

Over the years, the upper limit I set myself always seems to increase with GAS, as I’m sure is the same of most people. 

I started out with a board where the pedals were all less than £100, and now I have a few Kingsley on there. I can still remember a few pedals throughout the journey that I thought I’d never own due to the price.

As someone already said, expensive pedals usually are pretty good. 

I remember a Wampler Super Plextortion was probably my first, and it was great! I actually regret selling it and often have a look for them popping up second hand. 

Revival Drive was a biggy. Stunning pedal. 

Kingsley Harlot - although after hearing this I had less reservations about buying the rest of the Kingsleys I currently own, as it was THAT good. Love my Jester and Constable 

Jonathanthomas83

Great idea for a thread. Some of the gear I've gone through has been astronomical in price and I'm not sure all of them justified their price tag, I'd be lying if I said they did. But they all brought some kind of happiness to a mundane day at one point in time, so for me, everything I bought was worth it in some way...even the stuff I moved on quickly, because that's a worthwhile learning process too.

My favourite is probably the Cornish SS-3. That one brought a huge smile to my face when I first plugged it in.

Second, likely the Origin Cali 76.

andy1839

Vemuram Rage E - some great tones in it and it stacks very well into a Klone, or with a Klone into it.

RockFabrik Effects Mind Abuse - a great high gain pedal with plenty of flexibility.

Origin Effects Cali76/RevivalDRIVE/ RevivalDRIVE Compact - so so good, but helps if you put some time into them to get them just right as they're quite reactive to different amps. 

Jota

The Hudson Broadcast Dual was a little over my usual limit for a dual OD pedal and I had it for sale a week after I bought it but, like most of my favorite stuff, I had to get my ears used to it and it kicked the KoT clone that has been my main drive since 2011 off the board now!

Not counting multi-fx and a Flint I had briefly and sold for a small profit, I believe that was the most expensive pedal I ever bought.

ICBM

Sassafras said:

I think maybe you were unlucky, mine isn't that noticeable.

It's certainly quieter than any laptops I've owned.

I have wondered about trying another one, but the prices are absolutely bonkers now . It was such a great-sounding little thing.

hoops

Kingsley Harlot and Page. Stupid but very happy

english_bob

I don't think I've ever spent over £200 on a pedal, and most of the ones I've spent that sort of money on have been delays- DL-4 and DD-500 were well worth it, Vox Delaylab wasn't quite so great. (My DD-20 would have been worth it too when it was new, but I got mine used for much less)

I also spent quite a lot on a Foxrox ZIM, but it was in the early 2000s when the exchange rate was nearly $2 to the pound. Also we'll worth it.

My ES-5 at £250 used was probably the most I've ever spent on anything that went on my pedalboard, and again, it was worth every penny.

Flanging_Fred

Paul Cochrane  Tim
Hudson Broadcast Dual
EHX POG2
and
Boss DD-500

Are all excellent and have been on my gig board since purchase. 

TTBZ

I'm not really a pedal guy but I haven't kept any of the expensive or boutique distortion/overdrives I've had in the past. Most of the time I don't think they justify the cost! Only things that seem to last for me are the "standards" - tubescreamer, Boss pedals etc.

russpm

Korg SDD 3000 I got from @Wazmeister from this parish - absolutely the dogs nuts. 

Gassage

My Cornish TES.

guitarmangler

Yamaha UD stomp. So good that I bought two. 

Beexter

Cali76 Compact Deluxe 
Boss DD-500 
Strymon Sunset 
Strymon Flint 
Morningstar MC6 

Heck, thats a pedalboard right there....

26.2

El Capistan and Deco. Greer Lightspeed. 

BeardyAndy

I know its a bone of contention but I love my RYRA Klone, it was an upgrade from my EXH Soul Food but to be honest I could probably find space for the Soul Food on my board still.

Sassafras

ICBM said:

Sassafras said:

I think maybe you were unlucky, mine isn't that noticeable.

It's certainly quieter than any laptops I've owned.

I have wondered about trying another one, but the prices are absolutely bonkers now . It was such a great-sounding little thing.

The prices would have to be insane before I'd ever think of selling mine.
I intend leaving it to my son in my will