Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!! Today’s effects pedal has 2 knobs, a classic sound and an excellent price tag. Chicago Stompworks has been making handbuilt pedals at extremely affordable prices for years, and the Gray Speck OD250™ Overdrive is no different. With just a couple of knobs, it isn’t an effect that takes a ton of time to figure out, but you get great tone instantly, and a big spectrum of...
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We’ve got a special pedal for you all today, kiddos – a rare, sought-after dirty beast that pushes the sonic envelope in more ways than you can count. The Chase Bliss Dirt Bird Overdrive Distortion is a limited edition run of pedals that only resulted in 250 being made, worldwide, hence the rarity and intrigue. While this one is based on another now-discontinued Chase Bliss unit, it has a mind of its own, and will truly...
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Today, we’re doing something a bit different than usual, but I really think you’re gonna dig it. As some of you may be familiar, we have a series on our YouTube channel called ‘The Klone Wars’, where Klon clones of all shapes and sizes go head-to-head to see which one (in the opinions of the viewers) sounds better. As I’ve built up a sizeable Klone collection over the years, I thought it might be fun to...
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Our third and final Plugin Collection of this week brings some classic amplifier sounds that would cost thousands and thousands of dollars to purchase into your home studio and your desktop, for a small fraction of the cost of buying the actual amps themselves. The Universal Audio UAD Guitar Amp Bundle gives you access to four amazing sounds: the classic American tweed growl, ’60s tube shimmer and reverb, vintage Top Boost...
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Our second foray into the World of Plugins this week brings us a group of pedals that are well-known and great-sounding, and are a natural choice to transfer to the digital realm. JHS Pedals and mixwave have teamed up to create the Loud Is More Good Plugin Collection, bringing you 5 glorious effects and a rare amplifier right to your desktop. Compression, Boost/Overdrive, Distortion, Delay and Reverb effects make up a near-perfect...
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We’re jumping back into the World of Plugins today, as well as the next couple of days, starting with a new set of sounds that many, many of us have been waiting many, many years to be able to access. While the 8 effects in the Roland / BOSS Pedals Plug-In Collection are all pretty much classics, a couple of them are rare and expensive, but now we can enjoy them at a reasonable cost. These wonderful recreations bring the...
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One of my very favorite effects creators from the last few years is Cosmodio Instruments, who build pedals that are meant to be unconventional, out of the norm and made for experimenters and knob-turners. Continuing in the tradition of their Pet Yeti Distortion Fuzz and Gravity Well Wavefolder, Tremolo and Sonic Refractor, their latest release (out today) melts faces and scares those unfamiliar, as it should. The Glitch Witch Analog...
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I love when you turn on a pedal for the first time and it instantly captivates your brain and eardrums. Such is the case with today’s effects unit, the Amplified Nation Bigger Bloom Overdrive Preamp. Based on the D-style amp sound, this four-knob, two-switch streamlined silver beauty gives you great sounds at any settings, providing a wide range and killer tones for days… The Bigger Bloom is an Overdrive Preamp pedal that...
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Through the years, I’ve had the pleasure of demoing and reviewing every single pedal release from Horrothia FX, including the Type One, Teeth, Berkeley and Triage. Super excited today to be continuing that tradition, as we bring you their latest creation, the Lutz Fuzz. Not your run-of-the-mill fuzz pedal here, kiddos – this one has a huge range of sound, a couple surprises and even a feature I’ve never seen before...
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DI boxes can be used in a multitude of musical settings, and are always a great help to advance your tone and sonic presentation. Today, we’re teaming up once again with our pals at Sweetwater to bring you the ART Tube MP Studio V3 Mic Preamp and Instrument DI, an excellent little box that can be used for acoustics, electrics, vocals and much more. With a bunch of specifically-tailored presets, multiple connection options and a...
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Modulation pedals can instantly inject some sparkle into even the most dull or incomplete riff, chord progression or musical idea. Today’s pedal, the Lichtlaerm Audio Nostalgia, features aspects of Chorus, Vibrato, Double Tracking, Ring Modulation and more. Never a boring moment with this one, lets dive in and check out this brand new, innovative modulated machine, shall we? The Nostalgia is a very complex pedal that can do a...
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The 3 Series from JHS Pedals is a fantastic and affordable way to get into this crazy effects world we all live in, and I’m excited to check out another one of them today. The Harmonic Trem gives you a simple, 3-knob and one switch control layout, which lets you easily conjure up gorgeous tones in mere seconds…literally. Harkening back to some of the most coveted vintage sounds out there, this clean white beauty looks and...
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After you hear about certain pedals for a while, even years, you start to wonder if, when you actually get a chance to play them, they’ll live up to the hype. Today’s pedal answers that question with a resounding YES, giving me all that I can handle and more, much to my delight. The Elektron Analog Drive Multi-Circuit Distortion brings together all the elements of dirt effects you could want, wide-ranging and expanding...
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I love the old Power Series pedals from Ibanez, as do many players and collectors around the planet. Produced in the ’80s, this lineup features just about every effect you could want, and a couple you probably never knew even existed. Today, we’re looking at the SS10 Session-Man Distortion Chorus, one of the rarer and more sought-after units from this series. Instant nostalgia and vintage tones are the focus here, and I...
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Let’s face it: you absolutely DO NOT have to spend an exuberant amount of cash to get some good sounds onto your pedalboard, and today’s effects unit shows that fact without any doubt. The Levitate Delay Reverb from Sonicake gives you 2 effects in one pedal, with a massive amount of delay time, sweet oscillating echoes and reverb that will rival your favorite $600 pedal (well, almost). And at a base price of around 50...
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The crew at Analog Music Company, based out of Kyiv, Ukraine, have always pushed the sonic and aesthetic boundaries of what is capable in an effects pedal, and I’m happy once again to bring you another of their creations today. While it make look a little more toned-down than some of their other units, the Notorious Rabbit Octave Fuzz is a pedal that’s anything but basic. The range of sounds pouring out of this black...
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We’re back today with another wonderful piece of gear from Boss’ Waza Craft collection, one that I’ve been wanting to get my hands on for quite a while. The VB-2W Waza Craft Vibrato brings classic modulation warble to the forefront of your sound, providing a uniquely vintage tone to spice up how you approach writing music. The original pedal this one is based on has become an expensive, sought-after unit – get...
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After diving into the new Brothers AM from Chase Bliss a few days ago, I thought it would be a great day to release another Analog Man collaboration pedal review and demo, ’cause why not? Today, we’re going to take a look at the MXR / Analog Man Duke of Tone Overdrive – while the Brothers AM is a tribute to the King of Tone, this one takes after it’s little brother (pun intended), the Prince of Tone. Another...
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One of the most talked-about pedals of the last few weeks has most certainly been the Brothers AM Dual Overdrive Distortion Boost, a collaboration between Chase Bliss and Analog Man. Five-plus years in the making, this new release brings all the classic sounds and functionality of Analog Man’s King of Tone to the table, and adds more to this already amazing and revered circuit. In their usual fashion, Chase Bliss takes...
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After being one of our favorite brands for the first couple of years when Pedal of the Day first started, FoxPedal was absorbed by Creation Music Company several years ago, and has since, unfortunately, closed permanently. When they announced the closure, I scooped up the last version of one of my favorite pedals of theirs, The Wave Dual Delay Reverb Modulation, to have a little piece of that history in the shop. Finally getting...
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Not being an engineer, or particularly skilled in the ways of electronics creation, I have never built an effects pedal. I love how they sound and what they can do, but their innerworkings completely baffle me, and I’m not alone. For all of us who want to tinker and experiment a little, without having to do too much actual work, Josh and the JHS Pedals crew have created the NOTADÜMBLË DIY kit, a boost/preamp/overdrive based on a...
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Sometimes, when you just see a pedal, before having heard it or knowing 1 single thing about what it does, you know you need to check it out ASAP. That was the case with today’s pedal, the NoiseKICK FX Diabeetus Tremolo Fuzz, a bold-looking and sounding effects unit that pays homage to a classic actor, while giving you some incredible sounds to play with. With just a couple of knobs, buttons and switches, there’s a lot...
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The Danelectro Cool Cat Stereo Chorus and Dan-Echo Delay Echo are two of the coolest pedals that have ever existed, right? That said, today’s pedal is often in any conversation involving those two as well, as they all come from the same classic lineup. The Daddy O DO-1 Overdrive doesn’t just have a rad-sounding name – it has a ton of rad-sounding sounds inside, as well… The Danelectro Daddy-O is an overdrive...
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It’s always fun to check out pedals that have a little bit of hype around them, and I’ve seeing today’s effect pop up in discussions for a while now. The Aspen Overdrive from Case Study Effects definitely lives up to the hype, combining four kinds of dirt into one gleaming white enclosure. Don’t let the outside of this one fool you – there’s more dirt going on under the hood than you can...
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Today’s pedal is kind of a special one – last fall, I donated money to a raffle that Waterslide Guitars was having to benefit the World Central Kitchen, who have helped feed people in and around Asheville, NC, where I happen to live, in the wake of Hurricane Helene. To my surprise, my name was chose as the winner of the Greer Amps Black Mountain Crunch Drive, and I couldn’t have been happier. It’s been a while...
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Since its release 7 years ago, the DRV Overdrive Distortion from 1981 Inventions has been at the top of many “best of” dirt pedals’ lists, and for good reason. The circuit trapped inside these beautiful enclosures has a wide range of tonal bliss to explore, even with just three knobs present. Today, we’re looking at a slightly different version of this effect, one that uses some different diodes for a sound...
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The Microcosm Granular Delay Looper from Hologram Electronics has been one of the most talked-about and used pedals over the course of the last 5 years, and for good reason. The crew at Hologram have a way of coming up with combinations of effects you never knew you needed, and that’s the case once again with today’s piece of gear. The Chroma Console packs a TON of effects into one pretty pedalboard-friendly enclosure,...
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If you’ve ever found your tone lacking that special something that it needs to really shine and sparkle, you’re not alone. Sometimes, it can be hard to figure out exactly what it is you need, but today’s pedal is a definite step in the right direction. The Carl Martin Tone Tweaker 12dB Boost & 3-Band EQ enhances both your volume and your tone, pushing any amp you’ve got into the sweetest of spots with...
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Ever get the feeling that *something* is missing in your signal chain? Something that will add *that thing* you need to complete the sound in your head? Today’s pedal, the OC-2 Octave from Boss, has been one of those pedals for over 4 decades, adding depth and beefy low frequencies to thin rigs and signal paths. One of my favorite pedals of all time, come along as we dive in and see what it can do… The OC-2 Octave pedal...
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It’s time for everyone’s (well, mine, anyway) favorite effect pedal genre once again: DELAY. Two knobs, sixteen switches, MIDI, analog – it doesn’t matter, bring ’em all to the table and let the experimentation begin. Today’s pedal, the Berserker Electronics Aquanaut Delay/Echo, falls somewhere in the middle when it comes to delay pedals, boasting just three knobs, but easily able to fill any kind...
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The majority of the pedals we’ve had the pleasure of checking out from Summer School Electronics have been in the boost/drive/distortion realm, but today, they’re switching gears into our favorite sonic dimension. I’m excited to help with the release their newest creation, the Spring Break Reverb. Combining a glorious reverb tone with some tasty delay/echo morsels, this pedal is perfect for beginners and seasoned...
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Today’s pedal has been on my radar for quite some time, and I’m soooo glad I finally got a chance to see what it’s all about. The LEM Lysergic Emotions Module Delay from Mastro Valvola packs a boatload of delay options into an extremely pedalboard-friendly enclosure, along with many ways to tweak and manipulate these tones. Secret parameters, tap tempo, external controls and more – this little delay packs a...
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Ever since I heard the opening notes of “Cowboys From Hell” as an early ’90s teenager, I’ve been a fan of Pantera, especially the musicianship created by Dimebag, Rex and Vinnie. Today’s pedal is a collaboration with one of these fellas, showcasing and updating an effect he’s been using for decades. The Morley Rex Brown Old Blue Wah simplifies everything you know about this type of pedal, while...
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Sometimes, a really special pedal comes along that completely blows me away, and today’s effect unit is up there at the top of the all-time list for me, as a basically life-long Deadhead. From 1974 to 1979, bassist Phil Lesh used a heavily-modified Alembic bass, known as Osiris, aka Mission Control. The new Osiris PHILter takes the filters and electronics from that bass, which was thought lost for years, and reverse engineers...
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Flangers can be a bit tricky, can’t they? Some are too extreme, some are too mild, some won’t do jet engine sounds, some are a bit uncontrollable…when you get a flanger pedal, you better be up for some experimenting, ’cause they can be vastly different from one to the next. Today’s effect, the Korg FLG-1 Flanger, is an under-the-radar sort of rarity, one that doesn’t pop up on a lot of lists, but...
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I’m excited today to venture, for the first time, into the world of effects from Carl Martin. We’ve been chatting for a while, and I’m honored to be a part of the release for their newest pedal today, the HeadRoom Mini Dual Channel Digital Spring Reverb. Building on the amazing sounds from the original HeadRoom units released in 2011, this one has been both shrunk down in size and updated in tone and functionality,...
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I couldn’t wait to dive into today’s pedal after checking out the Ozymandias Dual Overdrive Distortion last month from Animal Factory Amplification. Swapping guitar for bass today, come along as we take a look at the Godeater+ Dynamic Bass Distortion, an effects unit full of tonal and routing options, big, bold sounds and a unique look and feel. This second pedal in the new Animal Factory lineup is just as impressive as...
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Having recently been privy to a test of the Nobels ODR-mini2 Natural Overdrive, I was excited to see what today’s pedal had to offer in comparison. The latter’s older brother on steroids, this ODR-1X Natural Overdrive takes all that we know and love about the vintage sound these pedals produce, and takes it all to the next level. Here, you get that signature Nashville-esque sound, along with some added parameter controls...
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We’re excited as always to bring you the latest creation from our friends at Strymon to you all today, and this one features my all-time favorite effect genre: Delay/Echo. The EC-1 Single Head dTape Echo is based on a classic, vintage tape machine we all know and love, but with modern options, a smaller package size and ZERO expensive maintenance, rebuilding or upkeep costs. Sounding glorious in Stereo as usual, this little gem...
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Each new creation I see from our friends at Whimsy Machines (The Great Fantabulizing Whatsitdo, The Short Stack) brings a big smile to my face, and I just knew today’s piece of gear would do the same. Come along as we investigate the Sweet Tooth Waveshaping Fuzz Overdrive, an effects unit that defies logic and opens the doorways to brand new sonic possibilities. Innovative and creative as always, this one sounds just about as...
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Ever since we got to check out the Harby Wasabi Overdrive a few weeks back, I couldn’t wait to dig into another pedal they set over, the Mizu Chorus. Their take on the classic 1979 Boss CE-2 silver screw chorus pedal, the original has been used by the likes of David Gilmour, John Mayer, Johnny Marr, and practically everyone else. They’ve kept its lush, smooth tones, plus added a Volume knob for precise output control, and a Mix...
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The first pedal we checked out from Anode Effects, the MOS Fuzz Full Frequency Fuzz Machine, was a revelation in what could be accomplished with a 2-knob pedal. These guys are back again today with a different but equally impressive effects unit, the Dragon Drive V2. If the killer graphics don’t immediately grab you, the sound once the pedal is engaged certainly will. There’s a lot going on with this one, let’s take...
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We’re continuing out look at the Rockready lineup of pedals today, with another mini effect that produces BIG sounds. The OC-1 Octaver gives you three different octave modes to use, which you can blend together at will, creating unique and intriguing sounds with ease. Plug it in, twist some knobs, and you’ve got some wicked good tones at your fingertips in mere seconds… The Octave OC-1, produces 3 octaves AND blends...
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Who doesn’t love a great-sounding portable/practice amp, especially one with built-in FX, a tuner, Bluetooth connectivity and more? Well, if you do, you’re gonna love today’s piece of gear, the Katana-Mini X 10W Battery Powered Guitar Amp from our friends at BOSS. This little guy packs a LOT into a small package, changing the way you might think about small amplifiers, and perhaps changing the way you write and...
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We love the devotion to classic Beatles’ tones that our friends at Aclam work so hard towards on each of their releases, bringing impossibly-hard-to-achieve tones back into the mainstream. Today’s pedal is their latest release, the Go Rocky Go, which seeks to replicate the Magical Mystery Tour and White Album vibes, along with some modern upgrades for an options-laden effects unit. The range of sounds here is INSANE,...
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Although I only had the privilege to check out two pedals from Zero G IOD (the Honey Coma Fuzz and Echo Cooler Reverb), I was thoroughly impressed by both. Zack from Zero G IOD is back with his new partner Greg, and they have formed a new company, Other* Pedals – today, we’re bringing you their flagship effects unit, the Bokonon Fuzz. A time-honored and classic sound emanates from this sea green beauty – let’s...
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Many moons ago, Joe from Hello Sailor Effects sent us a wonderful, personalized pedal, the Anchor Drive, which not only incorporated our logo into the design, but it sounded phenomenal. Fast forward to today, and I’m happy to brings you all another one of Joe’s marvelous creations: the SeaWolf Dual Delay. Let’s face it, 2 Delays are better than 1, especially when they sound this good…let’s take a sonic...
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Although it’s been a few years since we saw a pedal from Sunnaudio, their previous creations were always intriguing, and I couldn’t wait to check out what they’d been working on since 2021. The answer is the incredible Helion R2D3 Guitar & Bass Preamp, an options-laden powerhouse pedal that gives you ALL the options you could want in a preamp, for either instrument. With specific settings, dipswitches, pots and...
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It’s been a looooong time since we had any effects from Animal Factory Amplification in the shop (like 9 years!), but based on today’s pedal, they have complete stepped up their game over the last near-decade. The Ozymandias Dual Overdrive Distortion looks like it’s fairly complicated pon first glance, but as you sit down with it and dig in, it’s extremely user-friendly, while providing more drive and crunch...
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Tube Screamers are certainly not for everyone, but I happen to LOVE the sound they make. And while there are many different iterations and models, one of the most highly sought-after versions is the mid-80s TS10. This one has grown in lore over the last couple of years, making it difficult to snag one unless you’re making 7 figures a year (not really, but close). Fortunately, our pals at Harby Pedals have created a wonderful...
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