The first iteration of the Automatone pedals from Chase Bliss Audio, the Preamp MkII, was one of the most innovative and exciting pedals the world has seen. Upping their game, as they always seem to do, CBA have just released their 2nd flying-fader-infused sonic marvel, the CXM 1978 Automatone Reverb. Reaching back to a glorious year for reverb, 1978 produced massive trails, infinite decays, hifi/lofi re-imaginings and gorgeous sonic...
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The new DCP Series of pedals from our friends at Caline are all Dual Effects, featuring two of your favorite Caline pedals in one enclosure. With the effects ranging from overdrive to EQ to distortion to compression to fuzz and more, there’s something in this lineup for everyone. Today, we’re going to take a look at the DCP-02 Brutus Distortion Overdrive, a powerful dual-dirt combo that packs a punch and adds to your tone....
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The craziness that comes out in pedal form from the folks at FTelettronica Pedals is equalled by NONE. Creating a seemingly endless string of quirky machine after quirky machine, their lineup is BIG and the pedals are RAD. Today, we’re going to look at their Hypoxia, an experimental Analog Chorus pedal that’s modulated by variable shape LFO. Always a good time with these pedals…. There are SIX controls on the...
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We see a LOT of fuzz/distortion pedals here at Pedal of the Day, and they’re all, let’s be honest, pretty rad. Sometimes, a pedal comes along that, even at first glance, you can tell it’s gonna be something special, and that’s what we’ve got for you today. The Radio Mule Red Petal Fuzz looks sleek, has a wide tonal range and sounds great. Yep. It. Does. With just 2 knobs and one switch, it doesn’t...
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A good distortion pedal is pretty hard to beat, but one that reinvents itself and puts a unique spin on the entire genre? Sign us up! Today’s pedal, the Element 119 Distortion from Interchange Noise Works, does exactly that, as it creates a new kind of clipping to form a truly unique dirt pedal. From light overdrive to doom-y fuzz, this one’s got it all… Let’s get right to the meat and potatoes of this one, and...
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We recently received a big shipment of pedals all the way from Australia, from our friends at Mozztronics, and we’re going to check out Pedal #1 today. The HW-1 wHo WATT is based on a British amp from the 60’s used by The Who guitarist Pete Townshend, making it not a dirt pedal as such, but more of an emulation of this classic amp. Big and loud and awesome, this is one incredible Amp-In-A-Box… To do full justice to the...
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Today’s pedal once again falls into the “awesome and affordable” category, as we investigate the Valeton Coal Echo II Digital Modeling Delay. This little gem pack 16 high-quality delay effects into a super-small enclosure, using an advanced 24-bit digital platform to give you better sound, lower noise and some new functionality. This one sounds great, and for under $75, it’s a hard deal to pass up… Mix,...
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Our first venture into the world of products from Flamma was their Ekoverb Stereo Reverb Delay, and it was an immensely impressive effect, especially considering the low price it carries. Today, we’re continuing down the path of their pedal lineup with the FS02 Stereo Reverb. This one crams SEVEN differing styles into one sturdy, metal enclosure, opening up some massive sonic possibilities. The various reverb effects found in...
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Happy Thanksgiving Week, all! Today’s pedal is not only a badass fuzz, but we’re also giving it away as a part of our MOVEMBER campaign. If you don’t know, Movember raises money and awareness for Men’s Health, suicide prevention and prostate cancer. The Pedal of the Day Team has been growing moustaches and raising money all month long – there’s still time to donate and enter to win this great...
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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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The Fuzz Face is one of the most iconic fuzz, if not all-time, pedals in existence. Utilized smartly by the likes of Hendrix, Gilmour, SRV, Duane Allman and many more, it has a defining quality that has been heard on countless recordings. While the originals are not the easiest to find, or keep in perfect working order, we have pedals like today’s that allow us peasant-folk to experience the sonic sounds of the masters. The...
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Continuing on this Boost-happy weekend (check out the Bad Penny FX Smoothflow from yeaterday), we’ve got a PAIR of pedals to show off today. Coming to us from R2R Electric, these One and Two Knob Treble Boosters each offer gorgeous components inside, as well as amp-driving bliss for your eardrums. Let’s check out the features for each of these sonic marvels: One-Knob Mullard AC107 Germanium Transistor NOS Piher 10K...
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What’s the one pedal that everyone should probably have on their board, but one that gets often overlooked for something fancier that makes wacky noises? BOOST. THat’s right, friends, a BOOST pedal. When used correctly, it just enhances everything around it, giving you a more solid core tone to use other pedals with. Today’s featured effect is a boost, but it’s also a DOUBLE channel pedal, and maybe it’s...
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We’re headed into Gear of the Day territory today, boys and girls, although don’t fret, for pedals will definitely make their appearance. The Gizmotron 2.0 is a patented mechanical bowing device that attaches to electric guitar or bass, enabling players to produce string sounds such as cello, viola or violin, creating endless sustain, haunting drones or bow polyphonic chord arrangements. It is an effect that entices...
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Hey Sef – it’s been a couple years since we spoke, what have you been up to? Hi Mike! First of all, I’m happy and grateful to chat with you! Yes, it’s been a while. The last interview we did was in 2017! A lot of things happened since then! My bandmates and I went to Tangier, Morocco to work on Alex (Your Favorite Enemies’ frontman) solo project, we went all across Europe to perform his album “Windows in the Sky”, I started my...
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The Ibanez 10 Series is a classic collection, featuring some of the most celebrated (and perhaps underrated) pedals in history. Today’s featured effect recreates on of these vintage beauties, adding in a couple extras while retaining some ket sonic elements. The Danelectro Roebuck Overdrive Distortion is a take on the MT10 Mostortion, a Japanese-made MOSFET distortion pedal originating in the 1990’s. Found, perhaps...
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Tape echo delay units have been heard on classic recordings for decades, on albums from artists like Pink Floyd, Miles Davis, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Hawkwind, Chet Atkins, Eric Johnson, the late great Eddie Van Halen and many, many more. The old units, while possessing some secret ingredients and mojo, lend themselves to malfunctions, upkeep, unavailable replacement parts and general unreliability…but no more. Today...
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We have never reviewed a bad pedal from our friends at Fairfield Circuitry, and luckily that trend is going to continue today. The Long Life Parametric EQ is an extremely unique effects pedal, one that’s sometimes hard to categorize. A filter effect with wide range and application, this versatile machine combines tilt and notch/boost equalization around a 2nd-order state-variable core. In short, it’s a one-band parametric...
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We’ve got a first today, for us and possibly for you as well. 3D printing has become all the rage over the last couple of years, but we’ve never seen it implemented in pedal form…until now. Ladies and gents, the VVco Pedals 3D Pickle Fuzz utilizes this inventive form of production to create a one-knob fuzz pedal, a no-frills effect that’s sure to stir up some conversation…. There’s not a lot to say...
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Y’all know the band Red Fang? Well, if ya don’t, ya should. A mix of punk, metal, thrash and sludge, they’ve been tearing up venues around the world since their inception in 2005 (we used to love seeing them at the Neurolux in Boise). As this Covid-19 pandemic has hit us all, musical acts are one of the most affected, and today’s pedal gives a little back to one of our favorites. The Hilbish Design Red Fang...
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Ambient pedals are all the rage at the moment, and have been for some time. Today’s pedals takes that ambience and builds on it with octaves, filters, delays and more, for a wide-ranging spectrum of sounds. The Paradox Effects Obsidiana Octave Layering Engine will transform your tone, enlighten your mind and open the doors of perception to let you explore new worlds…. The Obsidiana is a multi-voice, polyphonic octave...
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The innovative pedals coming out of the FTelettronica camp are impressive, unique and always full of options, just the way we like ’em. After reviewing their Schumann PLL Analog Harmonizer and Zero-Sum Game Fuzz Filter, we were stoked to check out some more of their gear, and we’ve got the first one of the bunch for you today. The FTelettronica Pedals Sonic Dream Analog Delay is an echo machine, yes, but so much more. With...
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So many overdrive/distortion pedals….so little time. But what separates a GOOD one from a GREAT one? Well, therein lies the age old question, right? For us, it’s always been about the FEEL you get, as soon as you plug a pedal in, before you have time to dissect and scrutinize every little aspect of the build and sound….when you know, you know. Your amp comes alive, a big grin washes over your face and, for a moment,...
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We recently had the privilege to review and demo the Unit67 Boost EQ Compressor from DryBell, a wonderfully versatile addition to any rig or recording setup. As if knowing that an equally intelligent and option-filled dirt pedal would be the perfect effect to pair with the Unit67, they decided to release The Engine Foundation Preamp. A highly versatile and fully analog pedal, it features distinct voicing that has been inspired by...
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Loopers and Drum Machines are both pretty fun pieces of gear, we can all agree on that, right? But what happens when you COMBINE these two effects into one pedal, AND it costs around 100 bucks? Well, then you’d be using the Joyo R-06 O.M.B Looper + Drum Machine, a powerfully fun and useful effect that has a ton of possibilities, and the sky’s the limit…. The O.M.B features the LOOPER cycle recording mode, independent...
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A good boost can add sparkle, shine, nuance and gusto to any tone, and we’re thrilled to have yet another one in the house today. The Teisco Boost looks like another simple boost, but once you realize all the options, bells and whistles its got, you’ll need to add it to your sonic arsenal instantly. Whether you need a tone-enhancing buffer or extra ‘oomph’ for your drives and amps, this one covers it all. Just like the...
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We love to discover and help promote up-and-coming effects companies at Pedal of the Day, and we’ve got another relative newcomer for you guys today. The Cooltone Pedals Echoverb Delay is a simple but tone-enhancing digital delay that is an excellent starting point to either dialing in a little sparkle to your tone, or adding a bunch of echo to it. Bright yellow in color and producing bright and shining delay repeats, this is...
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Today, we’ve got an ancient piece of gear that we ran through a bunch of different effects, and it was one of the funnest experiences we’ve had here in the office. The Library of Congress started building their own cassette players for handicapped people from the 1960’s until the late 2000’s. These cassette players are known for their complete control of cassette tapes that other cassette players just...
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Happy Halloween!! Though it might be a little different this year with the Covid, we hope you get dressed up and celebrate safely anyway! Today’s holiday pedal is sure to inspire some spooky, ambient and potentially frightening sounds, for sure. The Flamma FS22 Ekoverb Stereo Reverb Delay combines our two favorite effects into one solid enclosure, then gives you 3 different modes and a boatload of parameters to work with to...
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Today’s pedal gets us into some spooky low-end territory, and is as unique an octave pedal as we’ve ever come across. The OPFXS Dig Deep Sub-Harmonic Generator works on just the lower three strings of your guitar, leaving the higher strings untouched and clean. This lets you add in some heavy bass notes, and with all of the options available, you can dial it in perfectly to your rig. It looks like a simple pedal, but trust...
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There have been a lot of Tone Bender-ish pedals coming through the shop as of late, and we couldn’t be happier about it. We’ve got another one for you today, this time coming from our friends at Animals Pedal. The Sunday Afternoon Is Infinity Bender, despite having a wildly long and potentially confusing moniker, is a fairly simple and straightforward fuzz. That said, there’s still plenty here to investigate. Another...
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FACT: everything sounds better in Stereo, especially when you’re running some sick delay and reverb through your signal chain. Mono works great, don’t get us wrong, and not everyone is a fan of the stereo setup. But we are. Immensely, and today’s pedal shows us exactly why. The CKK Electronic Space Station TTM Stereo Delay Reverb easily creates ethereal space effects and inspires creativity – let’s see...
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A good, loud, ripping fuzz is the perfect way to get the weekend going, and we’ve got a great one for you guys today. Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to check out the majority of the lineup from our friends at Vick Audio, including one of the first pedals we ever reviewed, the Fuzz Box, as well as the Violet Ram’s Head, V1 Triangle and 1861 fuzzes. Continuing that tradition, we present the Black Russian Fuzz....
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One knob pedals: let’s face it, they’re not usually the new releases everyone is clamoring for on the Interwebs. Not to say that they don’t serve a very important purpose – who doesn’t love a great boost to push their amp, or a killer phaser to add in some modulation to their sound? Just sayin’ that these days, the machines with all the lights and bells and whistles and bleeps and bloops seem to...
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Almost FIVE years ago, we were fortunate enough to be able to review and demo the Keeley Electronics Neutrino Envelope Filter, a wonderful little box chock full of funk. It was one of our, and many other players’ favorite filters EVER, but Robert and the Keeley crew didn’t think it was grand enough. Therefore, we get to check out the Neutrino once again, only in a new, Version 2 form. On the surface, the Neutrino V2 is...
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Preamps, in our mind, are an essential piece of gear for any really great-sounding rig. Usually placed fairly early in your signal chain, it drives the front end of your amp into blissful breakup territory….but what if it was placed at the END of your signal chain? Introducing the Night Owl Industries Monolith, a Post-Amp. This custom-voiced clean boost features very high headroom and a powerful tone control. The increased...
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Having an EQ, a Boost and a Compressor in your signal chain are key ingredients for a lot of guitar players, and we tend to agree. Most times, however, these effects have to come from three separate sources, taking up a lot of real estate on your board, and having you tap dancing around like a maniac to get even a core sound correct. Well, those days just might be over. Today, we’re checking out the marvelous DryBell Unit67 EQ...
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Although we’ve never had the pleasure of testing out an old Binson Echorec, Roland Space Echo or Maestro Echoplex, we sure love a good tape delay sound. Those machines, while classic and heard on thousands of incredible recordings, are now decades and decades old. This leads to a ton of maintenance, know-how and upkeep, and that’s if you actually KNOW what you’re doing. They can fail at any moment, usually requiring...
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Our first foray into the world of Matthews Effects is a good one – today, we’re checking out the Astronomer V2 Celestial Reverb. If the name itself doesn’t intrigue you, maybe you just don’t like reverb. If it does, you’re in for a real treat, as this thing launches you into outer space and back again in seconds flat. Made up of two channels, each assignable with one of three different algorithms,...
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Y’all know how much we love delays around here, right? All shapes and sizes, all price points and all ranges of options are more than welcome: always have been, always will be. Therefore, it was a no-brainer to give the Joyo R-10 Nascar Analog Delay a go, and we’re sure glad we did. This simplistic delay produces some beautiful tones, and will have you playing with a smile on your face within seconds of plugging it in....
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Friends….today’s pedal is like no other we’ve experienced, or that you have, either. The crew at Analog Music Company took a nice, pretty, normal Boss DS-1 Distortion, threw it on Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory table and created, well, a new kind of monster. The Evil Pumpkin is really, really difficult to describe, as we’re not quite sure what most of the switches its littered with actually do. Therefore,...
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We love to run a rig in stereo. I mean, who wouldn’t? Especially since we love Delay so much, and a stereo amp setup brings out the best in any good 2-output delay pedal. That said, it seems that modulation takes the majority of the cake when it comes to stereo effects, and today we’ve finally broken through that mold. The Dunable Splatterblaster Stereo Fuzz Distortion finally lets you run 2 different channels of dirt to 2...
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A good overdrive can put an instant smile on your face, as soon as you click that bypass switch. Your amp comes alive, you’re most definitely a better player all of a sudden and the teenage goal of becoming a full-fledged rock star doesn’t seem so far off. We got those kinds of feelings plugging into today’s pedal, the TEFI Vintage Lab Maccheroni Bros MKII Overdrive. A dual channel dirt pedal, this one will cover a...
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Any kind of pedals that push boundaries and make us think a little differently are always welcome here at Pedal of the Day. Forcing us to approach how we think about and create music helps keep it all fresh and in perspective, and that’s exactly what today’s piece of gear does. The Fairfield Circuitry Hors d’Oeuvre? Active Feedback Loop lets you put together as many of your favorites pedals as you’d like, then...
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Let’s face the facts: a lot of pedals, aside perhaps from the graphics, look really, really similar. They’re usually in some form of rectangle, either vertical or horizontal, with slightly varying sizes, but all in the same general layout category. So when we get an effects unit in that is completely different, original and unique, and sounds incredible as well, we get pretty damn excited. Let us present to you the Neon...
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The Julia from Walrus Audio has become one of the true go-to chorus and vibrato effects pedals since its release a couple of years back. As powerful and accessible as it is, there were a couple of options that the pedal community longed for, and their requests have finally been answered. The all new Julianna Deluxe Chorus Vibrato adds a number of features to an already incredible design, making this the new front-runner for Modulation...
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What can you say about one-knob boost pedals? They’re not super flashy, no one really anticipates the “hot new release” of a simple booster, and there are lots of players who have never even used one in their rigs. Well, they’re important, and they add a tone and sound to your setup that just can’t be achieved with any other kind of pedal. Overdrive? No. Preamp? Close, but also no. Today’s pedal is...
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The effects released into the wild from Hungry Robot Pedals have been experimental in nature, to say the least, to the delight of just about anyone who plays them. Delay, Fuzz, Modulation, Overdrive….they do it all. Today, we’re continuing to try and tame another one of their creations, the Wardenclyffe. A lofi ambient modulator, this particular version features a White Noise modification, which we’ll get to in a...
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So far, we’ve had the pleasure of checking out the Fabrikat and the Draume pedals from the crew at Pladask Elektrisk. Full of inspiring character and bold sonic statements, these pedals are a real revolution in the effects world. That’s why we had to have more, and that’s why we’ve got another one for you today. The Tåken is an asynchronous dual-head delay with random modulation and a powerful...
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There’s something about a really good phaser that makes your entire rig seem to just com alive. Alright, phaser-haters, just move right along to the next review. For the rest of us sane-folk, we’re here today to discuss the classic Phase 45 Vintage Script Phaser – the one from the 1970’s, mind you, not the Dunlop reissue, in case you were wondering. This true piece of phaser history only features one knob,...
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