Customers note the material is easy to work with, though some were only half satisfied with the quality of the material. There’s a lot of potential to dial in your own tones with this unit. Not only do the bass and treble knobs do a great job at cutting or boosting their frequencies, but the drive control itself can add a bit of tonal coloration itself. Bottom line: if you want a transparent, barely there boost, you can get it, or you can flood your sound with more translucent drive as well. This pedal is incredibly versatile.

Maybe if you chose to invest in a more expensive material like diamond or gold – then you might fuss a little more over budget (note: diamond and gold sheets are not featured on this list).

If you’re not exactly sure why you need transparent overdrive, but could use a versatile drive pedal that goes beyond a Tube Screamer, it’s hard to go wrong with the EHX Crayon. If you asked most guitarists whether they’d heard of acrylic-bodied guitars, you’d probably receive a look of confusion. These instruments have somewhat of an underground following amongst musicians. That’s not what I’m talking about, although it’s worth looking into if you’re looking for something specific/different.

It’s also common to experience issues with tuning stability and intonation when using acrylic guitars. Granted, these issues can also occur with wood-bodied instruments, but they are significantly less likely. Playing comfort is another aspect of the electric guitar that one could argue is subjective. However, it is undeniable that acrylic body guitars are very hard and can dig into your body when playing them. Legendary, and nearly impossible to get, the Klon Centaur is without question one of the most popular transparent overdrives on the planet. It is often credited for starting the transparent craze. One of the benefits of using guitar PNG files is that they come in a variety of styles and formats. You can find images of acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass guitars, and more. Some guitar PNG files are simple line drawings, while others are high-resolution photographs. You can also find guitar PNG files that have been stylized or edited to create unique effects.Acrylic guitars have several names that they are also often called, including “clear guitars”, “lucite guitars”, or “plexiglass guitars”. Whichever name you choose to use, the key thing to know is that these instruments use plastic for the bodies rather than wood. If you use distortion or overdrive pedals with these guitars there’s a risk that this may result in an undesirable tone that doesn’t blend well with other instruments. Why You Should Avoid See Through Guitars This handmade boutique pedal is, along with the OCD, one of the original heavy-hitters in the world of transparent overdrive. It features the same treble/bass tone knobs as EHX’s Crayon, but the Timmy is much more subtle in its tonal range—its knobs function as cut-only controls. Cut your material. This may be done with different tools. The most common is jigsaws and bandsaws. Take your time. It can be challenging to get the corners right. Easily one of the most referenced Klon inspired drives, the Wampler Tumnus is always recommended for those seeking the Centaur tone, and this Deluxe version features expanded EQ shaping capabilities.

If Ibanez can lay claim to the title of being the strongest name in metal guitars, then the RGA is the model this reputation was built on. A Classic Axe That Screams Speed, Fury, And Expression Electro-Harmonix (EHX) does not market their Crayon as a transparent overdrive pedal per se, but the unit’s touted “full range” of EQ and drive controls make it possible to dial in a very transparent gain. EHX even markets the Crayon as an “alternative to customary mid-focused overdrive pedals” like Tube Screamers. This unit is a nice introduction to the magic of transparency, and you can get it at less than half the price of most other units listed here.The body is unbelievably heavy. Even heavier than a 1970s Les Paul. It's absolutely required to wear a well-padded guitar strap if you dare play this thing standing up. It’s hard to think of a situation in which you won’t need a bit of transparent boost, and these pedals span a wide range of options and directions for your tone. A tasteful twist on the classic Ibanez "Tree of Life" design, the inlay design works its way up the fingerboard beautifully Paul Cochrane's Timmy is eternally praised by transparent tone chasers. The top end sounds amazing, and this pedal is much sought after for a reason. MXR recently partnered with Paul to release a more accessible version.

The Pettyjohn Chime was made to "sweeten your signal with the touch sensitivity of vintage English amps on the edge of break up." This low to medium gain pedal from Emerson utilizes premium components and works well as a boost to mid gain drive. Nevertheless, it would be unrealistic to expect a transparent guitar to sound or feel as good as a guitar with maple, mahogany, or alder body would, These tonewoods have been used for many decades and are considered the premium choice by experienced manufacturers.These guitars are commonly known as "see-through" because you can literally see right through the transparent material. The acrylic will usually be "ice" clear (shown in photo), red, blue, orange, yellow or green. An acrylic-bodied guitar is one of the worst you could ever own. Why? Three reasons. However, despite this being a subjective topic, there are some undeniable flaws to acrylic guitars that may deter you from wanting to use them. Additional Weight No guitar player has ever said that they prefer an acrylic body. That has never happened in the history of electric guitars, and never will. In the same way that different tonewoods used for electric guitar bodies produce noticeably different sounds, acrylic guitars also have distinctive sonic qualities. When you choose a guitar, it’s advisable to consider three key aspects – the sound it produces, the way it feels, and its physical appearance.