#1
Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor
Noise suppressor with effects loop · Threshold/Decay controls, send/return effects loop, dual operation modes, 9V$80–$110 new / $55–$80 usedBest for: Standard noise gate with effects loop, Boss reliability, high-gain and metal, flexible placement
The Boss NS-2 is the most widely used noise suppressor — Boss's design has been in production since 1987 and is standard equipment for high-gain and metal guitarists worldwide. The send/return effects loop allows placing high-gain pedals (distortion, fuzz) inside the gate's detection circuit, so the gate responds to the guitar signal before gain is added — producing clean, accurate gating. Used at $55–$80.
What to check used: The Boss NS-2 uses a noise suppressor design rather than a true noise gate — it reduces noise gradually based on the Decay control rather than a hard cut. At aggressive threshold settings with high decay, it can clamp down on guitar sustain. Use moderate threshold (start at 9 o'clock) and adjust decay until notes die naturally while noise is controlled.
#2
ISP Decimator II
Downward expander noise gate · Tracking Downward Expander technology, single Threshold control, transparent operation, 9V$130–$160 new / $90–$120 usedBest for: Transparent professional noise gate, no tone coloring, ISP tracking technology, metal and high-gain
The ISP Decimator II is widely considered the best noise gate for critical listening — ISP's Tracking Downward Expander technology tracks the envelope of the guitar signal and adjusts the gate behavior accordingly, preventing the pumping and breathing artifacts that affect simpler gate designs. The Decimator II is completely transparent when set correctly — players often cannot tell it is in the signal chain with noise controlled. Used at $90–$120, it is the standard for professional touring guitarists who cannot tolerate gating artifacts.
What to check used: The Decimator II has only a Threshold control — no Decay or Release to adjust. The tracking algorithm handles release behavior automatically. This simplicity is its advantage (fewer settings to misconfigure) but limits manual control for players who want specific attack and release times. Most players prefer the automatic tracking for the transparency it provides.
#3
TC Electronic Sentry Noise Gate
Noise gate with TonePrint · TonePrint artist noise gate presets, Hard/Soft gate modes, Threshold/Release controls$90–$110 new / $60–$85 usedBest for: TonePrint flexible gating, two gate modes (hard/soft), TC Electronic quality, versatile settings
The TC Electronic Sentry provides Hard and Soft gate modes — Hard mode cuts the signal abruptly (useful for metal rhythms where total silence between notes is preferred), Soft mode fades the signal out more naturally (better for clean guitar and lighter playing styles). TonePrint allows loading artist-designed gate presets optimized for specific playing styles. The Sentry is more versatile than single-mode gates. Used at $60–$85.
What to check used: Hard gate mode cuts the signal completely and can produce audible artifacts if the Threshold is set too high (causing the gate to cut notes before they naturally decay). Soft mode is more forgiving. Start in Soft mode and adjust to Hard mode only if the playing style demands it.
#4
Electro-Harmonix Silencer
Noise gate and effects loop · Threshold/Attack/Release controls, effects loop, noise gate and noise reduction modes$70–$90 new / $50–$70 usedBest for: Budget noise gate with effects loop, EHX quality, flexible threshold/attack/release controls
The EHX Silencer provides Threshold, Attack, and Release controls — a comprehensive noise gate with the full parameter set that allows dialing in precise gating behavior for any playing style. The effects loop places pedals inside the gate's detection circuit (same as the Boss NS-2). At $50–$70 used, the Silencer is the full-featured budget noise gate. Used at $50–$70.
What to check used: The Silencer's Attack control adjusts how quickly the gate opens when a signal exceeds the threshold — too-fast attack can produce a clicking sound on note attacks. Start with a moderate Attack setting. The Release control adjusts how quickly the gate closes after signal drops below threshold — adjust for the natural decay of your guitar without cutting sustain.
#5
MXR Smart Gate M135
Noise gate with three modes · Three gating responses (Hiss, Mid, Full), single Threshold control, easy-to-use single control$80–$100 new / $60–$80 usedBest for: Simple one-knob operation with three presets, Hiss/Mid/Full frequency targeting, MXR quality
The MXR Smart Gate provides three gating responses designed for different noise profiles: Hiss (targets high-frequency hiss from single-coil pickups), Mid (targets mid-range noise from pedals and cables), and Full (broadband noise gate for high-gain situations). The three modes eliminate the need to dial in frequency-specific settings — select the mode that matches your noise type and set the single Threshold. Used at $60–$80.
What to check used: The Smart Gate's single-knob simplicity is its advantage for quick setup but limits fine-tuning. Players who need precise control over attack and release timing (unusual playing techniques, complex rhythm gating) prefer the full control of the EHX Silencer or TC Sentry.
#6
Fortin Zuul
Noise gate designed for high-gain metal · Noise gate with effects loop, designed for extreme high-gain metal, Threshold control$150–$180 new / $100–$140 usedBest for: Extreme high-gain metal gating, professional metal touring standard, Fortin Amplification quality
The Fortin Zuul is designed specifically for the noise requirements of extreme high-gain metal — Fortin Amplification builds amplifiers used by professional metal guitarists (Meshuggah, Animals as Leaders) and the Zuul gate is designed to handle the noise floor of high-gain metal rigs without damaging the guitar tone. Used at $100–$140, it is the professional choice for metal guitarists who need a gate that understands extreme gain. The effects loop configuration is optimized for metal pedal chains.
What to check used: The Fortin Zuul is overkill for moderate gain applications — its features are specifically designed for extreme metal. Players who use moderate gain overdrive (blues, classic rock) will not benefit from the Zuul's extreme-gain optimization. The Boss NS-2 or ISP Decimator II are more appropriate for lighter gain applications.
#7
ISP Decimator G String II
Noise gate with in-guitar loop · Two independent noise gate circuits, guitar instrument cable loop (detects pre-pedal signal), pedal stage loop$180–$220 new / $130–$170 usedBest for: The most thorough noise rejection, two-stage gating (guitar and pedal chain), professional touring
The ISP Decimator G String II provides two independent gate circuits — one detects the guitar signal (via the included Y-cable before any pedals), and the other gates the full signal chain. By detecting the pre-effects guitar signal, the gate can track the player's actual playing and engage/disengage the main gate perfectly in sync, even through high-gain pedals and amplifiers. This eliminates the detection artifacts that can affect single-stage noise gates. The G String II is the professional touring standard for high-gain players. Used at $130–$170.
What to check used: The G String II requires running two separate signal paths and the included Y-cable — more complex installation than single-circuit gates. The setup is worth the complexity for players with extremely noisy rigs; for moderate-noise setups the standard Decimator II at lower cost is sufficient.
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