My Favorite NAMM 2025 Pedals (So Far…)

You know that promise we all make to ourselves about “no more pedals until next year”?

Well, I was following NAMM 2025 coverage like a hawk this year, and I’m starting to think some promises are meant to be broken.

Here’s why this year feels different.

There was once a time when I thought pedals were just about making things louder or adding a little bit of delay.

Those days feel like a long time ago now. The pedal world (and myself) has, and is, changing drastically.

Now I don’t usually send out gear roundups, but I had to share my favorites. No affiliate links, no sponsorships, just my personal take.

What I’m seeing from NAMM this year is making me excited about pedals all over again. Not just as sound-making tools, but as instruments for creative expression.

Marshall’s new family of amp-in-a-box pedals

We’ve all chased the plexi sound (I’ve built at least five pedalboards for it), but there’s something special about Marshall reflecting on their own legacy here.

This isn’t just another overdrive. They’re giving us five distinct chapters of rock history in pedal form. The 1959, JCM800, JCM900, JVM, and DSL. These aren’t just model names. They’re guitar history.

Usually, I’m not really an amp-in-a-box kind of guy, but I’m already trying to justify why I need all five.

But what I found most interesting is how the pedal manufacturers are thinking beyond traditional effect categories.

The MXR Rockman X100

I’ve spent years trying to explain to my girlfriend why those early Boston records were so great.

Now I can just switch on this pedal and say, “This.”

It’s like they’ve managed to bottle lightning. Not just the sound, but that whole era of innovation and experimentation.

This is the pedal I can’t wait to get in my studio.

Walrus Audio Canvas Rehearsal Pedal

This one is for those late-night tone quests. The Walrus Audio Canvas Rehearsal Pedal feels like it was designed specifically for those of us who’ve had one too many “discussions” about practice hours with neighbors or loved ones.

You know those moments when you finally get a spare moment to play, but your amp’s volume knob might as well be a relationship tension dial?

This little box might be just what my late-night practice sessions need. It actually got me thinking about how often we compromise on our creative moments because of practical constraints. I feel the right tool here can bridge that gap between inspiration and reality.

The DigiTech MonoNeon Whammy

And then there’s the DigiTech MonoNeon Whammy. Look, we all have those pedals that we absolutely cannot justify on any practical level. The ones that are pure sonic indulgence. That three-octave Hypersonic Mode is exactly that kind of feature.

It’s completely unnecessary for 99% of what I play, and yet…

I can’t stop thinking about that 1% of magical moments where it could transform a simple riff into something completely bizarre.

We all know that sometimes the least practical tools end up pushing us into the most creative territories.

Every so often, we see a wave of gear that shifts the way we think about effects. To me, this feels like one of those moments. It’s not innovation for the sake of it. It’s fresh, exciting, and actually (mostly) useful.

How about you? Did you catch any NAMM highlights?

What’s catching your eye (and ear) from the show? Do you see the same shift in effect design, or am I just looking for an excuse to expand my pedalboard (again)?

Keep playing!