We have had a bunch of new pedal companies join our ranks as of late, and they just keep on comin’ with today’s featured builder, HTJ-WORKS from Japan. As soon as I plugged in their Ventura Overdrive, I knew something special was happening, and it has not disappointed yet. Bringing vintage and modern overdrive elements together, this monster shapes your tone and drives your amp in a unique and beautiful way… Although...
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The majority of 2-knob pedals out there usually have a really wide range of sounds available, regardless of what type of effect they are housing. From overdrives and phasers to compressors and delays and much more, the 2-knob setup often gets overlooked for units with a ton of knobs and switches, but these simple pedals have just as much a place in our world as anything. Today’s effect keeps with that tradition, bringing a wide...
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The first round of Dept. 10 pedals released by Blackstar Amplification (Boost, Dual Drive, Dual Distortion) were full of options, HUGE tones and exquisite build quality. Those effects focused on boost, overdrive and distortion elements, showing how you could really push your amp and shape your tone with ease. The latest release from Blackstar sees them switching focus now to the actual AMP aspect of the chain, bringing you the...
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“Boosted” and “Delay” are not words you hear consecutively in the effects pedal world very often, but today’s gem shows us all why we should hear them more. Continuing with a long streak of unique, individualistic effects, our friends at Thermion have come up with the Outlaw Boosted Delay, a portable, analog-sounding, robust and versatile delay with an integrated volume booster, able to push your tone to...
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Last year, we were able to demo FOUR new pedals from Dreadbox, a synth-heavy company we had first worked with back in 2016, that had released a new lineup of effects. The Kinematic, Lethargy, Komorebi and Darkness were all unique and amazing-sounding, so we couldn’t wait to see what they had in store next. Today, we get to explore 2 more new creations from Dreadbox – the Treminator Smashing Tremolo and the Raindrops Stereo...
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Pedal of the Day has been fortunate to help with the promotion of each and every iteration of the wonderful Ampero series of multi-effects units from our friends at Hotone Audio, and we’ve got the newest one for you today. Following in the footsteps of the original Ampero, Ampero One and Ampero II, the Ampero Silver Edition Amp Modeler / Effects Processor somehow builds on the previous models’ functionality, options and...
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Jumping into a pedal like the Boss RE-202 Space Echo can be tricky – there’s so much going on, and so many sounds to discover, and so much nostalgia surrounding it, it’s a little daunting, to say the least. What we will say right off the bat is that IT IS INCREDIBLE. Ridiculously emulating the classic RE-201 Space Echo, this model brings all of the tone, delay and reverb from the original units to the table, but...
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Our friends over at Poison Noises are releasing new versions of their entire lineup of effects pedals, and have asked us to help showcase these overhauled creations. We’ve been checking out 2 pedals a week for the last couple months, continuing today with the Glutnik Fuzz V2. Suit up, space out and prepare to experience the full gravity of this one…. This new addition to the Poison Noises universe is our take on a Russian...
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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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A good two-knob pedal can be great for getting killer sounds easily, but sometimes, we all want to dive into our effects and really explore what they can do. While there are a lot of these out in the world, ranging in size, features and price points, today’s pedal is unlike any we’ve encountered before, much to our delight. The Kinotone Audio Ribbons is a stereo magnetic tape emulator. It can degrade, mangle, and age...
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Effects that come with a backstory, or some kind of accompanying literature, are always a hit here at Pedal of the Day (and elsewhere, we assume). Today’s pedal has a bit of mystical mystery to it, as well as sounding absolutely incredible. The Tulpa FX Tsathoggua Overdrive is rooted in dangerous adventure, but brings all the tone and power to back it up… In certain circles, Tsathoggua (also known as The Sleeper of...
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We’ve always been impressed with the modulation and delay effects that Pigtronix has put out into the world, but today we’re looking at a pedal that heads into a different sort of direction. The Star Eater Analog Jumbo Fuzz blends legendary old-school fuzz sounds with modern tone-shaping versatility, for an interesting and intriguing take on the genre. With simple controls and a wide range of tones, this one was fun to...
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Our friends over at Poison Noises are releasing new versions of their entire lineup of effects pedals, and have asked us to help showcase these overhauled creations. We’re looking at 2 pedals a week for the next couple months, continuing today with the Glut Cheeks Fuzz V2. Feast your eyes on the newest addition to their fuzz menu – there’s never been a better time to consume all the fuzz you can handle… The...
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The effects pedals coming from Dophix have never been overly complicated, but always provide just the right amount of control over whatever device of theirs you’re currently using. Today’s pedal is no exception to that, trimming off all the fat to leave a real set-it-and-forget-it effect. Say hello to the Da Vinci-inspired Leonardo Compressor, a 2-knob gem that gets right down to business and brings your tone right to...
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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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Amp emulator pedals are always a delicate topic of conversation amongst guitar players, and while some of these pedals can be hit or miss, the three we’re checking out today from Universal Audio are completely legit, and more. Drawing inspiration from three classic amps first released many decades ago, the Dream ’65, Ruby ’63 and Woodrow ’55 allow you to easily lose yourself in vintage tone, and save your back...
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When you can fit three classic effects into one less-than-normal sized enclosure, you’re doing something right. That’s exactly what has happened with today’s pedal, the Mojo Hand FX RVT Reverb Vibrato Tremolo. Using vintage 60’s amplifiers to help voice this DSP-based powerhouse, this pedal has got all your vintage tonal needs covered… The Mojo Hand FX RVT was created to offer three popular on-board...
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Last. month, we had the opportunity to play an incredible overdrive and boost pedal, the aptly-named My Little Klony, from our friends at Daddy Daughter Pedal Works. Shifting gears just a bit today, we’ve got another gem from that crew, coming in the form of the Fuzzy Rick Fuzz. Fans of a certain animated TV show will recognize the name and artwork instantly, but the sounds coming out of this effect are new, inspiring and dirty...
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Our friends over at Poison Noises are releasing new versions of their entire lineup of effects pedals, and have asked us to help showcase these overhauled creations. We’re looking at 2 pedals a week for the next couple months, continuing today with The Postman Envelope Filter V2. Get ready to send it into the land of funk with this powerful blue machine…. The Postman V2 is a versatile and easy to dial in envelope filter....
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For their ridiculously low price points, it’s hard to beat the lineup of effects pedals from Flamma Innovation. We’ve covered nearly every one in their lineup so far, and are excited to help introduce their newest offerings, continuing with the FC15 Analog Flanger. This salmon-tinged beauty has an easy-to-use control set and a small footprint, to easily slide into any rig, big or small. The Flamma FC15 Analog Flanger Pedal is an...
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Andrew and the crew at Mozztronics just keep putting out incredible pedal after incredible pedal, and we’re so glad we get to keep on reviewing and demoing these wonderful creations. For the last pedal in the latest batch they sent us, we’re taking a look at the JD-2 Thunder Drive, an amp/drive/preamp/distortion all wrapped into one undefinable and glorious effect. Strap in and hold on, this one’s a crusher (as...
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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...
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It’s always an exciting time when the folks at Death By Audio create a new pedal, and we’re honored to be a part of today’s new release. The Space Bender Chorus Modulator replicates and warps your signal into beautiful and organic transmissions from a dimension somewhere beyond linear time. Under the hood lies an array of dynamically modulated delay lines allowing you to craft subtle vintage sci-fi sounds, bending...
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I’ve always been a fan of compressors – I know, it’s a love/hate relationship with a lot of players out there, but they’ve always seemed warm and useful in the majority of pedalboard builds I’ve done. Now, what if you take an incredible compressor and add in a parallel gain stage, fo an incredible 2-in-1 unit? That’s precisely what the folks at Collaboration Devices have done with the aptly named...
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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!!) Message in a Pedal: How to Get Andy Summers’ Signature Sound By Steven Kendzorski for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. Andy Summers joined The Police in 1977, and quickly catapulted the group to international superstardom. With hits like “Every Breath You...
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From the first glance at today’s pedal, the Silktone Amps Germanium Fuzz, you can see that it just looks different. And modern. And sophisticated. And exciting. Anytime there’s a meter of any type on any pedal, that’s usually an indicator of something special, and this one is no exception to that rule. Utilizing two germanium transistors at its heart, in the classic FF/TB1.5 topology, this circuit is tweaked to roll...
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Sometimes, great effects come from the unlikeliest of places – such is the case with the wonderful pedals from our friends at Jānis.lv Effect Pedals, who reside in Birzgale, Latvia. From the Miesnieks and Tre Tre to the RNGD and Laika Plūsma, each creation they release has a unique spin on its musical genre, all while looking very cohesive as a brand. Today, we’ve got their latest for you – the Purvs Fuzz, which...
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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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Octave pedals don’t tend to get the hype and focus that modulation, overdrive, delay and reverb might, but we’re gonna try to change that. Today’s pedal, the October Audio Junk Lantern Dirty Octave Up Fuzz, provides a unique spin on a genre that you might normally overlook. Easy to dial in while full-ranged and inspiring, this little gem will make you rethink how you approach your next songwriting session…...
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Fuzz and Distortion effects with multiple knobs and switches are always a good time to experiment with, and today’s pedal, while not over the top, provides a multitude of sonic caverns waiting to be explored. The Calico Effects Antlers Fuzz Distortion pays homage to the classic Green Muff circuit, giving you vintage-sounding and modern high gain tones alike. Three knobs, three switches and a lot of dirty dirt here –...
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Julep /ˈjo͞oləp/ – a sweet flavoured drink made from a sugar syrup, sometimes containing alcohol or medication. Today’s pedal, the Julep Stereo Pan / Phase from Mile End Effects, is by concept a semblance of the infamous Ibanez FP-777 Flying Pan, but functionally and electronically is an expansion and improvement on the idea. From syrupy, frothy vibe effects to dizzying, choppy stutters, this optical stereo panning/tremolo...
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The RAT. In all its forms and iterations, it has remained one of the most popular distortion circuits in the world for more than 40 years, with many companies tweaking and trying their hand at improving it. We’ve got one of the best throwing their hat in the ring today, as we bring you the Wampler Pedals Ratsbane Distortion. Small in size but big in stature, this mini effect brings all the thunder of the original Rat sound, with...
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We’re honored to be a part of the story for today’s pedal, a special limited edition effect whose proceeds are helping those in need during the current horrible invasion of Ukraine. Rare Buzz Effects has taken their Snitch Distortion and re-branded it with the colors of the Ukrainian flag, as well as Ukrainian text for the control knobs. This is the Cyborg Ukrainian Distortion, folks… A little backstory: Cyborgs are...
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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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A good reverb pedal is always a good thing to have…but what if it was mixed with 3 incredible modulation effects, all in one package? The Old Blood Noise Endeavors Procession Sci-Fi Reverb V2 aims at inspiring something new, something fringe and something risky. A cavalcade making its way through the deserts of a distant planet. The sounds of another world. Or something along those lines. The Procession’s simple controls...
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When it comes to the 3-knob Overdrive, you’ve got to make it pretty creative and fun in order to stand out from the hundreds, or thousands, of other similar effects out there. Today’s pedal does just that, with intriguing graphics, a fun outer space backstory and, of course, incredible sound. The Interstellar Audio Machines Octonaut Hyperdrive brings classic, inspired tones to the forefront, creating a perfect addition to...
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It’s no big secret that delay is far and away our favorite effect around here, especially pedals that have lots of knobs and switches and experimental tendencies. So, of course, we were wicked excited when J. Rockett Audio Designs sent over their incredible Clockwork Echo for us to take for a spin. This analog circuit with digital control brings vintage and modern aspects together, to create one powerful and authentic old school...
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Effects pedals with one footswitch are great…but TWO footswitches? You know you’re in for a real treat. Such is the case with today’s mammoth beast, the Crossfire Overdrive Preamp from Crazy Tube Circuits. Inspired by one of the most iconic Pedal/Amp combinations in musical history, this two-sided gem shapes your tone, pushes your amp and much, much more… The left side is voiced after the blackface amps that...
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The Love Machine Octave Fuzz from All-Pedal has been one of the funnest pedals we’ve tried this year, and we couldn’t wait to test out some more gear from these guys. Today, we’re bringing you the Macrodose Envelope Filter, a powerful and options-laden creation that brings the funk and expands your consciousness. Get ready for an adventure, here we go…. Created in collaboration with Brian Marshall of Subdecay,...
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We recently checked out a couple of Klon-inspired overdrive pedals from our friends at Studio Daydream Handmade Pedals, and we were excited to continue exploring their effects lineup. Moving into a new realm, and highly regarded for its natural compressor sound, The Ray Compressor is back as the Rev.3.0, with an improved internal structure and a range of added functions. The EQ has been strengthened to three band,s while maintaining...
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We see a LOT of overdrive effects come through the shop here at Pedal of the Day, so at first glance, today’s pedal *seemingly* was just another 3-knob dirt creator. Upon further investigation, however, it seems that the crew at JET Pedals has taken the conventional drive and tossed it right out the window, opting instead to create the MR JAX Overdrive Distortion. There are a lot of sounds hiding inside this one, let’s...
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Jake Snider Tacoma, Washington Minus the Bear (minusthebear.com) Sharks Keep Moving Onalaska State Route 522 How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’ve played guitar for something like 33 years. I was getting into metal and skate punk and wanted to play! Who have been some of your major musical influences, past or present? Too many to list! Descendents, Don Caballero, early Metallica, Jawbox,...
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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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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 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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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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