It’s always fun to experiment with guitar pedals on bass, and bass pedals on guitar as well. Today’s bass-oriented fuzz sounds incredible on guitar, with a tremendous bottom end beautiful harmonic structure for any six-string machine to bond with. The Woolly Mammoth from ZVEX Effects shows us that low frequencies can be enjoyed by other instruments besides bass, and that we all still think fuzz effects kick ass. As far as...
Read MoreLast month when we reviewed and demoed our first pedal from Frana Effects, the White Wave Fuzz, the impression that it left was one of amazement (as well as a shattered eardrum or two). So, we were stoked to be able to try another one of their pedals, but go in a completely different direction from the aforementioned fuzz genre. The Moon Land is a tremolo with extra oomph, based on some classic circuitry, but with its own flare and...
Read MoreAfter the thrilling experience we had with the Fat Gett Sub-Octave Fuzz from Champion Leccy a couple months back, we were super-stoked to have another one of their creations on our workbench. Once again, these guys did not disappoint, bringing a fury of thundering, powerful tones representing a number of different genres into the fold. The Evil Twin actually consists of two of Champion Leccy’s Wee Fettle Boosts in one enclosure,...
Read MoreA lot of fuzzes and overdrive pedals have the ability to make some type of clean-ish boost sound, so the option is there if you want it. That option is NOT here in the Fireburst V2 Fuzz/Distortion pedal from our friends to the north at Diamond Pedals. This smaller-sized version of the FBR-1 released a few years back still brings the thunder, but doesn’t take up as much space on your board. The second footswitch has been turned...
Read MoreWhen we started doing reviews for Pedal of the Day, the EM-Drive from Emerson Custom was all the rage, followed shortly by the Paramount, two of the finest drive pedals we have come across, and staples on pedalboards around the world. So, we got pretty damn excited when we heard that the Pomeroy Boost Overdrive was going to be hitting the market, and couldn’t wait to check it out for ourselves. Well, the wait is over – a...
Read MoreWe’ve always admired the small footprint mentality of the mostly no-knob effects pedals coming from our friends at Henretta Engineering. Get the sound you want, set it, forget it, play your ass off. Perfect. However, we were excited to see that they had collaborated with the crew at Chicago Music Exchange to make a bigger pedal with some control knobs to play with, too. The Planetarium is a combination of Henretta’s Moody...
Read MoreEver since we had the pleasure of checking out the Gunshot Overdrive from ThorpyFX last year, we’ve been itching to get our hands on another one of their beautiful metallic creations and see what it could do. Well, the day is upon us, friends, as we check out the Peacekeeper Low Gain Overdrive, a clean boost/dirt pedal designed to enhance your tone and give your sound that missing sparkle you’ve been searching for. Volume...
Read MoreThere are some companies that like to focus on one or two genres of effects pedals, and then really dig in and make their own creations stand out and rock your face. Our pal Chris Jupiter and JPTR FX, located in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, loud and distorted is the name of the game, and a game they play well. The Gainsaw Distortion is our first foray into their lineup of eccentric and unusual pedals, and we’re hoping it won’t...
Read MoreCriss-crossing effects types in the pedal world to produce one marvelous sound machine is always a welcome sight to us, and today’s featured pedal embodies the genre-jumping we’re talking about with gusto and pizazz. Combining a quick slap/echo type of delay with an easy-to-use boost, The Milkman gives you a couple of great sonic options without being overpowering, and makes for an excellent always-on pedal. The Echo/Delay...
Read MoreToday’s featured pedal is kind of a 2-in-1, which you know we dig here at Pedal of the Day. Part fuzz, part distortion and all-powerful, the Boar Fuzz from Ohmless Pedals produces a broad spectrum of dirt tones, waiting to be unleashed from inside a smaller-than-usual enclosure, perfect for adding to any pedal setup. With simple controls and one fun additional knob, this effect will have affect on your tone, effectively and...
Read MoreThere’s some funky stuff going on over at Wrought Iron Effects, and in the best way possible. Recently, we reviewed their Aslan Overdrive, which whisked us away to Narnia and beyond. Today, we’re checking out the Orcrist Overdrive, a Tolkien-inspired dirt pedal that speaks to the Middle Earth nerd in some of us, but will provide a powerful boost and drive for players of all walks of life. A bipolar transistor overdrive,...
Read MoreMost of us absolutely adore the sound of a classic Fender Tweed amp, but struggle to find the right combination of amps and effects to get us into that sweet spot. Well, today’s pedal aims to change all that, boasting those vintage tones, complete with a tasty mid-range and lots of gain to work with as well. The Combo Drive from Garland FX gives you two effects in one, and delivers them in a package that is undeniably...
Read MoreAnother fuzz pedal, you say? Sure, why not? Fuzz is the best, right? Today’s fuzzy wonder comes to us from a big Pedal of the Day supporter, Way Huge, and their continually evolving lineup of pedals. This newly-named effect is called the Fuzzstortion, a mash-up of two effect genres combined into one gritty box. More fuzzy than distorted, this guy features some intriguing settings to explore, and a whole lot of fun to be...
Read MoreToday’s pedal provides us with an excellent combination of effects: octave and fuzz. The f-Octave Fuzz Octave from Diamond Pedals is based off of the vintage and classic Foxx Tone Machine, and provides several tasty and dirty auditory options to choose from. This little blue beauty really brings it, and can easily drive your amp to breakup territory, do octave up and walls of fuzz sounds, and more. The Fuzz tones created here...
Read MoreIf you are looking for a fuzz pedal that not only sounds great, but also has more output volume available than just about any pedal that’s come through our office, today’s effect creation is for you. The White Wave from Frana Effects is a Fuzz and a Boost, and has enough power trapped inside to take down a small building, if your amp’s speakers don’t blow first. Inspired by some classic fuzz tones from some...
Read MoreThe crew at Walrus Audio are no strangers to killer delay sounds (see our Bellwether review here), so we were beyond stoked when the announcement of their latest, the ARP-87, was unleashed on the world. Taking the great stuff we love about multiple delay sounds and putting them all into one pedalboard-friendly effect, this multi-function delay box displays many sonic abilities with ease and tranquility. Be sure to set your phasers...
Read MoreWhen we had the chance to demo the original Flight Time FT-1Y Digital Delay pedal from Free The Tone early last year, we had no idea that some new features and improvements would be made so quickly, and that we’d have another chance to delve into this marvelous creation so soon. Well, as it happens, the new model is out, and has brought with it a couple of fantastic upgrades and options that every musician and studio engineer...
Read MoreIt’s delay week in Pedal of the Day Land, folks! New delay pedal releases are always a good time, and many great ones we’ve tried have come from JHS Pedals. One of their creations that has baffled us (and most of you guys, too) is the elusive Pink Panther, which was released in 2007-2008 or so. Not many of these exist, and therefore they carry a hefty price tag, when you can actually find one for sale. JHS finally decided...
Read MoreAnother compressor pedal, you say? Well, this one is a bit different than the one we reviewed earlier this week, the Lamplighter from Greer Amps. Where that one focused on studio compression in a pedal, the Kegel Compressor from Farm Pedals can get down and dirty, with enough squeeze to make your tone sparkle and pop. All we know is, a compressor with a Gain control sounds absolutely OK to us! V controls the overall output volume of...
Read MoreToday, we’ve got the next new pedal in the Animals Pedal lineup, and while it’s not reinventing the effects pedal wheel, the Major Overdrive is a solid choice for dirtying up your tone. With a simple control section and an output of tasty overdriven tones, this little brown box traveled to us all the way from Japan, and was worth the wait. Designed by Skreddy Pedals and including classic graphic artwork and bold buttons...
Read MoreStudio compressors make everything sound, well…better, right? For years, we all have been on the prowl for a way to harness that key recording ingredient into our live rigs, without having it affect our original signal too much, and one of the answers has just come our way. The Lamplighter Optical Compressor from Greer Amps takes that classic studio sound and brings it front and center to your pedalboard. Volume and Compression...
Read MoreEvery time we get a new piece of equipment in from our Wisconsin pals at Dwarfcraft Devices, the anticipation and excitement are at full capacity. Today’s pedal was no different, perhaps even more so, as we had had our eye on it for a little while, and couldn’t wait to delve in. The Super Wizard describes itself as a pitch shifter and echo pedal, but it’s SO. MUCH. MORE. Keeping with the tradition of...
Read MoreOur third and final (just for now, hopefully) review and demo of a pedal from our Italian friends AC Noises is a sure-fire powerhouse of an effect. The Combatti (meaning “fight” in Italian) is an overdrive and distortion pedal that isn’t much on clean tones, and has no desire to be. Featuring a simple control panel and a wide range of dirt sounds flowing out of this salmon-colored creation, it’s sure to get...
Read MoreHand made and hand painted pedals just have something special about them – you can really see how much time and effort goes into each creation, and how dedicated those folks making these effects really are. The Fat Gett Suboctave Fuzz is the first pedal from Champion Leccy that we’ve had the chance to check out, and it did not disappoint. A fuzz with an octave twist, this thing will open your eyes and ears instantly, and...
Read MoreContinuing our recent funk pedal extravaganza, we’ve got an updated version of one of the best auto wah / envelope filter pedals around for you today. The DiscumBOBulator has been a staple on the funk scene for years now, a somewhat hidden gem whose loyal user swear by it, as do we here at Pedal of the Day. Emma Electronic has released a new v2 of this wah-infused masterpiece, and we are going to give you all the looks, insights...
Read MoreIt’s always great to randomly stumble upon a new, exciting effects pedal company, especially one that mixes in aspects of some of our favorite classic books. The Aslan Overdrive from Wrought Iron Effects gets its namesake from a lion in a treasured novel by C.S. Lewis, and brings the power that you’d expect as well. The circuit contained within the Aslan Overdrive is filled with JFET transistors, giving it a very tube...
Read MoreAfter already getting our grubby mitts on the Tru-Tron 3X and Boostron 3 effects pedals from Mike Beigel and the newly revamped Mu-FX, we absolutely could not wait to see what today’s pedal had in store for us. Boy, did it deliver and then some! The Phasor 2X is the Modern Vintage Analog™ refinement of the original Musitronics® Phasor II pedal, but housed in Mu-FX’ signature “mini-mu” enclosure, and featuring...
Read MoreWe have lots of fun with our delay pedals here at Pedal of the Day, and today’s classic piece of gear is a favorite on pedalboards throughout the world. Both groundbreaking and inspiring, the Superdelay from Empress Effects does everything from basic delay sounds to outer space-infused tape delays, reverse stuff and much, much more. If you don’t like manuals or experimentation with your delay pedals, you might want to look...
Read MoreEvery once in a while around the Pedal of the Day office, we encounter a pedal that is truly like no other we’ve seen before, and that really gets us going. The DM-02 Dynamorph from Totally Wycked Audio is just that kind of pedal, as it is a fuzz, filter, synth, distortion and more all wrapped into one out-of-this-world enclosure. With a ton of sonic options to choose from, and controls and switches up the yin-yang, this is one...
Read MoreWe did a written review for today’s delay pedal a couple years back, but wanted to add a video demo to the words as well, so the following review contains portions of our previous review, but the demo is ALL NEW. Enjoy! When you’re jumping into into the “dark” delay territory, the 616 MkII Ekko Dark Delay from Malekko Heavy Industry is an awesome way to start. There are a lot of option in this really nicely-sized pedal,...
Read MoreWho wants to get FUNKY? Today’s pedal is just about all you’ll need to do so, and with mind-blowing results, too. The Maxon AF-9 Auto Filter Envelope Wah Super-Machine easily creates down and dirty grooves, popping chords and all the Parliament/Funkadelic sounds you can imagine. Let’s check it out… The AF-9 is an optical analog envelope filter, reminiscent of the classic Musitronics Mu-Tron III, made famous by...
Read MoreEarlier this year, we finally got around to checking out the original Octron Octave Divider from Foxrox Electronics, and we thought it was just an incredible piece of gear. Fast-forward to today, and we’ve got the next iteration of this steel gray beauty for you, complete with upgrades, more options and that same killer circuitry and tone. The Octron3 features a smaller enclosure, two additional toggle switches and an analog...
Read MoreWe love the simplicity of the line of effects pedals coming out of Pittsburgh, PA, from our pal Clayton and American Wizard Toneworks. That said, it was nice to see today’s pedal step up the game a little bit, and add some much-appreciated controls into the mix, making the Blk Fuzz Plus a true powerhouse in the world of fuzz pedals. Containing an extra channel and some tone-shaping capabilities, this black beauty gives you all...
Read MoreWhat can we say about the pedals that Spaceman Effects puts out? They’re pricy, they’re hard to find and they all sound incredible. Well, that’s a start, anyway. Their latest masterpiece, the Sputnik II Deluxe Germanium Fuzz, takes the already brilliant circuit from the original Sputnik Fuzz, and beefs it up even more, if you can believe it. With a new second mode and a couple more tasty additions, this is a fuzz...
Read MoreWhenever a package arrives carrying ANYTHING from our friends at EarthQuaker Devices, the whole shop seems to light up instantly. Continually reinventing the sonic wheel, Jamie, Julie and the crew keep dazzling our eyes and ears with each new creation, and one of their newest is what we’re going to explore today. The Space Spiral™ is a delay with all the modulation you could want, as well as out-of-control repeats, outer space...
Read MoreLet’s face it: there are a LOT of Big Muff-types of fuzz pedals floating around today, along with the true originals, for a whole lotta muff (hehe). So, when we get a pedal in that bucks convention and tries to forage a musical path of its own, we get pretty damn excited. Today’s featured pedal, the [fz] Fuzz from Hungry Robot Pedals, does just that, utilizing a totally unique fuzz circuit that isn’t based on...
Read MoreSince most of the pedals that come through the shop here are geared towards guitar, today’s pedal was a breath of fresh air, and hopefully an asset to all you bass players out there who think your instrument doesn’t get represented enough (which you’re absolutely right about). The B Station from Hotone Audio is a powerful Preamp + D.I., featuring multiple connections, an FX loop, on-board compressor and more. Since...
Read MoreFor those of us in the know, the pedals from Main.Ace.FX are pretty easy to spot, as they hold a consistent look and feel throughout the lineup created by James Granuzzo. As for their sound, that too is consistent, quality-wise, if not always surprising and creative. Today’s pedal, the Shell Shock Fuzz/Tremolo, is yet another in this impressive group of effects, a 2-in-1 that is chalk-full of sonic exploration and enhancement,...
Read MoreOur first foray into the world of AC Noises effects came about a couple weeks ago, when we had the opportunity to check out their Vola Preamp/Overdrive. Well, we’re back at it today, bringing you a review and demo for the next pedal in their lineup, the Esplora Fuzz. Meaning “explore,” this baby blue beauty is a timeless fuzz effect, offering a ton of tonal variety within a complex yet easy-to-use control section,...
Read MoreUnleashing a fury of new and much-anticipated effects over the course of the last couple of years, the crew at Way Huge continues to excite and defy convention with their effects. Today we’re going to take a gander at one of the newest, the Russian-Pickle Fuzz, a dirt pedal that harkens back to the sweet distorted sounds of the mid-nineties’ BC183C Russian Big Muff, for all the grunge and angst you can handle. Easy to use...
Read MoreAs if Joel Korte and the crew at Chase Bliss Audio hadn’t done enough over the last couple of years to enhance and electrify the effects pedal world, here they come again with another sick auditory creation. The Brothers™ is a Boost, Drive and Fuzz pedal, but, as they say, not necessarily in that order. Full of the patented control layout we’re all used to, plus the classic dipswitch array found on the top of all CBA...
Read MoreThere 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...
Read MoreAfter we brought you our review of the first pedal in the Animals Pedal lineup, the Rust Rod Fuzz, we now bring you the second out of five total pedals. The Car Crush is a Chorus and Vibrato pedal, an excellent modulation device that gives you the ability to span different musical eras and decades with ease. Tap into your inner Jimi with the click of a button, create sounds from the Summer of Love and even morph your sound to fit...
Read MoreSometimes we here at Pedal of the Day stumble across a relatively unknown, hard-to-find-info-on pedal that really rocks our world, and we’re going to check one of them out today. The Dynamic Delay from Tone Monster is an excellent delay that we acquired for less than $50, and it can hold its own with some of the big boys in the delay world, make no mistake. Simple and elegant, with a couple fun functions, this white wizard looks...
Read MoreWe recently had the privilege to review the first of two pedals from Life Is Unfair, the Dream Left Behind Fuzz, which we were quite impressed with, especially for it being just a one-knobber. Today we’re going to take a look at the only other pedal in their current lineup, the Awkward Breed Fuzz. While boasting one more control knob and some different sounds, this pedal takes fuzz to the next level, as you’ll soon read...
Read MoreIf you guys have ever had the pleasure to play an effects pedal from the warped mind of Joe Anastasio from Lone Wolf Audio, you know what kind of crazy gear that dude creates. Today we’re going to look at one of the wackiest, awesomest pieces of musical equipment we’ve seen, a pedal that really can’t fit into just one category, but will revive your interest in how music and sound are created. The Acetylene Nirvana is...
Read MoreThere are a LOT of effects pedals that claim they are an “amp in a box,” but when a company who actually has been building amps for decades creates a pedal, you know it’s legit. The 1305 Drive from Supro takes everything that has always sparkled about their lineup of amps and condenses it into an extremely pedalboard-friendly package. Using an actual output transformer and re-creating the real circuitry of a Supro...
Read MoreFrom the twisted, brilliant mind of Jack Deville comes another pedal in his line of effects with the Friday Club moniker, the PD100. This simple-looking overdrive is anything but, producing a good bit of crunch when dimed, and a wonderfully clean boost when set at lower levels. A perfect front-end effect for your board, it will drive an amp into sweet sonic glory and work with other pedals to enhance your all-around tone. The Master...
Read MoreToday’s featured pedal will not only enhance your tone and drive either a tube or solid state amp, but proceeds from its sales help to fund a family farm in Maine as well. The Casco Logger is the first pedal from our new friends at Farm Pedals that we’ve had the privilege to demo and review, and this simple orange box made quite an impression on us. A simple overdrive, it can be used as a great clean boost as well, and...
Read MoreThe effects pedals coming out of the SiB Electronics camp are all fairly unique in design and sound, and we’re excited to look at another one of their musical concoctions today. If you’re a fan of the Phaser genre, you’ll really dig the Mr. Fazeadelic. This dual channel phaser gives off tones that will send your sound back to the psychedelic era with a quickness, or add a slight bit of shimmer and pizazz to your...
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