Mike Dillon Kansas City, MO Bands: Mike Dillon Band, Nolatet https://mikedillonband.bandcamp.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I have played music since I was 10 years old. I started taking drum lessons when I was in 5th grade, and had my first garage band in 6th grade. We played “American Band,” “Smoke on the Water” and “Black Dog.” I am sure we sucked, but I was hooked!! I played in...
Read More
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...
Read More
We all know multi-effects pedals, especially the ones that have been coming out the last couple of years, can be super fun, and essential to some rigs. But they really open up when you can control more of their functionality easily, and that’s why we’re here today. The new Tap and Dual AUX switches from Rock Stock Pedals open up your Line6 HX Stomp (and other multi-effects) and lets you customize how you use it to your...
Read More
Seeing as this was one of the oddest, most dysfunctional and, let’s be honest, frightening years in the existence of the Earth, we wanted to send everyone off into 2021 rocker-style, in the form of the Electric Beard Fuzz from our friends at Radio Mule. Following in the footsteps of their Red Petal Fuzz we checked out earlier this month, this fuzz-filled freak combines 2 classic fuzz sounds, the Big Muff and the Super Fuzz, and...
Read More
The InterFax Harmonic Percolator has a weird story. A distortion/fuzz pedal made in the fabulous city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the 70’s, it has become a mystical unit of legend. Probably made most famous by Steve Albini of Big Black and Shellac, these rather bland-looking boxes have a wide range of tones to investigate. Since originals are relatively scarce and spendy, it’s nice when a re-creation comes our way, and...
Read More
Continuing on this Boost-happy weekend (check out the Bad Penny FX Smoothflow from yeaterday), we’ve got a PAIR of pedals to show off today. Coming to us from R2R Electric, these One and Two Knob Treble Boosters each offer gorgeous components inside, as well as amp-driving bliss for your eardrums. Let’s check out the features for each of these sonic marvels: One-Knob Mullard AC107 Germanium Transistor NOS Piher 10K...
Read More
Tape echo delay units have been heard on classic recordings for decades, on albums from artists like Pink Floyd, Miles Davis, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Hawkwind, Chet Atkins, Eric Johnson, the late great Eddie Van Halen and many, many more. The old units, while possessing some secret ingredients and mojo, lend themselves to malfunctions, upkeep, unavailable replacement parts and general unreliability…but no more. Today...
Read More
So many overdrive/distortion pedals….so little time. But what separates a GOOD one from a GREAT one? Well, therein lies the age old question, right? For us, it’s always been about the FEEL you get, as soon as you plug a pedal in, before you have time to dissect and scrutinize every little aspect of the build and sound….when you know, you know. Your amp comes alive, a big grin washes over your face and, for a moment,...
Read More
So far, we’ve had the pleasure of checking out the Fabrikat and the Draume pedals from the crew at Pladask Elektrisk. Full of inspiring character and bold sonic statements, these pedals are a real revolution in the effects world. That’s why we had to have more, and that’s why we’ve got another one for you today. The Tåken is an asynchronous dual-head delay with random modulation and a powerful...
Read More
The guys at Analog Alien have been making incredible effects for years, and we’re excited to check out another one of their creations today. Going in a different direction than the FuzzBubble 45 and Alien Comp pedals, the Rumble Seat mixes Overdrive, Delay and Reverb into one gorgeous orange unit, saving valuable pedalboard real estate and giving you three primo effects in one convenient place. Let’s dive in and see what...
Read More
The Legends of Fuzz series from JHS Pedals is a tribute to the world’s most historic, rare, and sought after fuzz circuits. Since the originals are extremely hard-to-find, extremely expensive when you do and prone to the problems electronics might have after 50 years, this series brings these sounds and tones to the masses, for all to enjoy. There are four pedals in all, and we’re going to run through each one, what they...
Read More
We’ve have a couple of really nice pedals here at Pedal of the Day from both Pine-Box Customs and Farm Pedals, so we were pretty stoked to hear they had collaborated on today’s monster effect. The Bloodline is a Dual Dirt pedal, with independent circuits housed in one enclosure and offering a wide array of down-n-dirty tones. Ranging from crunchy drive to balls-to-the-wall fuzz, this black beauty has got something for...
Read More
We love delays, as you all should know by now. Today we have one of the funnest, intuitive and complexly awesome delays we’ve seen in a while to show you: the RedShift Effects Mirage Delay. Now, you’ve probably heard about this one, as it has been floating around the scene for a number of years, but if you don’t know much about it, now’s your chance. Exciting, powerful, creative and vintage are just a couple of...
Read More
As impressive as their amps have always been, the crew at Orange have, especially in recent years, had a knack for conjuring up some fantastic effects pedals. The Orange Amps Bax Bangeetar Guitar Pre-EQ is a pedal, but is more of a machine masquerading as a pedal (and it has the girth to prove it). Not shy about its size or power, this mammoth boasts a unique and hugely versatile gain structure with extensive EQ controls. You can dial...
Read More
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...
Read More
Recently, we had the privilege and honor reviewing and demoing another pedal from our friends at KMA Machines, the Wurm, a killer distortion pedal full of great tones and offering loads of options. We get to look at another KMA machine today, one along the same lines as the Wurm, but with a couple differing twists and turns. The Dead Stag is a Distortion, yes, but it’s also a Fuzz, so you get the best of those two worlds in one...
Read More
We all love pedals, but if you have a bunch of ’em that you use together, you’re nothing without a good power supply. There are small ones, medium ones, HUGE ones, skinny and fat ones and more, coming in all colors, shapes and sizes. The smallest one we’ve come across so far has been the PB-107 Power Box Lithium, from our pals over at Big Joe Stomp Box Company. Well, they’ve topped themselves, and have released...
Read More
The lines of pedals from Friday Club and Mr. Black (the brainchildren of Jack Deville out of Portland, Oregon) have been the topics of many a conversation over the last decade plus, and we love what we’ve been able to check out here at Pedal of the Day. Today’s sonic journey brings us to the ED-450b, a warm, analog-ish delay echo machine from the Friday Club camp that is simple yet powerful at the same time. A real...
Read More
It’s been a hot minute since we’ve had anything in the shop from Joe and Lone Wolf Audio, but we’re pretty stoked about today’s pedal, for sure. The Outsider V2 is a bit of an oddity pedal, based on a super rare piece of gear that most of you have probably never heard of. Described as a Lead Boost Sub-Harmonic Energizer, this little black box has the ability to conjure up some fun sounds, bold tones and, if...
Read More
The world of Strymon is a fascinating, intriguing and exciting place to be – anyone who’s ever used one of their pedals can certainly attest to that. For their latest release, they’ve gone in a bit of a different direction, but one that is most welcome, and will flip the way pedalboards are arranged and used from this point forward. Iridium is an amplifier and Impulse Response cabinet simulator, one that connects...
Read More
We have always had a bit of an affinity for the exquisite pedals produced by our friends at Spaceman Effects, and are always excited to check out their creations. One of our favorites was the Saturn V Harmonic Boost, a pedal that just adds that extra little bit of POW! and WOW! that your tone sometimes is lacking. Today’s pedal, the Mercury IV, is also rooted firmly in the Boost department, but with a couple more options and a...
Read More
John Lee Shannon (www.johnleeshannon.com) Brooklyn, NY In addition to my own solo project, I regularly work in collaboration with: Zephaniah Ohora Cliff Westfall Bonehart Flannigan Brother Roy How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I started playing guitar when I was 15 or 16. My mom is a huge music lover, we were always listening to the radio in the car and going to concerts growing up. My dad...
Read More
A couple of months ago, we were honored and privileged to review and demo a pedal that was very near and dear to our hearts: the DeLorean Analog Delay from VVco Pedals. Not only was it a nice-sounding delay, it brought back memories from 30+ years ago via one of our favorite movies, Back to the Future. Today, the VVco folks are at it again, this time taking on the superhero genre with their latest, the Dark Knight Distortion. Housed...
Read More
Let’s face it: we all know about Chase Bliss Audio and their contribution to the effects pedal world by now, right? From their classic Warped Vinyl and Wombtone flagship effects to the uber-popular Tonal Recall and Thermae delays, as well as the most recent M O O D Granular Looper and a bunch of others in their lineup, the innovation and advancement they’ve brought to the table is quite stellar. In keeping with this slew...
Read More
The Russian Big Muff from Electro-Harmonix is about as classic a distortion/fuzz sound as you’re going to find in the effects pedal world, but sometimes, you may find yourself wanting more options than its 3-knob configuration will allow. Enter D-Sound Effects and their Orion Distortion Fuzz. Utilizing a six-parameter control section, and using modern, sophisticated circuitry and build techniques, this pedal is a Russian Big...
Read More
There’s no shortage of amazing effects coming out of the Keeley Electronics camp, as they have been for close to 2 decades now, and we always love it when something new comes through the office. While the past couple of years have seen bigger, more option-filled pedals like the Dark Side, Aria, Super Mod Workstation and more, sometimes you just need a killer overdrive pedal to get you in the right mood, and spark some creativity...
Read More
There’s something about a really rad distortion pedal that just sounds right when you engage it and crank up a good amp. It’s hard to describe, but you know it when you hear it, whether it’s at your band’s practice or on a recording or when you’re the member of an audience at a show – you can just feel that the sound and tone fit perfectly with the music. The aptly-named Distortion pedal from...
Read More
My name is Anders Mouridsen, and I’m a Danish guitarist, living in Los Angeles and working all over the place. I currently perform, write and record with country artist Cam (www.camcountry.com). In the past, I’ve performed and recorded with artists like John Fogerty, Pink, Taylor Swift, Tim Timebomb, Meghan Trainor, Guy Sebastian and many others. You can hear some examples of my work as a writer, producer and musician on...
Read More
Brandon “Taz” Niederauer tazguitar.com @brandonniederauer @NiederauerMusic 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 eight years old. I became fascinated with my father’s album and video collection and was listening to The Allman Brothers and other guitar and jazz music. When I went to my first concert at eight, I knew I wanted to play. Who...
Read More
With the weekend rapidly approaching, many of you will be exploring new gear and trying to figure out which new, tasty pedal to order while you relax on your off days. If you’re in the mood for something that will warp your mind, bend your soul and spark outrage in your neighbors, then you have definitely come to the right place. The Super Weirdo from our noise-happy German neighbors across the pond, JPTR FX, is the ultimate in...
Read More
Patrick Garland Houston, Texas GARLAND FX garlandfx.bigcartel.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’m 33 years old, and started playing guitar at age 10 – so about 23 years. 20 on electric guitar. The first guitar I ever played was my mom’s Guild Madiera from 1970. My mom uses it for playing music to pre-schoolers – she’s quite talented and can play and sing. I also still...
Read More
Whenever a crazy, noise-laden, free form piece of musical equipment comes into the office, we tend to get fairly excited. When the Erratic Clutch Deluxe arrived, we had no idea what we were in for, as it doesn’t really tell you what it is on the outside. However, once we plugged it in, we were treated to a sonic explosion, the likes of which we don’t witness very often around here. You’re all in for a treat today,...
Read More
Ah, the Klon….such a mysterious, magical and ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE piece of gear. Now, we love a delicious overdrive, and have even grown to love boost pedals over the last few years, but really, enough is enough. Since we have no money (or desire) to spend over $1500 on one singular item, especially when it’s an EFFECTS PEDAL, we’re glad there are companies like Rock Your Repaired Amp, or RYRA, as...
Read More
It’s been a minute since we had a new pedal from JHS Pedals come through the shop, but they’ve reappeared with a brand new effect that sure to get the tremolo/vibe folks salivating. The Kodiak is a Tap Tempo Tremolo pedal, complete with a ton of bells and whistles that will suit anyone looking to add a fat, bold, pulsing effect to their lineup or board. Boasting subdivision note control, 4 differing waveform choices,...
Read More
Scott Metzger New York City Joe Russo’s Almost Dead WOLF! The Showdown Kids www.scottmetzger.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I started playing saxophone in the third grade and I kept that up all through high school. A love of early Metallica led to the guitar when I was about 14-ish. Who have been some of your major musical influences, past or present? Tons of Motown &...
Read More
Big. Black. Bold. Bowerful. Well, maybe not that last one, but the others (and Powerful) definitely describe the lineup of pedals produced by Wounded Paw Audio. Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure to check out their Battering Ram Overdrive/Fuzz, Echo Drive and, most recently, the Black Wolf, a massive distortion for guitar AND bass. Today, we’ve got another creation of theirs for you: the Bighorn Overdrive. A little...
Read More
The folks at Free The Tone are known for their extravagant, options-laden effects pedals, many of which we’ve had the pleasure to review and demo. That said, when today’s pedal arrived in the mail, we were a bit shocked to discover that it had just THREE control knobs, and didn’t have any of the thrilling digital fun that usually accompanies their gear. In typical fashion, however, they have managed to surpass our...
Read More
The Uni-Vibe is an iconic effect, whether coming from Hendrix and Band of Gypsy’s “Machine Gun,” Robin Trower’s “Bridge of Sighs” or multiple tracks from “Dark Side of the Moon” from Pink Floyd, you’ve heard it before many times, and chances are you dig it. Today’s pedal seeks to re-create those iconic effects units of the past, with a couple new enhancements as well. The...
Read More
The resurrection and resurgence of the new Shin-ei brand of pedals started off with the stellar Vibe-Bro (click here for our review and demo), and continues to build and build with more pedals from vintage eras. The Screaming Sister is an octave boost based on the Prescription Electronics’ Clean Octave Boost (COB), a now rare (and crazy expensive) effect used by Doyle Bramhall II, Jonny Lang and more. This simple three-knob box...
Read More
Joey Lewis Buffalo, NY Funktional Flow www.funktionalflow.com facebook.com/FunktionalFlowMusic youtube.com/user/funktionalflowmusic/videos How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? From what I can remember, a man in our neighborhood growing up gave an acoustic guitar to my older brother Justin and he quickly lost interest in it. That’s when I swooped in and nabbed it lol. But it was ok...
Read More
We’ve had some really great compressor pedals come through the shop recently, and today’s featured effect is right on par with the rest of ’em. Looking and sounding like a true studio rack compressor that has just been squished down into pedal form, the Underthruster from RetrogradeFX gives you all you’d expect from a comp unit. With essential features and uncompromised audio fidelity, you’ll get all the...
Read More
Pedal that are hard to describe, explain or wrap your head around are usually some of the best. The Ottobit Jr from Meris fits squarely into this set of rules, possibly breaking some along it’s sonic warpath as well. Part pitch manipulator, part sampler, part sequencer and all bitcrusher, this little black box will expand your mind and everything you thought you knew about how music is supposed to be created. Inspired by vintage...
Read More
Nick Johns & J.B. Brisendine Atlanta, GA Brother Hawk brotherhawkatl.com facebook.com/BrotherHawkATL twitter.com/brotherhawkatl youtube.com/brotherhawkatl instagram.com/brotherhawkatl How long have you guys been musicians? How did you get into it in the first place? Nick: I had always been surrounded by a family of musicians my whole life and started picking songs out on the piano by ear when I was 4 years old. I started piano...
Read More
Today’s guest review comes to us from Monique Hernandez-Fuentes – you can find her with Guitar Tricks on Facebook, Twitter and on the Guitar Tricks website. Thanks again, Monique! In my quest for the ultimate high gain, I stumbled across the awesome Heavy by Canadian heavy weights, Empress Effects. Originally, I was looking for something super versatile and was referred to Empress by a guitar buddy of mine on Instagram. One thing I...
Read More
Ahhh, delay….our favorite effect. It comes in so many different shapes and colors and flavors and options, and we love ’em all – not equally, though. Once in a while, an effects pedal makes its way to our shop and we are absolutely blown away, and today’s pedal did exactly that as soon as we plugged it in. The Echoczar Analog Delay from Toneczar Effects is a BBD-infused, vintage-inspired, modulated black beauty...
Read More
Today’s guest review comes to us from Jimi Dymond – you can find him on Instagram and with his band Rotten Foxes on Facebook and Bandcamp. Thanks again, Jimi! What can I say? I’m not a fancy man. Technology eludes me, I’m 28 and write on my smartphone with one index finger like a banged up old mum. But there’s one thing I do know about certain types of technology, bass pedals for example. I’ve gone through a lot of...
Read More
Although we’re not the fastest or most technical of players around here, we sure can appreciate a good heavy metal tune, and the pedal we’re going to look at today is capable of providing the tones needed for speed, thrash, glam, black, death and other metal genres with ease. Robert and the kids at Keeley Electronics have covered just about all the bases when it comes to effects, and the Filaments High Gain Distortion is...
Read More
After getting the chance to review and demo the M-1 Ram’s Head Fuzz from Buffalo FX, we were looking forward to something a little milder from them, as the M-1 was a real powerhouse (in only the best of ways, mind you). They responded with the Carrera Overdrive, a low-to-mid gain boostable dirt pedal that was designed for clean and edge-of-breakup types of tones. Combining an easy-to-use control layout with impressive circuitry...
Read More
Combining delay and reverb into one effect should absolutely be done more often, especially if the result is anything like today’s featured piece of gear. Improving a bit on the first version of this pedal, the Caverns Delay Reverb V2 takes everything we loved from the initial go-round and fine tunes it all into a still-compact enclosure with amazing sonic prowess. With three reverb modes and an analog, tape-style delay,...
Read More
Jeff Lewis Northampton, Massachusetts Sun Parade http://www.thesunparade.com/ How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’ve been obsessed with music for most of my life. I started playing guitar and mandolin when I was 9 or 10. My dad was always in bands when I was growing up so I was always surrounded by his and his bandmates’ rehearsals and great vibes. He got me started on both instruments and...
Read More
