Best Guitar Synth Pedals

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If you’re ready to move beyond classic guitar tones and explore spacey textures, vintage synth sounds, or modern electronic vibes, a guitar synth pedal is your ticket to the sonic frontier. Whether you’re aiming for subtle layers or total transformation, today’s best guitar synth pedals offer tracking precision, massive presets, and real-time control—all without needing a MIDI pickup.

In this guide, we’ll break down the best guitar synth pedals for all kinds of players, from experimentalists and ambient artists to prog rockers and pop producers.

What Is a Guitar Synth Pedal?

A guitar synth pedal takes your guitar signal and transforms it into synthesized tones, often mimicking analog synths, organs, basses, strings, or atmospheric textures.

Some work monophonically (one note at a time), others support polyphony, and some even allow you to trigger sounds via MIDI or layer your guitar signal with synths.

Key features to look for:

  • Tracking speed and latency (faster is better)

  • Polyphonic vs. monophonic

  • Built-in presets and synth engines

  • MIDI or expression pedal support

  • Ease of use (especially for live performance)

Best Guitar Synth Pedals (2024 Top Picks)

1. Boss SY-200 Guitar Synthesizer

Best Overall Guitar Synth Pedal

The SY-200 is the perfect blend of deep synth tone and plug-and-play simplicity. It’s polyphonic, doesn’t require a special pickup, and fits easily on any pedalboard.

Key Features:

  • 171 sounds across 12 synth types

  • Polyphonic tracking with no MIDI pickup required

  • 128 user presets

  • Expression pedal, MIDI, and control input

Why It’s Great:

  • Rich synth textures from pads to leads to sequencers

  • Super fast tracking with no lag

  • Compact and easy to use live

Best For: Players who want pro-level synth sounds in a compact box

Price: ~$300

2. Electro-Harmonix Synth9

Best for Vintage Synth Sounds

The Synth9 nails the vibe of classic analog synths like the Moog, Oberheim, and Prophet-5—without needing a synth rig or MIDI setup.

Key Features:

  • 9 vintage synth emulations

  • Dry and synth mix controls

  • True bypass

  • No special pickup required

Why It’s Great:

  • Instant classic synth tones—fat basses, shimmering strings, quirky leads

  • Tracks well for monophonic lines and riffs

  • Great for retro-futuristic sounds

Best For: Guitarists who want Moog-style tones and 80s synth layers

Price: ~$250

3. Meris Enzo

Best Experimental Synth Pedal for Sound Design

The Enzo is a sound-shaping powerhouse, offering synth, filter, arpeggiator, and even pitch-shifting in one boutique-quality box.

Key Features:

  • Multi-mode synth: mono, poly, arpeggiated

  • MIDI and expression control

  • Built-in filter, modulation, delay

  • Studio-quality digital architecture

Why It’s Great:

  • Unmatched flexibility and tone shaping

  • Synth pedal + filter + modulation + arpeggiator

  • Amazing for ambient, glitch, and cinematic tones

Best For: Sound designers, experimentalists, and prog players seeking deep control

Price: ~$399

4. Boss SY-1

Best Compact Synth Pedal for Simplicity

The SY-1 packs full synth voices into a standard Boss-sized pedal, with zero setup, zero menu diving, and fast, polyphonic tracking.

Key Features:

  • 121 synth sounds (11 types x 11 variations)

  • No latency, no special pickup

  • Simple controls and hold function

  • Built-in FX loop and expression support

Why It’s Great:

  • Pedalboard-friendly size

  • Great tracking and instant synth fun

  • Hold function for ambient layers

Best For: Players looking for simplicity, performance, and portability

Price: ~$199

5. Eventide H90 (with Synth Algorithms)

Best Multi-FX with Synth Capabilities

The Eventide H90 isn’t just a synth pedal—it’s a full-blown multi-effect unit with built-in synth algorithms, pitch shifting, delays, reverbs, and modulation.

Key Features:

  • Dual-engine DSP power

  • PolySynth, Resonator, and other synth-focused algorithms

  • Preset switching, expression, MIDI

  • Studio-quality tone and routing

Why It’s Great:

  • Massive effects + pro-grade synth sounds

  • Dual presets make wild tone combos easy

  • Perfect centerpiece for any rig

Best For: Guitarists wanting a synth-capable effects unit with top-tier tone

Price: ~$899

Comparison Table

Pedal Polyphonic? Presets MIDI/Exp Support Best For Price
Boss SY-200 Yes 128 Yes All-around synth versatility ~$300
EHX Synth9 No (mono) No No Vintage synth lovers ~$250
Meris Enzo Yes Yes Yes Experimental sound sculpting ~$399
Boss SY-1 Yes No Yes Compact, easy-to-use synth sounds ~$199
Eventide H90 Yes Yes Yes All-in-one FX + synth powerhouse ~$899

Tips for Using a Guitar Synth Pedal

  1. Play clean and articulate – Synth pedals track better with precise picking.

  2. Use neck pickup – Often helps tracking, especially on monophonic pedals.

  3. Add expression pedal – Control filter sweeps, pitch, or modulation live.

  4. Place early in your chain – Typically before distortion or modulation for better clarity.

  5. Experiment with blends – Many pedals let you mix dry guitar and synth for layered textures.

Final Thoughts

Guitar synth pedals open a whole new universe of tones, from vintage analog-style leads to epic cinematic pads. Whether you want plug-and-play simplicity or deep, modular-style control, there’s a synth pedal that fits your musical imagination.

Here’s the bottom line:

  • Choose the Boss SY-200 for powerful sounds with pedalboard convenience

  • Pick the EHX Synth9 if you want instant vintage synth magic

  • Grab the Meris Enzo for deep sonic exploration

  • Go with the Boss SY-1 for a compact, no-fuss option

  • Want a premium multi-FX beast? The Eventide H90 delivers everything and more

Ready to synth your sound? Plug into a guitar synth pedal and take your music into uncharted territory—no keyboard required.

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