It’s been a while since we reviewed a pedal from our friends at Vick Audio – they were one of our first pedal donators and supporters of the site two and a half years ago, and we’d like to thank them and acknowledge that once again. Their style, designs and pedals have become more sophisticated and versatile since the one-knob Fuzz Box we reviewed so long ago (as have our reviews, thankfully!), as evidenced by...
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Today’s guest review comes to us from Harrison L. – find him on Instagram (@Harrison_xx), Twitter (@Harrison_Caesar), Facebook (HarrisonCaesar) or his band’s website (The Baxter Loop)! The TC Electronic Dark Matter distortion pedal is an OUTSTANDING distortion and drive pedal. With it’s sleek black finish and variable controls over Gain, Level, Bass AND Treble, not to mention a ‘Voice’ switch to...
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The folks at Keeley Electronics just keep pumping out awesome new pedal after awesome new pedal, and we are privileged today to check out not only one of their newest creations, but a Special Edition as well. The Monterey Special Custom Germanium is a fuzz, octave, vibrato, rotary and harmonic wah all in one, producing an exciting blend of some classic tones, while opening the gateway to much sonic exploration. The Fuzz channel...
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We dig the look and sounds that come out of the effects pedals from American Wizard Toneworks. Simple designs, simple enclosures, but a look that’s both classic and sophisticated at the same time. Today’s featured pedal is a one-knob beast, a pedal that’s sure to melt faces and pummel ear cavities. The Hera Fuzz has one control knob: Volume. As you turn it up, both the fuzz and the overall output grow and grow, until...
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Today’s featured pedal comes to us from a well-known and highly-respected source here at Pedal of the Day. The crew over at Celestial Effects has been consistently churning out some amazing pedals, and we are lucky enough to have them keep sending us new stuff to review and demo, and we couldn’t be happier. This particular piece of gear they graced us with is a 3-In-1 beast, boasting three wonderful effects in one...
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Sometimes, we at Pedal of the Day discover a pedal that is so fun, has so many options and expands our current version of musical enlightenment that it’s hard to play anything else for a while. Today’s featured pedal is exactly along those lines: genre-bending, hard-to-define and definitely in-your-face, the BitQuest Multi-Effect is a site to behold, and a pleasure to hear. From our neighbors to the north, Dr. Scientist,...
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Today’s guest review comes to us from Scott W. – find him on Instagram (@honey.power) and Facebook (Scott Willems) and say Hi! The CE-5 Chorus Ensemble is another solid modulation pedal from Boss, packed in the typical Boss housing painted a very satisfying baby blue. It features four knobs: level, rate, depth, and filter – the filter being a dual concentric pot for separate filtering of your bass and treble. A problem I have...
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New pedal companies always bring a smile to our face, as we can’t wait to see what exciting features, designs and sounds creative minds at work will produce. Sometimes we have to wait a while for said pedals to arrive, especially when they’re traveling all the way from Europe, but in most cases, it’s worth the wait, and today’s pedal is no exception. The Distortion General from Orion Effekte is a simple but...
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We’d been seeing the name Providence floating around the forums and gear pages, but until now hadn’t had the opportunity to test one out and see for ourselves what the hype was all about. Luckily, our good buddy Sean Williamson, who we interviewed a few weeks ago, is a Providence artist, and set up talks between the two of us to get some reviews rolling. Our first foray into their world is the mighty Heat Blaster HBL-4...
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Another compressor pedal review is upon us, and if you haven’t grown to love them yet, we’re gonna try again and again until you do. Today’s “invisible” pedal comes to us from Japan, via a small company called Ninevolt Pedals, whose gear we’ve reviewed before (and will again). The 1927 Home Run King Compressor seeks to achieve the same tones as high-end studio compressors, all wrapped up in a nice,...
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After reviewing the new Mu-FX Mu-Tron 3X a little bit ago, we were blown away by what Mike Beigel and Co. have done with their new lineup, and couldn’t wait for more. One day, a magical box arrived at our doorstep, and what lay inside was an incredible 3-In-1 pedal that gives new meaning to an “always on” pedal: the Boostron 3 Boost Compressor Distortion box from Mike and Mu-FX. The Boostron 3 is based on three...
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Today’s guest review comes to us from Coe S. – find him on Instagram (@coeschneider) and say Hi! Hey! Those Seymour Duncan guys make pickups! But this, my friends, is a pedal. I picked this bad boy up used at a screaming deal. I was looking to get a delay with tap abilities, but outside of that I didn’t have any preference other than cost. The feature set on this delay is great, not only does it have tap functions...
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One of the most anticipated effects of 2016 has got to be today’s featured piece of gear, and rightly so on all accounts. The Nemesis Delay from Source Audio combines vintage analog and tape sounds with pitch-shifting abilities, modulation, MIDI, tap tempo and more. All crammed into a super pedalboard-friendly enclosure, this delay was three years in the making, and the final results are nothing short of astounding. Let’s...
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We were recently privileged to test out and review an awesome fuzz pedal from a relative newcomer (at least to us) in the pedal world, Spruce Effects. The Lichen Fuzz was a great fuzz pedal, and we were impressed by its quality build and sound as well, so we were super-stoked to check out another one of their creations – the Growth Ring Boost. Right off the bat, the mismatched knob selection drew us in, as we dig some wackiness...
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Testing out totally new and unique pedals is something that really gets us all excited here at Pedal of the Day, and our featured gem today couldn’t be more unique or more original if it could try. Utilizing an ancient (!) form of audio recording to produce its sound, the Landscape HC-TT Human Controlled Tape Transport is a sonic manipulation device that blends the past, present and future into one funky and quirky little silver...
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We’ve got another classic pedal reproduction for you all today, and one that unequivocally and faithfully reproduces the sound, feel and vibe (pun intended) of the original units, with all the modern amenities we’re all always seeking out. The Vibe-Bro from Shin-Ei is an updated version of the classic Uni-Vibe machine, made famous for forty years by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, Robin Trower and countless...
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Let’s face it: we all love delay. Sure, you can tell your friends or your buddies in the local death metal band that delay is weak and has no place in music, but as soon as you get home, you bust out your favorite delay and noodle for hours. You can admit it. Speaking of killer delays, today’s featured “pedal” just might top the list for modern analog echo recreations, and certainly holds a spot near the top of...
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We’re taking next week off to get settled into our new office space, so we have a rare Saturday review for you to tide you over for a bit. Today’s featured pedal comes to us from Ninevolt Pedals, a company from Japan who we are featuring throughout the next few months, and will be reviewing their entire lineup of pedals. This little black beauty is the I Was A Wolf In The Forest Distortion, and while the pedal is great in...
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Today’s guest review comes to us from Wesley S. – find him on Instagram (@wesleystuart1) and say Hi! Emerson Custom (though mostly known for their wiring kits) has also dipped their fit into the pedal making business; one of their two offerings being the Paramount Overdrive. I recently bought this pedal as I just wasn’t satisfied with the drive tone I’d been getting from my rig and hated how the pedal I was...
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After a quick day off yesterday to move the shop, we’re back with a bang! From the insanely talented and innovative brain of our pal Joel Korte over at Chase Bliss Audio comes one of the most talked-about and anticipated effects pedals of 2016. The Tonal Recall Analog Delay not only manages to squish a TON of options into a regular-sized, pedalboard-friendly pedal, but takes the entire genre, dumps it on its head and reinvents...
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Today, we’ve got yet another powerhouse pedal from our friend Jorge Tripps and Way Huge Electronics to throw at you. The Saucy Box Overdrive is a downright simple pedal, but with a wide range of sounds available and an excellent clean boost, this Klon-esque gem will make you rethink your whole gain section. Three controls for an overdrive pedal: nothing new or ground-breaking here, featuring Volume, Tone and Drive knobs. The...
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Alright, kiddies, you’re in for a real treat today. The Dream Sequence from Hologram Electronics is one of the hottest pedals out at the moment, and if you haven’t heard it or heard of it, we’ll try to give you a great review and demo so you can know it’s true power. Part envelope filter, part tremolo, part pitch shifter, part sampler and part sequencer with a dash of synth thrown in for good measure, this...
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Today’s guest review comes to us from Andrew L. – find him on Instagram (@andrew.s.lingrell) and say Hi! Pedalboards can get full quickly. And real estate on a pedal board is valuable. Sometimes however you’ll find yourself wanting many different sounds but you only have limited empty space on your board. What to do, what to do…BUY A SLATE. The Slate is a stereo ‘blank slate’ pedal by Neunaber. Stay...
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In this chaotic world of reviewing so many differing and complex pedals, opening up a package and finding a one-knob pedal waiting inside sometimes produces a big sigh of relief. Just knowing that there’s probably not a 50-page manual to read or try to decipher, and you won’t need a physics degree to write a review can be quite a nice change of pace. Today’s pedal, the Squatch Stank from Kinnatone, provided that very...
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Continuing our streak of evaluations from the great pedal lineup over at Celestial Effects, today’s featured gem is a big green monster in a little green box. The Taurus Blues Overdrive features some unique controls and excellent overdrive tones, giving you all the blues sounds you can handle in one well-sized and expertly-priced package. Volume, Tone and Gain start off the controls, and will give a nice mix of boost, low-gain...
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We start off this shortened week with the first of many pedals we’ll be reviewing from a great little company located in Japan, Ninevolt Pedals. With unique graphics and a lineup of effects that are sure to have something for every guitar player’s needs, these guys are putting out some affordable and great-sounding pedals. We’re going to start things off with a favorite effect of ours, and one of the nicest...
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Wishing all our USA followers a Happy July 4th – hope the food is hot, the beer is cold and the fireworks are loud. CHEERS!
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Today’s guest review comes to us from Sean G. – find him on Instagram (@TheNoiseReel), Twitter (@TheNoiseReel) and Facebook (The Noise Reel). The Third Rail is a dual overdrive with multiple switching modes. Both sides have clipping options via a toggle for Schottky Diodes, Standard Silicon Diodes, or no diodes. Volume, Gain, and Tone available on both sides. The right channel features a low cut toggle while the left side...
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As stated before in many, many reviews, we love fuzz pedals here at Pedal of the Day. While we’ve checked out a LOT of them over the years, there’s still something special about plugging into a new one for the first time, hitting that bypass switch and immediately going “Whoa”, ala Neo in The Matrix. Today’s tasty little fuzz morsel, the Lichen Fuzz, did exactly that when we turned her on, and continued...
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A couple weeks ago, we reviewed a pedal like none we had seen before, the S-AMP Cabinet Simulator/Headphone Amp from Nunomo LLC. Today, we’ve got their next adventurous piece of gear for you to check out, and it’s defying all logic and traditional overdrive building as well. With a new set of controls to dial in some excellent overdrive tones, let’s check out the new and exciting Limbo Overdrive, k? While most...
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Having access to two different pedals in the same box, and sometimes the ability to combine them together to make one super-powered effect, is one of the greatest things ever in the effects world. Today’s pedal from our friends halfway around the world, Red Witch Pedals, does exactly that, but also features a ton of options, sounds and quirks that make it a truly special modulation pedal. May we present to you the Medusa...
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We’re starting off this week with a type of pedal that tends to get overlooked all too often, but one that can be essential to your sound. The cats over at Agave Audio have come up with a boost pedal that’s simple, easy-to-use and adds a ton of sparkle to your tone – the Cumbre Preamp. One knob, 2 footswitches and a lot of power adds up to a wonderful boost that will drive your amp into sweet breakup. With only one...
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Today’s guest review comes to us from Rob H. – you can find him on Instagram (@studio.rh), Twitter (@Rob_Hildreth) or on his website (Studio RH). Magnetic Effects are a London (UK) based boutique pedal manufacturer. All of the effects are designed and built by Christian Livingstone, who also happens to be the riff monster from NZ garage rockers The Datsuns. You only need to listen to his guitar work to realise this guy...
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Personally, we love compressors on all our pedalboards, but not everyone feels the same way. Some players absolutely swear by them, other think they’re useless and won’t come within 5 miles of one. Today’s pedal happens to be a compressor, the Saffron Squeeze from the newly-revived Way Huge Electronics, and while it appears to be a simple stompbox at first glance, a closer look reveals more controls, more options and...
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So, today’s pedal takes us on an absolutely new adventure here at Pedal of the Day: MIDI. Not really knowing how it works or having ever really used it much (at least not a device this intense and powerful), we were a little intimidated when the MC6 MIDI Controller showed up on our doorstep. Luckily for us, the guys at Morningstar Engineering are super-nice, and over the course of several emails, we were able to dive in and do...
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A while back, we reviewed a pedal from a company whose pedal designs are as unique as the graphics on their enclosures – that pedal was the Blinding VOIP! Boost from Jellyfish Electronics. Today, we’re going to take a look at one of their overdrives, the Girthquake (great names, don’t you think?) and see what it has in store for us! The control section of the Girthquake features your basic overdrive controls: Volume,...
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At Pedal of the Day, we love discovering new companies that are putting out great gear, and today’s pedal and company are a prime example. Ground Control Audio comes to us via Montreal, Canada, and their flagship pedal is what we’ll be looking at today. The Blood Oath Overdrive is a nice, low to mid gain drive that has a great sound and a nice EQ section to dial in whatever dirty sounds you might be after. The Volume knob...
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Today’s guest review comes to us from Christian E. – you can find him on Instagram (@chriespiritu) or on his band’s Facebook page (Story Of April). The Tube Screamer is probably the most famous pedal of all time and it has its spot on pedalboards of players from all over the world. The pedal itself is built like a tank. The all metal construction makes a very solid stompbox and you’ll feel like you could gig...
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If you’ve ever had the opportunity to utilize a Dispatch Master Delay/Reverb combo pedal from EarthQuaker Devices, then you know how powerful it is, and what a useful tool it can be in your sonic arsenal. Somehow managing to improve upon this rad design, the EQD crew has created the Avalanche Run, taking the original design to the next level, without making it too complicated or busy. With new features and a ton of new options,...
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After hearing so much about and seeing the Caveman Overdrive all over the place over the last year, we were super-excited when the guys from Oddfellow Effects said they wanted to send us their newest pedal, The Bishop Overdrive, to check out and review. While the Caveman is a dual-channel drive, The Bishop is a more basic, stripped-down overdrive, but with a ton of punch and kick to get your amp sounding incredible. We’ve got...
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Here at Pedal of the Day, we’ve had the pleasure to review a number of pedals by the always-entertaining and a bit off-the-cuff Paradox Effects, and we’re happy to have another of their enclosures on hand for today’s review. If you want fuzz, you checked out our website on the right day, to say the least. The Fuzz-E Cat pushes the limits of sound (and your eardrums), but in only the best ways possible. Let’s...
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After the options-laden Aquarius Fuzz pedal we looked at last week, today’s featured piece of gear does a complete 180, and gets down and dirty with a stripped-down enclosure and bare minimum controls. Lone Wolf Audio is well-known for producing some of the most unique, complex noise machines in the industry, so it was both a shock and a welcome sight to see the Bulldozer Fuzz arrive in our mailbox. This one-knob pedal...
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Today’s guest review comes to us from Scott W. – find him on Instagram (@honey.power) and Facebook (Scott Willems). Electro-Harmonix’s Stereo Pulsar is a fantastic variable shape tremolo pedal. The setup is very basic, featuring only three parameters and a switch to choose between square and triangle wave types, but the sounds you can achieve are far from it. The Pulsar has three knobs: rate, shape, and depth. You...
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There are times in the effects pedal review world when a piece of gear comes along that you aren’t prepared for, and never even knew could exist. Take, for example, today’s featured pedal, the S-AMP Cabinet Simulator and Headphone Amplifier from Nunomo LLC. There are tons of practice tools on the market available for musicians, but this pedal takes that concept and turns it into something totally unique, and actually quite...
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Apparently, there are still guitar players in existence that don’t like fuzz. Finding that fact difficult to imagine, today’s pedal gears specifically towards fuzz-haters, and has been affectionately dubbed “the fuzz for guitarists that hate fuzz.” Celestial Effects has been putting out some interesting and powerful pedals over that last few years, and the Aquarius Fuzz just might help to convert some...
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We can get behind any good fuzz pedal around here, so we were pretty stoked when the cats over at Way Huge Electronics sent over their Havalina™ Germanium Fuzz for us to check out. Featuring a basic three-knob control configuration, this fuzz does what a good fuzz pedal should do: produce copious amounts of fuzz. With a hint of old-school Tone Bender fuzz sound found within it, this is a fun fuzz that will get you groovin’ with...
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Chorus is a great effect, when used in the right context. I suppose the same could be said about any other effect, but chorus really seems to have a special following of haters, while other players consider it a crucial part of their signature sound. As with most pedals from EarthQuaker Devices, the Sea Machine is not a traditional chorus effect, but instead another gorgeous re-imagining of a classic effect with those very special EQD...
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Today’s guest review comes to us from Jordan G. – find him on Instagram (@thebedroomguitarist), Twitter (@musicgearjunkie), Facebook (The Bedroom Guitarist) and on his website (The Bedroom Guitarist). Noise Gates are an often overlooked part of a guitarist’s pedal board, but their value cannot be overstated. There are many options out there, but the purpose of this review is to go over my personal favorite –...
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We review a lot of pedals around here, as you may have noticed, and a lot of them have quite a learning curve to figure out all the ins-and-outs, how they work, what they’re capable of, and how to use them to fit a particular style of music. Today’s pedal is pretty much the EXACT OPPOSITE of that: a one-knob gem that has one function and does it brilliantly, with no fuss, no muss and just some straight-up great tones to...
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Analog Delay. You love it, we love, almost anyone who listens to any music made in the last 3+ decades loves it (or they damn well should). Today’s featured pedal is one of the most recognizable and oft-used of these warm and modulated gems, due in part to its pronounced bright green solid enclosure. The M-118 Analog Delay from MXR is steeped in delay history, and with all the sounds you could want oozing out of every crack and...
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