If you're building a house there are some "must have" tools you should keep in your toolbox. A hammer for driving nails, a saw for cutting wood, a tape measure, pliers and screwdrivers, just to name a few.

When playing guitar there are some great "tools" available to color the tone of your guitar in various ways. Some purists would argue that, with the right amp and guitar, no extra tools should be needed.

But let's face it, we guitar players love our toys. All the new fangled gadgets that produce and endless array of tones and sounds. But if money is tight, and we absolutely had to choose a handful of the most "important" effects pedals, here are my "hands down" top 4 picks.

If you play electric lead guitar with an amp, it's only a matter of time before you get the "turn it down" signal from someone. Whether it's the "hands over the ears" indicator, the downward hand gesture from a patron, or a note on a napkin from the club manager.

Of course, we guitar players are always innocent. If the drummer wasn't so heavy handed, we could play at a lower volume. Or, "I have to compete with the PA system". Or, "the bass player has his amp up my butt". It's always something.

Unfortunately, if a band is considered "too loud" it's typically the lead guitar player that catches the heat. Sometimes it's justifiable. Other times, an overly loud PA cabinet can be the culprit, but we of course, get the blame.

The reason is, that guitar amps can, and do, get loud! If you want to prove it, next time you are playing a gig, have someone play your guitar, and sit out in the audience at amp level and hear what they hear.