With each new release, Chase Bliss defies our expectations and manages to one-up itself as one of the top effects pedal companies in the world. Their latest effort, Habit, is a delay and looper, but it’s also much, much more than that. Combining elements of sonic manipulation, tape delays, free-form composition and shrinking subdivisions, to name a few, this is the next step in the evolution of what a pedal is truly capable...
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The infamous Klon has produced more clones than perhaps any other circuit (well, maybe the Tubescreamer has it beat). We love a good Klone here at Pedal of the Day – hell, we even have a series dedicated to them on our YouTube channel. Today’s pedal brings another mythical creation to the table, this time in the form of the Handy FX Minotaur Overdrive… With the familiar layout and classic oxblood knobs, you’ll feel...
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Like a lot of you out there, we can’t get enough of a good fuzz tone, especially one that’s based around the classic Tone Bender circuit. Today’s pedal, the Minotaur Sonic Terrors Evil Eye MKIII Tone Aggravator, is based on the Sola Sound Professional MKII Tone Bender, but with some modern tweaking done under the hood. Instant amp-crushing is in the very near future – prepare for total annihilation. The Evil...
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After the Catalinbread Tribute Parametric Overdrive a couple days ago, we’re honored to get to share in the release of another brand new drive pedal today, this time coming to you from J. Rockett Audio Designs. Based on the classic tones of a bearded Texas legend, El Hombre is the ideal overdrive for those feeling the blues or ready to rock all night. Capturing the nuances and touch sensitivity of an amplifier, El Hombre can go...
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One of the first pedals we ever reviewed here at Pedal of the Day was from our friends at Catalinbread (the Semaphore Tremolo) and we’ve been marveling at every new release they’ve had since then. Today, we’re proud and honored to help introduce the world to the Tribute Parametric Overdrive, a 4-knob, amp-driving, tone-shaping powerhouse that’s sure to find its way onto pedalboards across the globe. Let’s...
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It seems that whenever the word “Engine” is mixed in with the title or description of an effect, it’s guaranteed to be contain elements not thought of before. Today’s pedal, the Thermion Stone Age Fuzz Tone Engine, lives up to that stereotype, providing an options-laden fuzz topped with 2 other signal blends and a slew of controls to fit any rig. Powerful, bold and experimental, we love pedals like this, so...
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The legendary Nobels ODR-1 Natural Overdrive has been a staple of session players around Nashville for years and years, gaining praise from the likes of Jerry Donahue, Guthrie Trapp, Carl Verheyen, John Shanks, Tim Pierce and more. This secret weapon works great for all musical genres, not just country, and will give your rig a truly natural-sounding overdrive, without a ton of coloration. Today, we’re bringing you a couple of...
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The Clubber Lang Harmonic Percolator Fuzz from Malaise Forever was one of our Top Pedals of 2021, and we were stoked to check out more gear from this fine company out of Columbus, OH. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait too long – today, we’re helping with the Brand New Release for their next creation, the Rage Monster Germanium Gain Stage. Packing some classic and modern boost sounds into one pedalboard-friendly...
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Our 15W Monarch from Benson Amps has been a staple in our demo rig rotation for years, and the Preamp and Germanium Fuzz pedals they put out left us floored as well. Today, we bring you their latest effect creation, a seemingly simple but under-the-hood complex piece of gear: the Germanium Boost. Don’t let the lone knob fool you – a LOT of research and time went into this tone-enhancing machine; here’s what Chris and...
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The Teeth Overdrive and Type One Chorus from Horrothia FX were two of our favorite pedals of last year, so when they announced the release of the Berkeley Vibe, we were super stoked. Turns out, they know how to make an incredible vibrato pedal, too, and we’ve got it here for you today. Bringing all the vintage glory of the vibe machines from decades past into a smaller enclosure with some modern options, this little black box...
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The looks and sounds produced by vintage Maestro effects units have wowed musicians for decades – the Fuzz-Tone, Phase Shifter, Echoplex and more set the sonic bar high long ago. With those older effects being rare, expensive and full of maintenance, Gibson and Maestro have teamed up to release the ‘Original Collection’ of pedals, 5 different effects that lay the foundation for any rig or recording setup. Today, we’re going to look at...
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Over the last couple of years, we’ve joyously learned that Mozztronics doesn’t make clone pedals, opting instead for emulation circuits of amps and specific but original takes on classic effects. Today we’ve got a good old overdrive, the GD-1 Bone Breaker Green Drive, which gives you FIVE different Screamer-esque options to choose from, and use as you see fit. You get 5 incredible drives in one pedal – what...
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Aesthetics are a part of how we all choose pedals, let’s face it. While everyone’s tastes are certainly different, something that POPS out to us individually can sometimes sway our gear choices, which brings us to today’s featured effect. The All-Pedal Love Machine Octave Fuzz doesn’t just look incredible, it also sounds that way, so let’s dive right in and see what’s in store… As soon as you...
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There are times when an overdrive pedal can be “eh, just another overdrive” and there are times when the word “Overdrive” doesn’t even begin to touch what a pedal can do. Luckily, today’s pedal is the latter, coming to use from Fancy Wolf Effects, in the form of the Scoop & Scream Parallel Gain Machine. If you like Fuzz, and Overdrive, and like them IN STEREO, you’ll want to stick around...
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We had the recent opportunity to check out our first effect from Handy FX, the Whiteout Fuzz, and it was an impressive piece of gear. We’re back again today to bring you the next gem in their lineup, the Muskrat Distortion Booster, a powerful 2-in-1 that oozes tone and grit, adding a much-needed punch to any rig. It doesn’t just look rad, folks, it sounds that way, too… The left side of the Muskrat is based on the...
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Many, many moons ago, we got our hands on an overdrive from a company we had just recently heard of, Free The Tone, called the Red Jasper. We loved that pedal, and have loved every one of their creations since, as our friendship and partnership has grown over the past 7 years. Therefore, we’re pretty excited to bring it full circle, back to where it all started, with the upcoming release of the RJ-2V Red Jasper Overdrive, back...
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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!!) A Practical Look at Guitar Pedals By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer Guitar pedals are an incredible way to sculpt the final sound from your guitar, they provide amazing effects at just the push of a button. In some cases they are even necessary to get the right sound for a particular...
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Believe it or not, I have never owned, borrowed or even seen an actual DOD 250 Preamp pedal. I’ve used effects that were based on this legendary unit, but haven’t had to privilege to hold one in my hands and hear it in all its vintage glory. Needless to say, then, I was pretty excited about the release of the JHS Pedals Overdrive Preamp – although slightly different from the Gray Box version that everyone is used to,...
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We love discovering new, up-and-coming effects pedal builders here at Pedal of the Day, and we’ve got another for you today. Summer School Electronics has a three-pedal lineup so far, and we’re going to check them all out over the coming weeks, starting with the Gladys Overdrive. This three-knob, one-switch beauty is a no-frills overdrive unit, with one added option to set it apart from the rest. Let’s what what...
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We’ve been reviewing pedals from our friends at Stacks FX since 2015, and though it’s been a minute, we’re stoked to have some more of their gear in the shop. Today, we’re taking a look at the Ohms Series: Acid Cat Fuzz Distortion, a blistering dirt machine that’s primed to crush amps and eardrums alike. This original circuit takes your signal and sends it into brutally heavy territory with ease…...
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We LOVE a good reverb sound, whether subtle or pronounced, slight or bold, rockin’ or ambient. It’s not often, though, that a device comes through here that actually has SPRINGS in the reverb, and that’s one of the many reasons we’re stoked to bring you the Surfy Industries SurfyBear Compact Reverb Unit. This true spring reverb has a wonderful control section, authentic sound and a stylish, well-built...
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A few months back, we reviewed and demoed the NUX Tape Core Deluxe, an excellent vintage tape echo machine, with a ton of features packed into a small pedal. Well, NUX decided that they wanted to give us all more of that classic flavor, so we present to you the NDD-7 Tape Echo. A tribute to the Japanese-made Space Echo from 1974, offers all the essential components from the old machines, plus some modern features, for an incredible...
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A lot of overdrive pedals come through the office here. A LOT. As fun as they can be, and as good as they can sound, we like it when the circuits get crazy and offer some options we haven’t seen before. Such is the case with today’s Limited Edition pedal, the Spiral Electric FX Yellow Spiral LF351 Overdrive. With a rare opamp and 3 different texture settings, this one sounds different from any other drive we’ve come...
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Over the last 8 years, we’ve reviewed and demoed over 30 pedals from our friends at Walrus Audio, and they just keep getting better with each new release. There have already been two big ones in 2022 – the MAKO Series D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay V2, which we recently checked out, and today’s pedal, the MAKO Series M1 High-Fidelity Modulation Machine. This powerful blue beast tackles a wide spectrum of modulated...
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In continuing with our theme of unique and inspiring pedals this week, we’ve got another weird, wild effect for you today. From the amazing and disturbing mind of Lefa Pedals, the I DEEP THFUZZ combines elements of fuzz, distortion, octave and more into one HUG box. This one doesn’t f*ck around, folks, crushing and destroying everyone and everything in it’s musical path. Lots to explore, let’s jump right into...
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We live in an effects pedal world that can sometimes become saturated with run-of-the-mill 2- and 3-knob units that don’t necessarily stand out from the crowd. Today’s pedal, the VVco Pedals Sports Almanac Theremin, is the exact opposite of this, bringing new and exciting sonic ideas to the table. With just 2 knobs and 1 switch, it isn’t overly complex, but it will leave your head and ears spinning… The Sports...
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We love the pedals that our friend Mike Trombley over at NativeAudio has been putting out for years, having already checked out the Wilderness Delay, Kiaayo Overdrive and Rising Sun so far. We’re bringing another one to you this fine Saturday morning, the Pretty Woman Bird Chorus Vibrato, a modulation effect that’s perfect for all occasions. The Pretty Bird Woman is a preset-capable chorus and vibrato designed with an...
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We’ve got another Klon-inspired beauty to bring to you today, only this one takes everything up a couple notches. Recently, we had the pleasure of checking out the KCM-OD Silver V10 from Studio Daydream Handmade Pedals, and today we’re bringing you their next version, the KCM-OD Gold V9.0 Overdrive. Looking and sounding similar to a certain horsie-laden and ridiculously expensive pedal from the ’90s, this one has a...
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If you’re on the lookout for effects pedals with their own flavor, style and sound, make sure you stop and check out Googly Eyes Pedals. Making some wildly innovative and experimental gear, these guys top their previous pedals every time, and we’ve got another raucous gem for you today. The Fuzz Aldrin, besides having a great name, is a loud, unapologetic beast of a fuzz, with some fun parameters and a whole lot of...
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There aren’t a ton of effects pedals coming out of a city I lived in for 8 years, Boise, Idaho, so I’m proud to represent and bring a hand made gem to the masses today. The Red Velvet Overdrive Distortion from Vanilla Sundae Pedals looks deceivingly simple at first glance, but this crimson beauty is hiding some real power under the hood. Part overdrive, part distortion and all balls-out dirt, this bright beauty tears...
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Last month, we had our first taste of the power and presence of the pedals coming from Minotaur Sonic Terrors, in the form of the exquisite Saturnine Fuzz. We’re lucky enough to be able to check out a second effect from these guys today as well – the Swamp Lord Cyclopean Tone Wizard. This fuzz/drive/distortion can easily cover all of your dirt needs, from ’70s-inspired overdrive to ultra-heavy, and everything in...
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With each new creation we see from Andrew and Mozztronics, we get a different lesson in circuitry, wiring, engineering and how to put squish amplifier tone into a pedal enclosure. Today is more of the same, as we’re investigating the MD-1 Mew Drive, which contains a circuit that uses cascaded JFET Mu amps to give a totally different sound to the screamer pedals, and all the variants (there are many). Lots of controls, lots of...
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The looks and sounds produced by vintage Maestro effects units have wowed musicians for decades – the Fuzz-Tone, Phase Shifter, Echoplex and more set the sonic bar high long ago. With those older effects being rare, expensive and full of maintenance, Gibson and Maestro have teamed up to release the ‘Original Collection’ of pedals, 5 different effects that lay the foundation for any rig or recording setup. Today,...
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Some pedals you just have to try to really see what they can do, most of the time due to a complex structure or a boatload of functions, options and parameters. The BigSky Multidimensional Reverberator from Strymon is most definitely one of these pedals. Boasting 12 different studio-class reverb machines, along with 8 separate parameter control knobs and 300 built-in presets, this is one machine that you MUST sit down with for many...
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Fuzz pedals come in many different shapes, sizes and configurations, each one producing its own brand of gnarly, amp-crushing distortion (to all of our delight). Today’s pedal, the Handy FX Whiteout Fuzz, is no different, utilizing a 4-knob control section to blast off through the fuzziest realms in all the land. And at an extremely affordable price point, there’s nothing not to love with this pristine-looking gem…...
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Delay…elay…lay…ay…y… We just can’t get enough of it, and today’s simple yet extremely impressive pedal shows just why that is. The Mythos Pedals Oracle Analog Echo pays homage to classic Japanese echo pedals, but is a unique circuit and not a direct clone of anything in particular. Don’t let the 3-knob layout fool you into thinking this is a regular old delay effect – ’cause...
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Delay and Reverb have got to be in the Top 3 effects of all time, and when you mix them together into one delicious sonic stew, the results can be downright unbelievable. Such is the case with today’s pedal, the majestic Prelude Delay Reverb from Quiet Theory. This 2-in-1 beauty brings ambience to the forefront instantly, transforming your tone and sound into a delightful array of washes, repeats and overall bliss. We’ve...
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What can you say about a good overdrive pedal? That feeling that sweeps over you when you plug it in, crank it up and hit your favorite chord is like nothing else. Today’s pedal, Poison Noises The Crook Overdrive V3, gives you all these feels and more, proving a wide sweep of sounds that will pummel and destroy your amp…but only if you want it to. The Crook isn’t your average three-knob overdrive pedal, no sir. The...
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We love wild, modulated, ambient machines, as do most of you out there, and we’ve got an amazing one for you today. The Vongon Ultrasheer Stereo Pitch Vibrato & Reverb not only looks incredible, but the sounds it produces are second-to-none. Weaving in and out of gorgeous, wide-spanning soundscapes, this powerful stereo effect combination is inspired by the early digital studio effects units of the late 1970’s. Capable of...
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When the first iteration of Walrus Audio’s MAKO Series: D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay was released, we couldn’t get our hands on one fast enough. A brilliant, feature-packed machine filled with everything you could want in a delay, we didn’t think they could improve upon it, or would need to. Well, we were wrong, and are excited to bring you the latest Version 2 of this powerhouse pedal today. The meat and potatoes...
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We love playing some FUNK, and what effects pedal is funkier then the classic Envelope Filter? None is the answer, none more funky. More importantly, more size doesn’t always mean MORE funk, as evidenced by today’s little yellow beauty. The Flamma Innovation FC11 Envelope Filter gives you all the ’70s disco guitar tone you could want, along with a slew of delicious auto-wah tones to keep everyone’s feet...
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We love a lot of knobs and switches on our pedals – who doesn’t?? The effects coming from Industrialectric, however, are in a musical category all their own, and today we’re looking at their System-46 Analog VCO. At first glance, this thing is extremely daunting, but after you plug it in and start playing around with it….well, it turns out your first instincts were correct. Let’s dive in and see if we can...
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Our friends at Googly Eyes Pedals create some weird and exciting effects units – so far, we’ve had the pleasure of checking out their Synthfuzzier and Delayviator pedals, and we’ve got another one today. A more straightforward, easy-to-control effect, the Gary Boosty is a booster that pays homage to one of the finest actors of our time. Both the effect and the actor get a little wild when cranked up, let’s dive...
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We’ve been reviewing effects and amp pedals from our friends at Orange Amps for a number of years now, and are always excited to see what they’ve got in store for their next release. We’ve got the latest from them for you today, in the form of the Guitar Butler Dual Channel Guitar Preamp. This monster has been tailored to provide comprehensive, exceptional service to your signal chain, as a standalone unit or as part...
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We love a good tremolo pedal, especially one that’s rooted in both musical history and cultural heritage. That’s why we’re excited today to bring you the NativeAudio Rising Sun V2 Optical Tremolo, a vintage-sounding modulation monster that expands on the technology found in vintage amplifiers. With an intuitive interface, incredible sounds and a great story to go with it, there’s a lot to get into here, so...
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The Mu-Tron Tremu-Tron is an optical tremolo effect which can be used as a “clean boost”, and features the famous Mu-Drive preamp from the original Mu-Tron III Envelope Filter. By utilizing an 18 volt dual-rail internal power supply, this effect provides a crisp, clean signal and high headroom. The Tremu-Tron utilizes Mu-Tron’s patented opto-mod technology to provide classic, hi-fidelity attenuation without extra noise...
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Last month, we checked out our first pedal from Sundance Electronics, the HI-1 Fuzz, and it was a complete ripper. Needless to say, we were excited for a second pedal from these guys, and we’ve got it for you today. The Clean Fuzz is anything but, as it is a super versatile distortion/fuzz aimed to work wonders on both guitar and bass. There are three simple control knobs present on the Clean Fuzz – Volume, Clean and Gain....
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We love a good multi-effect around here – who doesn’t? Today’s pedal is a bit different from the usual pedals of this type that we see. First, it’s super small. Second, it’s mainly modulation-focused. Third, it’s as experimental as they come. The 3Degrees Audio Bygones Stereo Nostalgia Effect combines elements of pitch shifting, delay and vintage noise to form a wonderfully unique and creative...
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If you are looking for out-of-the-ordinary, mind-blowing, noise-creating machines, you should look no further than ezhi&aka. Made in extremely small batches and pretty hard to obtain, we’ve only had our grubby mitts on one other pedal of theirs, the Moomindrone T Drone Delay, until today. Let’s take a look at the Polarized Flutter Lofi Tapestop, a hard-to-define machine that utilizes a pad you “play” with...
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As evidenced by the “Klone Wars” series on our YouTube channel, we love a good recreation of that famous mythical pedal that we (and most others) can no longer afford. Luckily, there are many companies building their incredible versions of this circuit, and we have another one for you today. The Studio Daydream Handmade Pedals KCM-OD Silver V10 has the look and feel of this type of pedal, and the sounds to match. The...
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