Sometimes, your rig just need an extra bit of sparkle, a push to kick it into high gear and get to that one sweet sonic spot you’ve been hearing on your favorite recordings for years, but never seem to be able to quite achieve. In the case of today’s pedal, that magic ingredient is a Boost pedal. While there are a ton of these available on the market today, each one is unique in design, output and color, and I’ve...
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There’s a little pedal company out of Denmark called Emma Electronic, and they’ve been putting out some sweet pedals for years now. One of our favorites here at Pedal of the Day is their envelope filter, the DiscumBOBulator (check out the review here), and we’ve got another rocker for you today. The OnoMATOpoeia (great name, by the way) is a Boost and Overdrive in one, but won’t color your original signal in...
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Boss pedals have long been staples on many a pedalboard, and one that I always found to be a real stand-out is the BD-2 Blues Driver. A great stock pedal, the BD-2 gives of great drive tones, perfect for rock and roll, blues or pop, and can get your tube amp to that special distorted spot that every player digs. Today’s version features a special Phat Mod done by our friends over at Keeley Electronics, which will turn your...
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Most (not all, but most) boost pedals are fairly simple, many times just having one knob to control the output volume, and nothing else. So, it’s always refreshing to come across a boost that has a little more meat to it, and some nice equalization options as well. Which brings us to today’s pedal: the Blinding Voip Boost from Jellyfish Electronics. While it’s true that the Blinding Voip does possess that...
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We love seeing a new company burst onto the scene, fresh with new ideas and full of gusto about their new adventures, and today’s pedal comes to us from one such company. Ohm Made Electronics, located in Leavenworth, Washington, is a small company just getting off the ground, and their first production model is today’s featured pedal, the Fuzz Out! At first glance, this pedal looks really simple…and it is, to an...
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Delay, delay, delay! We love it here at Pedal of the Day, and you probably do, too (and if you don’t, you should). With so many delay pedal options flooding the pedal marketplace these days, it’s fun discover a simple, low-time delay that does only a couple of things, but does them extremely well. In steps the Aqua-Puss™ MkII Analog Delay from Dunlop / Way Huge Electronics, and puts a big, fat, delay-induced smile right...
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The Keeley Electronics Katana had me the moment I read the name. Anything named after a sword wielded by ancient Japanese warriors is okay in my book. Not to mention, it’s a stinkin’ awesome sounding boost pedal! To start out, with the volume knob pushed in, this pedal does exactly what a good clean boost should do: it allows you to boost your signal without coloring your tone whatsoever. Seriously, this thing is crystal...
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A couple weeks ago, we reviewed a rad little fuzz pedal, the Muzz Fuzz, from an upstart company based out of Chile called Fuse Electronics. The fuzz was a pleasant surprise, being from such an unknown builder, and they sent us another pedal to test out as well: the Smooth Drive. This golden box keeps in theme with most other 3-knob overdrive pedals, as far as the controls are concerned. Level (Volume) adjusts the overall output of the...
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The previous pedals we’ve reviewed from our friends over at Center Street Electronics have been some of the most innovative and fun pedals we have ever delved into, and they all had a common theme: heavy. Fuzz, Drive and Distortion was the name of the game with those other pedals, so the new and improved StellarVerb was an interesting transition, and a nice and inspiring one at the same time. The new version of this classic...
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Some pedal companies (well, a lot of them, actually) are small, unique and hail from a different country. I always like to see what other countries and cultures are doing in the massive pedal world, to see what influences they are using, and how their ideas about pedal building differ from the ones here in the U.S.A. I’ve recently been in contact with Fuse Electronics, all the way from Chile in South America, and they sent a...
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Chorus pedals are a touchy subject for me. I find most of them to be disappointing. Usually, either they are too subtle (EHX Small Clone) or when you try to make their effect more pronounced the depth is too extreme and makes the guitar sound out of tune. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the new Blue Hippo MK II from Way Huge/Dunlop, is an exception. With the depth close to max and the rate around 9 o’clock some great...
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A few months ago, we reviewed a little pedal from Finland called the Microtubes Vintage Overdrive, made by a company called Darkglass Electronics. That was a fun pedal to test, for sure, but the fuzz we’re going to look at today is a completely different animal, in the best of ways. Let’s check out the Duality Dual Fuzz Engine, shall we? For starters, the Duality features four control knobs, and one of them has a truly...
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Distortion pedals have always been sort of hit-or-miss for me – a lot of them are too harsh, too bold, too piercing or just not really my style. To each their own, of course, it just takes a pretty rad pedal to get me super-stoked about pumping some high gain through my amps. However, plugging in the Supernaut Distortion from Center Street Electronics turned my head around almost instantly, and the rest of the time testing out...
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There’s an age-old debate about Silicon versus Germanium transistors in fuzz pedals: which sounds better, which produces a truer fuzz sound, and which is an overall higher quality and better product. The fine folks at Center Street Electronics may have finally put an end to the debate, and just made an awesome fuzz pedal with BOTH transistors inside – the Rasputin Fuzz. The setup for the Rasputin is fairly simple: a Fuzz...
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If you are a big fan of fuzz pedals, and you haven’t checked out Center Street Electronics yet, you’re missing out. Plain and simple. You might have seen our review recently on the God Hates Fuzz pedal of theirs, and today we’ve got a completely different animal to try and tame: the Drone Station Fuzz. This little black beauty is a 2-stage gain pedal that can do a fairly broad range of tones, going from a pretty...
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I’ve been a fan of Keeley compression for about 10 years now. Thats when I first purchased the regular Keeley compressor. It is the only pedal that has consistently stayed on my board for these past 10 years. In fact, it became such an integral part of my “sound” that I didn’t turn it off that entire time. Because of this I was almost sad when I saw that Keeley Electronics was discontinuing this classic...
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First off. Full disclosure. I’m a self-taught guitarist. I’m okay. But there are absolutely no chances for Grammys in my future.I play for me and me alone. Sometimes I play for Sparkey, my pup (he thinks I’m amazing on guitar). I play mostly through low wattage tube amps. I run an A/B/Y switch to a Blackstar HT-1R and an Orange Micro Terror that my board is connected to. I’ll admit, I have developed an...
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Rarely does a pedal completely take me by surprise, to where I’m dumbfounded, amazed and excited all at the same time. The cats over at Center Street Electronics have managed to confound me with their weird, awesome fuzz oscillator pedal, appropriately named God Hates Fuzz. An ordinary fuzz pedal this is not; an extremely fun piece of musical equipment, it is. Basically, all the controls MUST work together to make up this...
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I’ve seen the Swollen Pickle Fuzz pop up around different guitar forums and stuff, and it always seemed to have a pretty good reputation, so I was eager to see what all the hype was about. This big, fat, green beast is one of those pedals that you plug into and turn on, and are instantly blown away. I immediately loved the fuzz sounds coming through my amp, and I hadn’t even adjusted any of the knobs yet, which is always...
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Robert Keeley keeps making great effects, it’s no secret, and the White Sands Luxe Drive is yet another shining example. This is Keeley’s take on a low-gain overdrive, and it really makes your guitar sing and sparkle with ease. Not too pushy, not too mild, the Luxe Drive is a perfect compliment to any rig. Let’s start with the basics: Drive, Tone and Level. Standard fare for most overdrive pedals, yet a surprisingly...
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Another overdrive? Well, it’s true, but this is a fun one…well, let’s face it, they’re all pretty fun! Today’s fun-time stompbox comes to you all the way from Finland via Darkglass Electronics, and they’re tasty pedal is the Microtubes Vintage Overdrive. Four knobs seems simple enough, and it basically is. Level adds or subtracts more or less overall volume output from the pedal, Drive controls the...
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The definition of the Italian word Sfocato is: blurry, vague, fuzzy. Vague I’m not so sure of but, this pedal is definitely fuzzy. I’m not the most coordinated guy in the world, so I have put off buying a wah pedal. I’m doing good to get the right hand working with the left as it is, so the thought of mixing my foot in there didn’t sound appealing at all. When I saw that Keeley was introducing the Sfocato...
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Envelope filters love to bring home the funk, and the Neutrino from Keeley Electronics does as good (if not a better) a job as anything you can find out on the pedal market right now. Lots of control options to really make your sound unique, or to be able to easily dial in your idol’s 70’s porn music setting – whatever you prefer. The retro soundscapes are vast and extremely prevalent here, let’s see...
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The PettyJohn Electronics PreDrive is a pedal that refines and defines your tone. A great pedal for studio and/or live performances. The PreDrive is designed to be the first pedal in your chain preserving and improving the sound quality of any instrument plugged into it; either a guitar or a bass-guitar. It also has another function, which is a boost that gives you the extra body to your sound; again, playing live or in a studio....
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I can’t get over the fuzz tones coming from the pedals over at Hudson Electronics. I recently reviewed their standard BUZZ pedal, which was incredible, and today’s gem is the Buzzard, another killer fuzz from the UK. A blendable 2-transistor fuzz, this little blue triangle is a force to be reckoned with. If you want a light-hearted, Valentine’s Day, Nicholas Sparks fuzz, you better look somewhere else. Fast. Deep in...
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They should have called this “The Luxury Suite of Tone”. I’ve been searching for a pedal that would liven up my rig without taking over the sound of my guitar and amp. If that makes sense. Something that thickens it up without making things muddy. Gives me some sustain and makes my notes sing, without fuzz or distortion. I’ve not been able to find an overdrive that suits me or doesn’t get too loud too...
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What do you think of when you hear the words “Envelope” and “Filter” together? Inevitably, your brain tells you to hear the first chords (and subsequent wicked-rad riff) of “Shakedown Street” by the Grateful Dead. You being a fan or not of the band is beside the point: that is one of the most recognized uses of an envelope filter in music history (and I, for one, think it sounds incredible). The...
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Who here is a regular user of Granular Synthesis? Exactly. No one. Well, the Particle Granular Delay/Pitch Shifter pedal from Red Panda wants you to know all about it, and (try) to use it to your advantage in your guitar playing. This is one of those pedals that is a bit tricky to describe on paper, as the sounds that come out of it are very rarely repeated, leading to a vast amount of random sonic gooeyness. Let’s start at the...
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The Coffee Grinder Fuzz from Blue Dinosaur Electronics is a distant relative of the ancient and mysterious Interfax Harmonic Percolator, especially when both the Gain and Hi-Fi knobs are pushed to the max (although this is in no way a clone of that pedal). This is a fuzz like no other. With the Gain knob up full blast, the Coffee Grinder emits a warm, smooth, bold fuzz that’s not tinny or harsh on your ear holes. Use the Hi-Fi...
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The MC404 Custom Audio Electronics Wah was developed by Bob Bradshaw of Custom Audio Electronics and the Cry Baby design team with the goal of creating a highly versatile wah-wah of top-grade components. It features dual Fasel inductors with two distinct voices (high-end emphasis or low to mid resonance), and a built-in MXR MC401 Boost/LineDriver adds even more flexibility. Choose between inductors and turn the boost on or off with...
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The V2 fuzz pedal by Castledine Electronics is a muff with the circuit based on violet ram’s head (1973). Is good remember that it isn’t a clone, but one revisit circuit, keeping the original sound like you would expect from a vintage unit… My unit is number #3 from the first batch…. its control knobs are the classic Tone, Volume & Sustain. Unlike to vintage units, the V2 has true bypass switching, so...
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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 History of the Flanger By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. The Flanger guitar pedal has an interesting background that involves both science and a lot of luck! Like many guitar and music effects it stems from early experiments with...
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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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James Santiago Los Angeles, California Universal Audio https://www.uaudio.com/ How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I started playing guitar around 5 years old, and at around 15, I began working in professional working bands as musicians around town started asking me to play with them. I didn’t have a driver’s license back then, so I had to have my mom or other band members take me to band...
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Hi, I’m Josh Gardziel, I’m from Halifax West Yorkshire (UK) and I play guitar in L.O.E (Last Of Eden) Facebook: https://facebook.com/weareloemusic Instagram: https://instagram.com/weareloemusic Twitter: https://twitter.com/weareloemusic Bandcamp: https://weareloemusic.bandcamp.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I have been playing guitar for 21 years. I started when I was 14 which...
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Rich Good Twentynine Palms, CA The Psychedelic Furs: https://thepsychedelicfurs.com/ Older projects: Kings & Queens: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1V0NT9YLzxd2oXAgwJUS9P?si=rbbgggGWSwKbWOsWFsJGug Mirrors: https://mirrors1974.bandcamp.com/ The Pleased: https://thepleased.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? It feels like most of my life that I’ve been messing around with...
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Hey everyone! I’m Evan Miller, the guitar player from the band Funk You. www.funkyoumusic.com www.facebook.com/funkyoumusic www.youtube.com/funkyouaugusta Instagram – @funkyoumusic How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? Ive been playing in bands for the past 15 years but I started on the piano around the age of 10 years old. My grandma played the piano for our church, so I was drawn...
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Hello all! My name is Sam Ralbovsky and I play guitar in the Adirondack jam band The Hasbens (The band that has Bens. We have two) Instagram: @thehasbensband Facebook: The Hasbens How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I first picked up the guitar when I was in the fifth grade. The guitar, at that time, was an escape from the monotony of trudging through each Suzuki piano book I was assigned...
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Peter Anspach Connecticut Goose goosetheband.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? My mom would say I’ve always been a musician. She’s a music teacher, so before I could walk, I was being taught to play rhythms on drums and dance. I started playing cello when I was 9, then graduated to the electric guitar when I was 12, which I have been playing seriously ever since. I picked up keyboards...
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Phil Tessis Toronto, Ontario, Canada After Funk www.afterfunk.ca How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’ve been playing guitar for around 20 years now. I first became interested in playing by watching my cousin play and thinking that it looked like a lot of fun. I bugged my parents for a guitar until they finally gave in and bought me one and signed me up for lessons. I loved it right away and...
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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...
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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...
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Kyle Ciarrocchi Guam Brand New Crescent Moon facebook.com/theguamband facebook.com/brandnewcrescentmoon How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I started seriously playing guitar when I was 11 years old, then joined School of Rock when I was 14, and have been performing since. I always was exposed to great music that my dad showed me, his favorites (which I grew up on) like The Grateful Dead and...
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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...
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Mihali Savoulidis Vermont Twiddle twiddlemusic.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’ve been playing guitar since I was 14, but I really had just been playing in my bedroom and writing songs and working on my lead playing. I went to college to form a band and play all these songs I had written during high school, and the end result is Twiddle. I started really gigging out when I was 18,...
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My name is Trevor Shelley de Brauw. I’m from Chicago, IL and I perform in: Pelican: http://pelicansong.com/ RLYR: https://www.facebook.com/RLYRband/ Chord: https://chordgroup.bandcamp.com/ And solo: https://trevordebrauw.bandcamp.com/ How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’ve been playing guitar since junior high school. At some point around age twelve or thirteen or so music became a complete...
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Johnny Hiland Nashville, TN http://www.johnnyhiland.net/ It is a sincere pleasure, and honor, to be doing this interview. I am a huge fan of Pedal of the Day, on Twitter, as I am truly a pedal nut. I just want everybody to know that you can find out anything you may want to know about me on my website, www.johnnyhiland.net. How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I have been a musician now for...
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Mike Hranica Chicago, IL The Devil Wears Prada God Alone www.tdwpband.com www.godaloneband.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’ve been playing guitar for about twelve years now – whether that comes with the “musician” label, I’m not sure. Who have been some of your major musical influences, past or present? Rowland S. Howard, Duane Denison, Steve Albini What drew you to using...
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Chris Michetti Raq www.facebook.com/raqmusic/ Conspirator www.conspiratorband.com/ Michetti michetti.bandcamp.com/ How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? Around thirty years. Was obsessed with drums as a youngster, progressed from there. Who have been some of your major musical influences, past or present? Anyone who plays the guitar incredibly… SRV, Van Halen, Jeff Beck, Trey Anastasio, Chet...
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Joel Cummins Venice Beach, CA Umphrey’s McGee umphreys.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I started playing piano at the age of 8 when my parents told me I had to pick an instrument and practice 30 minutes a day. Umphrey’s McGee started in late 1997 and we haven’t looked back since. I started with sight reading, mainly focused on classical music, but also did some ragtime, blues...
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