We love preamp pedals, and we love reverb effects, so what could be better than to have them both in the same place? AND have them modeled after very old, specific circuitry, making the sound unlike any pedal we’ve encountered before? That’s just what has happened with the Nocturne Brain El Pescadoro Reverberant Hot Preamp, an incredible dual channel device that will transport you about 70 years into the past… The El...
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It’s been a while since we saw an effects pedal from Wounded Paw Audio, and it’s also been a while since we had a bass pedal to review and demo. Luckily, both of these are getting fixed today, with the introduction of the Attack Goat OD DI Bass Pre-Amp, a 2-channel fuzz, overdrive, EQ and more. If you’re looking for a tone-shaping, amp-pushing, low-end machine to handle your 4, 5 or 6-string needs, you’re in...
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For the second time in a row, we’ve got a seemingly basic but surprising pedal from our friends at Discomfort Designs. Following in the footsteps of The Big Mistake Fuzz, we present the mighty Doomsailor Distortion, a powerful beast with a simple control setup. With a wide range of tones and all the heavy grit you can handle, this one is ready to annihilate everything in its musical pathway… The Doomsailor Distortion is...
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Fuzz pedals are awesome. Spitty, gated, nasty fuzz pedals are even awesomer. Today’s pedal, the Zero G IOD Honey Coma Fuzz, can do both, in spectacular fashion. With 4 knobs for a wide range of sounds on tap, this exciting and scary beast will give you a jolt of creativity from the second you plug it into your amplifier… Based on some old hooved honey producer of a fuzz known as the BeeBaa (read our review here), the Honey...
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A good overdrive can really make you amp come alive and sculpt your tone, but what if you have TWO in one single pedal? That’s the name of the game with the impressive and options-laden Pantheon Dual Overdrive Deluxe from Wampler Pedals. From boost to crunch to powerful drive and up to heavy distortion, this purple beast has all you could want in a dirt pedal…and then some. The now legendary Wampler Pantheon provided a...
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The recent revival of the Maestro brand has brought a couple of great pedals our way. The Discoverer Delay and Comet Chorus were both a joy to explore, and we’ve got the third pedal in this impressive lineup for you today. The Invader Distortion features three knobs, one switch and a ton of tone to shape and sculpt your favorite distortion and overdrive sounds perfectly…let’s see what it’s all about! The...
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Along with many, many others around the world, we love us some Walrus Audio gear around here. And, as always, a new release from these guys exciting our wonder and curiosity, leading up to the point when today’s pedal was finally delivered to our doorstep. The Lore Reverse Soundscape Generator uses reverse reverbs and delays feeding back into each other, for stretching, warping, pitch-shifting, and time-bending glory....
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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!!) The Buzz on Distortion Pedals By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer Ever since the electric guitar was invented guitarists and sound engineers have attempted to manipulate its signal. When you pluck the strings, the pickup changes sound waves into electrical energy, which can then be...
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From the Zero Hybrid Amp to the Black Sun and Stone Age effects, we love the gear coming from the Thermion camp. Each piece is so unique and well thought out, not to mention adding a myriad of tonal choices to any rig. Today, we’re taking a look at their Gasoline Distortion Preamp, which combines classic rock, crunchy amps and a bit of heavy metal into a savory auditory stew… Gasoline is the tool that will make you set...
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When you think of experimental effects pedal companies, Death By Audio immediately jumps right to the top of the list. Dirty, loud and beautiful, their lineup keeps us all on our toes, and opens up a myriad of new musical possibilities. Today, we’re looking at their latest release, the Germanium Filter, which proves that sometimes you only need 2 knobs to make a gigantic wall of sound. The Germanium Filter is DBA’s love...
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We can’t get enough of the effects coming out of the Mozztronics camp, and we’re so honored to bring another brilliant creation to you all today. Using a real 12AX7 tube internally, the TD-2 HV Tube Driver provides authentic, crunchy tube amp tone, with an easy control section for instant overdriven glory. Three knobs doesn’t give you the whole story, so let’s go for a ride and see what this orange beauty is...
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A good one-knob pedal can surprise the best of us, and when it looks like today’s pedal, the Ground King FX Halo Fuzz, chances are it’s gonna rock your world. Utilizing a main knob and one lone switch, this distorted monster is LOUD, but has wonderful tonal qualities as well. This one comes to us all the way from Lappeenranta, Finland – let’s jump right in and see what’s under the hood here, shall we?...
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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’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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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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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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As their name suggests, the makers of fine pedals at Fjord Fuzz are relatively obsessed with, well, FUZZ. Having had the privilege of reviewing their gear over the last 2 years, it’s safe to say we’re fairly obsessed with it as well. Today’s fuzzy gem comes to us as the EMBLA Overdrive Fuzz, a mix of circuits that present a wide range of dirt to experiment with, and we’ll probably be obsessed with this one,...
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Thick, heavy, doom-y fuzz is a blast to create with, and today’s pedal provides those qualities in spades. The Minotaur Sonic Terrors Saturnine Fuzz features three control knobs and one 3-way mode switch, providing a myriad of sonic flavors from which to explore and sculpt your sound. This one was an instant classic as soon as we plugged it in – let’s run through what it can do… Inspired by the classic Boss...
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We love a good mini pedal here at Pedal of the Day – sometimes, though, they’re not built as sturdy as their larger, more expensive counterparts. That’s not the case today, however – the Fuzz and Pure Delay pedals from Might Be Famous are tough, heavy and sound great. They’re also affordable to ANYONE who wants to explore these two genres of effects. Let’s see what these little fellas are all...
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One of the most talked about effects units from the last couple of years has been the Black Hole Symmetry Delay Reverb Fuzz from Collision Devices, and rightfully so. A massive multi-effect with a huge range of tones to explore, this one found its way onto pedalboards from all types of genres across the globe. In keeping with the 3-In-1 layout of that marvelous pedal, they’ve now released the Limited Edition Nocturnal Delay...
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The crew at Discomfort Designs just keeps bringing the thunder with each new release, and while today’s pedal from them isn’t as loud and heavy as some of the others, it’s a force nonetheless. The Passage Through the Hollow Earth Reverb features a simple control section, but in these few knobs lies otherworldly ambient tone, spreading far and wide with each note you pluck. Get ready for a ride, ’cause...
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If there’s anything we love around here, it’s when a pedal goes beyond all the usually, normal boundaries. Today’s featured effect, the Intensive Care Audio VENA CAVA FILTER Distortion v.1 takes this concept to new heights, combining filter, distortion and ring modulation into one out-of-this-world machine. Lots of options and lots to discover – you all ready? Let’s Get Weird. The VENA CAVA FILTER is a...
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Last month, we began our journey through the G-Series of effects pedals from Revv Amplification, starting with the G2 Overdrive. We continue down this glorious path today withe the G3 Overdrive Distortion, a true amp-in-a-box effect with voicing based on the signature Revv Purple Channel from their Generator 120 and 100P amplifiers. Clear, sustaining and crunchy, this purple gem brings the thunder to your rig… Volume and Gain...
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We first encountered KMA Machines way back in 2014, and we’ve really enjoyed watching them grow to be the powerhouse effects company they are today. They’ve been supportive of us as well, and we love every time they release a new pedal for us to check out. Today, we’ve got possibly the end-all be-all dirt pedal for you – the Guardian of the Wurm Distortion / Noise Gate. Combining on of KMA’s best pieces...
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Seemingly out of nowhere, Discomfort Designs has become one of our favorite pedal companies of late. Creating loud, weird and exciting effects, these guys are pushing the levels of noise creation to new heights. Their latest, the Neon Black Fuzz Booster, combines two odd circuits and makes them into one powerhouse of a pedal. In your face, bold, screechy and fantastic, let’s check it out… The left side of the Neon Black is...
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We all love a good vintage distortion or fuzz tone, right? While there are some sought-after sounds from the past, there are a ton of excellent modern dirt sounds available as well – but which ones to choose? With today’s effect, the VVco Pedals AfterLife Distortion Fuzz, you don’t have to… Inspired by both new and old, the AfterLife has FOUR different internal analog circuits that provide 2 distortions and 2...
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Last month, we were introduced to Weird Noise Pedals, an up-and-coming effects company out of Astoria, OR. Their Fuzz It was a wonderful one-knob buzz machine, and we couldn’t wait to dive into today’s more complex pedal. What The Fuzz is a 2 silicon transistor fuzz pedal capable of everything from touch sensitive overdrive to a thick fuzz. Very responsive to your guitar’s volume and tone controls, this one really makes...
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Certain pedals are created that can be difficult to categorize, and today’s pedal falls along those lines. The SolidGoldFX NU-33 Vinyl Engine is a chorus and vibrato machine, yes, but it’s also something else entirely. Incorporating elements of noise, static and ambient pops that come from playing worn-out copies of decades old vinyl records, the NU-33 features hisses, crackles, and all the vintage flair you can handle....
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Sometimes, actually, a lot of times, three knobs are all you need to make a perfect overdrive or distortion pedal. Today’s effect is an example of one of those times, without a doubt. Based on the ever-popular 1981 Inventions DRV, the Discomfort Designs Spectrum Overdrive boasts a wide range of dirt tones, from slightly dirty boost to a brutally gorgeous distortion, and all kinds of in-between… The Spectrum is a hand-wired...
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We’ve all heard the classic Tone Bender Fuzz so many times, on so many timeless songs, whether we knew what it was or not. Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Mick Ronson, Pete Townshend…the list goes on of great guitarists who utilized this fuzzy effect. However, they are now rare and extremely expensive to obtain if you can find one, so many pedal companies have taken it upon themselves to re-create affordable (and updated) versions...
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Continually coming up with new and creative designs, the effects out of the Hochstrasser Electronics camp have been some of our favorites over the last couple of years. Today’s pedal continues that tradition, bringing the sounds of 2 classic pedals into one pedalboard-friendly enclosure. somehow packing in a ton of options on this small face, the Hairy Eggplant Octave Fuzz is heavy and delicate at the same time. The Hairy...
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As we continue through our journey exploring the Dual Series pedal from Caline, we come across a must-have combo for anyone that plays heavy music. The DCP-09 Tigershark Distortion Gate combines all the crunch you need with the precision abilities to tame those tones. Again putting two other Caline effects into one enclosure, this one is sure to fit right in with any metal/stoner/doom player’s rig. The Distortion portion (hehe)...
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Our first foray into the heavy world of Hilbish Design effects was the incredible Red Fang Night Destroyer Distortion Preamp a couple months back. Big and bold, it encompassed Red Fang’s music and attitude perfectly. Today’s pedal, the Pessimiser King Buzzo Distortion, focuses on the multitude of unique distorted tones coveted by The Melvins’ leader for decades, bringing them all together into one box. The Pessimiser...
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Custom, limited edition pedals have become a staple across the board the last couple of years, and we were able to get our mitts on another rare one today. The Seraphina Fuzz Octave is a collaboration between Red Witch Pedals and Reverb, featuring a wide range of fuzzy options in a simple control package. Unlike any fuzz Red Witch has created before, this one takes it to the next level. Featuring just three top-mounted controls, the...
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When the crew at Gamechanger Audio released the Plasma Pedal a couple years back, we were blown away, and it’s still one of our favorite distortion pedals ever. So when we heard they were teaming up with Third Man Records for a special version, called the Plasma Coil Distortion, we were intrigued, to say the least. Come to find out that this new version has been made to Jack White’s specs, and we were 100% in. The Plasma...
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About a month ago, we checked out the flagship effect from Vaderin Pedals, the Tone Fox Overdrive Distortion, and were blown away by the build and the sound. Today, we’re embarking on a journey with their next creation, the Cherry Fuzz ‘Stainer, a powerful, fuzzy distortion concoction with emphasis on high frequencies, serious sustain and slight octave harmonics. Strap in and faster your set belt, ’cause this fuzz is...
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When a pedal utilizes an ACTUAL tube to produce an overdriven tone, we’re immediately on board. When a company uses a tube in the CORRECT way, to bring out all of the tonal beauty a tube-driven effect should have, we fall head over heels for it. The Mozztronics TD-1 Tube Driver Overdrive accomplishes this feat with just a couple of knobs, a 3-way toggle and some genius internal circuitry. Let’s give this gem a warm...
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Y’all know the band Red Fang? Well, if ya don’t, ya should. A mix of punk, metal, thrash and sludge, they’ve been tearing up venues around the world since their inception in 2005 (we used to love seeing them at the Neurolux in Boise). As this Covid-19 pandemic has hit us all, musical acts are one of the most affected, and today’s pedal gives a little back to one of our favorites. The Hilbish Design Red Fang...
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We love to discover and help promote up-and-coming effects companies at Pedal of the Day, and we’ve got another relative newcomer for you guys today. The Cooltone Pedals Echoverb Delay is a simple but tone-enhancing digital delay that is an excellent starting point to either dialing in a little sparkle to your tone, or adding a bunch of echo to it. Bright yellow in color and producing bright and shining delay repeats, this is...
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Today’s pedal gets us into some spooky low-end territory, and is as unique an octave pedal as we’ve ever come across. The OPFXS Dig Deep Sub-Harmonic Generator works on just the lower three strings of your guitar, leaving the higher strings untouched and clean. This lets you add in some heavy bass notes, and with all of the options available, you can dial it in perfectly to your rig. It looks like a simple pedal, but trust...
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We love to run a rig in stereo. I mean, who wouldn’t? Especially since we love Delay so much, and a stereo amp setup brings out the best in any good 2-output delay pedal. That said, it seems that modulation takes the majority of the cake when it comes to stereo effects, and today we’ve finally broken through that mold. The Dunable Splatterblaster Stereo Fuzz Distortion finally lets you run 2 different channels of dirt to 2...
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A couple months ago, we got our first taste of the new pedal lineup from Teisco, a classic musical company that’s been recently revived. Their Distortion pedal was pretty incredible, and we were looking forward to what was next. Today, we’ve got their Overdrive pedal for you, a simple but crunchy, punchy low-mid gain boost with no frills and a lot of drive under the hood. Control-wise, there’s nothing too crazy about...
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Welcome to another adventure into the mind of Walrus Audio – today, we’re heading back in time just a bit, to the Age of Overdrive. The OKC crew hasn’t released a new dirt pedal since 2016, and given how much we’ve enjoyed their previous ventures in this genre, we were pretty stoked. The Walrus Audio Ages Five-State Overdrive gives you unforgettable sounds, a ton of sonic options and all the boost/drive...
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Let’s face it: there are a LOT of overdrive pedals to choose from out there. We should know, we’ve had more than 200 come through our shop over the years. It’s also a genre that never seems to let up, with older and newer companies alike pumping out great drive after great drive. So, what makes the Shnobel Tone Daily Driver™ stand out from all of these choices? THE SOUND. The simple control section and lone toggle...
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Crazy pedals are the best, aren’t they? The wackier, the better, when you looking for something based purely in experimentation and noise enhancement. Synth pedals are usually excellent for this task, and when you pair it with a fuzz, it sounds even better. Today’s pedal, the Googly Eyes Pedals Synthfuzzizer, brings us the best of both of these worlds, combining both effects into one nice-sized enclosure and letting you...
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Clean tones are great, sure. Even Overdrives have their place in the world, and we love ’em. But there is something special about engaging a really good Distortion pedal, strumming your chord of choice and having the sound rip through your speakers and come blazing out with fury and vengeance…right? Today’s pedal gave us all the feels when we cranked it up, and will continue to do so for years to come. The Wurm...
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While we mostly review and demo pedal around here, it’s always fun to have something a bit different come rolling through. Today, we’re switching gears and talking about another fantastic subject related to guitars and pedals: AMPS. Let’d face it – without these guys, music wouldn’t be what it is today, and with so many different varieties, variations and options to choose from today, we’re living...
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The Sunn Model T Amp. A classic in the heavy/stoner genre of music, they are known for being loud, having thick, killer overdrive, taking pedals well and putting out bass tones that are warm, natural and organic. Today’s pedal comes to us from Electronic Audio Experiments, and is based off of this legendary amplifier. The Model feT is a Preamp pedal, and while capable of doing the doom-y tones, it works for just about any other...
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If you don’t know the power and prowess of having a Volume pedal in your rig by now, you should really look into it. Besides being able to cut off your signal instantly, you can do signal swells, ambient delay and reverb fades and, in most cases, silently tune without skipping a beat or unplugging anything. Now, there are many different types, sizes and build structures to volume pedals throughout the world – we’re...
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The products created by the team at Mantic Effects are always wild, unpredictable and fairly awesome, let’s face it. From low-end powerhouses like the Beef Bag Subharmonic and the Thug Low End Boost to the tonal enhancements of the Proverb Reverb and Isaiah Delay to the heavy, dirty sounds of the Vitriol Distortion and the Flex TMR PLL Monophonic Synth Fuzz, they’ve got a lot of cool stuff to choose from. Sticking in the...
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