In The Whale Denver, CO Eric Riley – drums/vocals Nate Valdez – guitar/lead vocals inthewhale.com instagram.com/in_the_whale twitter.com/inthewhale facebook.com/inthewhale How long have you been musicians? How did you get into it in the first place? ERIC: I started playing percussion in the school band in junior high. I got a drum kit for Christmas when I was 13 and never looked back. I continued to play in school band throughout high...
Read More
Sometimes, pedals come through our office that are fairly loud. Sometimes, we get pedals that are REALLY loud. Today’s pedal might just be the loudest one we’ve ever encountered, and let us tell you, loud doesn’t even really begin to describe it. The Black Drone Wasp from Jext Telez is an absolute monster of a fuzz, and, while it can get extremely high in the volume department, it never gets shrill or too...
Read More
We have been really lucky as of late to have some incredible fuzz pedals coming through the shop, from all different sizes of effects-building companies, each one with a distinct flavor and sound. The Serpent Fuzz from Mistweaver Effects is no different, featuring a simple control section and a toggle to spice things up ever so slightly. Inspired by a classic, sought-after green fuzz pedal, this thing brings your tone to life, rocking...
Read More
Chris Traynor Topanga, California Bush bushofficial.com www.instagram.com/ct3guitar/ twitter.com/CT3GUITAR How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I feel like I’ve been a musician since birth. My parents took me to Suzuki method when I was a toddler, and although I don’t remember much from those days I feel like it really gave me an interest in communicating through music from a very young age. I...
Read More
There are times when you plug in a pedal and think, “Hey, this might be kinda cool” and are then absolutely blown away once you click that bypass switch. Today’s pedal was one of those for us, for sure: the Solar Eclipse Fuzz from Earthground Audio. Not only does it satisfy all of our fuzzy desires, it has options for days and tweakablity to fit into any musical scenario. Let’s check it out! Inspired by the Big...
Read More
The Big Muff Pi “Ram’s Head” fuzz circuit is one of the most well-known, coveted and revered sounds in the history of guitar effects, heard on countless classic albums and in live shows over the past 4+ decades. While the original pedals are expensive and difficult to obtain, there are a number of companies who make tasty recreations of this type of sound, emulating that specific fuzz tone to a T. The M-1 Ram’s...
Read More
If you are looking for a fuzz pedal that not only sounds great, but also has more output volume available than just about any pedal that’s come through our office, today’s effect creation is for you. The White Wave from Frana Effects is a Fuzz and a Boost, and has enough power trapped inside to take down a small building, if your amp’s speakers don’t blow first. Inspired by some classic fuzz tones from some...
Read More
Hand made and hand painted pedals just have something special about them – you can really see how much time and effort goes into each creation, and how dedicated those folks making these effects really are. The Fat Gett Suboctave Fuzz is the first pedal from Champion Leccy that we’ve had the chance to check out, and it did not disappoint. A fuzz with an octave twist, this thing will open your eyes and ears instantly, and...
Read More![Hungry Robot Pedals [fz] Fuzz](https://www.pedal-of-the-day.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/HungryRobotPedals_fzFuzz-640x280.jpg)
Let’s face it: there are a LOT of Big Muff-types of fuzz pedals floating around today, along with the true originals, for a whole lotta muff (hehe). So, when we get a pedal in that bucks convention and tries to forage a musical path of its own, we get pretty damn excited. Today’s featured pedal, the [fz] Fuzz from Hungry Robot Pedals, does just that, utilizing a totally unique fuzz circuit that isn’t based on...
Read More
Unleashing a fury of new and much-anticipated effects over the course of the last couple of years, the crew at Way Huge continues to excite and defy convention with their effects. Today we’re going to take a gander at one of the newest, the Russian-Pickle Fuzz, a dirt pedal that harkens back to the sweet distorted sounds of the mid-nineties’ BC183C Russian Big Muff, for all the grunge and angst you can handle. Easy to use...
Read More
We have been fortunate enough over the last few years to have reviewed the entire lineup of effects from Ninevolt Pedals, and the crew behind those affordable and excellent-sounding pedals are back with another lineup and a different name. The Rust Rod Fuzz from Animals Pedal is the first of 5 pedals from this company that we will be reviewing and demoing, and this one started off the tour with a bang! Designed by Skreddy Pedals, this...
Read More
In an effects world full of clones and “borrowed” circuits, there’s a want, maybe even a NEED, for fresh pedals, new ideas and incredible music-making machines. A company that absolutely adheres to this mantra in Dr. Scientist, who continually reinvests the proverbial sonic wheel, creating unique design after design, some of which we’ve had the pleasure to review. Today’s pedal, the Frazz Dazzler Fuzz,...
Read More
A lot of times, you can tell if you and a pedal are going to gel from the first minute or so of playing it. Today’s featured pedal took us about 8 seconds before we knew it was a keeper. The White Widow Silicon Fuzz comes to us all the way from Brazil, and it was well worth the wait. Based on a special version of the Big Muff Pi from the late ’70s, this one has a couple more options and tones than its classic predecessor....
Read More
Those of us that love fuzz can’t help but dig those old, vintage effects pedals of said genre. Problem is, more often than not, they’re hard to maintain, and modern improvements on their original components and design are as tempting as ever. Which brings us to today’s featured pedal – the 1861 Fuzz. Modeled after the Civil War-era fuzzes of the early ’90s, the crew at Vick Audio has made a delicious nod...
Read More
Jeremy DePoyster Chicago, IL The Devil Wears Prada www.tdwpband.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I got my first acoustic at 10, and have played ever since. I took a quick interest in keyboards, synths, and sequencers and have been making music with them since around the same time. I started with a KORG Polysix running a curly cable into a Fender Champ Amp. Who have been some of your...
Read More
*SURPRISE SATURDAY REVIEW* We sure have had a fun time reviewing and demoing the lineup of pedals from our friends across the sea in Japan, Ninevolt Pedals, and today we’re going to take a look at another one of their classic effects. Now, if the name Fishing Is As Fun As Fuzz doesn’t make you smile a little bit, maybe you should rethink your life and how you can be happier. Inspired (apparently) by the completion of the...
Read More
The band Mastodon has been one of our favorites for years, so we were super-stoked to check out a signature pedal from their bass player, Troy Sanders. Working with the crew from Wren and Cuff, the Elephant Skin Distortion was born, and havoc was unleashed on metal fans everywhere. Featuring a well-known Wren and Cuff pedal on one side and a boost on the other, this is one piece of gear that’s sure to find it’s way onto...
Read More
Tim Bluhm San Anselmo, CA The Mother Hips www.motherhips.com/ How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’ve been singing since I was a kid, in church choirs and in school choruses. I started playing guitar right after high school. In my second year of college I started the Mother Hips with Greg Loiacono and we started getting gigs really quickly. Who have been some of your major musical...
Read More
Today’s guest review comes to us from Scott W. – find him on Instagram (@honey.power) and Facebook (Scott Willems). There are copious amounts of pedals based on the revered Big Muff Pi, but the Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz by Way Huge Electronics proves itself as a very versatile fuzz. Packed in the typical Way Huge anodized aluminum housing, it features three knobs for loudness, filter and sustain, and two external trim pots...
Read More
Andy Greene Escape Plan Pedals http://www.escapeplanpedals.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’ve played music for pretty much my entire life. I got my first guitar, a miniature steel string acoustic, when I was 5. I learned simplified versions of most of the standard position major chords and a few minor chords and would try to put on concerts for my family. I really got interested in...
Read More
Today’s guest review comes to us from Rob H. – you can find him on Instagram (@studio.rh), Twitter (@Rob_Hildreth) or on his website (Studio RH). Magnetic Effects are a London (UK) based boutique pedal manufacturer. All of the effects are designed and built by Christian Livingstone, who also happens to be the riff monster from NZ garage rockers The Datsuns. You only need to listen to his guitar work to realise this guy...
Read More
Mike Gantzer Guitarist for Aqueous Buffalo, NY https://aqueousband.com/ https://www.facebook.com/aqueousband/ How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? Incidentally, when I first started playing music was in the 3rd grade with the standard issue recorder they give out to everyone, and i HATED it. haha I picked up trumpet for awhile, but I recall being sort of turned off with the rigidity of the...
Read More
John Snyder Electronic Audio Experiments Boston, MA http://www.electronicaudioexperiments.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? My first instrument was actually the violin, which I began playing at age six. I took private lessons for about twelve years, firmly establishing classical music as a big part of my musical DNA. I listened to all types of music growing up, but I only started...
Read More
Sometimes it just seems impossible to get just the right fuzz sound, and the harder you look the harder it gets to achieve it. As you keep looking the more peachy you become about it and suddenly you come to decide anything will fit your non realistic expectations and kinda led you into a big depression. That’s how I got to Vntage Tone (www.facebook.com/vntagetone), a Mexican custom pedal and pedalboard builder who seems to hit...
Read More
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...
Read More
I dig it when I get to review a bunch of pedals from the same builder all at once, and the crew over at 6 Degrees FX is making some pedals that I am going to have a lot of fun testing out, the first of which is the Millie Fuzz. This pedal just looks cool, like some kind of race car from the mid-70’s, and it’s a big, thick piece of metal, with nice big knobs and easily accessible footswitches. Not to mention is sounds...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
The Fuzz of Doom! The Sequel 6 from Midnight 30 Music is a faithful recreation of the Lovetone Big Cheese. Lovetone produced many great pedals over the years, and one of the most sought after was the Big Cheese fuzz. From the blistering riff from The Edge on U2’s Discotheque, to the alt. country guitarists looking for that spaghetti western type of tone, this circuit delivered. What M30 has been able to do with this version, is...
Read More
You know about the infamous Klon Drive, right? If you don’t, do some research. It has somehow become the end-all, be-all of drive pedals, and while it only cost about $225 in the ’90’s, today they are rare, and sell for upwards of $2000. Besides being outrageously overpriced, there are now a number of pedal makers who have been able to clone the circuitry and sounds of the Klon, most at about 1/6 of the price of an...
Read More
As a dirt-obsessed bass player, I’m often disappointed by the lack of distortion options for us dudes in the rhythm section. Most bass overdrives sound flabby and unfocused; poor recreations of that famous “vintage” amplifier that rhymes with BLT, and, though I enjoy the upper-midrange growl I get from guitar-oriented overdrives, they’re chronically lacking in bottom-end, and that gnarly tone gets lost in a full-band...
Read More
If you’ve never indulged in the high octane effects units produced by our friends Wounded Paw Audio up in Canada, you should check out a couple, such as the Attack Goat Bass Pre-Amp, Bighorn Overdrive or Black Wolf Distortion. First, however, let’s talk about today’s pedal, the Hellhound Distortion, one of their latest offerings and a downright scorcher of an effect. With a wide range of sounds emitting from a...
Read More
We’ve always enjoyed it when a new product from Yellowcake Pedals appears on our doorstep, and today we get to experience that joy once more. They’ve sent over the FOOM Fuzz, a one knob powerhouse that goes from dirty to dirtier to just filthy, and it is awesome. This simple, velcro-like fuzz gives you some very Muff-esque types of distortion, and all you have to do is gently turn one control. It’s designed to be...
Read More
Hard to believe it’s been SIX YEARS since we had the pleasure of a pedal from Retro Mechanical Labs grace our presence, but this one definitely made up for lost time. The 432k Rev2 Distortion builds on the original version of the 432k, adding in some modifications to improve tone and give you more sonic options to experiment with. Beauty and brawn are once again combined into a big, gorgeous enclosure, complete with the classic...
Read More
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...
Read More
Last year, we got our hands on a BloodBuzz Fuzz Overdrive from Eastwood Guitars and Valco FX. It was a BIG, mammoth of a pedal, with killer tones and a ton of options. The second offering from Valco FX comes your way today, in the form of the KGB Fuzz. This smaller (but still bigger than most) effects unit is a multi-function, tone-sculpting machine, with all the switches, knobs and sliders you’ll need to produce some incredible...
Read More
Looking back, it seems we should have featured today’s pedal yesterday, as you can clearly see from the artwork (Happy Belated 4/20, all!). No matter, we’re still gonna crush some faces with the Blazed Fuzz, another killer effects from our friends Kink Guitar Pedals down in Cranbourne, Australia. The clearly Jamaican-influenced graphics are a stark contrast to the down-and-dirty sounds this pedal creates, but in absolutely...
Read More
Sometimes, in our wonderful world of effects pedals, one knob is all you need to produce spectacular sounds. Such is the case with today’s featured piece of gear, the Dream Left Behind Fuzz from our new friends at Life Is Unfair. Coming to us all the way from the city of Cardiff in southern Wales, this bright orange tone machine has fuzz sounds you might not expect from such a simple pedal. Much Muff-y research was done to...
Read More
Joe and Dom over at Celestial Effects are some of the biggest supporters of Pedal of the Day, and they’re also making some pretty incredible pedals as well. Today’s moose of a beast is actually a FOUR-In-1 pedal, trying to outwit the usual 3-In-1 lackeys (just kidding, you guys all rock, too). The Cancer Wah The Fuzz? features Fixed Wah, Octave Fuzz, Muscle Fuzz and Tube Overdrive, all in one relatively-space-saving pedal...
Read More
Today’s guest review comes to us from Wesley S. – find him on Instagram (@wesleystuart1) and say Hi! Emerson Custom (though mostly known for their wiring kits) has also dipped their fit into the pedal making business; one of their two offerings being the Paramount Overdrive. I recently bought this pedal as I just wasn’t satisfied with the drive tone I’d been getting from my rig and hated how the pedal I was...
Read More
After the options-laden Aquarius Fuzz pedal we looked at last week, today’s featured piece of gear does a complete 180, and gets down and dirty with a stripped-down enclosure and bare minimum controls. Lone Wolf Audio is well-known for producing some of the most unique, complex noise machines in the industry, so it was both a shock and a welcome sight to see the Bulldozer Fuzz arrive in our mailbox. This one-knob pedal...
Read More
Ryan McCaffrey McCaffrey Audio Stevens Point, WI www.mccaffreyaudio.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I have been playing guitar since I was 6, so over 29 years ago. My dad, and a lot of his friends played guitar, which enticed me to observe and try to keep up with their playing. I began playing in a band when I was 12, and my buddy’s dad would let me play his 1966 Fender Jaguar in a...
Read More
All-in-one pedals can be great, and they can be terrible, as anyone who has ever tried a few out can attest to. The good ones, though, when they’re good, they are GOOOOD. Where to begin with a pedal like this, with so many options, tones, squeaks, sound and delights? With a long-standing reputation of making some of the finest musical gear around, the folks at Eventide have one-upped even themselves at this point, and released...
Read More
Any dirt pedal that adds in a Mid control to the EQ section is a plus and a winner in my book, and when it’s on a fuzz pedal, that just makes my day. The addition of this control seems to really open up the sonic possibilities immensely, and make for a much broader range of tones to play around with. Add to that some nice clipping options and a warm, fuzzy sound, and I’m in fuzzerated heaven. These words describe...
Read More
