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5 Stomp Boxes That Are Worth Every Penny

In Buyer's Guide , Guides for Musicians , Guides for Percussionists , Guides for Singers by Jake L Leave a Comment

Are you a solo performer/one-man show that wants to add more to their musical arsenal? Maybe you need to have a beat/rhythm accompany you on stage while you perform live. Well, if this is the case, a stomp box might be what you’re looking for. Since you’re here, you probably already have your mindset on getting one, but just in case, let’s talk about what a stomp box is and what it’s used for.

Guitarist practicing his guitar in his bedroom

What is a Stomp Box?

foot on stomp box

Simply put, a stomp box is a simple percussion instrument that many acoustic/solo performers use. It’s a small wooden box that you place underneath your foot and produces a sound that is similar to a bass drum when tapped or stamped on rhythmically. Stomp boxes allow performers, especially those who perform alone, to create a simple rhythm to accompany them.

They usually have a magnetic sensor or a simple piezo transducer inside, allowing for amplification of the sound through a bass amplifier or a PA system.

If you’re thinking of taking your one-man show to the next level, then definitely consider getting one for yourself.

Now that you have a better understanding of what this percussion instrument can do, let’s talk about our list of recommendations for the best stomp box options available. We tried our best to cover a wide range of prices, so we hope you find the right one for yourself. Here’s our list of the 5 best stomp boxes that we recommend you check out.

The 5 Best Stomp Boxes in 2021

1. Meinl MPDS1 Mahogany Stomp Box (Popular Choice)

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Known for their amazing percussion instruments, Meinl makes it onto your list with their beautiful Mahogany analog stomp box. The experience you get with this well-rounded stomp box is well worth it.

Design

Meinl designed this stomp box with solid mahogany and equipped it with a passive piezo pickup that allows for high-quality amplification. You will find that the angle of the mahogany surface helps keep your foot in a natural position . This makes playing it more comfortable while also giving you more control. As a bonus, you won’t have to worry about what kind of footwear you are using while playing this stomp box.

The ultra-sensitive pickup is amazing and does an amazing job at picking up contact when playing. Its analog signal is the central design element of this stomp box. Analog basically means thaall you have to do is plug it into an amp or PA system to amplify the sound.

To top it all off, it’s got a tough rubber grip underneath to help anchor it on any surface.

Sound

Accompanying its nice and slick design is this stomp boxes’ high-quality sound. Meinl’s stomp box produces a deep, punchy kick drum sound. You get the sound and volume of a real bass drum in a smaller and more portable instrument. The sound produced can definitely fill up a venue when accompanied by the right bass amp or PA system.  It has a rich bass tone and will have your audiences more engaged with your performance with a pleasant rhythm to follow.

It also comes with 5 additional programmed sounds (cowbell, high hat, tambourine, crash cymbal, and a custom sample of your own sound.)

Summary

Overall, if you’re looking for a good stomp box to start off with that isn’t going to hurt the bank, Meinl has you covered. Its beautiful design, sound quality, and great features make it worth it.

2. Wazinator Classic KSB319 (Unique Design)

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Wazinator makes it onto our list of recommendations with their KSB319 Acoustic stomp box. Made in Australia, this fully professional stomp box has an amazing sound with a unique design. Let’s go into more detail.

Design

This stomp box is beautiful, truly bringing an acoustic vibe that you might be looking for. Like we’ve already mentioned, this stomp box is bigger in size. It’s much wider than others on this list, however, it’s also thin.

The fact that you have a wider stomping surface to work with is nice and comfortable. You don’t have to worry about missing the stomp box while performing live on stage. The quality is top-notch and very durbale, so it can take a beating. To top it all off, it has a rubber bottom that helps it grip onto any surface ensuring that it won’t move around while playing.

Do keep in mind it will take up more space when using it so prepare for that when setting up for a performance/gig.

Sound

The KSB319 is an analog acoustic stomp box, allowing you to enhance the sound with the use of an amplifier or PA system. It produces a nice timber tone that sounds amazing with an acoustic guitar/set-up. The bass is deep while sounding thumpy, but accompanies your acoustic performances with a foundational beat to follow.

It’s also dynamic, meaning the harder you hit it, the louder the thud of the bass is and vice versa. Incorporating a threshold sensitivity feature gives you more control of how you want your bass to sound.

Summary

This is one of the higher-end stomp box options on our list, but you definitely get your money’s worth. The people who created the Wazinator brand are very passionate about their crafts which shows in their craftsmanship of this stomp box. If you have a higher budget, I highly recommend the KSB319 from Wazinator.

Roland SPD-1K Electronic Drum Pad (Most Versatile)

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Roland makes it onto our list with their SPD-1K Percussion Electronic Drum Pad. It makes adding beats and kick drums to your performance as simple as possible.  You get so many features such as 22 realistic onboard percussion sounds, the ability to import your own original audio, and more!

Design

This digital percussion pad/stomp box has a nice clean design, built to be portable and durable. The SPD-1K is ready to be taken on the road. Its body has a metal construction, making it very durable. Somehow though, it remains lightweight.  You will find it easy to fit in with any set-up thanks to its compact size.

Roland designed this electronic drum pad to be played like a stomp box (placed on the floor) however, you can also use drum sticks or your hands. There’s a mounting adapter that’s included that allows you to easily clamp the pad to any tabletop. This drum pad can run on 4 AA batteries or with the AC adaptor.

Drummers and percussionists love the solid feel and natural rebound the SPD-1K has. You can confidently stomp on this drum pad without the worry of breaking it.

Sound

Like we mentioned earlier, the SPD-1K comes with 22 onboard sounds that can be further adjusted using the effects knobs on the drum pad. This instrument reminds me of the effects pedals that many guitarists use to enhance their sound since there are so many things to play with.

You can take this even further with the 12 available internal sound banks. With these sounds banks, you can add your own audio/sounds. This gives you, even more, to work with while performing. Some sounds you will find include kick drums like a normal stomp box,  shakers, cowbells, and more!

Another great feature is the ability to adjust the sensitivity and trigger threshold setting of your drum pad very easily using the dials. You get more control over your entire playing experience allowing you to create the bass sound that you want.

Summary

We love Roland’s electronic drum pad and find it best for those who are looking for more out of their stomp box. While the SPD-1K isn’t an acoustic stomp box, the number of effects and features you get truly enhance the value of this drum pad. It’s a fun instrument to mess around with and having so much control in its sound is a big plus. It is a little pricier than other options, however, the experience you get is well worth it!

Wazinator Dropkick KSB883 (Easy Set-Up)

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Another great professional stomp box from the Australian company, Wazinator. The KSB883 produces a nice bass tone with an easy set-up that doesn’t require any EQ. Overall a great stomp box that many use for professional gigs and performances. Now let’s talk about it in more detail.

Design

The KSB883 is the first aluminum die-cast stomp box. It has an ergonomic design, prioritizing comfort while playing . Your ankle naturally pivots on the lower curve of the stomp box, ensuring that you are comfortable during your performances. It has a solid Tasmanian Oak impact bar that helps produce a nice timber tone.

It has a different pick-up system from the classic KSB 319. The KSB883 has a vibration-activated pick-up system that needs movement to generate a tone. It has rubber feet on the bottom that acts as a suspension system that bounces when stomped on. This helps create the sound.

Sound

You will find that the sound on this stomp box is more immediate and punchy when compared to Wazinator’s classic KSB319. The low-mids are more amplified and sound better when used with smaller systems/bass amplifiers. Like we already mentioned, you don’t need to EQ to get a nice sounding tone. This makes the KSB883 very convenient to work with.

It definitely sounds like a real kick drum and brings so much to your performances.

Summary

Wazinator has done it again with their amazing Dropkick KSB883 stomp box. It’s very comfortable to play with so you won’t have to worry about tiring out during those long gigs. They’re super fun to play with and like all Wazinator products, it’s comforting to know that they are passionate about all of the instruments they create.

SX SBX II Stomp Box (Budget Option)

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Now if you’re in the market for more of a budget stomp box that is much cheaper than the options we have already discussed, the SX SBX II is the choice for you. You’ll save a lot of money while also having a quality stomp box that gets the job done and more! Let’s go into more detail on why you should consider checking this out.

Design

This is a well-designed budget stomp box that is solid and ergonomic. It does an excellent job at staying put while playing and stays comfortable for those longer sessions. The SX SBX II has a simple clean desig n and can even plug directly into a bass amp or PA system.

Sound

If there’s one thing that this stomp box can do, it’s getting the job done at a much more affordable price. It produces a nice bassy thump that sounds great even without any EQ adjustments. While it is possible to enhance the tone of this stomp box if you mess around enough with the EQ, the fact that you don’t have to is assuring.

This option is more catered towards beginners who are looking for an entry-level stomp box, so the fact that you don’t have to worry about EQ is wonderful. Overall, you get a deep sound that will definitely bring your acoustic performances to the next level.

Summary

For a budget stomp box, we have to admit that we are very impressed with the quality of the SX SBX. Design is simple and clean with a nice sound that is expected from a stomp box. We’re actually quite surprised that you get so much value at this price.

This is definitely for those who are beginners and don’t want to commit too much money into a stomp box. Also, people who don’t plan to incorporate stomp boxes often in their performances have been purchasing this for specific situations that require it. It is good to keep in mind that you do get what you pay for in terms of quality when it comes to any musical instrument/purchase. This rule applies to stomp boxes too. Still, we recommend you check this out as a reliable budget stomp box option.

Final Thoughts

Well, there you have it! Our list of the 5 best stomp box options available. Again, we tried to cover a wide range of needs that you might be looking for when shopping for this instrument. Stomp boxes definitely have the potential to bring your solo performances to the next level so we highly recommend you get one for yourself. They’re reliable and sound nice when incorporated with your music. We hope this list has helped you out and best of luck in all of your future musical endeavors! Have fun!

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Mojohound Music Co. Stompbox (MDM-I)

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