Well, it’s that time again: we get to check out another incredible, studio-quality compressor in a pedal from our friends over at FEA Labs. We’ve been privileged to peruse the DB-CL Dual Band Compressor Limiter and the DE-CL Dual Engine Compressor Limiter (as well as the killer Photon Fuzz II), and today we get to investigate the Opti-FET Compressor. This effect was designed with both audiophile and studio quality features...
Read More
If you dig effects pedals, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve heard, seen and/or played something from Mantic Effects. If you have ears, there’s also a good chance you’ve come across an artist named Jack White….many, many times, some probably without you even knowing it. Jack’s record label Third Man Records and Mantic have teamed up for today’s featured pedal, the Flex TMR PLL Monophonic...
Read More
“Wait a minute, Doc. Ah…are you telling me you built a time machine…out of a DeLorean?” Thus begins one of the greatest time-travel adventures ever to be created for the big screen, Back to the Future. Not only is this a personal favorite here at Pedal of the Day, but to millions of movie-goers across the globe. You may be asking yourself, “Why is a pedal review talking about a 30+ year-old movie starring...
Read More
A few years back, we reviewed and demoed a pedal called the DynaMorph™, a crazy fuzz-filter-synth thing that blew our minds, from the creators over at Totally Wycked Audio (TWA) and Godlyke Distributing Inc. Recently, they’ve released another effect along the same lines, a younger brother, per se, to the DynaMorph™ – today, we’d like to explore the MM-01 MiniMorph™ Dynamic Waveshaper with you. An envelope-dependent...
Read More
Ask anyone who loves pedals about some of the most innovative effects to come out in the last couple years, and you’ll hear the name Meris time and time again. Continually innovating the industry with their option-laden, size-friendly and sonically adventurous pedals, they always seem to be at the forefront of the conversation. We’re gearing up to take a look at their latest today, a quirky, pitch-shifting delay pedal...
Read More
The 10 Series of effects pedal from Ibanez (also called the “Power Series”), created in the 80’s, features some of the most underrated and loved pedals of all time. We’re going to talk about one of these 10 effects that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough: the MT10 Mostortion. This mosfet drive has become pretty rare, and when you can find one, they’re fairly spendy, which is perhaps why...
Read More
WE LOVE PHISH. Said it, not sorry, deal. Now that you know that, know this: we were SUPER excited to have a Helping Friendly Box Overdrive Compressor from Hochstrasser Electronics appear on our doorstep, and here’s why. This particular pedal harkens after the setup that Trey Anastasio from Phish used for many years (and still does occasionally), where two differently-gained Tubescreamers were followed by the famous Ross...
Read More
While we’ve heard about the ODR-1 Overdrive from Nobels for years now, it’s not the most widely-known drive out there, but is apparently a staple of the Nashville sound, and has been for a while. This green beast falls into an overdrive category somewhere between the Klon and the Tube Screamer, with similar controls, but a voice all its own. Recently, the Nobels crew released the ODR-Mini, a smaller version of this classic...
Read More
Do we like Modulation effects here at Pedal of the Day? Yes. What about Delay? Check. Reverb? Of course. What about all of them in one pedal, one that fits into the palm of your hand and costs less than 100 bucks? Sign us up!! Today’s pedal is all of these things and more – the CRL-1 Coral Modulation Delay Reverb from Valeton is small, affordable and boasts a slew of sounds you might not expect would fit into an enclosure...
Read More
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...
Read More
When we started doing our YouTube series “The Klone Wars”, we had a number of klones on our list that we wanted to include, and today’s pedals was one of those. The Gladiator Overdrive from AD Pedals is based on that certain mystical pedal that few of us can afford, but with a little more grit and dirt to it. Get ready to get shot down in a blaze of glory with this one, people – it’s a rocker! The range...
Read More
Here’s the rub: we really dig us some pedals from Adventure Audio. If for nothing else than being rabid Stranger Things fans, the Demogorgon Fuzz Tremolo Reverb was one of our favorite pedals pretty much EVER, and the Dream Reaper Fuzz Mod Machine was no slouch itself. That said, we were of course super-stoked to check out the Glacial Zenith II, an overdrive, EQ and boost all wrapped into one pedal, with a myriad of order and...
Read More
Sometimes, pedals come through our office that are fairly loud. Sometimes, we get pedals that are REALLY loud. Today’s pedal might just be the loudest one we’ve ever encountered, and let us tell you, loud doesn’t even really begin to describe it. The Black Drone Wasp from Jext Telez is an absolute monster of a fuzz, and, while it can get extremely high in the volume department, it never gets shrill or too...
Read More
It’s a real treat to stumble across and discover new pedal companies that might not be in the major spotlight, as we love to review and demo effects from a wide spectrum. The little guys are making some incredible effects pedals, and we’ve got another builder today to showcase that flies under the radar, but has some great gear to offer. The Sunn Model T Overdrive from Kenny B Pedals in Winnipeg, Canada, is based on the...
Read More
We’ve always loved the simplicity of the majority of lineup from Henretta Engineering, but were pretty excited for today’s 2-in-1 pedal. In collaboration with Chicago Music Exchange, the Lake Effect combines Henretta’s Bluebird Fuzz and Crimson Tremolo into one enclosure, and adds a couple of options as well. Taking two great effects and smashing them into one box is usually a pretty great plan, and this one was...
Read More
If you’ve had the chance to check out our series “The Klone Wars” on YouTube, you may have noticed a pedal called the Pegasus from a company called Caline. This overdrive not only holds its own against some of the more well-known klones out there, it also proves that you don’t have to be expensive to sound fantastic. Today, we’ve got another budget-friendly effect from Caline, this time in the form of a...
Read More
The first couple of pedals we had the chance to review from Haunted Labs (the Dark Aura Reverb and the Paranormal Fuzz) really knocked us out, combining stunning visuals with even better tones, both all-intriguing packages of sound and optical glory, in pedalboard-friendly sizes. This time around, they’ve teamed up with the spooky crew over at Coffin to bring us all the Frost Bite Fuzz, Coffin’s first new pedal in over 10...
Read More
Eventide has been releasing some of the most incredible stompboxes we’ve seen over the last decade, including the ModFactor, Space Reverb, PitchFactor and the incredible H9, to name a few. With such a wide array of multi-function effects, what would they focus on next? The answer comes to us in gorgeous fashion in The Rose, producing a modulated delay that hones in on tones that embrace the analog/digital hybrid world, with a...
Read More
Loophole Pedals thrives on their ability to navigate the unique tones these delay produce and add useful, thoughtful and exciting mods to them, turning an already great pedal into an exquisite one. Today we’re going to check out the Electro-Harmonix POG2 Polyphonic Octave Generator, and see what a few simple mods can do to really open up this marvelous effect. Here’s what Loophole Pedals did to our lovely POG2: Footswitch Upgrade Mod:...
Read More
The effects that have previously come from Dr. Scientist have always had a little bit of a learning curve, so we expected the same when today’s pedal arrived….but WOW! The Atmosphere Reverb is an absolute sonic mammoth, covering the bases of just about every single reverb mode, sound and option you could want, with a couple of other things thrown in for good measure. It even has a colorful display screen, MIDI and the...
Read More
Mmmmmmmmmmm….Plexi. Those classic Marshall amplifier tones that have been recorded for over 50 years just put a smile on all of our faces, don’t they? However….that exact sound is not the easiest to dial in or obtain, with out-of-production gear, soaring prices for the vintage amps and problematic parts and repair make up a few of the reasons why this tone is so cherished, and so hard to come by. Enter the...
Read More
Delay is probably our favorite type of effect here at Pedal of the Day, and it’s always interesting to see the different ways companies come up with to produce echo sounds. Some are straightforward, some come with 1,000 different options, and some, like the Cusack Music TME, are a nice mix of bold tones and easy controls. This blue-green little gem packs a punch into a small enclosure, sporting just 3 control knobs and one...
Read More
At first glance, the JUNE-60 Chorus pedal from TC Electronic appears to be a piece of gear send back in time from the future. In fact, it represents the PAST, as it is a faithful recreation of the lush chorus circuit found in the legendary Roland Juno-60 Synthesizer. Upon seeing pictures of this vintage machine, you can easily see where the inspiration and aesthetics for the JUNE-60 came from. Paying homage to a classic polyphonic...
Read More
The effects that have come out of the Red Panda camp since their inception have been radical, unpredictable, exciting and pretty much game-changing for this industry. Their latest adventure into the sonic unknown gives us a tape delay like no other we’ve heard – time stretching, pitch shifting, loop sampling and intelligent randomization are the names of the game here, people. The Tensor is a wildly entertaining,...
Read More
When we think of the most popular places that effects pedals are created, Birzgale, Latvia, somehow always ends up at the top of our list….wait, what? It’s true: while possibly not the most POPULAR spot in the world for pedals, Jānis.lv Effect Pedals are pumping out some incredible gear, all handmade and sounding fantastic. We got a chance to check out their Miesnieks Overdrive Distortion, were truly surprised at how...
Read More
Compression can be some players’ best friend, while others scoff at the mention of using such an effect. We love it, and have always wanted to get our hands on today’s pedal to see what the hubbub is all about. While there are many clones and variations out there, there’s nothing quite like a Ross Compressor. The original pedals, made in the 1970’s, are fairly difficult to come by, and if you can find one,...
Read More
The Beatles. Whether you dig ’em or not, there’s no denying their influence on music since they came on the scene in the early 1960’s. Today we get to check out a pedal that captures their spirit and sound, complete with artwork by an iconic illustrator and sounds from one of the rarest amps of all time. The Dr. Robert from Aclam is an overdrive preamp that encapsulates the sounds from the Vox UL730 amplifier, a...
Read More
We love a good synthesizer pedal when they come through the shop, and we love the effects that Robert and the crew at Keeley Electronics put out, so the combination of both of these was a welcome announcement. The goal was to create a synth sound that took you from unnatural fuzz noises to pseudo-harmonic, random glitchy counterpoint, and boy, did they ever succeed. The Synth-1 Reverse Attack Fuzz Wave Generator lets you create...
Read More
The pedals we’ve seen coming out of the Strymon camp for years now have been nothing short of impressive, game-changing and true masterpieces where the future direction of the effects industry is concerned. Their latest arrived with the usual hype and was met with, as far as we can tell, an immediate thumb’s up type of response, which is now to be expected. We finally got our hands on one, and are excited to delve into the...
Read More
We did a review of the Double Barrel Overdrive from JHS Pedals back in 2014, when we were first getting started, and have come full circle to be able to check out the newest model of this fine dual overdrive. This famous box now incorporates the newest versions of the separate pedals it houses, giving it an overall upgrade to the individual sides, as well as the whole pedal. You know what this is, you’ve probably played or owned...
Read More
After we had the opportunity to check out the first of two new releases from Dwarfcraft Devices last month, we couldn’t wait to see what the second one was all about. While the Treeverb is a reverb pedal with different modes, the Body Mod is three separate effects in one, combining Chorus, Flange and Octave tones for a plethora of exciting and experimental musical exploration. Plus, since it’s coming from Dwarfcraft, you...
Read More
We love to cultivate good, solid relationships with the great companies that we collaborate with here at Pedal of the Day, so we were sad to hear that Classic Audio Effects had called it quits. We did get the opportunity, however, to review and demo 4 of their pedals, and were able to get our hands on a fifth for your viewing pleasure today. Octave lovers, REJOICE! Here is the Cliffside Octave Generator… As with all Classic...
Read More
Let’s face it: it can be difficult and expensive to find all the pieces you need to emulate some of your favorite rockers from the 1970s. Vintage amps and cabinets now fetch prices that most Joe Schmoe guitarists might not be able to afford, not to mention finding a place to unleash such robust and ear-smashing tones without getting a visit from your landlord or the friendly neighborhood police. That’s where the crew at...
Read More
Loophole Pedals thrives on their ability to navigate the unique tones these delay produce and add useful, thoughtful and exciting mods to them, turning an already great pedal into an exquisite one. Today we’re going to check out the TC Electronic Alter Ego x4 Vintage Delay Looper, and see what a few simple mods can do to really open up this marvelous effect. Here’s what Loophole Pedals did to our lovely Alter Ego x4: Footswitch...
Read More
Star Wars. Han Solo. Taun-Tauns. The Klon. Normally, only three of these things have something in common, but the guys at IdiotBox Effects decided enough was enough. Combining some catchy graphics with even catchier tones, the Han-Taun Boost Overdrive smashed these fantastic things together to form a magnificent klone pedal, one that was apparently created in a galaxy far, far away…. The Han-Taun is set up just like the famous...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
There are a TON of tape echo/delay pedals out on the market these days, and there have been for years, but how many of them can say they use REAL TAPE to achieve the sounds they create? Precious few, honestly, especially ones that aren’t decades old and riddled with maintenance problems and unavailable or expensive replacement parts. The first Replicator from T-Rex solved those problems, as they released a fresh, modern and much...
Read More
If you’re looking for a clean boost, or something light to give your rig a bit of “sparkle” or “transparency”, you should probably look somewhere else besides Earthbound Audio. Now, if you want to get heavy, doomy, stonery or just filthy and nasty with your tone, you’ve come to the right place. Today we’re going to take a look at their Throat Locust, a wicked heavy distortion pedal based on...
Read More
Today’s pedal features a revolutionary new design, aimed at giving you virtually ANY pickup sound you desire. The EXchanger from Keyztone is a pickup remodeler, which means you can instantly switch between 8 pickup flavored options, no matter what equipment you have installed on your guitar. Their patented analogic technology brings the ability to change your pickup tone just in seconds, transforming your single coil into a P90,...
Read More
For all the pedals we’ve had the pleasure to peruse from our friends at Free The Tone, we’ve never come across a bad apple, and there’s no reason for that to change now. Their latest endeavor is a wonderfully exploratory delay unit, rivaling the Flight Time delays, but with a new, unique sound. The FF-1Y Future Factory RF Phase Modulation Delay “succeeds in creating a new modulation sound with a unique method,...
Read More
Today we’ve got the third and final installment in our “Walrus Week” that featured new effects pedals from our friends at Walrus Audio, and we’re headed back to revisit one of the pedals that put them on the map in the first place. The Deep Six Compressor has been a staple in the compression market since its release in 2012, and this particular version, Number Three, continues to build on that solid foundation....
Read More
The next pedal in our “Walrus Week”, which features the three newest pedals from our pals at Walrus Audio, is a phaser. Now, we LOVE phasers, and modulation in general, here at Pedal of the Day, and were super-stoked when we saw the announcement about the Lillian Multi-Stage Analog Phaser. This gorgeous-sounding, pulsating, whirling effect boasts differing phase stage selection, a unique Blend knob and intense,...
Read More
Since the crew over at Walrus Audio have been supporters of us since we started Pedal of the Day, we thought that it would be fun to have a “Walrus Week” here, and showcase three new pedals they have recently released over the next couple of days. We’re going to start with the brand new Monument Harmonic Tap Tremolo V2, which builds on the original model, simplifying and shrinking everything, but giving you more...
Read More
We’ve got another killer Guest Review today from Brian Johnston – you can find him and more demo videos he’s done on his YouTube channel, CoolGuitarGear – click now! Thanks once more, Brian! Victory Amps has won several awards through various guitar magazines/sites, and this preamp makes those reasons obvious, with its magnificent tone. The four valves running the Kraken V4 produces a rich tone and quality that I have not heard...
Read More
The crew at Neunaber Audio have always had a reputation for coming up with engaging, progressive and somewhat futuristic pieces of gear, and their latest keeps that streak alive. The Neuron Gain Intelligence is a preamp, but with that name, you know it is capable of so much more. Boasting varying degrees of overdriven glory, along with MIDI capabilities, presets, speaker simulation and more, this is one tool that will heighten any rig...
Read More
The Infamous Klon. Tons of debates about this one: some swear by it, some think it’s incredibly overpriced, some just want one to add to a collection of status symbol pedals and some just like the way it sounds, period. Since the majority of us don’t have roughly $2,000 to drop on one pedal, there are companies like Kink Guitar Pedals who make it easy for us to get the Klon sound affordably. Their Femtaur pedal is what...
Read More
If you like fuzz and distortion, there’s a good chance you love the sound of a good Big Muff from Electro-Harmonix. With so many different iterations, it can be tricky to nail down the exact sound you may be looking for, and even more difficult if you’re trying to afford any kind of original Muff made before about 1999. Thankfully, there are companies who try and recreate these wonderful machines, and we’ve got a...
Read More
Animals Pedal, formerly Ninevolt Pedals, has been producing some really great gear over the last couple of years. Affordable, simple and with each one assigned a name wackier than the previous, these effects are made really well and sound just fantastic. Their latest offering is what we’re going to check out today – the Vintage Van Driving is Very Fun Overdrive (say that three times fast). This orange gem brings a vintage...
Read More
There’s no shortage of incredible effects pouring out of the Keeley Electronics office, and with each one, we’re taken aback a bit by the sheer ingenuity and creativity they possess, especially the Workstation Series. Looking at another one of those today, we’re excited to bring you the Dark Side, a Fuzz Delay Phaser Vibe Flanger extravaganza, with tasty fuzz tones and all the modulation you can handle. Conjuring up...
Read More
