After years of buying pedals, with shelves and drawers overflowing, multiple boards and power supplies, I have come to a realisation. I've actually got some favourites at long last. Not many but I'll show you mine if you show me yours.
So, by category, here we go.
Flanger.
First time I played through it I heard the exact sound I had in my head. First time I gigged it, the whole song was transformed.
Envelope Filter.
A YouTube demo comparing this and several others sold me on the EBS. Man I love how easy it is to get exactly the right sound and it works so well in the mix.
Octave.
All the octaves you could ever need. Accurate and clean or rich and synthy, this pedal also has fuzz and phaser and is a work of genius.
Compressor.
I've been through an absolute ton of these, some do nothing, some break my sound, some are great, but this is the best. So childishly simple to use and to get exactly what I want from it. A budget miracle.
Chorus.
I thought I'd found my chorus (Ampeg Liquifier) but it just wasn't quite 100%. Then on a whim I splashed out on this. First gig I tried it and I just knew. Perfect. Again the sound I hear in my head.
I'm still entirely at sea with regards to distortion, fuzz, autowah, multi effects, phaser, synth, preamp and others. I have preferences in every department but I'm not there yet.