The folks at Free The Tone have really been putting out some incredible gear in the last few years, and today’s featured pedal is yet another in their impressive lineup. Wanting to create an overdrive that could fit onto any board comfortably, they set out to build a pedal using the finest ingredients and latest technology, and ultimately came up with the Gigs Boson Overdrive. Taking its name from a recently discovered Higgs...
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There are certain times in every effect freak’s life, when you sit down with a pedal, any type of pedal, really, and once you hit that bypass switch, your ears, eyes and fingers instantly perk up, and your brain sort of says “Whoa!”, maybe even with a little Keanu Reeves overtone. Now, while there are many, many brilliant pedals out there to explore, as we know, there are those rare gems that just have IT, whatever...
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I was born in 1977. A year later, Reinhold Messner became the first human being to ascend Mt. Everest without the use of supplementary oxygen. Fast forward 37 years, and that brings us in a roundabout way to today’s pedal review. My buddy Colt and the boys and girls at Walrus Audio have created a low-gain, transparent overdrive that will make you feel as though you, too, have reached a peak of immense height and struggle....
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The folks up north at Diamond Pedals have been making top of the line gear for many years now, and I’m always waiting in anticipation for their new releases, year after year. One of their newer model pedals is today’s featured POTD: the Cornerstone, a dual-gain overdrive that features multiple unique discrete gain stages, as well as a couple of fun options in the control room for more versatile and explosive performance in...
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After recently reviewing a couple of new pedals from Backwoods Music, I came across an older version of one of their pedals for a price I couldn’t pass up, and was excited to see what it could do, after being thoroughly impressed by the Nightcap Reverb and Mockingbird Delay. I’m not a huge Boost guy in general, but I thought “what the hell”, and went for it anyway! Not knowing what to expect, I sat down and...
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The Big Muff Family of Fuzzes has many, many members, in various forms, models and creations, and should, after being around for more close to 50 years. One of these family subdivisions it the Russian Green Muff, which was made from 1994-2000 or so, and is one of many highly collectable and sought-after versions of this incredible fuzz. The crew at McCaffrey Audio decided it was time to take on the project of developing their own...
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Have you ever seen LOST? Were you on the edge of your seat, week after week, on Thursday nights for way too many years? If you didn’t watch this miraculous television phenomenon, well, you missed out, plain and simple. Plus, you won’t really understand the clever name, sweet graphics and subtle show inclusions that are present in today’s review pedal: the Dharma Drive from WychElm Effects. Graphically, the Dharma...
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Who loves the famous Klon Centaur? Alright, maybe we all do on some level. But seriously, not many of us lowly guitarists have $1,500-$2,500 to spend on an entire rig, much less on ONE LONE PEDAL. Enter J. Rockett Audio Designs, purveyors of fine quality and excellently-crafted unique pedal creations, to save the day. If you are craving that classic boost/drive taste, but don’t want to sell your car or first born to get it, take...
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As a bass player, it’s nice to add some grit and dirt to my sound when the need arises. Unfortunately, there are many pedals out there that may sound good at home, but get lost in the mix. From low-end loss to a barely perceptible effect, it’s hard to find a good drive at a good price. Thankfully, Pigtronix is here to save the day with the Bass FAT Drive. I’ve had their Philosopher Bass Compressor on my board for...
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Each time Walrus Audio announces a new pedal, guitarists around the globe, including myself, get instantly curious and excited. This past winter at NAMM, they debuted a couple of pedals that looked VERY interesting, and we’ve got one of those for you today. The Bellwether Analog Delay produces warm, vintage, analog delay sounds with ease, and offers a bunch of modern options as well, in order to make it extremely customizable to...
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I’m always on the lookout for pedals that not only present themselves in a unique way, but offer unique sound options, too. Today’s pedal, the 1954 Transparent Fuzz from ScreaminFX, covers both of these criteria with ease, as you can see just by looking at the design of this bright orange beauty. Hand-made and built like a tank in Austin, Texas, with a clear shield that lets you peer directly into this fuzz’s soul, I...
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The gang over at Red Panda are known for making some of the funkiest, most individual and sonically genius pedals on the market today (see our reviews of the Particle and Context). Their latest is another example of innovation and adventure: the Raster Delay, which incorporates pitch shifting into the delay signal, among other things. Get ready for a wild ride, here we go! The Raster may look a bit daunting, even though there are only...
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Nick and the crew at Greer Amps have been putting out some incredible dirt pedals over the last few years, but with today’s pedal, they’re veered a bit off course into the world of delay, which I (and other fans of theirs) couldn’t be happier about. The Black Tiger Delay Device is a relatively simple delay, but has great tone, like all Greer pedals, and provides the perfect amount of tone-enhancement to make your rig...
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Diamond Pedals have been a big supporter of Pedal of the Day since we first started, and it’s always a treat getting a package from them in the mail, ’cause you never know what to expect. This time around, the delivered box was loaded with dirt pedals, the first of which we’ll be checking out today. Both a drive and a warm boost, the J-Drive Mk3 Overdrive puts out plenty of power and adds great depth to your tone,...
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Who has $1,500 or more for a guitar pedal? Not many of us, I’m quite sure. While the Klon is a legendary boost in it’s own right, there are a lot of pedal companies making similar pedals for way, way less money. A prime example of one of these awesome pedal makers is Free The Tone, probably most known for their ridiculous Flight Time Delay, used by none other than David Gilmour. Today’s pedal, however, is the Red...
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Have you been searching for a delay that has a ton of sonic options, but a small pedalboard footprint? One that has a switchable boost section for you to power through those killer solos with? One that has optional Vibrato and Flanger modes, for thick and tasty delays across the board? One that has tap tempo AND switchable note subdivisions? Well, if you thought something this fantastic couldn’t possibly exist, you’ve...
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I love a good reverb that can add presence to your sound, but not overpower it – unless, of course, that’s what you want it to do. A good mix of controls and toggle switches is always a plus in my book for ANY type of pedal, really, but there’s something about a small box reverb that’s made really well that just brings your whole attitude about playing guitar to new levels, and today’s pedal did just that...
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Everyone has to have tap tempo on their delays these days, it seems, but sometimes you want a small, simple stompbox that can provide you with that specific option, but not overwhelm you with others. Boasting awesome analog tones, plus a few other tricks up its sleeve, the Tap Tone Delay from T-Rex Effects will give you all the delay and tap tempo you need, and have a good time doing it, too. The control panel on the Tap Tone...
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It just so happens that I love fuzz pedals, but I ALSO love sandwiches, so today’s pedal celebrates 2 of my favorite things at once! The Big Muff Fuzz has a ridiculous cult following, especially a few choice models from the 1970s, but if you can even find them, they’re pricey and usually need repair and maintenance to keep them alive and going strong. Well, thanks to JHS Pedals and circuitry wizard Jon Cusack, there now...
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As great as most of the big box, super-duper pedals on the current market can be, there’s always room for improvement in one category: functionality. Today’s review is for a pedal that assists in making it easier to navigate around one of my favorite big-time stompboxes, the Eventide H9 Max Harmonizer® Effects Processor. Adding a couple external switches to help control this mammoth beast, the Barn3 OX9 attaches right to...
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After reviewing the Defibrillator Reanimating Shock Fuzz from Paradox Effects, I was super excited to see what they would come up with next. Crazy graphics, tones and controls seem to be the general makeup of all their pedals, and the latest is no exception. When the Oniric PseudoAleatory Delay Modulation showed up on my doorstep and I opened the box, I knew I was going to be in for a real treat, and it turns out I was right. As...
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Design and individuality are keys in today’s oversaturated guitar pedal market, and the folks at Amptweaker have certainly utilized both of those concepts, crafting unique and innovative pedals around every turn. Today’s pedal is just another in their lineup of great-sounding and option-packed pedals, and can add so much depth and dimension to your tone, you’ll be blown away by the TightFuzz Distortion. As with other...
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Titan. The largest moon of the planet Saturn OR one of the coolest delays we here at Pedal of the Day have ever come across? Well, you’re both right, congrats! Red Witch Pedals have always been able to create very articulate and impressive pedals, and the Titan Triple Delay is no exception. Featuring THREE independent delays, you can just imagine where this pedal will take you…to the moon and back (pun most definitely...
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Don’t you just love to hear the sound of a good tape echo delay coming out of your amplifier, or stereo speakers, or a YouTube video? Of course you do, we all do! Problem is, to be able to get that authentic sound, you have to find AND be able to purchase a big, clunky machine, which may or may not even work properly, then take a short 6 week course on how to use it, switch tapes and keep up the general maintenance of the unit....
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I think the TonePrint idea that the folks over at TC Electronic had was brilliant, and continue to think that same thing, especially since they’ve incorporated it into all different types of pedals, not just the delays. Phaser pedals seem to be kind of a love/hate thing, and since I lean toward the former, I was super-stoked to see that TC was coming out with a TonePrint-enabled phaser. Well, I finally got my hands on the Helix,...
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I had never come across a pedal that had been produced initially for one specific band, much less one that had been used on almost every track of a major label album release, with little or no exposure or advertising. That is until I was contacted by the band Joywave about featuring an overdrive pedal they had created with Adventure Audio, to which I was instantly intrigued, and decided that I had better check it out. A few days...
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Delay, delay, delay! We love it here at Pedal of the Day, and you probably do, too (and if you don’t, you should). With so many delay pedal options flooding the pedal marketplace these days, it’s fun discover a simple, low-time delay that does only a couple of things, but does them extremely well. In steps the Aqua-Puss™ MkII Analog Delay from Dunlop / Way Huge Electronics, and puts a big, fat, delay-induced smile right...
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The Big Muff is considered to be not only one of the best batch of fuzz boxes ever built, but one of the best all-around pedal collections ever as well. Though the differing versions are too vast for this single review, today’s pedal takes a page from this fantastic collection of incredible fuzz boxes, and stands right up there with them. Specifically focusing on the Ram’s Head Big Muff version, Stomp Under Foot has...
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As you may or may not have figured out by now, we here at Pedal of the Day are BIG fans of Nick and Greer Amps, and love it when a new pedal of theirs shows up on the doorstep. Today’s pedal seems to have flown a bit under the radar, as you can’t even purchase it on their website (I had to search to find this one used), which makes it all the more interesting: today’s gem of a pedal is the Peacemaker Dual Class A...
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Having recently reviewed the Micro POG, and being impressed with all it could do with such limited controls, I was sure the POG2 was going to really give off some crazy sounds. Guess what? It does! I understand the space-saving and simplicity aspects of the Micro POG, but when it comes to my new favorite POG model, this one takes the cake. Working with numerous options and roughly a bajillion different sounds, the POG2 features a...
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When you think of the term “heavy metal” and it’s origins, what name inevitably pops into your head? That’s right, it’s Black Sabbath, and if you said anything else, you’re incorrect. And when you think of this legendary band and how it shaped the sound of heavy music today, who do you mostly associate that with? Nope, it’s not Ozzy, but you’re close: Tony Iommi. His dark tones and heavy...
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Delays with lots of options, bells and whistles have always intrigued me, and many other players, I’m sure. I like these delays even better when they’re housed in a small enclosure, still offering the tones and sounds of some of the big boxes, but with a smaller pedalboard footprint. One I came across recently that met all of these criteria and more was the Obscura Altered Delay from Digitech. This pedal looks wicked,...
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Have you always been kind of jealous of the keyboardist or bass player in your band? The ones who get to make a ton of funky, low-end, synthesizer sounds that harken back to the 70s, that you just can’t seem to reproduce just using a guitar and amp? Well, now you can be the funk master, thanks to the Octasynth Octave Synthesizer pedal from SubDecay. This little box produces buzzy, funk-filled sub-octave notes and glitches,...
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When it first came out, I thought the Palisades Overdrive from EarthQuaker Devices was one of the coolest drives I had come across in a while, although it was just a bit bigger than I needed at the time. Fast forward some months, and the team at EQD decide that there might be a need for a smaller version of this pedal, that sticks to the basics but still offers up some tonal options, too. They’ve done it again, folks: help me...
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There are a lot of great fuzz pedals in the world, and it seems like more and more keep coming every year, something that I am most definitely NOT opposed to. Varying in degrees of control knobs and sonic options, some simpler and others more complex, there are a ton of setups to choose from. The Static Fuzz from IdiotBox Effects is kinda in the middle, with simple controls, plus one awesome added bonus, and features a huge range of...
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Most pedal builders boast about a versatile drive, but JHS’ Kilt is truly worthy of the versatile praise. The Kilt’s toggle and knob controls allow for the player to dial in clean to full out gated fuzz and anything in between. And while most pedals that claim to be versatile have maybe one or two “sweet spots,” the Kilt is special all the way through. Based off of the old Expandora fuzz, the Kilt takes a...
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I love it when pedals throw something wacky, funky or unexpected at you, to keep you on your toes, and use effects to expand the range of the music you produce. The gang over at Main.Ace.FX have done just that, and this happens to be one of their TAMER pedals. An excellent example of a simple overdrive/distortion/freak box, I present to you the One Shot. Utilizing not one but TWO Gain controls is where the fun begins with the One...
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Well, the Kings of Delay are back at it again. Ever since their famed TC2290 Digital Delay was released back in 1985, TC Electronic has continually been on the cutting edge of all things delay, and with their new upgraded version of the Alter Ego Vintage Echo, they steer us in a slightly different delay/echo direction. Combining elements from both of these genres into one compact package, the AE2 is loaded with options, modes, sounds...
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Having recently reviewed their Mockingbird Delay, I was excited to see what Backwoods Music had in store for their newest reverb creation, the Nightcap. Featuring only 2 control knobs, the amount of ambience oozing out of this pedal is a bit astonishing, not to mention it has a few key options that all pedal users love and seek out. The first control knob lets the user select from FOUR different reverb modes: Slapback, for short...
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Oh boy, this pedal really opens up a can for sure. I was on a search. I wanted something specific. Tremolo speed control with an expression pedal. The Worm! An affordable pedal with tremolo and expression control! Well with that feature I have to say I was a little disappointed to say the least. The Worm by Electro-Harmonix is a multi effect unit from one of the industries greats, with so many “classic” “must have” units to their...
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As my ridiculous pedal pile continues to grow and grow, I’m finding it hard to store all of my collection, and since I want to play them all all the time, I need a plethora of boards to keep them nice and tidy. Pedalboards are pretty much pedalboards, i.e. different woods, features, wiring options and sizes, but a board is still basically a board. Until now. MY new buddy Peter over at PedlStools has devised an interlocking...
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You want to know why you hear the name Strymon in multiple gear talk circles and discussion boards around the world? Because they make really, really good gear. Plain and simple. Their latest endeavor seeks to bring a little flavor back from the 80s to the future, namely right now, and showcase all the nuances and intricacies the rackmounted delay units of that decade had to offer, with some modern advancements and improvements as...
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At first glance, you’ll notice a familiar layout, shape and even font on the Aluminum Falcon overdrive pedal from PCE-FX, perhaps conjuring up visions of a certain $2,000 drive that you’ll never be able to afford, but have always admired from afar (as many of us have). Awesome name notwithstanding, this pedal features some tones that really mimic the pedal I can only assume it’s loosely based on, with amazing boost...
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As far as unique pedals are concerned, a small company called Like My Pedals has been coming up with some great gear as of late, mixing colorful enclosure/control knob combinations with tasty circuits and rad tones. Their no-name, no-graphics approach to pedal building is unique as well, but in a mysterious way makes them that much more recognizable, somehow. Today’s pedal from LMP was one I had to name myself, and I honored it...
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These days, it seems like a lot of players (and pedal builders, too) have shifted focus to creating the most transparent sounds they can find. While those pedals definitely have use in many signal chains, sometimes you want you audience to actually hear the effects when you turn it on, and not just a little bit, but blow them away with it a little, you know? Today’s pedal, the Moonshine Overdrive from JHS Pedals, does just that,...
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With so many new and exciting overdrive pedals popping up every other day lately, sometimes we forget about the pedals that really helped to revolutionize this current industry we are able to behold and enjoy. That’s why it’s nice to revisit some popular pedals from the past from time to time, and today’s review is for a pedal that should not need any introduction. One of the best all-time selling boutique overdrives...
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The Raxxla Chorus is the third pedal we’ve had the pleasure to review from our friends across the pond in St. Petersburg, Russia, Shift Line, and these pedals just keep getting better and better. This pedal is basically 3 chorus pedals wrapped into one neat and tidy enclosure, with a ton of range and warm, lush, organic tones and sounds. If you’re looking for a perfectly versatile chorus that won’t eat up all your...
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Sometimes, you just need a little metal in your life, whether it’s from a CD, a live concert or rocking out in your practice space with a sick, fat, green new pedal added into your sonic arsenal. Today happens to be one of the latter days, and the pedal happens to be from an innovative amplifier and pedal building genius, Andy Fuchs, and Fuchs Audio Technology. Oh yeah, the pedal is the Noxious Distortion. Right away,...
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Many times on a pedalboard, simplicity can be your closest friend. Take, for example, the Mockingbird 3-knob Delay pedal from Backwoods Music. One of the newest additions to their sonic lineup, the Mockingbird will give you a wide range of delay tones, lengths and sounds in a neat-and-tidy, compact, pedalboard-friendly package, without sacrificing any tone, clarity or build quality whatsoever. Mix, Feedback and Delay make up the basic...
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Anticipation is one of the funnest parts about getting new pedals in the mail to review, and sometimes, that anticipation is higher than other times. Case in point: I couldn’t wait to open the box for the brand new Interstellar Orbiter from EarthQuaker Devices when it arrived on my doorstep. I had heard a lot about it from the last NAMM show, and was super-excited to see what it could do, and run it through the paces to maximize...
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