With all the powerful delays that have been coming out over that last couple of years, we were still REALLY excited about today’s featured pedal. After checking out the Reverb pedal from Empress Effects last year, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on the all new Echosystem, a Dual Engine Delay with the same look and feel of its predecessor. Needless to say, it was quite impressive right out of the box, and even more so...
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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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We’ve been fortunate enough to get to review and demo some excellent gear from our friends over at Eventide, and that is gonna keep going today when we take a look at another marvelous creation from these guys. The PitchFactor is a pitch shifter / harmonizer / octave and so much more, adding layers upon layers of sound into your signal path, and allowing you to create and imagine more than you could before. With synth effects,...
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Getting pedals that come through the shop without a distinct label as to what they are or what they can do is always intriguing, and our featured pedal for today baffled us until we had the chance to plug it in. The Instant Lo-Fi Junky from ZVEX Effects is a compressor, chorus, vibrato and more, an sound experimenter’s dream in a small, pedalboard-friendly enclosure, with controls that are basic, but create a wide palette of...
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Reverb and Delay are based in similar categories, the main one being ambience. Fantastic individually, these two effects really take it to the next level when combined and played together, and that’s exactly what happened with today’s featured pedal. The Sky Fi from Alexander Pedals is a reverb and delay wrapped into one silvery enclosure, exploding with echoes, shimmers and all the ambient tones you can handle. Reverb...
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Happy Halloween, everybody! Today we’re going to take a look at a revolutionary delay pedal, one that’s no longer in production, but set the tone for echo effects worldwide. The Panther from JHS Pedals is a BIG, bold, fat-sounding, lush delay pedal, complete with a ton of tones and options, making it perfectly customizable for what you need it to do. Lots to go over here, so let’s jump right in! Feedback, Mix and...
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Continuing their status as one of the top-of-the-heap companies in the effects pedal world, Keeley Electronics introduced some multi-effects boxes to the world last year, and we’re lucky enough to have one of them to check out today. The Super Mod Workstation covers more ground than it probably needs to, or should be able, which is definitely NOT a bad thing. With more effects and parameter settings than you’ll know what...
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Effects pedals with actual tubes in them are just the best, right? They produce a comfortable, inviting sound and feeling when engaged, one that you don’t want to give up…ever. Today’s pedal does just that and more – the Tube Factor Overdrive from Hughes & Kettner promises to take your sound up a notch, maybe even to 11 if you’re lucky… As far as controls go, there are three knobs on the Tube...
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A couple years back, we reviewed a pedal from a small company in Chicago (the Nothing Is Dead Fuzz), and it was one of the funnest pedals we saw all year. Happily, we have another offering from these guys to check out today, and while it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the last fuzz of theirs we saw, it brings the heat and the heavy with ease, and will surely rock your face. The FY-2 is a modded germanium fuzz, giving...
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One of our favorite pedals from over the years is the Snowjob Underdrive from Lotus Pedal Designs, a boost/overdrive with simple functionality and great tonal properties. Since we liked the original so much, we were stoked to get our hands on a special version of this pedal, the Ge Underdrive, and see what new and exciting features came with it. We’re happy to report that this pedal reveals a nice twist on the first version,...
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With the new-ish trend of players building smaller pedalboards these days, smaller pedals were bound to be a hit at some point. There are a couple companies who have embraced this, and quite well, but there was one who did it a while back, before the hype set in. The Micro Series from Guyatone ranged from Overdrive to Boost to Octave and more, including the MD2 Micro Digital Delay, which we’re going to look at today. The control...
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If you’re a fan of compression on your pedalboard, there’s good chance you’ve heard about the wonderful compressors being made over at Origin Effects. With a new lineup of smaller effects in their current arsenal, they have become a giant in the world of studio-quality compression for players throughout the world. Today, however, we’re going back to where it all started, with their Cali76 Standard Big Box...
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Look, effects pedals that have tube built in are just plain rad. There’s a warmth and energy that they bring forth that is hard to capture otherwise, and we always love getting these types of effects into the shop. Today, we’re going to look at the now-discontinued Tonebone Classic Tube Distortion from Radial Engineering, makers of fine tube-filled gear. Let’s see what’s under the hood with this beast, k? Level...
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The name Analog Man is right up there with the top dogs in the effects pedals industry, a company that makes reliable, excellent-sounding gear for use by every type of player you can think of. Today’s featured pedal is an excellent example of their work and craftsmanship, and of the sonic prowess they consistently bring to the table. The ARDX20 Dual Analog Delay features two independent echo channels, and a delay warmth that...
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Pedals that are based off of old, classic amplifiers tend to produce some really incredible overdrive tones, and today’s featured pedal emulates a couple of vintage amps and sounds to perfection. The Vox Supreme, Defiant, Conqueror and Virtuoso amplifiers had a fuzz/drive built right into them, and were used to record many, many songs you know and love by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. The White Pedal Fuzz Overdrive from...
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A really good simple pedal can sometimes knock your musical socks off more so than a complex, Tolstoy-novel-length manual-having pedal can, and we’re all for that with as many effects as we see around here. Today’s delightfully simple sonic recipe has only a couple of ingredients, but speaks volumes in terms of tone and value. The Electric is an overdrive and compressor in one, with elements of boost and preamp as well...
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Somehow, we hadn’t yet discovered the company building today’s featured pedal until now, and we’re sure excited that we did. Midnight Amplification Devices hail from Brisbane, Australia, and feature an eclectic lineup of effects over a variety of musical genres. We’re checking out the Giant Sound Boost Fuzz Preamp today, and have a couple more pedals from these guys in the queue for review as well…...
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It’s always a treat when we get a 2-in-1 pedal to check out here at Pedal of the Day, and even cooler when we get a 3-in-1 effect. Today’s pedal blows right past these and gives us a rare and unsurpassed FIVE-in-1 stompbox, something that sounds complicated, but in reality is just easy to use and produces great sounds. The PRISM from Jackson Audio is a buffer, boost, EQ, overdrive and preamp all rolled into one –...
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Are you a sucker for aesthetics when it comes to your pedal collection? Not that it makes or breaks a purchase, but we love a good graphic and layout, and today’s pedal takes us on an exciting journey of sight and sound. The Aqua Lung Overdrive from Rockfabrik Effects is an overdrive with a few common controls and a couple of added options for a wide range of sonic flavors to behold. Like most in the overdrive world, the Aqua...
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Whenever a weird, un-categorizable pedal comes our way, especially if it has a name we can’t quite pronounce, we become instantly intrigued. Today’s pedal, the Okto-Nøjs Octaver Fuzz from Emma Electronic checks all of these boxes, and produces some killer effects sounds as well. An octave effect and fuzz pedal in one, strange sounds lurk about deep within this creature, waiting to be released is a fiery ball of sonic fury....
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Discovering new pedal manufacturers is always a pleasure here at Pedal of the Day, and we’ve got another rad one for you today. Straight outta NOLA, Retroactive Pedals’ first offering is a fuzz/overdrive effect that has both aesthetic and sonic wonders for everyone. Loaded with options, the Designated Driver is easy to use and fun to dial in. Designed to be of the “Marshall” sound when strumming chords and...
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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...
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Last 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...
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After 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,...
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A 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...
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When 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...
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We’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...
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Ever 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...
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There 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...
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Criss-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...
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Today’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...
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There’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,...
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Most 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...
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Another 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...
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Today’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...
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If 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...
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The 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...
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When 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...
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It’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...
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Another 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...
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Today, 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...
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Studio 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...
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Every 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...
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Our 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...
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Hand 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...
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Continuing 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...
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It’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...
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After 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...
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We 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...
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Every 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...
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