As a guitarist, you probably know that a guitar pedal can provide you with that extra space of sonic possibilities and creativity. That’s why they were invented in the first place and such units have helped many musicians explore more and extend their sonic outputs. Because the first pedals built were a hit, they were later followed by many new improved models.
Some of these models have come to be regarded as landmarks in this field and, although they were successful when released, were discontinued for some reason. It’s true that several models were not fully appreciated when they were made available for sale because of their futuristic specs, hence the need of a reissue.
Thanks to the latest technological achievements, older models can be revisited, updated, and re-released based on their initial success, features, and customer feedback. Some major companies such as Ibanez and Boss have already reissued a few pedals yet there still are some other classic effects musicians would love to see on the market again. We have highlighted a few must-reissue pedals below.
Boss SG-1 Slow Gear & Dimension C DC-2
Boss pedal fans have had the opportunity to see some of the company’s popular pedals reissued under the “Waza Craft” label. Thus, musicians have had the chance to get their hands on the much appreciated VB-2 Vibrato and DM-2 Analog Delay and do so without paying the high prices attached to the original models.
However, there still are models worth reissuing including the Boss SG-1 Slow Gear and the Dimension C DC-2. Although simple as far as the effects delivered are concerned, the SG-1 has been widely appreciated for the violin or gated attack added to the sound produced by a guitar.
The Dimension C DC-2, a popular pedal in the 80s, adds, as its name suggests, a dimension chorus effect and thus creates width, depth, and thickness. Such dimensions manage to deliver a sort of a 3D effect to the sounds a guitarist produces. Hence the pedal’s popularity.
These two have been cloned by other companies and, although the cloned models do provide a nice sound, they still remain just copies of the original pedals. Given their features and the positive feedback they received, the two pedals are among the ones we’d like to see reissued.
DigiTech XP300 Space Station
A hit at the time of its release, this pedal was part of the XP series and gained its fame thanks to the variety of effects delivered ranging from synthy orchestral strings to ring mods. The space effects processor was so ahead of its time that many players did not know how to make it part of their musical journey.
Later on, the internet started to host more and more videos presenting the remarkable capabilities of this little fellow and raising the interest of many musicians. All that has had such an effect that its fans have started to gather signatures and make a petition hoping the XP300 would come forth again.
There’s no official word on the reissue of this space effects processor but many guitarists are anxious to get their hands on a revisited version of this pedal.
Danelectro Back Talk Reverse Delay
Another popular pedal among guitar and bass players, the Back Talk Reverse Delay from Danelectro was part of a series of unique effects released in 2001. While the reverse delay effect was not new as many multi-effect pedals provided such an effect, this particular model stood out through its compact design, simple control layout, and the remarkable reverse sound quality delivered.
This reverse delay pedal was highly appreciated by players who wanted to experiment with psychedelic sounds and textural ambience. The unit allowed them to enjoy such effects with ease. The few used models available for sale have a price tag close to $325 since they are highly desired by musicians worldwide. Therefore, a reissue would be much appreciated.
Musitronics Mu-tron Bi-Phase
Known as the “holy grail” of phasers, the Mu-tron Bi-Phase holds a special place in the field of effects pedals. This large and funky pedal incorporated two independent phase speeds that made it possible to create outstanding psychedelic tones, a reason why famous guitarists such as Billy Corgan and Frank Zappa loved it.
The design of this model allows players to easily control the two speeds with the wah-like foot controller. Many pedal manufacturers have released models inspired by the Bi-Phase yet Mike Beigel is viewed as the only person capable of reissuing this pedal. He already re-released some of the popular Mutron pedals under the Mu-Fux label and many players are waiting for the Bi-Phase revival.
Electro-Harmonix 16 Second Digital Delay
Our list of guitar pedals in need of a reissue would not be complete without this benchmark from Electro-Harmonix. What made this pedal stand out when it was released back in the 80s was the extended delay time it provided. In that era, delay pedals were limited to 350 milliseconds yet this model was capable of 32 seconds of delay time and that became a moment of reference in the history of pedals.
The unit featured modulation, reverse, and half speed controls as well as the “always-on” feature that made it possible for the pedal to record the signal of the instrument even when the unit was switched off.
While many modern loopers feature some of its functionalities, this model remains unique in many ways and thus a very sought-after pedal. The looping pedal market could use such an inspiring piece of musical gear. Therefore, a re-release would please many musicians.
There are many other pedals worth mentioning including the Boss PH-1rW, the Way Huge Electronics Piercing Moose Octave Fuzz, the Lovetone Pedals, and the Digitech PDS 20/20 Multiplay. Such units have enhanced the way guitar music is produced in one way or another and players of all skills and levels would love to see them updated and available for sale again.
