Every version of the Ampero family of Amp Modelers and Effects Processors from our friends at Hotone Audio has come our way, and we’re exctied as always to bring you the latest version today. The Ampero MINI takes everything you know and love about these units and squishes them into a small, compact enclosure, perfect for any pedalboard or tabletop rig. And since there’s no compromise in sound quality or endless IRs,...
Read MoreThere’s one piece of gear that you and your pedals simply can’t function without: POWER. Without Power, your pedals can’t make any noise, and you can’t dazzle crowds for hours on end. That’s where today’s unit comes in – the MONO Medium 6 Output Low-Noise Isolated Power Supply. The MONO Medium Power Supply is an ultra-slim, expandable pedalboard power supply. It features 6 high current,...
Read MoreWe continue on our journey as we review some new pedals from Caline today, bringing some classic tones to the forefront. The CP-61 T-Drive Phase takes your phasing prowess up a notch, while the CP-512 Old School Reverb provides three modes and a ton of lush soundscapes. If you just have these two pedals and an amp on the edge of breakup, you’ve got a pretty rad and simple setup… The T-Drive is a phaser pedal with a wide...
Read MoreWell, it’s that time once again…NEW STRYMON DAY!! We’re always proud to be part of their new releases, and today’s pedal is one that we can all enjoy…thoroughly. The Brig dBucket Delay takes Strymon’s now-classic Brigadier Delay and smashes it down into a compact form, first introduced with the amazing Cloudburst Ambient Reverb a couple months ago. Here’s some info from Strymon: “The...
Read More(This article comes from our friends at GuitarTricks.com – check out their site for tons of guitar-related tips and tricks!!) Favorite Pedal Brands for Specific Pedal Types By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. Of course many guitar effects unit builders create pedals that provide a variety of methods to change the signal. If you like sticking to one brand, that...
Read MoreWe’ve tried a couple of pedals from the crew at Surfy Industries, and were wicked impressed to say the least. The SurfyVibe and SurfyBear brought modulation and reverb into focus, respectively, and now Surfy has a new pedal that ties everything together: the SurfyFuzz. With 2 modes and some intriguing parameter controls, this is not an ordinary dirt machine…not in the least. When Surfy Industries decided to develop a FUZZ,...
Read MoreThe moniker Gamechanger Audio has always suited the company responsible for today’s pedal, and we’re excited to bring another review and demo of their gear to you all. The BIGSBY Pedal Polyphonic Pitch Shifter is a revolutionary polyphonic pitch shifter pedal created in cooperation with Fender Musical Instruments Co. that reproduces the string bending and vibrato effects produced by the BIGSBY Tremolo arm and other...
Read MoreWe all know there are 4 seasons over a year, but did you know there are also 4 pedals in the Fox River Devices Seasonal Drive Series? We’ve had the pleasure of checking out three of them so far, and are proud to bring you the fourth, Summer, today. Wrapping up this series in a heavier-type of way, this Overdrive/Distortion brings the heat to any pedalboard, and will scorch your favorite amp with ease… Summer is the season...
Read MoreWe’re always honored to help in the release of a new pedal from Mark and Summer School Electronics, and we’re excited that we get to do just that once again today. The Pep Rally Fuzz is the latest creation from these guys, producing blistering tone and all the fuzzy glory you could ever want. Building on an existing circuit of theirs, this one brings everything you want in a fuzz right to your doorstep… The Pep Rally...
Read MoreAny effects unit that relates to the Back to the Future franchise is just fine in our book, and we’re excited to bring another retro-looking (and sounding) pedal to you today. The Spürr Audio Time Traveler Delay is already a great unit just based on aesthetics, but it’s also a warm-sounding delay that will accentuate any setup or rig. We’re not going to need any roads to take off and fly with this beauty, trust...
Read MoreA good tube amp is hard to beat, but what if you could harness that sound and put it right into an effect-sized enclosure, complete with actual tubes? That’s what happened with today’s pedal, the Electron Brothers Brass Knuckle High-Voltage All-Tube Overdrive. This big yellow beast uses an all-tube signal path to create the harmonically rich overdrive tones only tubes can…let’s dive right in! Although based on...
Read MoreToday’s pedal is not one that your casual musician will get, or like, or want to have anything to do with, and that makes it all the more rad. The mad scientists at Industrialectric have been conjuring up crazy experimental gear for years, and the 567-M Modulation Machine keeps that streak alive and well. Lots of knob-twisting, ear-piercing and general sonic confusion give you a slight idea about what this pedal is capable...
Read MoreWhile most of our reviews are focused on the pedals themselves, we couldn’t hear the magical sounds they make without the aid of cables, and we’ve got a new release from Rock Stock Pedals in that department today. Their Solderless Patch Cable Kit gives you high performance and perfect customization to make your pedalboard look, feel and sound exactly the way you need it to. Let’s hear what Rock Stock has to say about...
Read MoreUp to this point, we’ve only experienced the effects pedal side of NUX, one of our biggest supporters for years now. Today, they sent us something a little different to toss into the mix: the Stageman II Studio AC-60 Acoustic Amplifier. Filled with gorgeous tones, built-in FX, Impulse Responses, a drum machine and looper and more, this amp brings a lot to the table in a relatively compact package… The Stageman II AC-60 has...
Read MoreWell, we’ve got another batch of pedals from our friends at Caline coming at’cha over the next couple of months, starting today with a couple of glorious effects. The CP-513 Simon Super Delay brings a bunch of options to the table, while the CP-26 Snake Bite Cavernous Reverb provides all the ambient tones you’ll need to create wonderful music. These are two good pedals to start our journey with, let’s get right...
Read MoreThe My Little Klony and Fuzzy Rick were two of our favorite surprise pedals last year, coming from Drew and Aida at Daddy Daughter Pedal Works. Today, we’re checking out another effect from their lineup, the Clue’s Breaker Overdrive. Apart from a rad name and aesthetic, this versatile drive will give you all the boost, gain and grit you’d want, or maybe even need… The Clue’s Breaker is based on the famous...
Read MoreWe love it when the crew at Beetronics releases a new effects pedal that we can all buzz around about, and are excited to continue that today. May we present to you the Octahive V2 High Octave Buzz, a fuzz and octave hybrid that conjures up vintage sounds from decades gone past. Let’s jump right in and investigate this new and exciting creation, shall we? The Octahive is one of Beetronics’ most legendary bees, one...
Read MoreAfter checking out the Berkeley 1973 a few weeks ago, we were excited to dig further into more new Legends of Fuzz pedals from JHS. Today, we’re taking a look at the Plugin 1973 California, which again features just two simple controls and a Mode switch. Don’t be fooled, however: there are a TON of sounds just waiting to be unleashed here… Grab a Plugin 1967 California at Sweetwater: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3ej7ey...
Read MoreWe’ve never come across a pedal we didn’t completely love from Spaceman Effects, and are proud to say that tradition continues with today’s gorgeous piece of gear. The Meridian Time Modulator blends aspects of chorus, vibrato, flanger, filter, pitch-shifting and more into one beautiful purple, sparkly enclosure. Opening new sonic pathways you never knew existed, this modulated machine will have you rethinking your...
Read MoreEach and every pedal we’ve come across from ZVEX Effects has been unique and different from what we’ve all come to expect from pedals, and today’s continues down that path with extra gusto. The Sonar Vexter Tremolo takes modulation to the next level, providing a slew of features, both present AND hidden, for you to explore. Get ready for a wild ride here, folks, ’cause this ain’t your grandaddy’s...
Read MoreIf you’ve never seen the big, oddly-shaped Danelectro effects that were born decades ago, today’s pedal is an excellent place to start (check out our review for the DC-1 Cool Cat Stereo Chorus HERE, too). The DE-1 Dan-Echo is a remarkably impressive sounding digital delay pedal based around the PT2395 digital delay chip, bringing warmth and vintage tone to any pedalboard. With basic controls and bold sounds, this purple...
Read MoreAfter checking out the latest version of Poison Noises’ The Crook Overdrive, we were stoked that they also sent us the latest version of one of their killer fuzz pedals. With the Glut Cheeks V3, it’s an all you can eat Fuzz buffet! This pedal is made using the same recipe as your favorite 60’s fuzzes, but with a few new extra fixings. As you can see, the ingredients are listed right on the box! Every fuzz uses carefully...
Read MoreRecently, we’ve had the pleasure of checking out the new Galaxy ’74 Tape Echo & Reverb and Del-Verb Ambience Companion from Universal Audio, and were (as usual) pretty blown away. Today, we’re looking at the final unit in their latest lineup releases, the Max Preamp & Dual Compressor. Providing all the funk your single coils (and humbuckers, too) can handle, along with a gorgeous vintage-sounding preamp,...
Read MoreThe Dreivoost All-Tube High-Gain Boost was created when Will from EEIDI FX / Third Age Amplifiers saw Fluff (Ryan Bruce) and Ola Englund on YouTube using TS style pedals to boost their Dual Rectifiers, and realized the amplifier tone could be preserved 100% by using a tube boost. This provided the gain kick they wanted with the choice of full range or treble boost. 11 years later, this powerful pedal will do just that…and...
Read MoreWe really loved the first four effects in JHS Pedals’ “Legends of Fuzz” series: the Bender, the Crimson, the Smiley and the Supreme. They’ve added a few more since, and we’re going to take a look at the Berkeley 1973 California today. With just two simple controls and a Mode switch, you can easily dial in vintage fuzz sounds with this black beauty… Grab a Berkeley 1973 California at Sweetwater:...
Read MoreMixing different kinds of effects together usually pays off pretty damn well, and today’s pedal keeps that fine tradition going strong. The Humanoid Pedals Psychosis Tremolo Overdrive combines two of our favorites into one wild enclosure, complete with nutty graphics and thick, heavy driven and modulated sounds. This isn’t a light one, folks, so buckle up and let’s see what its all about… The Psychosis is the...
Read MoreAny time there’s a new release from our friends at Death By Audio, it’s always a very exciting time, and we’re always floored by the unique creations they unleash on the world. Today’s pedal is no exception: the Disturbance Lockable LFO Modulator combines Filter, Flanger and Phaser effects into one wild multi-modulation unit, showering the user with a slew of experimental sounds. As always, if you don’t...
Read MoreWe had the pleasure of checking out the new Galaxy ’74 Tape Echo & Reverb from Universal Audio, and were (as usual) pretty blown away. Today, we’re looking at the next unit in their latest lineup releases, the Del-Verb Ambience Companion. Similar to the Galaxy in ways, but also a unique beast on its own, this pedal combines algorithms from UA’s wonderful Golden Reverberator and Starlight Echo Station....
Read MoreEach effects in the All-Pedal lineup is completely different, and that’s how we like it. Following in the footsteps of the Love Machine Octave Fuzz, Macrodose Envelope Filter and Steel Panther 1987 Delay Distortion, the Slamurai™ Overdrive has both a unique look and sound. Come along as we journey to the far east, discovering immense drive tones and amp-shaking dirt… With the Slamurai™, All-Pedal set out to make the most...
Read MoreRobert and the folks at Keeley Electronics have been making delay pedals for years, and we’ve had the privilege to check out just about all of ’em. From the Caverns to the DDR to the ECCOS and more, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed each and every one. Today’s pedal keeps this wonderful delay tradition going, with the help of an excellent guitarist – come with us as we check out the HALO Andy Timmons Dual Echo,...
Read MoreIf you haven’t heard about the fantastic gear coming from Heather Brown Electronicals, you must have been living under a musical rock. The Blessed Mother Overdrive burst on the scene a couple years ago, and was followed by the also-successful Sensation Fuzzdrive – two awesome circuits from an awesome builder. Today, we’ve got the latest effect in this lineup, the Spirit In The Sky Tremolo Fuzz, which mixes 2...
Read MoreAfter the Dream ’65, Ruby ’63, Woodrow ’55, Starlight, Golden and Astra effects units from Universal Audio were released, everyone was wondering what creations they’d come up with next for their stompbox lineup. Today, we’re proud to present the first of the next three pedals: the Galaxy ’74 Tape Echo & Reverb. Built upon award-winning UAFX dual‑engine processing and an unquenchable thirst for...
Read MoreWe’ve had a working relationship with KMA Machines for close to a decade now, and have always loved the creativity and option-laden effects pedals they’ve produced over the years. Today, we’re checking out their Logan Transcend Drive, an overdrive pedal that will add immense tonal dimension and flexibility to anyone’s setup, all while preserving the natural characteristic and feel of your beloved instrument. Take a...
Read MoreIt’s always amazed me how tone-shaping a one-knob effect can truly be – the simplicity seems like it might not have a lot to offer, but that’s usually not even close to the case. Which brings us to today’s pedal, the oddly-named beAst beWst Full Range Boost from EEIDI FX (Everyone Else Is Doing It), the brainchild of Will from Third Age Amplifiers. This hand-wired boost has a killer range, great tone and will...
Read MoreWe’re headed back to familiar territory today, both in pedal company and pedal model. Poison Noises has just released The Crook Overdrive V5, the latest version of the pedal that put them on the effects map. We started with Version 3, and have loved to see the progression of this circuit over the last couple of years. If you liked the other Crooks, you’re gonna really dig this one… The Crook has more gadgets in its...
Read MoreThe innovators at Boss as always really ahead of their time, and today’s pedal exemplifies that in leaps and bounds. Produced in the late ’80s and early ’90s, the PS-2 Digital Pitch Shifter / Delay is basically two pedals in one, offering wild pitch shifting and pristine delay capabilities. Yet another one for the experimenters, this blue box can be used for practice, gigs, recording and more… First off, the...
Read MoreWhere do we even start with a rare, out-of-production and highly sought-after pedal like this? The Goatkeeper 3 GK3 Tap Tremolo Sequencer has become a pedal of mystery and intrigue, not to mention hard to find and pretty expensive, too. Described as an analog tremolo sequencer, this big white whale is so much more, a giant tone machine just itching to be experimented with, and thanks to the genius minds at Lightfoot Labs, one that we...
Read MoreIt’s Chase Bliss Day once again!! You all know what this one is: the MOOD MKII Instant Ambience, which builds off of the already stellar MOOD released several years ago. New features include stereo (YES!!), overdubbing, freezing, syncing, fading, filtering, balancing, blending, smoothing, etc, as well as polished up sound quality…but fear not! There’s a Classic Mode for those of you who prefer dents and dings. Let’s...
Read MoreToday, we’ve got a special treat from our friends at El Garatge: the WEX Wireless Expression Controller. Consisting of a wireless transmitter and receiver, the WEX system controls your pedal’s parameters, as well as having some tricks up its sleeve to awaken the sonic experimenter in us all. Consisting of a transmitter and a receiver, each device has some dip-switches to configure its parameters… WEX Features: Manual...
Read MoreTaking inspiration from Analog Man’s Prince of Tone overdrive, the Harby Pedals Noble Tone is based on the same schematic to give you the same organic-sounding tube distortion. Built in the USA with high-quality components. And the best part? No waiting list. A faithful replication of the original circuit board and schematics, the Noble Tone shares the rich sound that makes both the King and Prince of Tone so desirable. Compatible...
Read MoreAfter we saw the Autumn and Winter overdrive pedals from Fox River Devices in their respective seasons, it’s only logical that the next one in this series would be….SPRING!! The third member of the Seasonal Drive Series, Spring is a low to medium gain overdrive with a max gain of approximately 44dB. It can be used as a clean (or clean-ish) boost at lower gain settings and a subtle overdrive with the gain turned up…...
Read MorePhasers are rad, plain and simple. There are those that might disagree, but they’re radically incorrect. But phasers that run in stereo?? Well, it just doesn’t get any better than that, as evidenced by today’s pedal, the Mr. Black Twin Lazers Dual Phase Modulator. Inspired by the long standing king of dual phase-shifters, this is true-stereo phase shifting at its finest. The Twin Lazers features two fully-independent...
Read MoreWe’re back with yet another new pedal from our pals at Poison Noises! Today’s effect is the Gluttonous Maximus Fuzz, a ballsy beast who joins the ranks of the Glutnik, Glut Cheeks and Gluttonous Fuzz pedals from the PN lineup. Here to save the day, this red menace will spark your creativity and blow out your eardrums…in the best of ways imaginable. With the Gluttonous Maximus Fuzz, the Clipping control pulls diodes...
Read MoreWhen talking about the greatest chorus effects pedals to ever grace the planet, you always hear about the CE-2 from Boss, arguably the best one ever made. I own one and it is fantastic, no bones about it, but its little brother sometimes gets overlooked in the mix. The CE-3 might not carry all the prestige of the CE-2, but it has some great tones, as well as a couple tricks up it’s sleeve that you can’t get with it’s older sibling....
Read MoreWe love today’s fuzz pedal, plain and simple. The Bun Runner from JHS Pedals is a sonic marvel, and one of the most versatile and useful fuzzes we have ever had the privilege of playing. With two quite different sides to this 2-in-1 pedal, many fuzzy tones are easily accessible, ranging from slightly overdriven to all-out crazy, gooey, fuzzy goodness. Let’s check out this rare, discontinued beauty, shall we? The left side...
Read MoreLast month, we continued our steak of reviewing excellent pedals from our friends at NUX, with the amazing Duotime Dual Engine Delay. Today, we’ve got another one from their impressive Verdugo Series of Stomboxes: the Queen of Tone Dual Overdrive. Bringing two different but extremely complimentary drive circuits to the table, this 2-for-1 gives you just about all the overdrive options you could need…and maybe a couple...
Read MoreOur third effects unit from All-Pedal takes a wild left turn from their previous 2 pedals we have reviewed, the Macrodose Envelope Filter and Love Machine Octave Fuzz. Inspired by the sounds of the ’80s, and made in collaboration with glam metal band Steel Panther, the 1987 Delay Distortion brings classic sounds of a decade long past right into your living room, practice space or gig. This delay and distortion is a fun one,...
Read MoreJames Santiago Los Angeles, California Universal Audio https://www.uaudio.com/ How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I started playing guitar around 5 years old, and at around 15, I began working in professional working bands as musicians around town started asking me to play with them. I didn’t have a driver’s license back then, so I had to have my mom or other band members take me to band...
Read MoreFlanging. Players love it and players hate it, but it has had an effect (pun intended) on music since its inception decades ago, and we think it’s a great tool to use for musical experimentation. Sometimes, however, flange units can get too crazy, almost to the point of unusability for some genres – that’s why we really dig today’s pedal, the M152 Micro Flanger from MXR and Dunlop Manufacturing. With two simple...
Read MoreWe’ve got an oldie but a goodie for you all today, coming in the form of the Nebula Phaser from Mojo Hand FX. This subtle beauty first came to us way back in 2014, and over the years we’ve had 2 or three different versions, finally settling on this black sparkled model. This phaser pedal is not a clone of the famous 2-stage vintage phaser, but rather a phaser pedal created to be the most user-friendly form for modern...
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