Today, we’ve got another awesome addition to our guest reviewer series, this time it’s Rob Compa from the excellent band Dopapod! I’d like to say thanks to him for taking some time out and writing this review on a very rare and unique pedal, looking forward to more reviews in the future, Rob! Enough of my spiel, here’s what Rob has to say: Hey guys! About a year ago, I finally got to that point where my...
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Continuing with their unpredictable, innovative and original lineup of pedals, EarthQuaker Devices has done it again with today’s pedal, the Bit Commander. Billed as an analog synthesizer, this gray beast is that, for sure, but much more as well. With four octaves of square wave synth tones, the Bit Commander will leave you speechless at first, but once you tame it, it’ll be your audience that will be in for the real...
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A number of pedals from our friends at Fuchs Audio Technology have been reviewed here at Pedal of the Day, and they are always a real audio treat. From delay to distortion and everything in between, Fuchs makes some great effects pedals, and they have also created some stunning high-end amplifiers as well (check them out HERE). Today’s pedal, the Crème de la Trem, is a tremolo that features a little different flavor from the...
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Multi-effects units tend to be hit or miss, in my experience, while some can be the most fantastic thing you’ve ever experienced. Today’s pedal, the Holy Stain from Electro-Harmonix, falls somewhere in the middle. Not the best at some functions, but really good at others, the Holy Stain is definitely a pedal worth checking out, even if you might not be using all of its functions all the time. Mix, Amount, Volume and Tone...
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In today’s world of awesome boutique pedals, it’s easy for a lot of us to dismiss a pedal due to its cost, which can be a shame a good part of the time. Somewhere along the way, a stigma was attached to pedals that don’t cost an arm and a leg as being inferior, poorly-built pieces of junk, that have no place on any civilized players’ pedalboard, and that needs to be rectified. There are a TON of great pedals...
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Boss pedals have long been staples on many a pedalboard, and one that I always found to be a real stand-out is the BD-2 Blues Driver. A great stock pedal, the BD-2 gives of great drive tones, perfect for rock and roll, blues or pop, and can get your tube amp to that special distorted spot that every player digs. Today’s version features a special Phat Mod done by our friends over at Keeley Electronics, which will turn your...
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Having reviewed a number of their pedals, I think it’s safe to say that the crew over at Infanem (Instruments For A New Electric Music) make some of my favorite pedals ever. Wildly inventive and a lot of time out-of-this-world, they take on fuzzes, phasers, delays and more, much to the delight of myself and many others throughout the pedal-playing community. Today’s pedal is the 141G, a tough monster of a fuzz, with fairly...
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Having recently reviewed the POG2 and Micro POG Polyphonic Octave Generator pedals from Electro-Harmonix, I was eager to test out their newest octave offering, and see how it stood up to the aforementioned pedals. These little Nano POGs have been all the rage around the guitar world recently, I think mainly due to their smaller, more pedalboard-friendly size, which I was also quite pleased with. Let’s take a look and see how she...
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In this crazy world of pedal reviewing, I have been extremely fortunate enough to come across some incredible pedals from smaller manufacturers that I probably wouldn’t have even heard of otherwise. Since the market is so competitive, I’m lucky to be able to befriend these builders, and help try to get the word out about their pedals to as many musicians as possible, through all the avenues that are available for Pedal of...
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A while back, our buddy and fellow reviewer Kyle Ragan (check out his YouTube channel) introduced us, and probably most of you guys and gals out there, to a little company from the Czech Republic called HDR Amplification. Their Seastorm and Sunstorm Distortion pedals both looked and sounded incredible, so we were pretty stocked when an overseas box arrived on the front door not long ago sporting their name. Upon opening said box, we...
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As most of you readers are aware, the gang at EarthQuaker Devices doesn’t tend to mess around when it comes to creative pedals that most of us would have never even thought about, much less could figure out how to make. On the rare occasion that they create a pedal that isn’t based on a concept they absolutely pull from thin air, you can guarantee it won’t be like anything else you’ve ever heard, and will come...
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Most (not all, but most) boost pedals are fairly simple, many times just having one knob to control the output volume, and nothing else. So, it’s always refreshing to come across a boost that has a little more meat to it, and some nice equalization options as well. Which brings us to today’s pedal: the Blinding Voip Boost from Jellyfish Electronics. While it’s true that the Blinding Voip does possess that...
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We love seeing a new company burst onto the scene, fresh with new ideas and full of gusto about their new adventures, and today’s pedal comes to us from one such company. Ohm Made Electronics, located in Leavenworth, Washington, is a small company just getting off the ground, and their first production model is today’s featured pedal, the Fuzz Out! At first glance, this pedal looks really simple…and it is, to an...
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Guess what? We’re going to review another delay today, making it three in a row (like we’ve said before, we love some delay around here). This one is a truly unique delay, however, one that you’ve probably not seen the likes of before, although I’m sure you’ve heard about it in recent years. Fairfield Circuitry is in a constant state of innovation, with each new pedal they put out topping the previous,...
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Once again, a highly sought-after delay is on today’s featured pedal menu, because delays are awesome, as you should well know by now. In a world full of overpriced “vintage” gear, there are still a few delay pedals who can boast that they are classics, they sound incredible and their prices are not even close to wiping out your bank account, as some others can be. The one we’re discussing today is that big,...
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Simplicity can be a powerful weapon in today’s pedal world, where some manuals tend to read like a Tolstoy novel. The ability to be able to sit down with a pedal and GO, without having to read a bunch first, can be key to gear working it’s way into your rig. Not that the big boys don’t have their place, of course they do, but sometime you just want a couple of knobs that make beautiful noise, and that’s all you...
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Sometimes, it’s hard to come up with a ton of words to describe a pedal and how it sounds, or makes you feel, or brings an immediate smile to your face. That said, I’ll try to do my best to try and describe the Hammer Distortion Fuzz from Greer Amps. Another in our recent lineup of 3-knob pedals, this one has got gusto, oomph and rock and roll ensconced into its DNA, and that is evident after you turn it on and hit the...
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I had heard of Crimsontone Amps before, but until recently, was unaware that they also made pedals. Needless to say I was super-stoked when they sent a couple of pedals over to review – the amps look so incredible, I’m sure the pedals are no slouches, either. Well, my assumptions were all confirmed the minute I sat down and plugged in the Rosso Fuzz, the first of two pedals that arrived that day. The Rosso is a...
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Here at Pedal of the Day, we’ve been diggin’ the stuff that Pedal Monsters has been putting out for a while now, having reviewed the Bright Lights, Mad Hatter and White Lightning overdrive pedals so far. This time around, we’re excited to switch it up and move into a different pedal category altogether: REVERB. The older brother of the one-knob Well Reverb, this one features a few new options, but has the same...
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A couple months ago, we reviewed a fuzz pedal that was about as simple as it gets, options-wise, that still hasn’t left our main pedalboard: the Hive Fuzz from American Wizard Toneworks. Killer name aside, AWT recently sent us another great pedal, with minimal controls and loads of great tone, and we’re going to take a look at it today. May I present to you, ladies and gentlemen, the Ozma Overdrive. As it turns out, 2...
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Although a lot of older pedals from past decades have been reissued or reworked in some way, there’s just something awesome about holding a piece of history in your hand, and then turning that piece of history on and making some rad music with it. Such is the case with today’s pedal, the SCF Stereo Chorus Flanger (and Pitch Modulator) from TC Electronic. A great tool to use in multiple sonic settings, the SCF can be...
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Let’s get funky, shall we? Continuing in their line of compact, bass-voiced pedals, Pigtronix has released the Bass Envelope Phaser, a unique take on the classic filter effect. Even more so than their compressor and drive offerings, the controls on this unit are incredibly simple: knobs for Sensitivity and Resonance, and a switch that changes the wave-form. In both modes the Sensitivity controls how responsive the effect is to...
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When I received today’s pedal in the mail from our friends at Sublime Guitar Company, one person immediately popped into my head: Joel Cummins, keyboardist for Umphrey’s McGee. Being the elder member of the group, Joel has repeatedly taken flack and guff from the other guys in the band over the years, and the graphic on the aptly-named Hippy Joel Overdrive was just about a perfect fit. I decided to shoot Joel a message...
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Delays that have some kind of modulation incorporated with them have been my favorites for a long time, and I’m always intrigued with each new one, to see what differences and similarities they might share will others I’ve played in the past. The first version of the Reptile Delay is the one we’re gonna check out today, and although there’s a newer model, the Reptile 2, the original is still highly regarded on...
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There have been a lot of fuzz pedals floating around the office as of late, and one of the ones I was most excited about playing is today’s featured pedal, the White Atom Fuzz from Magnetic Effects. I’d seen this pedal around on different sites online, and was extremely delighted when we both decided to collaborate on a review for the newest model, the MkII. Anticipation was high as I waited for the pedal to arrive from...
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We’ve been reviewing a bunch of drive pedals from Diamond Pedals recently, and today’s featured pedal is another in this esteemed list of great gear they’ve been putting out. With many of their pedals having a lot of controls and a ton of options, this pedal is simple, easy-to-use and sounds great. The Nine Zero Two (which happens to be the area code for Nova Scotia) is a stripped-down but powerful overdrive, that...
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Let’s face it – the classic Shin-Ei Uni-Vibe sound works really, really well in some music…and not so much in others. Being that it might not be the friendliest effect on your board, it’s hard for a lot of folks to shell out a couple hundred dollars for a well-made recreation, or even harder to find (and afford) and original, much less one in good working condition. While these sought-after analog machines are...
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I know, I know, today’s featured piece of gear ISN’T a pedal, but I gotta switch it up once in a while, right? It IS, however, an important piece of the puzzle that makes up your sonic arsenal, and one that is a must-have before an practice, gig or recording session: a tuner. Despite not being a stompbox, the Roadie Automatic tuner might become one of your go-to items on a regular basis, once you sit down with it and see...
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I really dig the simplicity of the pedal produced by today’s featured builder, Like My Pedals. The stuff that they’re putting out to the world from Gainesville, Florida is nothing short of awesome, and with the simple but bold enclosures and no graphics or text, their pedals are very easily recognizable, and come with a hint of class, prestige and mystery. Today’s pedal is a newer model (I think we got one of the...
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With the same control knob section as the Fuchs Audio Plush Phone Tone (none), today’s pedal is a bit of an oddball, but a fun one nonetheless. With only a Bypass footswitch to control it’s operation, the Tentacle Analog Octave from EarthQuaker Devices is a true one-trick pony, and will absolutely add a new dimension to your sound. The Tentacle is the same octave up that is present in EQD’s Hoof Reaper pedal, and...
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The folks at Free The Tone have really been putting out some incredible gear in the last few years, and today’s featured pedal is yet another in their impressive lineup. Wanting to create an overdrive that could fit onto any board comfortably, they set out to build a pedal using the finest ingredients and latest technology, and ultimately came up with the Gigs Boson Overdrive. Taking its name from a recently discovered Higgs...
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There are certain times in every effect freak’s life, when you sit down with a pedal, any type of pedal, really, and once you hit that bypass switch, your ears, eyes and fingers instantly perk up, and your brain sort of says “Whoa!”, maybe even with a little Keanu Reeves overtone. Now, while there are many, many brilliant pedals out there to explore, as we know, there are those rare gems that just have IT, whatever...
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I was born in 1977. A year later, Reinhold Messner became the first human being to ascend Mt. Everest without the use of supplementary oxygen. Fast forward 37 years, and that brings us in a roundabout way to today’s pedal review. My buddy Colt and the boys and girls at Walrus Audio have created a low-gain, transparent overdrive that will make you feel as though you, too, have reached a peak of immense height and struggle....
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The folks up north at Diamond Pedals have been making top of the line gear for many years now, and I’m always waiting in anticipation for their new releases, year after year. One of their newer model pedals is today’s featured POTD: the Cornerstone, a dual-gain overdrive that features multiple unique discrete gain stages, as well as a couple of fun options in the control room for more versatile and explosive performance in...
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After recently reviewing a couple of new pedals from Backwoods Music, I came across an older version of one of their pedals for a price I couldn’t pass up, and was excited to see what it could do, after being thoroughly impressed by the Nightcap Reverb and Mockingbird Delay. I’m not a huge Boost guy in general, but I thought “what the hell”, and went for it anyway! Not knowing what to expect, I sat down and...
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The Big Muff Family of Fuzzes has many, many members, in various forms, models and creations, and should, after being around for more close to 50 years. One of these family subdivisions it the Russian Green Muff, which was made from 1994-2000 or so, and is one of many highly collectable and sought-after versions of this incredible fuzz. The crew at McCaffrey Audio decided it was time to take on the project of developing their own...
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Have you ever seen LOST? Were you on the edge of your seat, week after week, on Thursday nights for way too many years? If you didn’t watch this miraculous television phenomenon, well, you missed out, plain and simple. Plus, you won’t really understand the clever name, sweet graphics and subtle show inclusions that are present in today’s review pedal: the Dharma Drive from WychElm Effects. Graphically, the Dharma...
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Who loves the famous Klon Centaur? Alright, maybe we all do on some level. But seriously, not many of us lowly guitarists have $1,500-$2,500 to spend on an entire rig, much less on ONE LONE PEDAL. Enter J. Rockett Audio Designs, purveyors of fine quality and excellently-crafted unique pedal creations, to save the day. If you are craving that classic boost/drive taste, but don’t want to sell your car or first born to get it, take...
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As a bass player, it’s nice to add some grit and dirt to my sound when the need arises. Unfortunately, there are many pedals out there that may sound good at home, but get lost in the mix. From low-end loss to a barely perceptible effect, it’s hard to find a good drive at a good price. Thankfully, Pigtronix is here to save the day with the Bass FAT Drive. I’ve had their Philosopher Bass Compressor on my board for...
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Each time Walrus Audio announces a new pedal, guitarists around the globe, including myself, get instantly curious and excited. This past winter at NAMM, they debuted a couple of pedals that looked VERY interesting, and we’ve got one of those for you today. The Bellwether Analog Delay produces warm, vintage, analog delay sounds with ease, and offers a bunch of modern options as well, in order to make it extremely customizable to...
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I’m always on the lookout for pedals that not only present themselves in a unique way, but offer unique sound options, too. Today’s pedal, the 1954 Transparent Fuzz from ScreaminFX, covers both of these criteria with ease, as you can see just by looking at the design of this bright orange beauty. Hand-made and built like a tank in Austin, Texas, with a clear shield that lets you peer directly into this fuzz’s soul, I...
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The gang over at Red Panda are known for making some of the funkiest, most individual and sonically genius pedals on the market today (see our reviews of the Particle and Context). Their latest is another example of innovation and adventure: the Raster Delay, which incorporates pitch shifting into the delay signal, among other things. Get ready for a wild ride, here we go! The Raster may look a bit daunting, even though there are only...
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Nick and the crew at Greer Amps have been putting out some incredible dirt pedals over the last few years, but with today’s pedal, they’re veered a bit off course into the world of delay, which I (and other fans of theirs) couldn’t be happier about. The Black Tiger Delay Device is a relatively simple delay, but has great tone, like all Greer pedals, and provides the perfect amount of tone-enhancement to make your rig...
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Diamond Pedals have been a big supporter of Pedal of the Day since we first started, and it’s always a treat getting a package from them in the mail, ’cause you never know what to expect. This time around, the delivered box was loaded with dirt pedals, the first of which we’ll be checking out today. Both a drive and a warm boost, the J-Drive Mk3 Overdrive puts out plenty of power and adds great depth to your tone,...
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Who has $1,500 or more for a guitar pedal? Not many of us, I’m quite sure. While the Klon is a legendary boost in it’s own right, there are a lot of pedal companies making similar pedals for way, way less money. A prime example of one of these awesome pedal makers is Free The Tone, probably most known for their ridiculous Flight Time Delay, used by none other than David Gilmour. Today’s pedal, however, is the Red...
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Have you been searching for a delay that has a ton of sonic options, but a small pedalboard footprint? One that has a switchable boost section for you to power through those killer solos with? One that has optional Vibrato and Flanger modes, for thick and tasty delays across the board? One that has tap tempo AND switchable note subdivisions? Well, if you thought something this fantastic couldn’t possibly exist, you’ve...
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I love a good reverb that can add presence to your sound, but not overpower it – unless, of course, that’s what you want it to do. A good mix of controls and toggle switches is always a plus in my book for ANY type of pedal, really, but there’s something about a small box reverb that’s made really well that just brings your whole attitude about playing guitar to new levels, and today’s pedal did just that...
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Everyone has to have tap tempo on their delays these days, it seems, but sometimes you want a small, simple stompbox that can provide you with that specific option, but not overwhelm you with others. Boasting awesome analog tones, plus a few other tricks up its sleeve, the Tap Tone Delay from T-Rex Effects will give you all the delay and tap tempo you need, and have a good time doing it, too. The control panel on the Tap Tone...
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It just so happens that I love fuzz pedals, but I ALSO love sandwiches, so today’s pedal celebrates 2 of my favorite things at once! The Big Muff Fuzz has a ridiculous cult following, especially a few choice models from the 1970s, but if you can even find them, they’re pricey and usually need repair and maintenance to keep them alive and going strong. Well, thanks to JHS Pedals and circuitry wizard Jon Cusack, there now...
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