I bought this used at very low price… I didn’t expect much on the pedal. I just wanted a decent backup either for my CM plexitone or my amp dirty channel. This provides bluesy 70’s rock tone more than just “ok.” Considering its price, there is some great tones for players to get out of this box. Nice vintage style hard clipping. One thing I don’t like about the box is how the tone stack is shaped....
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The RAT has been pretty much an overdrive/distortion mainstay on some of the most popular guitarists’ pedalboards for decades, including Jeff Beck, Andy Summers, Mike Campbell and John Scofield, and for good reason. JHS Pedals decided to try and take the basic blueprint of the RAT and make a few tweaks, twists and improvements, resulting in the fantastic All American Overdrive. This overdrive ranges in tone from clean with a...
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With all of the awesome Boss delay pedals out there, finding the right one can be a bit tricky…but what if it was a delay PLUS something else? That’s where the PS-2 Digital Pitch Shifter / Delay pedal comes in. Made between October 1987 and March 1994, this little blue beast has stood the test of time, and remains a popular pick of old school digital delays. Mine is nice and beat up, the 9V power section doesn’t work...
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This Custom pedal for Daniel Ettorre was especially fun to build because where I normally let the customer have complete control and input on what the pedal will be Daniel wanted to flip that idea around. As he put it “I want you to build me a pedal but I want it to kind of be a surprise. It can be something crazy you wanted to try, your favorite/best build”. By turning the whole ‘customization’ aspect on its side I was...
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The Nebula from Noisemaker Effects is a pint-sized dual pedal, offering both Reverb and Delay, plus the option to use both simultaneously. If you put it onto your board vertically, it’s not much wider than a standard Boss pedal, making it ideal for space-saving, and producing some nice tones as well. The left side (Reverb) features 3 control knobs: Reverb, Feedback B and Mix B. Reverb controls the amount of the effect...
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The first time I tried the Oddfellow Effects Caveman Overdrive pedal I plugged it into the clean channel of my 50 watt valve amp head which has a relatively warm tone. After about 20 minutes of playing I actually forgot I was using a drive pedal. The feel and dynamics was that of a real valve amp gain channel. The Caveman Overdrive is transparent and gives you nice volume and tone roll off with that nice sustain you get from your...
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The Viper Drive is a 4-knob powerhouse overdrive from up-and-coming pedal manufacturer PB&J Pedals in North Carolina. If you follow our site, you’ve seen the Billy Goat Fuzz and read what it can do; now it’s time to focus on the Viper Drive, another innovative take on overdrive from a rad little company. This pedal has four control knobs, but they are different than any other configuration I’ve yet come across....
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We’ve got another VIDEO review for you today: The Doc Music Station Dark Blue Distortion! Check them out HERE, and don’t forget to subscribe to Kyle’s channel after you watch the video! Click ‘PLAY’ and enjoy the show! Submitted by Kyle
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I was super-excited to get the Mobin Overdrive in the mail the other day, and apparently, for good reason. The Mobin is one of the flagship pedals from Sublime Guitar Company in Florida, who have been making beautiful guitars for a while, but have recently ventured into the land of effects pedals. The four-piece lineup looks stellar, very clean and cool in their design, and super-affordable as well, for us players who can’t...
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The Cloud 9 Reverb is the flagship pedal from Sky Pedals, and it has grown in popularity immensely over a relatively short period of time. Highly sought after online, the Cloud 9 has become an industry standard reverb, and with good reason. A seemingly simple layout leads to an actually complex but easy to manage effect, and it produces some gorgeous reverb as well. What’s nice about the Cloud 9 right off the bat is the layout....
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Fuzzzzzzzzz. One of my favorite effects, by far, and so many different offerings in one category of pedals. The Arbiter Fuzz Face has been a staple sound in rock guitar music since it’s introduction way back in 1966, and the Pollinator from JHS Pedals aims to capture that same sound, but modernize it just a little bit. Simple, 3-knob pedal with loads of tone and a wide range of fuzz make for a perfect afternoon review. From the...
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The first pedal I heard from Greer Amps was the Burning Goat Overdrive; after that, I knew I had to hear more. Which brings us to this little black beauty: the Tone Smuggler. A jack-of-all-trades overdrive pedal, this guy will excite, perplex and complicate you and your guitar tone, and you wouldn’t want it any other way. Simple, 3-knob control design is great: sometimes, the less to think about, the better. Unfortunately,...
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It seems as though Strymon has become an absolutely dominating force amongst guitarists and their pedalboards as of late, and there’s a reason. Besides making space-age looking, beautiful, intelligent pedals, they have created some of the coolest sounds you could want coming through your amp, and the Brigadier dBucket Delay is a prime example of their craftsmanship and skill. As soon as you plug this guy in, you can feel...
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This is the Mad Pedals “Psyger Drive” Psycho overdrive, and it really has a mind of its own. The top knobs from left to right are claimed to be tone on left, Volume on right with gain in the middle, but I have found that both top knobs affect the tone and volume but with their own unique characteristics. This pedal has a custom shop, one of one style paint job, with a clear lacquer to seal the color. As the video...
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The Arctic White Fuzz from Bearfoot FX is a highly approachable fuzz, able to get as dirty and gritty as you want, but never too over-the-top and out-of-control, like some other types of fuzz can do. Volume, Tone and Fuzz control knobs are easily adjustable to suit your tonal needs, with a nice range of sounds available in a small layout and enclosure, perfect for saving space on a pedalboard. The Arctic White Fuzz plays well with...
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From chorus, slap-back delay, pitch shifting, to oscillation, the Rainbow Machine from EarthQuaker Devices delivers! For explorers and mad scientists, rays of sounds instantly fill their little hearts with 100% pure joy. With tons of knobs to turn, one could spend hours playing around with the Rainbow Machine. Great, subtle sounds to crazy, crazy noises, and yet, so musical and useful. Also, girls like how pretty it looks…...
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The Pro Co Rat was first created in the late 70s, and then modified and mass produced in the early 80s. I imagine that anyone who bought one of these early models may well be using it today without any problems. These pedals are tougher than a cage fighter made of adamantium. Pro Co have introduced several varieties of the RAT over the decades, such as the Turbo Rat, and You Dirty Rat. I use a Turbo Rat, as I prefer the extra boost...
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Another Boss Delay? Well, if they would make a bad one, then we wouldn’t have to keep reviewing the good ones, would we? And, at least we’re not reviewing another overdrive pedal… All kidding aside, the DD-6 Digital Delay is a stripped-down version of their DD-5 model, which had a TON of options, too many for some folks. Going from 11 Mode choices to 6 simplifies everything, but still leaves all the options...
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Wow. This fuzz is a fuzz + a fuzz…times 38. I love the Z.Vex enclosures, great for fitting easily onto any pedalboard, and built like a Mack truck. The Fuzz Factory has become a fuzz staple on many boards around the world, so I figured I should probably try it out and see what it could do. 5 knobs for a fuzz looks a little complex, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll have a blast dialing in your fuzz tones. The Gate...
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The $87 I spent on this used pedal might have been the best $87 I ever spent on anything guitar-related…or not guitar-related, who knows? What I do know is this: the Reverb sounds coming out of the Hall of Fame from TC Electronic are incredible. The options are pretty much open to any type of reverb you could want, plus it has the super-cool Tone Print feature, like a lot of TC Electronic’s pedals have, which I think is a...
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Well, this is a big, badass beast. Plain and simple. I love that Walrus Audio thought to put a Fuzz and a Tremolo in the same pedal, because they really do go together, if you think about it. Not to mention the layout and options are fantastic, and the design is impeccable. Plus, it has JOYSTICKS! I’m getting sucked back into playing Super Mario Bros. on my first Nintendo Entertainment System in the mid-’80s…without...
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Based on the ’73 Ram’s Head circuit, the Billy Goat Fuzz from PB&J Pedals is a huge beast trapped in a small enclosure. Great goat graphic, solid, sparkling and shiny enclosure and the wiring looks really nice on the inside. Simple setup and design, but this little monster can really drive your guitar’s signal – let’s check it out! Like I said, a simple layout is just what the doctor ordered: 3...
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As I’ve said before, I love 2-In-1 pedals, especially overdrives, and the Sweet Tea from JHS Pedals is no exception. 2 sides of independent tone, each holding it’s own solo, and an amazing sound-producer when melted together at the same time. Marshall tones, classic screamer tones and more erupt from this stompbox, let’s give it a look! On the right side, we’ve got the JHS-808, based on a classic design, but...
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Retro Mechanical Labs in Portland, OR, are making some really cool pedals these days, and have been for a while, now. The Clean Overdrivr (that’s NOT a typo, by the way) is a smaller size pedal than they usually build, but it packs a punch and delivers the goods just the same. For those of you who don’t like too much fuss and muss with your effects, the Clean Overdrivr is right up your alley. Two settings: Clean and Drive....
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They should have called this “The Luxury Suite of Tone”. I’ve been searching for a pedal that would liven up my rig without taking over the sound of my guitar and amp. If that makes sense. Something that thickens it up without making things muddy. Gives me some sustain and makes my notes sing, without fuzz or distortion. I’ve not been able to find an overdrive that suits me or doesn’t get too loud too...
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Based on the super-rare Colorsound Dipthonizer circuit, the Little Dipper Mk II Envelope Controlled Vocal Formant Filter is a really fun pedal to play around with, and is capable of making roughly a gajillion different sounds. Using dual filters, a couple of control knobs and switches and even an Expression Pedal, this little box packs a wallop! While the Little Dipper is an envelope filter, it’s so much more at the same time....
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This is a curious pedal. There are no labels, so you don’t know what the knobs are (Volume is pretty easy, but the rest take a little work). Plus, Left Foot Pedals is no longer in business, I just found out, so there’s no way to ask anyone about any kind of information about this little red devil. Therefore, this review was a challenge (which I enjoy) and a pleasure all in one. The original Zen Drive is highly...
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Anyone who knows about the original Roland RE-201 Space Echo knows how sought-after and incredible they sound, but one of the main drawbacks for today’s musicians is the fact that they are really expensive and pretty rare. Well, look on eBay no more: the folks at Roland & Boss have an answer for you in the form of the RE-20 Twin Pedal Space Echo. We know, RE-201 purists, it’s not the same thing…but it is REALLY...
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I have always liked to see an Analog Delay pedal with the ability to do Tap Tempo – don’t you? Aside from having that functionality, the ES2 Echo Shifter from Ibanez can do lots of other cool stuff, including oscillation, modulation and a slew of warm delay and echo setting that will leave you speechless. All this in a nice, small enclosure for board real estate…this is gonna be fun. The ES2 looks a bit futuristic,...
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Boy, this is a fun pedal to sit down with and fiddle for hours! The original Panther Analog Delay seemed so big and complicated, I shied away from it. But when JHS Pedals announced the Panther Cub was to be released, I was extremely excited indeed, and couldn’t wait to try it out. It looked so small, so simple, yet could do wonders and take you on a sonic delay-infused journey you weren’t soon to return from…or so I...
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We’ve got another VIDEO review for you today: it’s the Ermynn Overdrive from Doc Music Station! Check them out HERE, and don’t forget to subscribe to Kyle’s channel after you watch the video! Click ‘PLAY’ and enjoy the show! Submitted by Kyle
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I have been a fan of Walrus Audio’s gear for a while now, and this one just keeps that wonderful tradition going strong. The Iron Horse is exactly that: a true distortion beast, caged in a metal enclosure, waiting to be unleashed on the Earth in all it’s fiery glory…alright, maybe that’s a bit much, but this pedal is a serious piece of sonically distorted goodness. Dirty, dirty, dirty. This is a distortion not...
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The Pedal Projects Growly overdrive/boost left me speechless as soon as I opened up the box. Ásgeir of Pedal Projects is known for the outstanding work he puts into his pedals, and now I have experienced it first-hand. The build quality of the Growly is just awesome. The Growly also has an amazing and very unique sound that I have never gotten out of any other overdrive pedals I’ve tried. The drive circuit features a volume knob...
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Before the Moonshine was released, JHS Pedals produced this beauty, and although the Low Drive (V2) is designed for bass, this overdrive conquers on guitar as well. From pure “mojo” tone to a nice Tubecreamer-esque overdrive. Nice and bluesy and totally worth it. The Low Drive pedal has a tone, volume, gain control. A toggle switch for different clippings (middle toggle was da bomb). Also, this pedal can be run at...
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We’ve got another VIDEO review for you today, all the way from RUSSIA! Check out Walker A&E, and don’t forget to subscribe to Kyle’s channel after you watch the video! Nostrovia! Click ‘PLAY’ and enjoy the show! Submitted by Kyle
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The Time Traveler Tap Tempo pedal from Tapestry Audio is the world’s first tap tempo pedal with 10 BPM presets. It sends out a momentary signal just, like any standard tap pedal, when you select your preset by stepping on the right footswtich. The left footswitch gives you the ability to tap in a BPM and the knob in the middle lets you dial in the exact BPM. Click the knob to save the BPM on whatever preset number you are...
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The reverb pedal you’ve been waiting for is now here (no, not the big blue one that has to do with the Sky) – the Descent Reverb from Walrus Audio. This is a complex reverb on steroids, allowing you to access a ton of different tones and modes, most with a stomp of your foot, for easy use and brilliant sound. Let’s get to it, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover. First off, it looks amazing coming out of the box...
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We’ve got another VIDEO review for you today, it’s another pedal from our friends at KMA Machines! Check it out and subscribe to Kyle’s channel! Click ‘PLAY’ and enjoy the show! Submitted by Kyle
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Just opening the box containing the Sputnik Germanium Fuzz pedal from Spaceman Effects was quite a thrill. I love how they make everything so shiny and sparkly, making you feel just a wee bit better about how much you just spent on an effects pedal. The silver bag makes it seem like you’re opening a window into space, about to be launched into the sonic atmosphere at breakneck speeds, and leaving all other guitarists’...
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We’ve got another VIDEO review for you today: it’s the Vintage Drive from Doc Music Station! Check them out HERE, and don’t forget to subscribe to Kyle’s channel after you watch the video! Click ‘PLAY’ and enjoy the show! Submitted by Kyle
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Tired of the same old overdrive? Then you should probably check out the Bright Lights Overdrive pedal from Pedal Monsters. They’ve taken the basic overdrive blueprint and put a spin on it, basically. No boring copy of a Yeller or Rodent or Muph, the Bright Lights is an overdrive full of originality and great tone. Simple controls = fun pedal to use, in my book, and 3 knobs plus 1 toggle switch is about as simple as they come....
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The Echo Machine+ from Greyscale Devices is truly a one-of-a-kind echo/delay pedal, with a couple of unexpected and awesome additions that aren’t found very often on delay pedals, as far as I have seen, anyway. A nice, big, silver metal box houses an array of wires and circuits, all working in conjunction to form a unique, spacey, trippy, echo/delay sound that sure to add a whole new dimension of depth to your overall sound. TWO...
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The Stereo Memory Man with Hazarai from Electro-Harmonix is an awesome delay. Plain and simple. Sure, other delays might have more bells and whistles, but this baby packs a lot of options into a small enough space so that it won’t take over your entire pedalboard, like some larger delays tend to do. That said, it also sounds great for being digital, still having some warm and inviting aspects of our old-time analog friends, but...
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On its own, the CE-2 from Boss has a smooth, natural-sounding chorus effect, which is what has made it one of the most beloved chorus pedals since it’s introduction in 1979. Not trying to be fancy, not trying to do too much, just doing its job (and doing it well). You can set the Rate and Depth knobs fairly deep to get more of a tremolo-y effect, but where it really shines is backing off the dials until you get just the right...
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I’ve used many, many tremolo pedals over the years, and while most of them do a pretty good job, there are a few I’ve found that really stand out. This is one of those pedals: the Tremolessence from Dr. Scientist. Everything you’d want in a tremolo sound, plus one cool added bonus. Six control knobs and 2 toggles might SEEM a bit much, but they all serve their purpose, and work collectively to create a wide-sweeping,...
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Morley is known for putting out fantastic wah pedals, and their list of endorsing artists is long, prestigious and eclectic, including Al Jourgensen, Steve Vai and Robert Smith. Trying to make a 2-in-1 pedal is a generally difficult task, especially when it’s 2 DIFFERENT kinds of pedals. Morley has taken on that challenge, and come up with a great new design that will fit anywhere – the MWV Mini Wah/Volume pedal. While...
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The BLUE UP from NoiseKICK FX is two effects in one enclosure; featuring a piercing clean octave up and an octave down, with the ability to blend in a fuzz. On the left is the octave up channel with 2 knobs: Volume and contour. You can use this channel on it’s own to produce an octave that will punch through the mix, or stack it on top of other effects. Since the octave up is gain-driven it will sound more pronounced in...
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The ’73 Ram’s Head Fuzz from JHS Pedals is designed to replicate the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff π sold in the mid-1970s, and is named for the logo that adorned the pedals of that time period. Used extensively by David Gilmour in the latter part of the 70s, as well as J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr., the Big Muff π has become a legendary tone-maker, and the ’73 Ram’s Head is an excellent modern take on a classic. With 3...
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We’ve got another VIDEO review for you today, this time all the way from Denmark via Lunastone Effects! Check it out and subscribe to Kyle’s channel! Click ‘PLAY’ and enjoy the show! Submitted by Kyle
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You know when you first stomp the on/off switch of a new pedal, and you get a rush of exasperation and disbelief, like you can’t believe it took you so long to find this glorious sound pouring out of your amplifier? Somehow, you think, you won’t have to ever buy another effects pedal in your life (yeah, right)? The search has finally ended? The wait is over? Well, it doesn’t happen all that often, in my opinion, but...
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