The looks and sounds produced by vintage Maestro effects units have wowed musicians for decades – the Fuzz-Tone, Phase Shifter, Echoplex and more set the sonic bar high long ago. With those older effects being rare, expensive and full of maintenance, Gibson and Maestro have teamed up to release the ‘Original Collection’ of pedals, 5 different effects that lay the foundation for any rig or recording setup. Today,...
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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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Fuzz pedals come in many different shapes, sizes and configurations, each one producing its own brand of gnarly, amp-crushing distortion (to all of our delight). Today’s pedal, the Handy FX Whiteout Fuzz, is no different, utilizing a 4-knob control section to blast off through the fuzziest realms in all the land. And at an extremely affordable price point, there’s nothing not to love with this pristine-looking gem…...
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Delay…elay…lay…ay…y… We just can’t get enough of it, and today’s simple yet extremely impressive pedal shows just why that is. The Mythos Pedals Oracle Analog Echo pays homage to classic Japanese echo pedals, but is a unique circuit and not a direct clone of anything in particular. Don’t let the 3-knob layout fool you into thinking this is a regular old delay effect – ’cause...
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What can you say about a good overdrive pedal? That feeling that sweeps over you when you plug it in, crank it up and hit your favorite chord is like nothing else. Today’s pedal, Poison Noises The Crook Overdrive V3, gives you all these feels and more, proving a wide sweep of sounds that will pummel and destroy your amp…but only if you want it to. The Crook isn’t your average three-knob overdrive pedal, no sir. The...
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We love playing some FUNK, and what effects pedal is funkier then the classic Envelope Filter? None is the answer, none more funky. More importantly, more size doesn’t always mean MORE funk, as evidenced by today’s little yellow beauty. The Flamma Innovation FC11 Envelope Filter gives you all the ’70s disco guitar tone you could want, along with a slew of delicious auto-wah tones to keep everyone’s feet...
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We love a good multi-effect around here – who doesn’t? Today’s pedal is a bit different from the usual pedals of this type that we see. First, it’s super small. Second, it’s mainly modulation-focused. Third, it’s as experimental as they come. The 3Degrees Audio Bygones Stereo Nostalgia Effect combines elements of pitch shifting, delay and vintage noise to form a wonderfully unique and creative...
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Noisy pedals are fun, hands down. They can be inspiring and musical (if you can get them to behave slightly), and taming their wildness is one of our favorite things in the world. Therefore, we’re excited once again to be perusing a pedal from our friend Knut over at Pladask Elektrisk – the Romferd Ambience/Modulation Unit. This thing will do slow, mellow ambience or out-of-control, feedback-infused chaos –...
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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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The pedals we’ve had the pleasure of checking out from Mozztronics have all been incredible, especially their Amp-In-A-Box lineup. Today’s effect continues in that realm, bringing you classic and hard rock sounds, and THAT tone you’ve been chasing since you picked up a guitar. The MS-1 Mehrschall will push your amp, your imagination and the limits of all things sonic and beautiful… Mehrschall is german for...
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THE RAT. Few distortion pedals have as much instant recognizability, despite (usually) just bearing the colors Black & White. There are many iterations of this classic effect, but how could you possibly collect them all without breaking the bank? Well, as usual, JHS Pedals comes to the rescue, in the form of the PackRat Distortion. Taking different RAT circuits from the last 4 decades, from different manufacturers, this pedal...
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Continuing the New Year’s rocking start, we’ve got an excellent, versatile and robust pedal for you all today. The Bennett Custom Audio Weather Man Overdrive + Boost boasts a wonderful control section, 3 different mid-range voicings and a wide range of boost-to-drive settings. Combining a versatile, dynamic, light-to-medium gain overdrive with a powerful, totally independent JFET-based clean boost, these 2 effects would...
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The crew at Pigtronix sent over their Moon Pool Tremvelope Phaser a couple months back, and we couldn’t wait to get our grubby mitts on another mini pedal from them ASAP. Thankfully, today’s little bundle of joy arrived safe and sound: the Constellator Modulated Analog Delay. The features packed into this one are quite astounding, and we can’t wait to dive in with you all right NOW… An all-analog delay pedal,...
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There are certain tones that are highly sought-after in the guitar player world, one of them belonging to a Mr. Stevie Ray Vaughn. However, most of us cannot afford an original early ’80s Tube Screamer, much less a $50,000 Dumble Amp, so we rely on pedal companies to create those tones for us. Today’s effect, the Pedal Pawn Texan Twang Overdrive Boost, seeks to encapsulate SRV’s ‘Twang’ in a box,...
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The extremely affordable lineup of pedals from our friends at Flamma Innovation have impressed us since the get-go, and we’re excited to bring you guys another little mini gem today. The FC02 Reverb packs a wallop of reverberation into a small pedal enclosure, presenting us with 3 reverb modes and a couple of controls to dial in your perfect sound. Don’t let the size of these fool you, folks… There are three...
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The award for “Pedal You Never Knew You Needed” over the last year has got to go to the Believable Audio / 29 Pedals EUNA, the Elite UNity Amplifier that took the pedal world by storm. Today’s pedal features the next creation from these guys, and simply amazes just like it’s older sibling did. The OAMP is an Output AMPlifier that replaces your conventional buffers, line drivers and preamps, and will change how...
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We’ve found that when companies who build amplifiers venture into the pedal world, it usually works out pretty well. Such is the case with today’s pedal, the Delay Hi-Fi Analog Echo from Supro, a small but powerful delay unit offering vintage echo sounds of the ’60s and ’70s. Small, bold, warm and inviting, this little red machine will transform your sound and blast you back to the past with a quickness…...
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The effects coming from our Norwegian friends at Fjord Fuzz focus on, well, FUZZ, of course, but each unit has its own unique set of skills. After the BJØRN, BIFROST and ODIN V2, we didn’t know what to expect from today’s fuzz-filled pedal. Well, the BERSERK Fuzz (unsurprisingly) delivers once again, combining two vintage fuzz circuits with some modern updates, for a powerful and wide-ranging wall of fuzz… Taking...
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We love it when a new pedal company comes our way, and we’re happy to introduce you all to yet another one today. The Dogman Devices Go Fly A Kite Delay seems simple at first, but as we dug in, we discovered there’s a lot more going on with this bright yellow beauty. Stunning in aesthetics and sonic prowess, this is a delay we can ALL have a great time experimenting with… Formed around a PT2399 chip, Go Fly A Kite...
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Ethan Miller Humboldt County Howlin’ Rain, Heron Oblivion, Feral Ohms howlinrain.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’ve been playing music since about 7 years old when I started piano lessons. I took up acoustic guitar at around age 12. Electric guitar at age 14. I first got into playing non-classical music at a California State Summer School for the Arts that they used to...
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We have had the pleasure of reviewing every iteration of the Ampero Series of effects units from Hotone Audio thus far, and we’re going to keep that streak alive today. Presenting the new Ampero II Stomp, and amp modeler and effects processor that takes everything from the previous versions and pushes them to their limits. Ampero II Stomp implements brand new tri-core digital platform and independent AD/DA from ESS® Sabre®...
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Turning the effects pedal world upside down, thinking outside the box and creating something brand new is harder and harder to do these days. Luckily, we’ve become pals with a company who is doing just that, with an effects unit that’s gonna be a game changer. The Modal Effects Disruption Modular Gain pedal utilizes individual effect modules, or “Mods”, that are easily swappable, to create an entire customized...
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Flashy graphics and newly-shaped enclosures have their place in the effects pedal world, for sure, but sometimes, simplicity can be welcome. That seems to be the goal with the lineup from our pals at Kenny B Pedals, and we’re taking a look at our 4th effect from them today. The Double Double has an easy-to-figure-out control section, complete with multiple sonic options, housed in an unassuming, minimalistic case. That’s...
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The Valco Five-O is a multi 3-in-1 pedal, containing independent Drive, Tremolo, and Reverb sections, all housed in a bombproof enclosure. Conceived originally for giving “surf in a box” tones (Dick Dale/Ventures), it has become more than this through the development process…it’s a pedal that can easily give you a one-pedal setup at a gig or session (maybe add a tuner…), or it can add a whole host of extra sounds and versatility...
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Ending Flamma Fridays where we began, we’ve got the FC03 Delay’s big brother, the FS03 Delay Looper, on tap for you all today. This stereo-equipped gem brings you 6 traditional delay effects, inspiring creation around every corner. A true “experimentation station”, this one features Delay, a Looper, Presets and more… First, let’s check out the Delay modes – these 6 modes can basically cover...
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The gear coming from the NativeAudio camp has always intrigued us, especially ever since we got our mitts on their Wilderness Delay a while back. Their latest release has had a ton of coverage, and we’re gonna join in the fun today as well. The Kiaayo Overdrive is a streamlined drive pedal that focuses on a less-is-more kind of philosophy – not to worry, there’s plenty to explore with this one… With just a...
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All of the pedal from Eventide’s dot9 Series have, so far, been nothing short of mind-blowing. The BlackHole Reverb, MicroPitch Delay and UltraTap Delay have sent us down many a sonic rabbit hole, ones we almost wished we couldn’t get out of. Today’s pedal, the newly released Eventide TriceraChorus Stereo Tri-Chorus, continues this impressive run of gorgeous Stereo effects pedals, continuing to impress and delight at...
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Single knob pedals aren’t always the flashiest, but usually bring something to the sonic table you didn’t know you needed. Today’s pedal follows that to a T, providing gorgeous boost and tone-shaping with ease. The Xtonebox Carbon Booster Signal Boost is an essential tool for guitarists and bass players alike, both raising your volume and improving your overall sound. The circuit inside the Carbon Booster consists of...
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Phasers are absolutely in our top tier of favorite effects on this planet, and we love a good tremolo, too. Today’s pedal mashes both of these effects into the tiniest of enclosures, while still bringing unprecedented quality and tonal bliss to the table. The Pigtronix Moon Pool Tremvelope Phaser is part of their newly released lineup of small, pedalboard-friendly pedals, and this is a hell of a way to start it off. Bringing all...
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We love pedals with a lot of controls, and today’s featured effect showcases this in fine fashion. From the moment you gaze upon the Olsen Interface Warspit Distortion, you’re both frightened and intrigued, which can become a perfect combination. With no labels, seven knobs, 5 switches and two stomps, this is an experimenter’s dream box… The golden knobs give you a wide range of sounds and tones to test out and...
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When you see a Dophix pedal, you know exactly what it is, and where it’s from. The subdued silver enclosure and minimal controls & graphics create fine works of art, much like the art or artists each pedal is based on. Today, we’ve got another one from their lineup, the Lussuria Overdrive, another one with just three control knobs, but loaded with killer tones and amp-driving gusto, all the way from Italy. The...
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Welcome to our first installment of Flamma Fridays! For the next 8+ weeks, we’re going to showcase a different pedal from Flamma Innovation every Friday, running through their Mini FC Series lineup, as well as a couple from the classic FS Series. First up, the FC03 Delay, the first in this wonderful collection of small pedal, designed to fit anywhere without sacrificing any tonal quality. Mini pedals can sometimes lack in...
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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 year, we got our hands on a BloodBuzz Fuzz Overdrive from Eastwood Guitars and Valco FX. It was a BIG, mammoth of a pedal, with killer tones and a ton of options. The second offering from Valco FX comes your way today, in the form of the KGB Fuzz. This smaller (but still bigger than most) effects unit is a multi-function, tone-sculpting machine, with all the switches, knobs and sliders you’ll need to produce some incredible...
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Only one knob on today’s pedal, you say? How boring… Well, sometimes, that’s all you need to make a bold and loud musical statement. We’re taking a look at the Animals Pedal Dawn Ocean Meditation Boost, a clean booster that reproduces numerous vintage tones and powerful, classic style boosting to your signal… A collaboration with Matthew Holl from Wren and Cuff, the Dawn Ocean raises your...
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Ever since Night Owl Industries sent us their first pedal three years ago, we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing and demoing their entire lineup. That wonderful streak continues today with the Parabellum Preamp Drive Distortion, a collaboration between Night Owl and Dunwich Amps. A mix of three distinct voices, each being processed independently then mixed back together, this one creates a dense, complex distortion not attainable...
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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!!) A very frequently asked question – and much debated one too – is what order to sequence effects pedals on a pedalboard. Which one should come first? Or last? Should pedal X come before pedal Y? Or vice versa? Why does it matter? Does it, in fact, matter at all? Below, we answer these questions...
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We’ve got something special for you all today, a dual post featuring an effects pedal AND a guitar…from the same company. Sometimes, all you need is one good pedal with one good guitar (and an amp, of course), like the Dunable Guitars Eidolon Boost Delay Reverb and the Cyclops DE Series guitar. Both add key ingredients to a successful and tone-filled setup, each adding their own bits of flavor to compliment each other, and...
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The legacy of ZVEX Effects now stretches back over a quarter of a century. Beginning in 1995, Zachary Vex has become known for his innovative and genre-bending pedals, gracing the boards of folks like Billy Corgan, Trent Reznor, J Mascis, Billy Gibbons, Jack White and many more. Today, we’ve got one of their classic pedals for ya – the Box of Rock Distortion 25th Anniversary Vexter Series. The Box of Rock is a staple in...
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We got a chance to check out the Sunnmanor Preamp from Calico Effects recently, and were seriously impressed by its range and diversity. Today, we’ve got another effect from these guys, the MFT Overdrive, a more straightforward but just as rockin’ a pedal as the first. This one’s a classic plug and play, but with a bit of a twist from the norm… A lot of overdrive pedals feature the classic lineup of Volume,...
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Roman Belonozhko Ridgefield, WA Shnobel Tone www.shnobeltone.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I started playing guitar when I was 14 years old so Ive been at it for over 20 years. I was born in Ukraine, which is a small Eastern European country, and at that time it was still part of the Soviet Union. Growing up I had uncles from both my mom’s and dad’s side that are...
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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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Modulation is a key ingredient to any rig, whether it’s coming from a phaser, a chorus or a vibrato….but what if you could have ALL THREE in one enclosure? That’s where today’s effect, the JAM Pedals Ripply Fall Chorus Vibrato Phaser, comes into play. Combining a couple other JAM Pedals into one, these side-by-side effects will launch your sound and creativity into the musical stratosphere. The Ripple side...
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Many moons ago, we had the pleasure of sitting down and exploring the wonderful Gurus Amps Echosex2 Echo Delay. Reimagining the famous Binson Echorec, and with a real 12AX7B tube inside, this delay was quite a stellar piece of gear. Then, a while back, Gurus teamed up with FoxGear and began creating a line of smaller, more affordable pedals. The first of these that we’re going to check out is the EchoSex Baby, a small version of...
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It seems that Flanger is quickly becoming the effect of 2021, with a lot of new and interesting releases coming about over the last few months. We have a wonderful one today for you, too – the Hochstrasser Electronics Chemtrail Analog Flanger. This unassuming and powerful modulation device utilizes bucket brigade chips to create and modulate a short delay line, and can function as a flanger, chorus or vibrato effect....
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We’ve had a couple of pedals from Discomfort Designs come through the shop recently, and they just keep getting better. Today’s machine, the Black Tooth Doom Octave Distorter, sounds as mean as its name might suggest…and then some. Not for the weak, faint-of-heart or tender-eared, this crushing black beauty is all geared up to rip some speakers and melt some faces… The Black Tooth is a high gain, hard-clipping...
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We’ve been chatting a lot about Boost pedals recently, and are excited to present a new version of an instant classic. The Vertex Boost MKII picks up right where the original MKI left off, offering a smaller enclosure without sacrificing any tone or functionality. Not just a signal booster – this one enhances and drives any rig that needs it. At 33% slimmer than the Boost MKI, the MKII easily sneaks onto any pedalboard....
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The Boost Pedal. It doesn’t make crazy sounds, or usually have more than one knob, or stand out in the “cool crowd” of the effects pedal world. However, it’s a necessity to your sound that you just might be skipping, and today’s pedal shows you why. The Dophix Perseo Boost has one knob, and it has one job as well. The Perseo Boost is simple but, like a blade strike, is extremely sharp and cared for in...
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Vintage Fuzz. Plug in, turn it up and rock. Done and Done. Today’s pedal achieves exactly these checkpoints, bringing a warm and classic sound into the fold. The Bad Penny FX Wireless Germanium Fuzz has a simple control section, but adds in a couple of tasty options to really dial in and solidify your favorite fuzz tones. Let’s see what this one brings to the table, shall we? A classic unit that follows the Tone Bender...
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The designs and sounds contained in the first two pedals we saw from Aclam were impressive and extremely specific. The Dr. Robert had a major Beatles influence on its sound, while the Windmiller was focused on The Who and Pete Townshend’s rig. Today, we’ve got the third pedal in their current lineup, the Cinnamon Drive, which recreates the essence of vintage tube amps pushed to the max volume. Great for any musical genre,...
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