Top 20 Budget Overdrive Pedals Under $50, $100, $150, $200

If you play an electric guitar and want to find your tone you will most likely need a couple of pedals. Guitar pedals are one of the ways to do so but there are so many different options to choose from. The smallest pedalboards will have two or three pedals, and the one you’ll find almost everywhere is overdrive.

Overdrive pedals come in all shapes and sizes, and you will need to try out a few before you will be able to find the one you like. The choices are almost limitless, and the quality and sound of the pedal will mostly depend on the amount of money you’re willing to spend. 

Fortunately, it is still possible to find an overdrive pedal in the budget range, and here, I will go through some of the best options based on the budget. 

Top 5 Budget Overdrive Guitar Pedals Under $50

The first category is for overdrive pedals under $50. In this category, my focus will be one cheapest overdrive pedals you can find. Naturally, the sound and quality will not be the best, but if you are working on a budget, these can be a great choice. 

I should also mention that there are other factors that will contribute to the quality of sound. Firstly, if you own an expensive amplifier the sound will be quite good. The second important factor is the guitar, or rather the pickups on it. But even if you don’t have an expensive amp and great pickups, these pedals can still help you shape the sound of your instrument. 

Donner Dumbal Drive

• D-style
• True Bypass
• Two ways of EQ adjustment
• Four knobs: gain, volume, bass, treble
• Analog
• 9V battery
• 4.45 x 2.48 x 2.13 inches (11.3 x 6.3 x 5.41 centimeters)
• 11.2 ounces (317.5 grams)

Donner is one of the newest brands in the world of music, but it still offers numerous great products. In the past couple of years, Donner proved to be an excellent choice for those shopping on a budget since they offer a plethora of gear and instruments for a fraction of a price. 

With a decent amp, Donner Dumbal will sound quite good, and it is quite affordable. If you were wondering whether this pedal is a hidden gem, and if it is a professional-sounding effect for a small price, the answer is no. But if you want to try out something new, Donner Dumbal is worth the money. 

Joyo JF-1

• Compact
• Easy-to-use
• Three knobs: drive, volume, tone
• LED
• True Bypass
• Green
• 9V battery
• 4 x 2 x 2 inches (10.16 x 5.08 x 5.08 centimeters)
• 8.8 ounces (249.48 grams)

Joyo is another newcomer to the world of pedals, and the primary advantage of its models is that they are cheap. For those working on a budget, this might be a way to go. Many players describe Joyo Vintage Overdrive (JF-1) as the cheapest best overdrive pedal you can find. 

You can check out the video below, and you’ll notice that the sound is quite good. Joyo can help you further modify the sound, and you can play with the knobs to create the tone you love and enjoy. Of course, the main question is what kind of amp and guitar you have. As with any other pedal, the quality of these two will have a significant impact on the overall tone.

Mosky Overdrive

• Compact
• 9V input
• Mini Klon
• Gold
• Three knobs: output, treble, gain
• LED
• 7.87 x 2.36 x 2.36 inches (20 x 6 x 6 centimeters)
• 6.6 ounces (187 grams)

The next one on the list comes from Mosky. The pedal is a clone of Klon, which isn’t available at the moment. For those who are looking for a replacement pedal, Mosky will do a great job. Of course, the main advantage of this pedal is that it is inexpensive, and you will hardly find a cheaper model. 

The sound from this pedal is surprisingly good, and if you have a decent rig, you’ll love playing with it. All things considered, Mosky is a good choice, and you won’t need to spend a fortune if you want to get your hands on it. The pedal has three knobs, and you can adjust the output, gain, and treble. The pedal doesn’t come with a battery, and there is no battery slot since it’s compact. 

Azor Overdrive

• Compact
• 9V input
• Green
• Three knobs: level, tone, and overdrive
• Switch
• Hot and warm modes
• True bypass
• 3.7 x 1.7 x 1.3 inches (9.4 x 4.32 x 3.3 centimeters)
• 8 ounces (227 grams)

Azor Overdrive is another budget option you might want to consider. The pedal is a TS808 clone, which is the famous Ibanez Tubescreamer. The pedal sounds quite nice, and it’s easy to use. As with the Tubescreamer, the pedal is green, and there is a nice LED light you can use to see whether the pedal is turned on or not. 

As for the knobs, the pedal has one main knob for the overdrive level, and it’s located in the middle of the pedal. The second two are at the top, and you can use them to adjust the level and tone. Finally, there is a switch that gives you a chance to pick one of two modes – hot and warm. 

Behringer TO800 Vintage Tube Overdrive

• Vintage sound
• Three knobs: drive, tone, and level
• LED light
• 9V input
• Easy to use
• Green
• 2.76 x 2.13 x 4.84 inches (7 x 5.41 x 12.29 centimeters)
• 11.7 ounces (331.69 grams)

Behringer has been around for a while. It is a great company with incredible products. The best thing about this pedal is that it still falls in the budget category, and you can get a pretty good sound using it. This is another pedal that is inspired by Tubescreamer, but it is significantly cheaper compared to the source of inspiration. The pedal gives you a nice bluesy tone, and it is based on tube amps. 

The pedal comes with three knobs you can use to adjust drive, tone, and level. All things considered, it is a good pedal for the price, and you’ll be surprised by the quality. 

Top 5 Budget Overdrive Guitar Pedals Under $100

The next category is for overdrive pedals between $50 and $100. Here, we will find a lot more popular brands, but keep in mind that this is still a low price for guitar pedals. The quality of the sound and design will be a bit better compared to the previous category, but it still won’t be as good as professional equipment.

Of course, the main question here is the sound and whether you like it. It is possible that someone would prefer these pedals over the expensive ones. 

TC Electronic MojoMojo

• Affordable
• Four knobs: drive, level, bass, treble
• Voice switch
• True bypass
• 9V input
• 5 x 3 x 4 inches (12.7 x 7.62 x 10.16 centimeters)
• 7.7 ounces (218.29 grams)

TC Electronic has been in the guitar pedal business since 1976. The company designs affordable pedals that sound quite good and give you enough space to modify your sound and create something interesting. Here, we have an overdrive pedal called MojoMojo, and it’s something you might want to check out. 

The pedal is compact, works on 9V, and there are four knobs to further shape the tone. There is a drive, level, bass, and treble, and you can also use the switch to select the voice. Voicing switch allows you to choose between natural overdrive and a softer tone. Moreover, the pedal has a true bypass, which is perfect for your pedalboard. 

BOSS SD-1

• The warm, smooth sound
• Yellow
• 9V battery
• Three knobs: level, tone, and drive
• 9 x 4 x 6 inches (22.86 x 10.16 x 15.24 centimeters)
• 1.55 pounds (703 grams)

Boss has been around for quite a while. The company specializes in designing guitar pedals, and they are the most popular choice for multi-effects or processors. The reason why everyone loves Boss and its products is the impressive repertoire it has. Regardless of your taste, choice of music, instrument, or anything else, there is a high chance that you can find a Boss pedal perfect for you. 

Here, we have Boss SD-1. It is a super overdrive pedal that comes with a bundle. This means that you won’t need to buy a battery, and the bundle even includes patch cable, picks, polishing cloth, and an extra cable for your guitar. As for the sound, the pedal offers a warm and smooth tone that is perfect for blues, rock, hard rock and even heavy metal. 

EX Gear Grittman

• Gritty sound
• LED
• Five knobs: bass, mid, volume, treble, and gain
• Switch
• Black and silver
• True bypass
• 9V
• 5.8 x 3.6 x 2.5 inches (14.73 x 9.14 x 6.35 centimeters)
• 13.6 ounces (385.55 grams)

The Grittman Overdrive comes from Ex-Gear, and it is pretty good. The pedal itself is designed quite well, it’s sturdy, and each of the knobs has its own LED light. You can easily see it even if you are on stage playing, and it works on a 9V battery. The pedal has five knobs. Firstly, you can adjust the volume, there is a control for bass, treble, and mid, and the main potentiometer is in charge of gain. 

You can also flip on the switch if you want to add more boost, and the pedal has true bypass. The Grittman is a part of the Illuminated series from Ex-Gear, and the quality is surprisingly good. It is a perfect choice for anyone into blues or rock, and it works quite well on both single-coil and humbuckers. 

MXR M77 Custom Badass

• Gold
• True bypass
• Four knobs: tone, output, 100 Hz, and gain
• Durable
• Switch 
• 5.5 x 4.4 x 2.6 inches (13.97 x 11.18 x 6.6 centimeters)
• 11.2 ounces (317.51 grams)

MXR is another big name in the business, and many famous guitar players have their own models of MXR pedals. Here, we have an M77 Custom Badass overdrive. The pedal has a standard design as any other MXR gear. It’s gold, durable, and easy to use. There are four knobs on the top of the pedal for tone, output, 100 Hz, and gain. The 100 Hz knob allows boosting and fine-tuning of your sound, and you can also use the switch for voicing. 

The switch in the middle allows you to add low and mid-boost to your sound, and the entire pedal is activated by stepping on the standard footswitch. MXR M77 is durable, and it sounds quite good. 

EarthQuaker Plumes

• Analog
• Green
• 3 different voices
• Three knobs: level, tone, and gain
• Lower noise
• Beautiful design
• 9V
• 6 x 3 x 3 inches (15.24 x 7.62 x 7.62 centimeters)
• 13.6 ounces (385.55 grams)

EarthQuaker is an overdrive pedal that’s completely analog. It has three different voices you can use the switch on the top to choose the mode you like. The pedal has three knobs. These knobs control level, tone, and gain. While it is not as powerful as some other pedals you can find, the sound is quite unique and beautiful.

Furthermore, the design of the pedal is great, and it is refreshing to see a different approach to standard overdrive pedals. The pedal works great on both single-coil pickups and humbuckers, and it is great for blues, rock, and hard rock. 

Top 5 Budget Overdrive Guitar Pedals Under $150

The next category means the next price range increase. Here, I will go through some of the options you can check out if you are willing to spend between $100 and $150. As you can probably guess, you’ll be able to find a couple of really good pedals in this price range, and the quality is amazing. 

Some might even consider these pedals to be out of a budget option since you’ll be able to find well-known brands and popular pedals. Furthermore, you might be able to find a couple of iconic pedals as well. 

Ibanez TS808

• Green
• Three knobs: overdrive, tone, and level
• LED
• 9V
• Warm, natural sound
• 6 x 2 x 3 inches (15.24 x 5.08 x 7.62 centimeters)
• 1 pound (454 grams)

This is a version of probably the most popular overdrive pedal in history. Yes, I am talking about Tube Screamer. For years now, Tube Screamer has been a go-to pedal for many players, and the quality is exceptional. The TS808 is a version that you can check out, and it is something that you will love using. 

The design of the pedal is quite simple. There are three knobs for overdrive, tone, and level, and an LED indicator to know when the pedal is turned on. Other than that, the only important thing worth mentioning is the sound that it creates. If you are looking for a great boost or overdrive pedal, TS808 might be the way to go.

BOSS OS-2

• Yellow
• Four knobs: level, tone, drive, color
• 9V
• Standard design
• Overdrive and distortion
• Durable
• 9 x 4 x 6 inches (22.86 x 10.16 x 15.24 centimeters)
• 1.6 pounds (726 grams)

Another option from Boss is OS-2. This pedal has a standard look and design as any other Boss pedal, and it works on 9V batteries. What is different here is that the pedal is a blend of overdrive and distortion, which means that you might be able to push it a bit further compared to standard overdrive pedals. 

There are four potentiometers on the top: level, tone, drive, and color. The Boss OS-2 pedal is quite versatile, and you can easily adjust the sound using potentiometers. Switching between overdrive and distortion is simple. All you need to do is turn the knobs one way or the other. The color knob is used to switch between overdrive and distortion, but you can leave it in between if you feel like it. Finally, as with the previous model from Boss, this one also comes with cables, picks, and additional goodies. 

BOSS OD-3

• Yellow
• Three knobs: level, tone, and drive
• 9V
• Standard design
• Overdrive
• Durable
• 9 x 9 x 9 inches (22.86 x 22.86 x 22.86 centimeters)
• 1.65 pounds (748 grams)

If you like the sound and design of Boss pedals but are looking for something a bit different, OD-3 might be a perfect choice for you. OD stands for overdrive, and it is a bit different from the other two models I mentioned. 

There are three knobs on the pedal for level, tone, and drive, and the design is standard for Boss. Even though all three pedals I mentioned here look similar, there are differences between them. Here, you will also get a whole bundle with batteries, patch cables, picks, and additional equipment, which means that you won’t need to buy anything else to start using the pedal. 

Keeley Super Phat Mod

• The Phat mod
• Three knobs: level, tone, and drive
• Flat and phat switch
• Gold
• 6.75 x 4.25 x 3.25 inches (17.15 x 10.795 x 8.26 centimeters)
• 10.6 ounces (300 grams)

Keeley is another option for you if you are looking for a good overdrive pedal. This effect is quite popular, and it’s rather versatile. The pedal has JFETs inside, which are great for emulating tube amps. There are three knobs on the top of the pedal for level, tone, and drive. It works great with single-coil and humbuckers, and you can get a beautiful sound just by playing with the knobs. 

All things considered, Keeley Super Phat Mod is amazing. It sounds great, it offers you to choose between flat and phat sound, and it looks quite good. 

J Rockett Touch

• Green
• 9V
• Three knobs: volume, tone, and gain
• LED
• Easy to use
• Beautiful design
• True bypass
• 8.27 x 6.69 x 4.69 inches (21 x 17 x 11.9 centimeters)
• 1.47 pounds (666 grams)

The Touch overdrive is a pedal designed by J Rockett, and it’s quite good. The bundle here comes with a patch cable, cleaning cloth, guitar cable, and picks. One of the first things you will notice about it is how beautiful it is. But more importantly, the pedal is quite versatile and you can create such an amazing sound using it. 

The pedal comes in two versions, green and black, and it can fit any type of pedalboard. It works great with both humbuckers and single-coil pickups, and it’s perfect for blues and rock. 

Top 5 Budget Overdrive Guitar Pedals Under $200

The final budget increase is between $150 and $200. Here, the choice is amazing, and the only problem you’ll have is picking just one pedal. The best thing about it is that there are a couple of incredible models to choose from, and you’ll be able to try out some of the most popular brands in the world of guitar equipment. 

Seymour Duncan 805

• Green and white
• Two main knobs for level and drive
• Three EQ knobs
• LED
• Compact
• Versatile
• 5.5 x 4.5 x 2 inches (13.97 x 11.43 x 5.08 centimeters)
• 12.8 ounces (362.87 grams)

Seymour Duncan has been one of the biggest names when it comes to pickups. But did you know that they also make pedals? It’s obvious why someone would go for this model since the company proved time and again that it knows how to make a good sound. Here, we have Seymour Duncan 805 which is a versatile overdrive pedal. 

The quality of the sound is incredible, and it’s perfect for rock, blues, and even metal. There are two main knobs on the pedal for level and drive, but it also has an EQ located under the main knobs. 

MXR EVH 5150

• Black with EVH stripes
• Five knobs: output, bass, mid, treble, and gain
• Boost
• Gate
• 9V
• 3.75 x 5 x 1.5 inches (9.53 x 12.7 x 3.81 centimeters)
• 1.03 pounds (467 grams)

The MXR EVH 5150 pedal is designed for Eddie Van Halen, which is a clear sign of quality and what you can expect from it. The sound coming from this pedal can be quite heavy. If you are looking for a powerful pedal, this might be it. 

The pedal offers boost, gain, and there are five knobs you can use to further shape the sound. Of course, if you are a fan of Van Halen, this is something you might want to check out. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t use the pedal for a smaller boost and as a regular overdrive. 

J Rockett Archer

• Silver
• Three knobs: output, gain, and treble
• LED
• 9V
• Overdrive or boost
• Durable
• 7 x 3 x 5 inches (17.78 x 7.62 x 12.7 centimeters)
• 1 pound (454 grams)

The Archer is another overdrive pedal by J Rockett and it has a similar design to the previous one I mentioned. The pedal is a mix of overdrive and boost, and there are three knobs for shaping the sound. J Rockett is a great company that knows how to design a pedal and create a versatile effect anyone can use. 

One of the main qualities of the Archer is that you can easily adjust the tone and go from crunchy to full overdrive in no time. 

Wampler Clarksdale V2 Delta

• Blue
• Five knobs: bass, mid, treble, volume, and gain
• Smooth/big switch
• LED
• 9V
• 7 x 4 x 7 inches (17.78 x 10.16 17.78 centimeters)
• 1 pound (454 grams)

Wampler is a perfect choice for everyone looking for something different. The name of the pedal comes from the birthplace of blues, and as you can probably guess, this one is designed for all the blues lovers out there. While at first glance it might look like a Tube Screamer clone, Clarksdale V2 Delta has to offer so much more. 

Firstly, the pedal has an EQ at the top, and you can use the switch to toggle between smooth and big tone. It also has a knob for volume and gain. The pedal is an amazing overdrive for anyone looking for a great blues tone. 

Wampler Euphoria

• Green
• Four knobs: tone, bass, volume, and gain
• Voicing switch
• LED
• 9V
• 6 x 2 x 3 inches (15.24 x 5.08 x 7.62 centimeters)
• 1 pound (454 grams)

The final entry on the list is another pedal by Wampler, but this time, it’s Euphoria. The first thing you might notice about the Euphoria is how versatile it is. You can go from a small bluesy boost to a full crunch drive that’s perfect for rock music. 

The Euphoria has a voicing switch that allows you to select between smooth, open, and crunch, and the sound can be quite powerful if that’s something you’re looking for. As with any other Wampler pedal, the design is amazing, and it is a pedal you need to check out as soon as possible. 

Summary

Getting an overdrive pedal is always fun, but the main questions are what type of pedal you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to spend. If you are working with a limited budget, that’s not the end of the world. 

There are a couple of great pedals for under $50, and you can also find a few in the next category between $50 and $100. Of course, if you are willing to spend a bit more, you’ll get a couple of excellent options to choose from. 

The only thing you need to worry about is whether the pedal is suitable for your taste and if the sound is something you like. Keep in mind that usually these pedals come without a battery, and if I wrote that it works on a 9V battery, it doesn’t mean that you’ll get one in the package.

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Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API