Let’s get right to it: we’ve got a completely different sonic animal than usual today, but one that has excited our musical brain for a couple weeks now. The NUX Optima Air Dual-Switch Acoustic Guitar Simulator takes your regular electric guitar signal and changes it into, well, an acoustic sound. With presets, an effects loop, complete customization and more, this is a pedal we never knew we needed… NUX Optima Air...
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Up to this point, we’ve only experienced the effects pedal side of NUX, one of our biggest supporters for years now. Today, they sent us something a little different to toss into the mix: the Stageman II Studio AC-60 Acoustic Amplifier. Filled with gorgeous tones, built-in FX, Impulse Responses, a drum machine and looper and more, this amp brings a lot to the table in a relatively compact package… The Stageman II AC-60 has...
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When you think of the history, music and guitar players associated with Orange Amps, the word Acoustic doesn’t usually come to mind. Mastodon. Sepultura. ZZ Top. Rush. Slipknot. Iron Maiden. Not the most acoustical set of artists, right? Well, we’re not sure if it’s the recent teaming up with bluegrass powerhouse Billy Strings or what, but we’ve something very intriguing for you today. The Orange Amps Acoustic...
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We had heard about the Align Series of pedals from L.R. Baggs, so we were more than excited to do some more acoustic pedal demos, starting with the Delay that we checked out a couple weeks back. Next up is today’s featured effect, the Align Chorus, which seeks to enhance the overall sound of your acoustic instrument, without drowning it in a sea of chorus. Easy to use and a true tone booster, let’s see what this guy is...
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Sometimes during live gigs, especially for all the solo performers out there, you need to make a switch from electric to acoustic at some point, depending on what tunes you’re playing. Now, as cool as it looks to switch out guitars and impress the crowd, wouldn’t it just be easier to step on a pedal and be done with it? The Omni AC Acoustic Simulator from Hotone Audio does just that, taking a step out of your performance...
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We haven’t had an acoustic effect come through the office in a little while, so we were more than excited to get to check out today’s pedal. The Align Series Acoustic Delay from L.R. Baggs brings a classic effect to acoustic musicians by optimizing the signal for high-fidelity instruments, and giving you a decent amount of options in a small package. Combing analog and digital circuitry qualities together for a powerful...
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Today’s post, while not technically “pedal-related,” is still an exciting discovery on our part (maybe we’re just late to the party, who knows?). Though we don’t cover a TON of acoustic pedals here, we have had our fair share, and are, of course, always looking to improve the sound of ALL our instruments, not just the ones that are loud and ROCK. Coming across the website FU-Tone.com was a bit daunting,...
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We’ve had a blast over the years reviewing effects pedals from Ninevolt Pedals/Animals Pedal, and today we’re venturing for the first time into acoustic territory from these guys. The Firewood Acoustic D.I. is an active D.I. that fits in both live stages and recording studios alike, using analog and discrete circuits and able to output to a mixer or an amplifier without missing delicate expressions. This simple pedal...
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It’s been a little while since we checked out an acoustic effect here at Pedal of the Day, but we’re coming back in strong fashion, for sure. Today’s option-filled piece of gear comes to us from Hotone Audio, and is an acoustic player’s dream pedal. The A Station is an acoustic guitar preamp with D.I. AND a microphone preamp, with a ton of connectivity to multiple audio sources, and easy-to-use layout and some...
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Sometimes, it can be hard to find great gear to go along with your acoustic setup, as so much gear is geared (hehe) towards electric playing. Granted, you can use electric pedals in your acoustic rig, but that seems a little lazy to me. I’d rather spend the money on something that had thought put into it, had great sounds specified for a mellower sound and had options that wouldn’t throw my wooden friend into a feedback...
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Reviewing so many drive and fuzz boxes means I’m usually playing through my electric guitar setup, but recently I’ve been gravitating toward my trusty Alvarez acoustic, and decided to create a little acoustic mini-board to enhance my playing a bit. The first pedal I decided I needed, as I always do, was a delay, and after some research via the Interwebs, I chose to check out the Fishman AFX Delay as my first acoustic...
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I’ve really been diggin’ doing some acoustic pedal reviews lately, as it’s opened my playing back up a bit, and it’s always fun to go back and rediscover all the rad things an acoustic can do. Playing electric so much with the majority of these reviews, I forget sometimes the tranquility and serenity that a nice acoustic guitar provides, and I’m glad I’ve been able to explore that more as of late....
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Let me begin with, “WOW!” The L.R. Baggs Para DI Acoustic Direct Box & Pre-Amp can transform the sound of any acoustic guitar/instrument that you put through it. Once I first plugged into the pedal I knew this was going to be great because the sound of my guitar instantly cleaned up and everything became less jumbled. Each string was more distinctive and pure. That was without messing with any of the knobs and going...
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We’ve been reviewing and demoing effects units from NUX for over six years now, and they just keep getting better and better. Today, we’re continuing our exploration into their Core Series of pedals (the Tape Core Deluxe was amazing, BTW) as we check out the Verb Core Deluxe, a vast-reaching, wide-ranging ambient powerhouse that brings your favorite reverb sounds up from the depths…let’s dive right in, shall...
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Although today’s gear is not a pedal, it is a very useful piece of equipment here at PotD headquarters. The String Swing SW5RL-K Multi-Guitar Wall Rack has been an instant gamechanger, organizing my guitars in a neat, orderly and aesthetically pleasing way. If your collection of instruments is starting to grow and grow, this might be just the thing you’re looking for… The most convenient guitar display package on the...
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You obviously need to connect your instrument to your amp or interface, right? Sometimes, long cables just get in the way, dampening your creativity and stiffling your workflow. Well, today we’re going to check out a cable-free way to sound amazing in any room or situation – let’s take a look at the NUX C-5RC GHz Guitar Wireless System! C-5RC is designed for wireless connection of electronic musical instruments with...
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After reviewing and demoing the gorgeous Stageman II Studio Acoustic Amp from NUX earlier this month, we’re excited to get back to checking out some of their effects pedals, starting today with the NDS-5 Fireman Distortion. With 2 channels for rhythm and lead switching, plus a wide-ranging control section, this powerful little beast will bring the heat to any rig or pedalboard. Let’s jump in the fire and see what...
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The moniker Gamechanger Audio has always suited the company responsible for today’s pedal, and we’re excited to bring another review and demo of their gear to you all. The BIGSBY Pedal Polyphonic Pitch Shifter is a revolutionary polyphonic pitch shifter pedal created in cooperation with Fender Musical Instruments Co. that reproduces the string bending and vibrato effects produced by the BIGSBY Tremolo arm and other...
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We’re continuing to look at some stellar effects from TC Electronic today as we peruse the Impulse IR Loader. This magnificent little box aims to give you guitar tools that support your playing rather than a degree in tech manuals, keeping things simple and fun to use. Lots of options are trapped inside this mini effect, which gives you big sound from a tiny source… In short, Impulse is a Cab Sim and IR Loader, and just...
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The effects pedals coming out of the English shop where Tom Oakes and Horrothia FX call home have always been cool to look at, built with extreme quality and incredible-sounding, to say the least. These marvelous traditions continue today with their latest release, the Triage Discrete Transistor Pre-Amplifier, which covers Boost, Dirt and Volume at the same time. Easily ranging from clean to nasty, we are really digging this...
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(This article comes from our friends at GuitarTricks.com – check out their site for tons of guitar-related tips and tricks!!) Delay and Time-Based Effects Pedals By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. Whether it uses analog or digital technology, time-based effects units allow us to add more space, an echo, or even loop entire measures. Reverb, delay, and looping...
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When a huge company like StewMac contacts you and asks if you’d like to demo some gear from them, there’s only one answer: an emphatic YES, PLEASE. Today, we’re going to check out a pedal, yes, but some other guitar-related gear as well, all of which is available on the StewMac website, and all of which can help you greatly improve your tone and unleash your creativity. Lots to get into, let’s do it!! First up,...
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(This article comes from our friends at GuitarTricks.com – check out their site for tons of guitar-related tips and tricks!!) How Can Pedals Improve Your Guitar Playing? By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. Many guitarists use effects and pedals for emulating the playing of other songs. Whether it is just bedroom practice, beginner guitar lessons, or on-stage...
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(This article comes from our friends at GuitarTricks.com – check out their site for tons of guitar-related tips and tricks!!) The History of the Space Echo Echo Echo… By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. History of the Space Echo Echo Echo… Before the electric guitar was invented, guitarists were limited on using reverb and delay in their music. The...
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(This article comes from our friends at GuitarTricks.com – check out their site for tons of guitar-related tips and tricks!!) The Buzz on Distortion Pedals By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer Ever since the electric guitar was invented guitarists and sound engineers have attempted to manipulate its signal. When you pluck the strings, the pickup changes sound waves into electrical energy, which can then be...
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Our 15W Monarch from Benson Amps has been a staple in our demo rig rotation for years, and the Preamp and Germanium Fuzz pedals they put out left us floored as well. Today, we bring you their latest effect creation, a seemingly simple but under-the-hood complex piece of gear: the Germanium Boost. Don’t let the lone knob fool you – a LOT of research and time went into this tone-enhancing machine; here’s what Chris and...
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(This article comes from our friends at GuitarTricks.com – check out their site for tons of guitar-related tips and tricks!!) A Practical Look at Guitar Pedals By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer Guitar pedals are an incredible way to sculpt the final sound from your guitar, they provide amazing effects at just the push of a button. In some cases they are even necessary to get the right sound for a particular...
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Richard Fortus St. Louis Guns N’ Roses https://www.4tus.com/ https://www.gunsnroses.com/ Past bands – Pale Divine, Psychedelic Furs, Love Spit Love, Thin Lizzy, Honky Toast, Rihanna How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? Started on violin when I was 5 and studied the Suzuki method. Also started playing drums around the same time. Started on guitar around 12. My father was an accountant,...
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Ethan Miller Humboldt County Howlin’ Rain, Heron Oblivion, Feral Ohms howlinrain.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’ve been playing music since about 7 years old when I started piano lessons. I took up acoustic guitar at around age 12. Electric guitar at age 14. I first got into playing non-classical music at a California State Summer School for the Arts that they used to...
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Little, inexpensive and full of options is what you get with the Coral and Coral II series of effects from Valeton. After checking out the Coral MDR and Coral Echo II pedals, today we’re diving right into a little bit of reverb. The Coral Verb II Digital Modeling Reverb features 16 high-quality reverb styles to fit any musical style…and it’s size will fit right onto any pedalboard as well. With an advanced 24-bit...
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The NU-1 Nucleus Preamp from Sunnaudio was our first foray into their lineup of effects a couple months ago, and we were quite impressed by the design and sounds that pedal was capable of. Well, they’re back again with another creation that’s more powerful, has more options and sounds just as incredible as its little sibling. The RH-1 Rabbithead Preamp is a versatile integrative preamp and overdrive that offers multiple...
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Combining multiple effects into one enclosure should be a no-brainer, right? Well, we love when boxes like this come through the office, and we’ve got another incredible piece of gear to show you today. The Crazy Tube Circuits Sidekick Reverb Delay Modulation brings together, well, FOUR of your favorite effects, placing them all in one pedal with multiple options for each sonic layer. You’re gonna like this one…...
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We have had the pleasure of reviewing every incarnation of the Roadie family of automatic tuners, and are excited to bring you their latest version today. The Roadie 3 Smart Automatic Tuner will help you save time, explore more music and truly enjoy tuning your instrument. Your musical world is full of possibilities. Bring your Roadie and play on. The new Roadie 3 can tune almost any string instrument with a guitar machine head in...
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We love new and innovative sound-making machines, as do lots of musicians, but today’s piece of gear is something we weren’t familiar with at all. The Colour Palette from Lottie Canto is an electric Kalimba, an African instrument typically made of a wooden soundboard with steel keys. This new, modern version features on board effects, and allows you to plug it into an amp or interface. Let’s check it out! The Colour...
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We’ve had lots of preamp pedals coming through the shop lately, and we honestly couldn’t be happier. Preamps take everything you love about your rig and amplify it, pushing it to whatever the sweet spot is that you find, as sort of a final piece to the puzzle for any pedalboard or setup. Today’s pedal is useful on both guitar and bass, so we decided to make demos with each instrument, and show what the Sunnaudio NU-1...
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Hey everyone! I’m Evan Miller, the guitar player from the band Funk You. www.funkyoumusic.com www.facebook.com/funkyoumusic www.youtube.com/funkyouaugusta Instagram – @funkyoumusic How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? Ive been playing in bands for the past 15 years but I started on the piano around the age of 10 years old. My grandma played the piano for our church, so I was drawn...
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Hello all! My name is Sam Ralbovsky and I play guitar in the Adirondack jam band The Hasbens (The band that has Bens. We have two) Instagram: @thehasbensband Facebook: The Hasbens How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I first picked up the guitar when I was in the fifth grade. The guitar, at that time, was an escape from the monotony of trudging through each Suzuki piano book I was assigned...
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Hi! My name is Knut Olai. I run Pladask Elektrisk, located in Bergen, Norway. www.pladaskelektrisk.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I grew up in the countryside listening to Tom Waits and Rammstein through my father who played classical guitar. I started learning the electrical guitar in primary school after discovering Nirvana. I’ve never been very active as a musician in bands other...
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While we haven’t ever ventured TOO far into the world of multi-effects processors, we did get a chance to check out the Ampero from Hotone Audio almost exactly a year ago today, and were extremely impressed by how well it performed. Cramming a ton of amps, cabinet and effects into one unit has got to be tricky for any company, and to do it as well and for such an affordable price point was a stroke of genius. Today, we’re...
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In today’s world that has become just fantastically filled with the most options-laden, powerful, hip, trendy and mind-blowing effects pedals on the planet, sometimes it’s hard to remember a day when everything moved a little slower, things were a bit easier and every pedal didn’t cost a ton of money or have a manual the size of a phone book…..for those of us who remember phone books. A prime example of these...
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With access to a seemingly endless supply of incredible vintage pedals, our friends at JHS have revamped yet another long-lost, obscure and intriguing effect, all while putting their own unique spin on it, as usual. Based on the strange and rarely talked-about Boss FA-1 FET Preamp, the Clover is a Preamp EQ Boost, a true tone-shaper / always on / can’t-live-without-it pedal that will really sculpt and mold your sound. Top...
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We recently had the pleasure of reviewing and demoing the first of two new Omni pedals from out friends at Hotone Audio, the AC Acoustic Simulator, which was a blast to play, and a surprisingly great acoustic pedal. Today, we’re going to check out the second pedal in this lineup, the IR Impulse Response Cabinet Simulator. This compact-sized simulator delivers organic, precise cabinet sounds for both guitar and bass, with a...
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Sometimes, the best things come in the smallest packages, and we’re definitely NOT kidding about that with today’s piece of gear. Heading outside our usual pedal zone, we’re taking a look at an amplifier today, though not one that you may expect. The FatAmp MkII from Mouse Electronics in Belarus is a small pocket amplifier, one that goes with you anywhere and everywhere, fitting into a jacket pocket, backpack, purse...
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John Lee Shannon (www.johnleeshannon.com) Brooklyn, NY In addition to my own solo project, I regularly work in collaboration with: Zephaniah Ohora Cliff Westfall Bonehart Flannigan Brother Roy How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I started playing guitar when I was 15 or 16. My mom is a huge music lover, we were always listening to the radio in the car and going to concerts growing up. My dad...
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My name is Anders Mouridsen, and I’m a Danish guitarist, living in Los Angeles and working all over the place. I currently perform, write and record with country artist Cam (www.camcountry.com). In the past, I’ve performed and recorded with artists like John Fogerty, Pink, Taylor Swift, Tim Timebomb, Meghan Trainor, Guy Sebastian and many others. You can hear some examples of my work as a writer, producer and musician on...
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The wonderful world of multi-effects has had quite a resurgence in the last couple of years, with bigger, more powerful machines that actually sound incredible being put on the market. With all of these fantastic sounds and options available, there’s also been a considerable price hike in these effects units, too, making it hard for those on a lower budget to even be able to test them out, to see if it’s a good fit for...
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Today, we’re going to go to a place where we’ve only ventured a couple of times in Pedal of the Day’s history – AcousticTown. Now, while the acoustic guitar and its vast array of sonic weapons don’t get the spotlight all that often, that doesn’t mean we don’t love the sounds they all make, especially when the gear sounds like today’s machine. The ALiX from Grace Design is a...
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Willy Porter Milwaukee, WI willyporter.com This is a pretty special interview – as some of you may know, I hail from the great city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and I had the pleasure of seeing Willy play numerous times, in high school and beyond, before I moved away. It was a real treat to have been able to sit down with him here in Asheville and talk about music, Mil-town and life in general. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I...
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Greg Bortnichak Olympia WA Teach Me Equals (currently) & Sparta Philharmonic (formerly). I’ve also done session work pretty consistently over the last two decades, lending string arrangements to all sorts of projects. Some you might recognize would be Circa Survive, Jonathan Badger, Dream Tiger, Eating Club, The Metal Hearts, RedRumsey, Br’er, and HeadShy. www.teachmeequals.com spartaphilharmonic.bandcamp.com How long have you...
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Anthony Thogmartin Papadosio EarthCry www.papadosio.com earthcry.net How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? Music has always been a huge part of my life. My father apparently sung to me while I was still in the womb. My mother used to play me to sleep with her violin. Who have been some of your major musical influences, past or present? In my early days I discovered Hendrix, Jethro Tull,...
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