Compressor
Compressors bring a uniformity to your guitar sound, essentially making your loudest bits quieter and your quietest bits louder. By “squashing” the sound, you sacrifice some of your dynamics but gain a bigger, more balanced tone with enhanced sustain. This effect is perfect for those power ballad arpeggios that ring out for days!
Chorus
If there is one effect that is synonymous with ‘80s music, it’s chorus. It was used, and some would say overused, on absolutely everything from Rock to Pop, Funk to Metal. Chorus adds a wide stereo spread to your sound by doubling up your signal and detuning it slightly. This gives the illusion of two guitars playing in unison as well as adding a lush shimmer. A tri-chorus will produce the most lush and spacious effect but any good chorus pedal will do the job just fine! No ‘80s clean tone is complete without heaps of chorus on it!
Digital Delay
A digital delay with plenty of repeats is another essential effect when creating an epic ‘80s clean tone. Delay is perfect for adding a thick, ambient wash to your sound, particularly when used in a stereo rig! For the best results, try using two separate delay pedals set with different delay times. Alternatively, an all-singing, all-dancing dual digital delay will achieve the same effect.
EQ
The humble EQ pedal (or equaliser) may not be the most exciting effect you’ll ever buy, but it’s importance cannot be overlooked. ‘80s clean tones often have a lot of presence in the high-end with many of the lower bass frequencies dialled back. A good 6 or 7-band EQ pedal will allow you to fine tune your sound beyond the capabilities of your amp.
Reverb
The last piece of the puzzle in achieving a lush ‘80s clean tone is reverb, ideally with a long decay time. Most reverb pedals will include a “Hall” setting and this is what you’ll want to use to recreate those epic reverbs, reminiscent of a huge concert hall or arena. When combined with a digital delay, your otherwise bland guitar tone will be transformed into an ambient soundscape!
’80s Rhythm Guitar Tone
When you think of classic ‘80s rhythm guitar tones, what comes to mind? The chances are you’re imagining a mid-gain “British” crunch with plenty of mids. Back in the ‘80s, guitarists favoured cranked amplifiers to achieve these tones, and the results speak for themselves. However, if you’re not in a position to turn it up to 11, there are a number of pedals that’ll get you close.
“Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins features a solid overdriven rhythm guitar tone with loads of chorus!