Know Your Gear Podcast with Phillip McKnight

Episode 444: Best Selling Used Guitar Pedals in 2025
Date: December 28, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Phillip McKnight dives deep into the world of guitar pedals, focusing on the best-selling used guitar pedals of 2025. The show blends thoughtful insights into gear trends with Phillip’s signature casual, humorous tone as he explores why certain pedals rise to the top, how the used market works, and offers personal anecdotes about his own experiences with gear. The episode also discusses audience questions about humidity control, guitar construction differences, gear investment value, and some musings about the guitar industry, all interspersed with memorable asides and lively audience engagement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Relic Acoustics vs. Relic Electrics (03:00–15:30)

• Discussion:
  Phillip addresses a listener’s question about relic acoustics, reflecting on why relic’d (artificially aged) electric guitars are more common and desirable than relic acoustics.
• Highlights:
  • Monty Montgomery Alvarez Yairi is used as an example of a desirable relic acoustic.
  • Quote — "If you think old guitars look cool, then relicking is kind of a cool thing. But I think one of the things that made relicing justify its price points is the fact that it’s very hard to replicate inexpensively." (06:55)
  • Explains how some manufacturers simulate age and use vibratory devices (“Tone Right”) to break in guitars, and cracks a few jokes about those devices.

2. Guitar Humidity & Humidifier Practices (15:30–28:30)

• Discussion:
  Phil shares his humidity regimen for his own guitar collection and what works best for him, noting personal experience over “universal truth.”
• Highlights:
  • Keeps rooms at ~50% humidity, uses Homedics humidifiers from Costco.
  • Quote — "Caution, your guitars might all explode if you buy anything that’s recommended to you." (20:10)
  • Emphasizes variability of personal environment: "We all live different places, different climates, different areas have different conditions. Figure out your own situation." (24:05)
  • Humidifies the room, not individual acoustic guitars.

3. Top Selling Pedals of 2025 – New and Artist Signature Models (28:30–54:40)

• Discussion:
  Reacts live to Reverb’s “top selling artist and new pedals” data for 2025, noting the surprises and what’s actually moving in the market.
• Notable Insights:
  • #1 - MXR MX100 Rockman X100: Surprised by its popularity, admits not loving it from independent YouTube demos. Quote — "Every single video I watched of an independent, someone who bought it, did not like it... Does that mean the pedal did not sound great? No, no, no, no, no." (34:00)
  • JHS Not a Dumble: Expected to be higher due to hype/demand (couldn't even get one himself). Quote — "I hear it’s the most amazing Dumble pedal ever in history... So shocking it wasn’t number one because, let me tell you, I couldn’t find one for myself." (36:57)
  • Tone King Imperial Preamp: Raves about using it daily for podcasts/demos. Live demo segment. Quote — "It’s expensive, but it’s amazing. In fact, it’s one of the products that...when you look at the price after you bought it, you go, okay, it’s a lot, worth it." (40:29)
  • Surprised by popularity of the MXR Bass Synth as a bestseller.
  • Notes that black Friday sales and manufacturer blowouts may be skewing used pedal popularity.

4. Top Selling Used Pedals in 2025 (54:40–1:19:30)

• Discussion:
  Walks through the best-selling used pedals per Reverb’s data, breaking down why these stalwarts endure.
• Highlights:
  • Line 6 HX Stomp: Tops the list due to portability, versatility, and battery power options for a mobile rig.
  • MXR Carbon Copy Delay, Boss Blues Driver, Strymon Iridium, DS-1, Keeley Compressor: All cited for “evergreen” appeal and affordable used prices.
  • Quote — "I would absolutely 100% tell you if you need a mobile rig, the HX Stomp is definitely the top two." (1:00:11)
  • Observes that classic workhorse pedals dominate the used market and expects this to continue in coming years.
  • Notable Segment: Explains his "reviewer game": considers both what makes a price seem high and how far prices would have to drop to seem “silly cheap,” especially on high-end units like the Tone King Imperial.

5. Best Selling Pedal Brands 2015 vs 2025 (1:19:30–1:35:40)

• Discussion:
  A comparison of the decade’s trends:
  • Boss & Electro-Harmonix: Still dominate the top spots.
  • TC Electronic: Decline attributed to less innovation after Behringer acquisition.
  • Strymon: Notable rise; recounts retailer trauma with “Damage Control” era.
  • Keely, Walrus, Earthquaker, JHS: Discusses brand reputation and shifts.
  • Notes Moore and Joyo have all but vanished from the new top-20, likely because “cheap is now everywhere.”
  • Personal anecdotes on ordering policies and industry consolidation (Cort making everything, etc).

6. Audience Q&A (1:35:40–1:53:50)

• Highlights:
  • PRS vs. Gibson Hollow Bodies: PRS core models have carved tops/backs; “totally different construction” than Gibson’s laminate ES-series. (1:38:29)
  • Nags Guitars: Brief history of Nags as a PRS “offshoot”—more expensive but high quality.
  • Custom Shop/Signature Guitar Value:
    Quote — "Custom shop instruments... are not investments, man. They’re horrible money dumps.” (1:48:11)
    • Strong advice to buy high-end guitars for personal joy, not expected resale value.
  • Removing Finish from a Laminate Top: Cautions on using chemical strippers, not sanding (risking through the veneer).
  • Factory Humidity: Explains variances in humidity/environmental control between factories in various countries.

7. Gear of the Week: John Mayer Neural DSP Plugin (1:53:50–2:09:51)

• Segment: Musings on John Mayer’s “Archetype” plugin for Neural DSP.
• Key Insights:
  • Noticed omission of the PRS J-Mod amp from the plugin (features classic Fender, Dumble, Two Rock).
  • Quote — “It’s a weird take I have... Was this a big FU to PRS amps? ...Was the PRS amp not that good, did it not rate?” (1:59:11)
  • Suggests plugin reflects both realistic tone needs and the logic of digital products for modern musicians.
  • Predicts “everyone is looking for mailbox money via digital products.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "The pedal guys are such something else. ...I love you dearly... I just don’t understand. I get intensity. We’re all intense about guitars and amps... but the pedal guys are something else."
  — Phillip on pedal fanatics (29:45)

• “I couldn’t tell you if Zvex is still in business. I assume they are. ...I haven’t actually bought one in a decade.”
  — (1:33:20)

• “There is no guitar that I have played that is $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, $8,000, $10,000... that I was like, man, all these peasants out there, what are they missing? They’re missing out. No one’s missing out.”
  — On custom high-end instruments (1:50:11)

• Riff about salads at drive-throughs and customer service confusion
  — (2:09:51–2:18:32)
  Humorous, unrelated story about being denied lettuce on a salad because “you didn’t ask for lettuce,” framing it as a lesson in customer service trauma.

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|---------------| | Relic Acoustics vs. Electrics | 03:00–15:30 | | Humidity & Humidifiers | 15:30–28:30 | | Best Selling New/Artist Pedals | 28:30–54:40 | | Best Selling Used Pedals | 54:40–1:19:30 | | Best Selling Pedal Brands (’15 vs. ’25) | 1:19:30–1:35:40| | Audience Q&A | 1:35:40–1:53:50| | Gear of the Week: John Mayer Plugin | 1:53:50–2:09:51| | Lettuce Drive-Thru Story | 2:09:51–2:18:32|

Tone & Style

• Language & Tone: Candid, wry, self-deprecating, and occasionally sarcastic—Phillip blends technical expertise with a relatable, “hanging-with-buddies” energy.
• Approach: Flows conversationally, frequently riffs and digresses, welcomes audience contributions and acknowledges YouTube/channel culture.
• Audience: Guitarists and gearheads—from industry insiders to bedroom players—who like frank talk and appreciate a bit of irreverence with their gear insights.

Conclusion

This episode provides a thorough, opinionated look at current guitar pedal trends, both new and used, with a distinctly grounded (and often hilarious) perspective. It’s both myth-busting (on value and investment) and nostalgic, with dozens of side stories, user questions, and recommendations for guitarists at every level. Whether you want to stay ahead of gear trends or just get a feel for the market’s pulse, Phillip delivers another engaging, insightful two hours of guitar talk.

For full details, listen from ~28:30 for pedal-specific content and from ~54:40 for deep-dive on best-selling used pedals.