The Simplifier Zero Watt Amp + CABSIM is a preamp, EQ, boost, overdrive, cabinet simulator and more wrapped into one tidy little package. The crews at DSM Noisemaker and Humboldt Electronics have created a machine which allows you to integrate your pedalboard adding full stereo routing directly to a PA System, Amps, Audio Interfaces or anything you need with its 4 simultaneous outputs (2 x XLR, 2 x 1/4 bypass-able outs), stereo...
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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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There are times in the effects pedal review world when a piece of gear comes along that you aren’t prepared for, and never even knew could exist. Take, for example, today’s featured pedal, the S-AMP Cabinet Simulator and Headphone Amplifier from Nunomo LLC. There are tons of practice tools on the market available for musicians, but this pedal takes that concept and turns it into something totally unique, and actually quite...
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Last year, we were honored to help with the release of the TONEX Pedal from IK Multimedia, a dazzling amp, cabinet and effects modeler unit that broke new sonic ground. Today, we’ve teamed up with our new friends at Vintage King to bring you all IK’s latest creation, the TONEX ONE Amplifier/Cab/Pedal Modeler, a smaller version of last year’s wonderful concoction. There are a TON of options, sounds and wonder trapped...
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The anticipation that comes when a new Boss pedal arrives on the doorstep is always big, period. Whether it’s a Delay, a Distortion, some wild Modulation thing or any of their other excellent creations, there’s a pretty decent chance it’s gonna crush. Today’s pedal does just that, but in a different sort of way – say hello to the IR-2 Amp & Cabinet, which makes dialing in and transporting your...
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While most of our reviews are focused on the pedals themselves, we couldn’t hear the magical sounds they make without the aid of cables, and we’ve got a new release from Rock Stock Pedals in that department today. Their Solderless Patch Cable Kit gives you high performance and perfect customization to make your pedalboard look, feel and sound exactly the way you need it to. Let’s hear what Rock Stock has to say about...
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The world of Strymon is a fascinating, intriguing and exciting place to be – anyone who’s ever used one of their pedals can certainly attest to that. For their latest release, they’ve gone in a bit of a different direction, but one that is most welcome, and will flip the way pedalboards are arranged and used from this point forward. Iridium is an amplifier and Impulse Response cabinet simulator, one that connects...
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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’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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A good multi-effects unit is always fun to take a look at, and when it’s focused on modulation, delay and reverb, it makes it that much better. The PLETHORA X3 TonePrint Pedalboard from TC Electronic takes its origin from the larger PLETHORA X5, slimming it down for an easier fit on your board, while still giving you the quality effects you need. We love the versatility in this unit, and can’t wait to dig in with you all...
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The first round of Dept. 10 pedals released by Blackstar Amplification (Boost, Dual Drive, Dual Distortion) were full of options, HUGE tones and exquisite build quality. Those effects focused on boost, overdrive and distortion elements, showing how you could really push your amp and shape your tone with ease. The latest release from Blackstar sees them switching focus now to the actual AMP aspect of the chain, bringing you the...
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When the first iteration of Walrus Audio’s MAKO Series: D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay was released, we couldn’t get our hands on one fast enough. A brilliant, feature-packed machine filled with everything you could want in a delay, we didn’t think they could improve upon it, or would need to. Well, we were wrong, and are excited to bring you the latest Version 2 of this powerhouse pedal today. The meat and potatoes...
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We’ve been reviewing effects and amp pedals from our friends at Orange Amps for a number of years now, and are always excited to see what they’ve got in store for their next release. We’ve got the latest from them for you today, in the form of the Guitar Butler Dual Channel Guitar Preamp. This monster has been tailored to provide comprehensive, exceptional service to your signal chain, as a standalone unit or as part...
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The G-Series of pedals gets progressively heavier and dirtier as they evolve – starting with the G2 Overdrive, then the G3 Overdrive Distortion, we conclude today with the G4 High Gain Distortion. This red monster brings with it a new level of thick, sustained amplifier tone to compliment the other G-Series pedals, or any pedals you might have on your board. Let’s dig into this one and see what it’s all about…...
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With the release of the D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay last year, the folks at Walrus Audio introduced us to their line of Mako Series pedals, and we were quite thrilled. What better way to follow up a delay effect than with a reverb, right? Today’s pedal, the R1 High-Fidelity Stereo Reverb, continues the high-end sound and functionality of the D1, with a slew of reverb choices that will suit just about anyone’s needs, and...
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Multi-effects tend to get a bad rap, unless they cost upwards of $1000 or more. There are some great ones out there that can be had on the cheap, and we’ve got one for you right here. The Valeton Dapper Indie Multi-Effect gives you access to FIVE different effects, a tuner, headphone connectivity and even a Cab Sim feature, all for less than the price of one boutique pedal. The effects modules on the Dapper Indie are Ambient...
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Multi-Effects pedals have really come a long way in the last 5 or so years, and the new stuff coming out just keeps getting better and more impressive. One of the newer ones is the unit we’re looking at today, the Poly Effects Digit Quad Delay Reverb. This crazy, wild and innovative box also boasts Filters, Cab Sims, Mixers, LFOs and Envelope Follower functionality, among others. An ambient creator’s dream pedal,...
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As impressive as their amps have always been, the crew at Orange have, especially in recent years, had a knack for conjuring up some fantastic effects pedals. The Orange Amps Bax Bangeetar Guitar Pre-EQ is a pedal, but is more of a machine masquerading as a pedal (and it has the girth to prove it). Not shy about its size or power, this mammoth boasts a unique and hugely versatile gain structure with extensive EQ controls. You can dial...
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We decided we’d shake things up a bit here at Pedal of the Day today, and bring you a piece of gear that isn’t a pedal at all. The Asphalt TAR-20G is a miniature guitar amplifier from our friends at Valeton, and we’re going to take you through how it works, and can enhance your tone. Small and light but mighty and boasting some nice options, let’s check out this nifty little amp, shall we? Compact and not heavy...
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Last year, we had the chance to review/demo a new pedal from Orange Amps, the Two Stroke, a versatile clean boost/EQ with a ton of options. We couldn’t wait to see what they came out with next, and today we get to head down that road once more. The Getaway Driver is an overdrive pedal that is also versatile, with a load of sounds, output choices and classic rock and roll tones. When you first look at the Getaway Driver, you see...
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Today, we have a fairly rare effects unit for you all to enjoy. Though mainly focused on digital music production and hardware, Akai Professional has dipped into the world of pedals here and again (we love their HeadRush Delay/Echo/Looper), and one of those is our pedal of the day. The Analog Custom Shop Phase Shifter conjures up shades of classic phasing and modulation, while giving you a unique approach to how the effect is...
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The pedal creations that come from Supercool Pedals are always great-looking, great-sounding and creative, all the things you want from an effects unit. Today, we’ve got their latest release, a take on a classic, but with their signature Supercool spin on it. The Barstow Bat Distortion is reminiscent of a certain small, black box from the 80’s, with a couple twists and turns to bring a vintage circuit into the modern...
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Although we don’t review bass pedals around here a lot, I always love when they come through, as it forces me to step out of my usual zone and work on something I should be putting more effort into on a regular basis. Today’s pedal, the Trondheim Audio Devices SkarBassOne Analog Bass Compressor EQ Overdrive, wraps three pedals into one, giving you a perfect tone shaper with a little bit of bite if you need it. You can tell...
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Loopers have got to be one of the funnest musical inventions ever made…for guitarists, at least. You can lose yourself for many hours crafting new sounds, writing licks, melodies and even full songs in one sitting. Today’s pedal, the TC Electronic Ditto X2 Stereo Looper, gives you up to FIVE MINUTES of record time, along with unlimited overdubs, new effects and functionality and more… Grab a Ditto X2 Looper from...
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Delay pedals are the greatest, and when there are basically three of the finest echo sounds ever created crammed into one single enclosure, you can’t help but get excited. That is exactly the case with today’s pedal, the newly released Flight Delay from our friends at JHS Pedals. Combining three wonderful delay circuit choices with a robust but uncomplicated control section, this is an easy effect to use, and to create...
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My buddy Anthony from Marla Amplification gave me a huge bag of pedals to check out, and one of the many gems I discovered inside was the Dunn Effects Deceiver Distortion. Now, I can’t hardly find out squat about this pedal on the interwebs, so it must be really rare, or a one-off, or discontinued or something…either way, it looks slick and sounds amazing. Let’s jump in and see what this familiar-ish layout has to...
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Old, vintage, not really talked about effects pedals are usually some of the coolest, and today we’ve got one for you all that I had NEVER heard anyone talk about. A fellow drummer friend of mine had it laying around at his studio, and I took it home, plugged it in and was WOWED. This Morley MOD-DDB Deluxe Distortion looks like it has been through the ringer and back, and both the sound it produces and the beat-up aesthetic make...
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I’m extremely honored to once again be a part of the 3rd annual effects pedal release from Electric Love, whose sole purpose is to aid research to help find a cure for Breast Cancer. The pedals created by Ben Carlin have a different design, feel, look and tone every year, and the model for 2024 is simply amazing. This one features a collaboration with another of my favorite pedal companies, too, letting you create unique and...
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Although it’s a pretty rare treat, it’s always fun to have a piece of gear from Analog Man (or is it AnalogMan?) come through the shop, and we’ve got an incredible effects unit for you from them today. The Block Logo Envelope Filter provides you with the perfect amount of funk to get down and dirty, or send you off into Garcia-esque jams filled with estimated prophets, mountain fire and a street that’s sure to...
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We’re back with another fine piece of gear from our friends at TC Electronic today, and since it’s a Delay pedal, we’re extra excited, as usual. The Flashback 2 Delay & Looper packs TC’s entire delay legacy into a single compact and affordable stompbox that’s designed for now – and the future. Featuring groundbreaking technology, new algorithms and THREE total TonePrints, this soon-to-be legendary...
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There’s just something special about plugging in a good distortion pedal and just cranking it to the max, right? Today’s pedal lets you do that, and so much more, with a wide range of gain tones and an EQ section to fit any rig perfectly. We love the pedals we’ve seen from Humanoid FX in the past, and we’re excited to bring you their Apparition High Gain Turbo Distortion today… The Humanoid Pedals...
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The first two pedals we checked out from SviSound (several years ago), the SiMosFuzz and the Germanium Mini, both leaned towards the Fuzz side of things. Today’s pedal, the DistoZoid-3EQ Distortion, brings a different sort of sonic palette to the table. Five simple knobs create a recipe for amp and eardrum destruction – come along as we explore this beastly, sci-fi-looking, pedalboard-friendly creation… The DistoZoid...
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Pedal of the Day, Marla Amplification and countless other people and businesses here in the Asheville, NC area (and elsewhere) have been greatly affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene – if you’re able, please consider making a donation, or volunteering, or asking people affected by this tragedy if they need any kind of help. Every little bit helps, and any effort to help heal and rebuild is much appreciated...
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I’m always excited to take a look at effects pedals from another new (to me, anyway) company, and that’s what we’re doing once again today. Hailing from Austin, Texas, Blank Electronics has a passion for audio electronics, mostly amplifiers and effects pedals, sharing their hobby with those interested in fun and sometimes wonky effects. The first pedal of theirs we’re looking at is the massive Wizard Sleeve...
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The Arboretum Stereo Tremolo from our new friends at Diffractor Soundings was one of the best pedals we’ve seen in a hot minute when it came to us a couple weeks ago, and we couldn’t wait for more from these guys. Luckily, their latest release is upon us just like that – come along as we explore the incredible Chromatic Journey Stereo Analog Phaser. Just like its predecessor, this big box has more knobs and switches...
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Many moons ago, we had the opportunity to check out a revolutionary Boost/Overdrive pedal from Massive Unity Ltd. called the Dirty Boy T.A.E. Preamp. Today, Dirty Boy is its own company, owned by our pal Danny Gomez, and we’re going to take a look at their latest, simply called the Preamp. With not as many bells and whistles as its predecessor, this one has a simple control section, a few output options and a ton of gorgeous...
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We love checking out anything local, and are excited to bring you all the first design from our new friends at Marla Amplification here in beautiful Asheville, NC. The S10V Limited Edition Run 11W Guitar Amp has just a couple of controls on the front panel, but there is a lot to discover within this gorgeous-sounding circuitry. Mixing modern and classic tones alike, to create a wonderful musical stew, we think you’ll all dig...
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A good overdrive is always a welcome sight, or sound, and when it’s a collaboration with a great guitarist, that can make it even cooler. Today’s pedal comes from our friends at TC Electronic, in the form of the MojoMojo Paul Gilbert Edition Overdrive. Building on the MojoMojo circuit, with some twists an turn via Paul, this versatile yet simplistic effects unit is easy to dial in and sounds just fantastic… Grab a...
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The Verdugo Series of pedals from NUX have been some of our favorites over the years, and we’ve got our EIGHTH one for you today. The NDO-5 Ace of Tone Dual Overdrive has 2 channels, with each one harnessing the auditory glory of a classic overdriven circuit, with NUX’s special spin on it. Easy controls, lots of routing and bypass options and incredible tone are what you find here – let’s dive in and see what...
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We love it when a new UAFX creation gets released from our friends at Universal Audio, and we’re stoked to help release their latest one today. The UAFX ANTI 1992 High Gain Amp is a Stereo amp and cab emulation pedal with six famous mic/speaker pairs, built-in boosts, live and preset modes, and customization with the UAFX mobile app. This crimson gem gives you ALL the heavy tones you’re after, in one place, with tons of...
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It’s NEW JHS PEDALS DAY here at Pedal of the Day once again, and we’re checking out their latest original circuit offering. 8 years in development, the Hard Drive Modern Distortion instantly transforms your sound into the heavy, amp-crushing tone you’ve probably been searching for years for. A simple but effective control section lets you dial in the perfect sound for any rig…let’s jump right in and see...
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Being able to control all aspects of your sound on stage is a key ingredient to a good gig, and the more options you can utilize, the better. Today’s pedal doesn’t create any cool effects or distort your favorite amp, but it is an important piece to any musical puzzle. The Cloudvocal EverSync is an in-ear monitor system, one which allows multiple users and routing options in a pedalboard-friendly size. Often times, we...
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Today we’re checking out the fourth Adam Adventure Series pedal from ALABS Audio, after already having been impressed by their Orbital Stereo Pitch Shifter, NovaDrift Stereo Modulation and TimeSlip Stereo Delay effects. The CETUS Stereo Reverb features nine modes of glorious reverberation, along with some fun built-in options that will shape and sculpt your tone like never before… Grab a CETUS Reverb from Amazon –...
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Well, well, it’s Keeley Electronics time once again! We’ve been checking out a bunch of their gear recently, and today we’re going back a little ways to check out the Dyno My Roto. Aside from the awesome name, this pedal is a 3-in-1 modulation machine offering some classic sounds in a pedalboard-friendly little package. From tone-shaping chorus to vintage rotary speaker emulations to out-of-this-world flanging, this...
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It’s always exciting diving into pedals from a company you’ve never worked with before, but when those pedals are a collaboration with one of your guitar heroes, that makes it just a bit more special. Today, we’re looking at the By-Tor Overdrive Boost from Lerxst Amplification, which pairs MojoTone with Mr. Alex Lifeson of the prog-rock band Rush. Seeking to exact his specific sounds on amps, cabs and now pedals,...
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Today’s slice of gear doesn’t really make your signal distort, or repeat, or sound extra modulated or weird, but it is an important piece of your sonic puzzle. The B-8 Professional Wireless System from NUX lets you roam freely around the studio, stage or practice spot without losing any signal strength. It also has a couple additions and tricks up its sleeve that we need to talk about, so let’s get right to it…...
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The Ampero line of multi effects processors and modelers has always been a joy to review and demo, and we’re stoked to be back at it again today. The latest creation from our friends at Hotone comes in the form of the Ampero II Stage Amp Modeler / Effects Processor, the newest in this series, and I’m pretty sure the most powerful yet. It’s a true wonder how they pack all of the amps, cabs, effects, routing, parameter...
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Multi-effects are never boring, let’s face it – usually loaded with a bunch of different effects and fun presets to explore, you can get lost pretty easily in one of these types of machines. That is an giant understatement when talking about today’s pedal, the ENDORPHIN.ES GHOST Stereo Effects Processor. A collaboration with YouTuber and musical explorer Andrew Huang, this silver gem takes effects, signals, routing,...
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The entire lineup of UAFX pedals from Universal Audio is amazing, let’s just be honest. With each new release, there’s another options-filled gem that gets our creativity flowing and takes our musical thinking and approach up a notch. Today’s pedal, the Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp, shifts things from a modulation/delay/reverb vibe to some classic amp-pushing, overdriven sounds from decades past… Grab a Lion...
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We’re switching things up a little bit today, bring you some amplifier flavor from an excellent local North Carolina company. Come along as we take a look at not one but TWO amazing amps from Port City Amplification: the 30W Grandville Rhett Shull Signature and the 20W Merino Combo. Our pal Carl Perkins was kind enough to lend both of these amps and a killer cabinet to us to check out, and we fell in love instantly with these...
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