Let’s be honest: ring modulators are just not for everyone. However, for those of us that love innovation, chaotic noise and aggressively distorted sounds, you can’t go wrong when in this genre of effects. The original Gonkulator from DOD was released in the 90’s, and has become somewhat of a cultish, sought-after pedal, which usually leads to becoming overpriced and difficult to obtain. Luckily, for a little while...
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If you haven’t noticed by now, we like delay pedals here…a lot. Needless to say, we were pretty stoked to hear about the release of the Rubberneck Analog Delay from DOD / DigiTech, and were finally able to get our hands on one to review and demo for you. Let’s just say this machine has a cool retro vibe, with echo sounds spanning decades, and more options in an analog delay pedal than we may have ever seen. Buckle...
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There are a group of pedals from DOD, manufactured decades ago that have been making a resurgence as of late, and we’ve got one of ’em for you today. The 490 Phasor doesn’t have a ton of information on it, but we have narrowed the production date down to around 1978 (we think), making it a vintage classic that features some wild tones that ooze out of this effect. Can’t get much simpler than two knobs, but...
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There was a period of time in the early-mid ’90’s where DOD was putting out some really experimental effects, and we were able to track one of them down for today’s featured pedal. The DFX94 is a digital delay, but it’s also a sampler as well, and boasts a full FOUR SECONDS of delay time, which was pretty unheard of at the time it was introduced, and is still pretty lengthy even by today’s modern...
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FUNK. You may dig it, you may not, but no one can deny the effects it has had on pretty much all genres of music, and musicians from said genres as well. One of the key tools in this head-bobbing odyssey of slap bass and synth-ish bliss is the beloved Envelope Filter effect, made popular by a list of artists too long to name at the moment (just Google it, k?). One of the most revered of these filters is the classic 440 from DOD, who...
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There’s been a streak recently here at Pedal of the Day where we’ve been able to test and review some awesome old analog delay pedals, and today we bring you yet another gem in this prestigious list of warm and warbly delays of old. This 680 Analog Delay from DOD dates to late 1980, and has had a bunch of updates, upgrades and improvements done to it recently, making it sound like it did right off the shelf more than 35...
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Flanging can be an excellent effect when used right, and can really ruin a tone or song when used wrong. In general, most flangers I’ve come across have been fairly complex machines, often requiring lots of manual reading and experimentation. The FX747 Supersonic Stereo Flange pedal from DOD, made from 1996-1998, features 4 simple knobs, and is as easy to dial in a great sound as it is fun to experiment with. One thing...
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With so many new effects with so many functions and big learning curves, it’s nice to come across an older pedal that has a couple simple knobs and sounds just fantastic, without having a bunch of bells and whistles. Today’s featured pedal, the FX96 Echo FX Analog Delay from DOD was produced way back in the ancient year of 1997, and was billed as a modern improvement on classic tape echo machines like the Binson Echorec...
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We’re super excited for today’s complete PEDAL LINEUP: that’s right, we’re taking a look at ALL 5 newly released ROSS Electronics effects! In collaboration with Josh Scott and JHS Pedals, these five units bring back the flagship pedals (and one brand new creation) from a company responsible for some of the best vintage effects out there. Coming full circle and releasing this new group of effects, ROSS brings...
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We’ve got an oldie but a goodie for you all today, coming in the form of the Nebula Phaser from Mojo Hand FX. This subtle beauty first came to us way back in 2014, and over the years we’ve had 2 or three different versions, finally settling on this black sparkled model. This phaser pedal is not a clone of the famous 2-stage vintage phaser, but rather a phaser pedal created to be the most user-friendly form for modern...
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We love the way the folks at VVco Pedals incorporate great effects with nostalgic merch from past movies, TV shows and more, and we’re especially stoked about today’s featured pedal. The Dark Father Preamp is clearly representative of a certain Jedi-turned-Sith, and it sounds just as evil. Melding elements of overdrive, fuzz, distortion, EQ, boost and preamp, this multi-faceted effect is not only fun to look at, it sounds...
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Believe it or not, I have never owned, borrowed or even seen an actual DOD 250 Preamp pedal. I’ve used effects that were based on this legendary unit, but haven’t had to privilege to hold one in my hands and hear it in all its vintage glory. Needless to say, then, I was pretty excited about the release of the JHS Pedals Overdrive Preamp – although slightly different from the Gray Box version that everyone is used to,...
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A lot of overdrive pedals come through the office here. A LOT. As fun as they can be, and as good as they can sound, we like it when the circuits get crazy and offer some options we haven’t seen before. Such is the case with today’s Limited Edition pedal, the Spiral Electric FX Yellow Spiral LF351 Overdrive. With a rare opamp and 3 different texture settings, this one sounds different from any other drive we’ve come...
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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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THE RAT. Few distortion pedals have as much instant recognizability, despite (usually) just bearing the colors Black & White. There are many iterations of this classic effect, but how could you possibly collect them all without breaking the bank? Well, as usual, JHS Pedals comes to the rescue, in the form of the PackRat Distortion. Taking different RAT circuits from the last 4 decades, from different manufacturers, this pedal...
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ONE KNOB. ONE KNOB TO RULE THEM ALL… And so it goes for today’s pedal, the Calico Effects Pounce Preamp. The simplicity you might expect from a one-knob pedal, regardless of genre, can sometime be deceiving. Is that the case with this golden beauty? Let’s delve in and see what’s in store… The Pounce is NOT a transparent, clean, preamp booster…no siree Bob. Quite the opposite, in fact, it adds...
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The products created by the team at Mantic Effects are always wild, unpredictable and fairly awesome, let’s face it. From low-end powerhouses like the Beef Bag Subharmonic and the Thug Low End Boost to the tonal enhancements of the Proverb Reverb and Isaiah Delay to the heavy, dirty sounds of the Vitriol Distortion and the Flex TMR PLL Monophonic Synth Fuzz, they’ve got a lot of cool stuff to choose from. Sticking in the...
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We want the funk. Give up the funk. We need the funk. We gotta have that funk. Truer words have never been spoken, both in general and especially when in relation to today’s magnificently funky featured pedal. The Analogue Filter 442 from Mojo Hand FX brings SOOOO much funk to the table, yet utilizes only two control knobs, making it easy to dial in, yet complex in the amount of range you have for such a simple configuration....
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There are certain series of pedals that seem to really stand the test of time, and stand out themselves, as individuals and as a collective group. The 9 Series and Tone-Lok pedals from Ibanez. Mid-80’s Boss pedals. The late 70’s DOD bigboxes. And, the group we’re going to venture into today: the Hardwire Series from DigiTech. This 10 pedal series featured a wide range of genres to choose from, and today we want to...
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Patrick Garland Houston, Texas GARLAND FX garlandfx.bigcartel.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’m 33 years old, and started playing guitar at age 10 – so about 23 years. 20 on electric guitar. The first guitar I ever played was my mom’s Guild Madiera from 1970. My mom uses it for playing music to pre-schoolers – she’s quite talented and can play and sing. I also still...
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Joey Lewis Buffalo, NY Funktional Flow www.funktionalflow.com facebook.com/FunktionalFlowMusic youtube.com/user/funktionalflowmusic/videos How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? From what I can remember, a man in our neighborhood growing up gave an acoustic guitar to my older brother Justin and he quickly lost interest in it. That’s when I swooped in and nabbed it lol. But it was ok...
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Jamie Stillman Akron, OH EarthQuaker Devices www.earthquakerdevices.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’ve been a musician since I got my first drum set around 5. I didn’t pick up playing guitar until I was about 12. I’ve always been into music as long as I can remember. A couple of my uncles were musicians and taught me some basics and I just took it from there. Who have been some of...
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Johnny Hiland Nashville, TN http://www.johnnyhiland.net/ It is a sincere pleasure, and honor, to be doing this interview. I am a huge fan of Pedal of the Day, on Twitter, as I am truly a pedal nut. I just want everybody to know that you can find out anything you may want to know about me on my website, www.johnnyhiland.net. How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I have been a musician now for...
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It’s always a surprise when you open a box from EarthQuaker Devices, and in our experience, always a positive one. Today’s featured pedal is no different, and has actually vaulted to near the top of our list of their overdrive effects. The Gray Channel, based on the classic DOD 250 Preamp Overdrive, is a dual-channel dirt box with so many options it’s dizzying, and more tones than you can shake a guitar at. Clean,...
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Joe Anastasio San Marcos, Texas Lone Wolf Audio www.lonewolfaudio.bigcartel.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? Been messing around with guitar and bass for over 20 years, but only really got serious after high school when I bought a high end P bass. Then I started playing guitar shortly after, so I play both. Who have been some of your major musical influences, past or present? This is a...
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Jesse Aycock (Tulsa, OK) www.jesseaycock.com / www.facebook.com/jesseaycockband Hard Working Americans (everywhere USA) www.thehardworkingamericans.com Paul Benjaman Band (Tulsa, OK) www.paulbenjamanband.com / www.facebook.com/paulbenjamanband Lauren Barth (Tulsa, OK) www.laurenbarth.com / www.facebook.com/laurenbarthmusic How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I guess I’ve been a...
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Andy Greene Escape Plan Pedals http://www.escapeplanpedals.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’ve played music for pretty much my entire life. I got my first guitar, a miniature steel string acoustic, when I was 5. I learned simplified versions of most of the standard position major chords and a few minor chords and would try to put on concerts for my family. I really got interested in...
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I’m sure many of you have used a Tube Screamer or a TS-style circuit before. Have you ever said, “Man, I wish this TS-style pedal had an adjustable knob that controlled low mid frequencies and also had a toggle switch that added more gain when engaged! And can I get it in blue?” Well, you have specific wishes. And they have been answered with the Blue Note OD from J. Rockett Audio Designs. Let us start with the...
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Tone Factor is a great place to get great pedals, but did you know they used to BUILD them, too? This is one of their oldest (and best, IMO): The NEBULA Phaser. The circuit is loosely based on the Phase 45 / DOD 201 circuit, a 2-stage phaser that is more subtle than a 4-stage model. Lots of Uni-Vibe-type tones coming out of this little box, sitting more in the high-end and adding a liquidy texture and clarity to your tone. Simple...
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Before we get ahead of ourselves, let me just brief you on all things ‘vibey’. The Uni-Vibe as used by Hendrix (listen to ‘Machine Gun’), Robin Trower, Stevie Ray and a host of other guitarists is at its heart, a phaser pedal. It uses a different approach than your basic phase 90 type pedal to get its sound such as transistors instead of op-amps and a lamp and LDR’s (light dependant resistors) to control...
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