Today, we continue our journey of the exploration of the Ampworx Series of preamp pedals from our friends at TC Electronic. We’re looking at all six effects in the series (so far), with their three latest releases, and moving through the previous three, over the coming weeks. Let’s keep it going with the JIMS 800 Preamp, a beast that faithfully recreates a modified Marshall JCM800 tube amp, and pays gorgeous tribute to...
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After the wild success of their Germanium Fuzz pedal a few years ago, Chris and the crew at Benson Amps decided to take the genre one more step further. Building off of the classic Tone Bender MkI circuit, the Stonk Box attempts to take a classic 1960’s fuzz design, and bring the sound into the modern world, without bringing any along the flaws and inconsistencies of the original. This one’s a beast, let’s get right to it!...
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Recently, we had the privilege of reviewing the gorgeous PAC-9 Pure Analog Chorus from Maxon, and were super-impressed. Today, we dive right back into the Maxon modulation pool, this time with big brother CS-550 Stereo Chorus, a spin on a classic big box from the 1970’s. Grab your headphones and get ready for a ride, this pedal is gonna blow your mind… With a circuit based around the Panasonic MN3207 Bucket Brigade IC, the...
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Sure, you probably have a tone knob on your guitar, and most likely your amp has some sort of EQ capabilities, but what happens when you really need to shape your sound via certain frequencies? Well, you turn to the pros at Source Audio, and their newest tone-shaping masterpiece, the EQ2 Programmable Equalizer (brought to you today by our friends at Sweetwater). EQ’ing, on-board tuning, presets and more: this pedal will sculpt...
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Compression has always been an effect I’ve gravitated towards, and I’m always on the lookout for new versions with differing options and tonal qualities. Today’s pedal is a compression lover’s dream, with five parameter controls and a wide spectrum of sounds from which you can easily create. The All-Pedal Galactavise Compressor not only has a great name, it will improve your overall sound quality, too…...
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After recently exploring the high-gain Fireman Distortion from our friends at NUX, today we’re getting into slightly different territory: Amp Modeling. The NGS-6 Amp Academy feature six legendary amp models, and the iconic TSAC-2K (WHITE-BOX algorithm) Amp Modeling offers you realistic amp feeling and fast playability response. Lots of knobs, switches and tones to get into, let’s go! Amp Academy features 6 legendary amp...
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Today, we continue our journey of the exploration of the Ampworx Series of preamp pedals from our friends at TC Electronic. We’re looking at all six effects in the series (so far), with their three latest releases, and moving through the previous three, over the coming weeks. Let’s keep it going with the V550 Preamp, a monster that emulates the legendary 5150 High-Gain amp, embodying a charismatic sonic profile reminiscent...
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We’re rounding out the run of latest pedal releases from Flamma today, checking out the boomy FS08 Octave. The green gem offers detailed control over this expertly crafted effect, allowing players to punch through with added polyphonic octaves. Players can simultaneously add extra bass frequencies and brighten up their high end with an extra one or two-octave range… This polyphonic octave effect provides individual...
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There are certain pedals that, the moment you plug them in, you know you’ve found a real gem. That was 100% the case with today’s rocker, the MMK Electrics Norris Fuzz, coming at’cha straight from Alaska! This deceptively simple 2-knob fuzz effect has loads of gain and range on tap, blowing out speakers and sparking creativity as it carves a gorgeous auditory warpath wherever it goes. It’s time to rock, kids,...
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We continue today on our journey as we review some new pedals from Caline today, bringing some classic tones to the forefront. The CP-505 Wave Machine conjures up vintage chorus tones, while the CP-506 Multimod gives you access to 7 different modulation modes to explore. All things modulation today, kids, lots to dive into, so let’s go… The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean – a world that has yet to...
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We’re exploring the newest releases from our friends at Flamma today, continuing with the FC13 Analog Phaser. This little gem provides everything a guitarist could want from a Phaser effect pedal, compacted into three simple dials and switches. Let’s jump into these modulated waters and see what all the buzz in about, shall we? The tonal properties of the Analog Phaser can be determined through two control parameters....
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Last month, we covered our first pedal from Elysian Pedals: the awesomely-named It’s Not Brain Surgery Octave Fuzz, and we loved it. Today, we get to delve further into their effects lineup, with the completely different Sick Bacchus Chorus Flanger. This modulation unit features just four controls and one toggle, but the sonic options here are vast and plentiful… The Sick Bacchus is very easy to set and use in any...
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The crew at Flamma is at it again, recently releasing THREE new affordable but powerful pedals, and we’ve got the first one for you today. The FC12 Drum Machine comes from their compact series, but this green machine is big, bold and a whole lotta fun. Providing everything a guitarist needs to maintain a steady rhythm and jam to a backing track without needing external equipment, it’s instant inspiration right at your...
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After the instantly recognizable Fuzz Blender ’77 we reviewed from Supercool Pedals a few months ago, we were excited to see what their next effects unit might be. Well, the day has arrived: presenting The Thneed Overdrive, a low-mid gain drive with nods to a certain super-expensive horsie-esque pedal AND one of the greatest authors of all time. And remember: “A Thneed’s a Fine-Something-That-All-People-Need.” The Thneed is a...
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It’s been a while since we had any gear from Maxon come through the office, but we’re excited today to check out their PAC-9 Pure Analog Chorus. This stereo pedal provides lush, vintage tones, along with some modern amenities to fit into any rig or setup. Modulation fans, rejoice – this is one smooooooth chorus effect… The first thing you’ll notice when you step on the PAC-9 is a beefy, full-bodied chorusing...
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You obviously need to connect your instrument to your amp or interface, right? Sometimes, long cables just get in the way, dampening your creativity and stiffling your workflow. Well, today we’re going to check out a cable-free way to sound amazing in any room or situation – let’s take a look at the NUX C-5RC GHz Guitar Wireless System! C-5RC is designed for wireless connection of electronic musical instruments with...
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Today, we begin our journey of the exploration of the Ampworx Series of preamp pedals from our friends at TC Electronic. We’re going to look at all six effects in the series (so far), starting with their three latest releases, and moving through the previous three, over the coming weeks. Let’s begin with the Dual Wreck Preamp, a monster that emulates the classic Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier amp, utilizing component-based...
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We’ve got one more effect left in the newest releases from JHS Pedals’ Legends of Fuzz collection, and we’re going out with a bang!. Today, we’re taking a look at the Mary-K 1969 Japan, which again features just two simple controls and a Mode switch…PLUS an variable, hands-free control of one of the parameters. Let’s jump into this sonic pool and get the fuzz out, shall we?? Grab a Mary-K 1969 Japan...
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Fuzz pedals can sometimes be finicky, sputtery and strange, and that’s not always what you need…but when it’s EXACTLY what you want, look no further than the ZVEX Effects Fuzz Factory Vexter. One of their most beloved pedals, this classically un-classic fuzz takes you to the breaking point of musical sanity, and then shoves you right over. We’re excited to check this one out, as I’m sure you are,...
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Last month, we had the distinct pleasure of checking out the wonderful and nostalgic Time Traveler Delay from Spürr Audio, a Back to the Future-inspired box that gave us all the feels (and sounded great). When we opened the box for today’s Spürr Audio pedal, the Wild Rat Distortion, we were greeted with a shock and almost dropped the box, as what appeared to be a real rat was lurking inside. After gathering ourselves and...
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We continue today on our journey as we review some new pedals from Caline today, bringing some classic tones to the forefront. The CP-505 Wave Machine conjures up vintage chorus tones, while the CP-506 Multimod gives you access to 7 different modulation modes to explore. All things modulation today, kids, lots to dive into, so let’s go… Based on a classic 1970’s analogue circuit, the CP-505 Wave Machine provides lush, rich...
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The pedals we’ve had the pleasure to peruse from the folks at All-Pedal have ranged in genre quite a bit, but today we’re going with a tried-and-true classic: Overdrive. The Alcmene® Overdrive has one of the most popular and mythical circuits ever created down in its belly, and with a simple control system, it’s a cinch to conjure gorgeous breakup and boost in an instant. Small but mighty, let’s see what this...
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Another weird, noisy, off-the-wall sonic monster comes to us today from our good friends at Industrialectric, in the form of the RM-1N Ambient Chaotic Reverb. Much more than your typical ‘verb, this one is packed with knobs, switches and chaos abound. Flipping the effects pedal world on its ass once again, Industrialectric prove that they are a sonic force to be reckoned with… To best explain the RM-1N, let’s hear...
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Combining Preamp, Overdrive and Boost into one pedal might seem like a lot, but with the Westerlund Audio ONE, everything melds together in sonic perfection. This options-laden mammoth can give your signal a pop, shape your tone, add in some breakup or get downright crunchy – whatever you need, it can handle with ease. So many knobs and swithces, and we’re totally here for it – let’s check it out! The...
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After reviewing and demoing the gorgeous Stageman II Studio Acoustic Amp from NUX earlier this month, we’re excited to get back to checking out some of their effects pedals, starting today with the NDS-5 Fireman Distortion. With 2 channels for rhythm and lead switching, plus a wide-ranging control section, this powerful little beast will bring the heat to any rig or pedalboard. Let’s jump in the fire and see what...
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The crew at Elysian Pedals sent us over a couple of effects to check out, and we’re stoked to bring you the first one today. The cleverly-titled It’s Not Brain Surgery Octave Fuzz combines two classic effects into one versatile pedal, one that sounds killer on both guitar and bass. Basically a 2-In-1, this inventive machine will take your tone to the unknown and beyond… The Octave side features a couple of knobs and...
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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,...
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There’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,...
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We 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...
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Well, 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...
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(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...
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We’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,...
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The 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...
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We 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...
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We’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...
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Any 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...
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A 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...
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Today’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...
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While 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...
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Up 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...
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Well, 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...
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The 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...
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We 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...
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After 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...
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We’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...
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Each 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...
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If 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...
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After 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...
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Recently, 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,...
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The 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...
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