How To Choose The Perfect Inductor for Your Guitar Pedal

How to Choose the Perfect Inductor for Your Guitar Pedal

At Golden Eagle Electronics, we specialize in high-quality inductors, magnet inductors, and inductor coils designed for guitar effects pedals. Whether you're building a vintage fuzz, wah-wah, or modern distortion pedal, selecting the right inductor is critical for tone shaping and noise reduction.

Key Factors When Choosing an Inductor for Guitar Pedals

1. Inductor Type: Magnet Inductor vs. Air Core

Magnet Inductor (Ferrite/Powdered Iron Core)

• Higher inductance in a compact size (ideal for wah pedals)

• Less susceptible to external interference

• Used in classic designs like the Cry Baby wah inductor

Air Core Inductor

• No magnetic saturation, preserving signal clarity

• Lower EMI, perfect for high-gain distortion pedals

• Lighter weight, but requires more turns for the same inductance

2. Inductance Value (Henry Rating)

• Wah & Filter Pedals: 500mH–1H (for resonant peak control)

• Tone Shaping (EQ Pedals): 10mH–100mH (for mid/high-frequency adjustments)

• Noise Suppression (Power Supply): 1mH–10mH (to filter hum and ripple)

3. Current Handling & Wire Gauge

• Low-Current (Signal Path): Thin wire (AWG 30–36) for compact pedals

• High-Current (Power Section): Thicker wire (AWG 22–28) to prevent overheating

4. Shielding & Noise Reduction

• Shielded Inductor Coils reduce hum in single-coil pickup circuits

• Litz Wire minimizes skin effect for cleaner high frequencies

Why Choose Golden Eagle’s Inductors?

Vintage & Modern Designs – From Dunlop-style magnet inductors to custom air core inductor coils
Low Noise & High Reliability – Precision-wound for minimal signal loss
Quick Customization – Need a specific inductance or size? We can tailor it for your pedal.

Popular Guitar Pedal Inductors:

• GE-W100 (500mH, magnet inductor for wah pedals)

• GE-A50 (Air core, 50mH for EQ/filter circuits)

• GE-SH1 (Shielded inductor for noise-sensitive builds)

Case Study: Fixing a Noisy Wah Pedal

A boutique pedal maker struggled with 60Hz hum in their wah circuit. We recommended:
✔ GE-W100 Shielded Magnet Inductor
✔ Litz wire winding for reduced RF interference
✔ Ferrite core for stable inductance

Result: 90% noise reduction while maintaining the classic wah sweep.