It’s always a blast when pedals from a company that’s new to me arrive at the shop for the first time. There are so many pedal companies out there, I love seeing how each one thinks and conceives new ideas and creates new gear for the world to enjoy. Randy at Enduring Audio has got all of this down to a science, apparently, and I’m stoked to bring you all the first pedal from his lineup today: please help we welcome...
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As far as heavy, instrumental, post-metal music is concerned, the dudes in Pelican are in the upper echelon, and have been at the forefront for 25 years. Today’s pedal sees them collaborate with Dead Air Studios to bring us the Resonance Reverb, a seemingly simple pedal that is anything but, fitting their specific style of music to a T. If you like metal music, ambient stuff or just adding another layer to your sound or style,...
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I don’t know about you all, but the look of a pedal is, a lot of the time, what draws me towards it initially. At first glance, today’s effect, the superlunar sr-01 transistor-based analog saturation device, made me instantly want to know more about it, and what sounds it could produce. Well, after further investigation, it sounds as good as it looks…if not better. Come along as we explore this magnificent machine,...
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Multi-effects units are always fun – I mean, how can they not be? Well, I guess if they sound horrible or don’t have good features or catch on fire, sure – fortunately, none of those are present with today’s pedal, the Valeton GP-50 Multi-Effects Processor SnapTone & IR Loader. Bringing a boatload of effects, amps, presets, looper, tuner and more to the table, this one builds on an already classic...
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Boost. You think it only does one thing, but it can be so much more – a perfect example of that is the pedal we’re going to take a look at today. The Megaphone Transparent Booster from Dronechov Noise Machines in The Netherlands will boost your signal, sure, but it can also shape your tone. And if you like to push your overdrive/distortion pedals or your favorite tube amp to the edge and beyond, this seemingly simple...
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Recently, we took a look at the new lineup of pre-made pedal kit effects from our friends at StewMac, which included the Sun Fuzz, Ghost Drive Transparent Overdrive, Two Kings Dual Boost Overdrive and the Lightcycle Phasor II Optical Phaser. We’re going to take a solo look at the third pedal in the lineup today, after checking out the Sun Fuzz and Ghost Drive earlier this month. The Two Kings Pre-Built DIY Dual Boost Overdrive...
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Over the course of this year, I’ve had an amazing time reviewing and demoing a couple of effects pedals from Case Study Effects. After the rousing success of their Aspen Overdrive and Studio Compressor units, I was stoked to receive the final pedal in their lineup, the Lastlight Transistor Based Boost & Overdrive. A simple four-knobber this is NOT, as you’ll see and hear below – this very well could be the final...
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A couple weeks ago, we took a look at the new lineup of pre-made pedal kit effects from our friends at StewMac, which included the Sun Fuzz, Ghost Drive Transparent Overdrive, Two Kings Dual Boost Overdrive and the Lightcycle Phasor II Optical Phaser. We’re going to take a look at the second pedal in the lineup today, after checking out the Sun Fuzz earlier this month. The Ghost Drive Pre-Built DIY Transparent Overdrive brings a...
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It’s usually all about rocking out and lots of overdrives and making cool noises here at Pedal of the Day, but it’s also nice sometimes to just kick back with an acoustic guitar and chiiiiiillllll… Today’s pedal allows you to do just that, but makes you also sound good while you relax, providing incredible tone, a bunch of connectivity options and even let you bring in some of your favorite noisemaker effects....
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Small, pedalboard-friendly effects units are always nice to have on hand, especially for an overcrowded signal chain that takes up a lot of real estate. The fine folks at Tone City continue to recognize and build on this, as evidenced by today’s pedal, the Bad Horse v2025 Boost Overdrive. With a wide-spanning range of sounds and all the amp-pushing, grit-filled tone you’ve been searching for, this little wonder proves that you...
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Josh and the crew at JHS Pedals are always coming up with something creative and inspiring to add to the world of effects, and today’s pedal conjures up tones of yesteryear with a replication of an unusual piece of gear. Replicating a bedroom studio recording device, the 424 Gain Stage Preamp Distortion Overdrive allows us to recreate sounds of the 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond, all in a neat, tidy, compact form. With a couple of...
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Today, we’re diving into our second pedal (of three in their current lineup) from Awestruck Amplification, a boutique builder out of Michigan. Today’s creation is the Mayday Discrete Boost, a one-knob, one-toggle device that will push your amp and shape your tone in an instant. From slight volume jump to edge-of-breakup glory, this unit reminds us all that you can’t always judge a pedal by its parameters… The...
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The fine folks at StewMac have always had your guitar needs covered, whether it’s guitars, accessories, blank wood canvases, electronics and, of course, pedals. Their DIY pedal kits have been a favorite of players for years, and now they’ve decided to offer these great-looking and -sounding units as PRE-BUILT pedals, cutting out the DIY portion and giving you all that great tone in an instant. We’re taking a gander...
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I’ve always loved the looks and unique tones created by Spaceman Effects, and today we’re gonna showcase their lastest creation, our first of theirs in over two years. The Atlas IV: Preamp Booster make seem simple on the outside, with just one big knob and two small toggles, but there’s a ton going on under the hood here. This is one of those pedals that makes your amp instantly come to life as soon as you turn it...
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The recently released NOTADÜMBLË from JHS Pedals is a DIY Pedal Kit that you can easily put together, and get great Dumble Amp-esque tones out of. It features two channels, but the original design only allowed the user to switch one on at any given time, perhaps short-changing the full potential of this pedal. Well, the fine folks at Cosmodio Instruments have changed all that – come along as we explore their Dumble and Dumbler...
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I love a good multi-effects unit, but many times they’re too big for a neat and tidy pedalboard. Today’s pedal throws all those rules out the window, providing more options than you’ll know what to do with in a package that’s about as small as it can be. The Valeton GP-5 Multi-FX Processor & IR Loader gives you advanced signal routing, a ton of effects, impulse response and much, much. more… Shop...
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I’ve had the pleasure to demo a couple of amps (the Grandville and Merino) and a killer overdrive (the Sahana Drive) from local legends Port City Amplification, and have been blown away by their builds, aesthetics and tones. Today, we’re taking a look at their latest pedal release, the Gain of Thrones Distortion & Boost, which combines an amazing dirt circuit with PCA’s Salem Boost. This 2-in-1 will certainly...
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Last week, I released a little something called The KLONE Project, where I compared 24 different Klone pedals to see how they stacked up against one another. Today, I’m happy to continue with the investigation into this wonderful circuit, by helping with the release of the latest from our friends at Keeley Electronics – the Manis Boost Overdrive. Not just another klone, folks, this one is the evolution of a mythical...
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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 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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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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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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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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The first Boston album is a masterpiece, let’s all be completely honest with ourselves. It’s loaded with catchy hooks, ’70s-tinged riffs and that signature Tom Scholz sound. Speaking of which, he’s kind of the main focus of today’s pedal, the brand new Rockman X100 Analog Tone Processor from MXR. If you’ve been looking for that particular arena rock tone, with a bunch of different options to...
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In the past, the pedals we’ve reviewed and demoed from our friends at FTelettronica Pedals have been pretty complex, with lots of buttons and switches and knobs and exploration involved. Today’s pedal from them, the Final Cut Preamp Booster EQ, dials things back just a bit, with 4 simple knobs and a no-frills approach to a very specific sound. Sometimes, you just need a simple setup to get amazing tone, and that’s...
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We’re switching gears once again this morning, after our first Black Friday review and demo for the Glarry GW101 Short Scale Bass, and heading back into gorgeous hard rock guitar territory. We’ve got the latest from our friends at SoloDallas for you all right now – the SVDS Mini Boost. With an odd tale and mystery surrounding it’s origins, this small but HUGE-sounding boost will punch your amp right in...
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We’re back today with the latest incarnation of the amazing Ampero Series of multi-effects units from our friends at Hotone. This latest one, the Ampero II CDCM HD Gen 2 Amp Modeler / Effects Processor, brings familiar layouts, options and connectivity together with some new innovations, upgrades and sonic improvements. If you can’t already tell from the photos, this is a complex machine, with lots to discover…but...
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The NUX family of effects have been a staple here at Pedal of the Day for many years now, and today’s might be the biggest, baddest unit we’ve come across yet. The NME-5 TRIDENT Multi Effects Guitar Processor and Amp Modeler gives you a ton of audio and routing options, making it the perfect piece of gear for practice, small gigs, stadium shows and even to take along on any flight around the world. They’ve really...
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We recently had the pleasure of building our very own Klon clone, courtesy of JHS Pedals and their NOTAKLÖN DIY Overdrive Boost. Today, we’re doing it again, this time via the Hagerman Amplification TUBEKLØN Mythical Beast Tube Overdrive Kit. Here, you can once again build your own pedal with pre-fabricated parts, but this one has a REAL tube inside, for some of the warmest Klon-type tones we’ve ever heard…
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We love the two-knob effects pedals in the Verdugo Series Stompbox lineup from our friends at NUX, and we’ve got a sweet front-of-chain unit that will transform your tone. The NBK-5 Masamune Booster & Kompressor features two effects in one box, as so all the Verdugo series, changing your initial input signal in the best of ways. Bring the funk, boost your volume, breakup your amp – they’re all possible with this...
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Last month, we checked out our first pedal from Shnobel Tone in quite a while, and the Ratatouille Distortion definitely didn’t disappoint. Today, we’re looking at a newer version of their flagship pedal, the Daily Driver, the first incarnation of which we saw way back in 2020. This new version, the Daily Driver Boost, combines the original with a boost circuit, enabling you to push any amp you’d like into the sweet...
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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 NOTAKLÖN, an effects unit based on that certain...
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There are Boost pedals, and then there are BOOST PEDALS. Some give you more volume, some help shape your tone, some push your amp into breakup territory, and some, like today’s TWO pedals, are modern takes on a classic, world-renowned circuit. The Type 14 and Type 32 Custom Shop PNP Boost pedals from MMK Electrics are just that, taking a vintage circuit and turning it upside down and inside out… These Boost pedals are...
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Today’s pedal marks FIVE local pedals IN A ROW, after we saw some gear from Asheville Guitar Pedals and Asheville Music Tools – that’s a first here at Pedal of the Day, and we love supporting all things Asheville. This one is a collaboration between Cascade Pedals and our favorite instrument/amp/pedal/repair shop, Heyday Music, downtown on Lexington. The Heyday Fuzz takes two classic circuits and tied them together...
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It’s always exciting diving into pedals from a company you’ve never worked with before, but when those pedals are a collaboration with one of your guitar heroes, that makes it just a bit more special. Today, we’re looking at the By-Tor Overdrive Boost from Lerxst Amplification, which pairs MojoTone with Mr. Alex Lifeson of the prog-rock band Rush. Seeking to exact his specific sounds on amps, cabs and now pedals,...
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After checking out the Big Rumble Overdrive Boost and the Heavenly Lake Delay Reverb from Tone City, we were excited to see what was coming next from the TC camp. Enter today’s pedal, the Holy Aura Distortion Boost, a powerful, space-saving beast of a distortion with a little extra push if you need it. Simple and user-friendly, this unit is made to get the most out of your tone… The Tone City Holy Aura Distortion pedal...
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Today, we’re excited to be teaming back up with an awesome pedal maker, and helping to introduce a new/old collaborative release. Frost Giant Electronics is excited to announce they have teamed up with Dave Davidson of Revocation to bring back his Eidolon pedal. A true “desert island” in modulation, bringing you a beautiful digital delay, reverb, and a clean boost to help clear up your board for solos and those looking to expand...
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It’s always a thrill to get gear from a pedal company for the first time, and today’s effects unit is sure to get the commenters talking. Combining a mythical circuit with a familiar-looking enclosure, the Attic Audio Transparent Overdrive brings you the best of both worlds. Designed to be a little tongue-in-cheek, this drive/boost provides incredible tonal punch, along with being an excellent conversation starter…...
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We’re looking at another wonderful pedal from Boss today, kiddos, one that gives you access to a couple of classic circuits and some amp-pushing glory. The BP-1W Waza Craft Booster / Preamp gives you three different boost and preamp tonal options, each with its own characteristics and sounds. This pristine beauty is a boost, overdrive and preamp rolled into one, and we think it sounds pretty amazing… Grab a BP-1W...
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Throughout the years, I’ve been fortunate to get my hands on nearly every pedal that Chase Bliss has put out, except one…until today. Much like its rare and elusive namesake, the Condor HiFi Analog Tone Bird has eluded our grasp, but the long wait has finally come to and end. Building on the original version released in 2018, this updated unit has some new features, new design aspects and the “must-have” sound...
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We’re back with a bit of a blast-from-the-past today, with an updated version of a classic circuit that’s been around for over 20 years. The Keeley Electronics Katana Clean Boost has one knob, a couple of functions and miles and miles of gorgeous sound. Want a mirror image of your tone, only louder? This is it. Grab a Katana Boost Exclusive from Sweetwater – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DKg6db In addition to increasing...
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Our friends over at Osiamo Music Gear have introduced us to some great pedal companies over the years, and we’ve got another one for you all today! We’re taking a look at the Tone City Big Rumble Overdrive Boost, a 2-in-1 unit that has a bunch of options and some really killer tones, as well as a cool aesthetic that will have folks asking about “that purple pedal on your board.” Let’s jump in and see what...
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The Ampero line of multi effects processors and modelers has always been a joy to review and demo, and we’re stoked to be back at it again today. The latest creation from our friends at Hotone comes in the form of the Ampero II Stage Amp Modeler / Effects Processor, the newest in this series, and I’m pretty sure the most powerful yet. It’s a true wonder how they pack all of the amps, cabs, effects, routing, parameter...
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We love a good-sounding overdrive here at Pedal of the Day, and if it has the aesthetics to match, we’ve in pedal heaven. Today’s piece of gear meets both of these requirements with ease, providing a wonderfully warm and inviting drive tone while looking sharp as can be on the finest of pedalboards. Come along on a journey as we explore the gorgeous, tone-shaping, amp-driving Twilight Pulse Audioworks Konstante Overdrive,...
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Usually, the pedals we review and demo here make some kind of NOISE, whether it’s delayed notes, powerful distortion, psychedelic phasing or any number of other effect genres. Today, however, the pedal we’re looking at simply helps to determine where your multiple audio signals will actually GO, making it a key piece of gear you may not have known you needed. Come along as we explore the signal-changing, super-routing...
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We’re stoked to continue to bring you the ENTIRE lineup of pedals from Rockready Mini Pedals, and we’re continuing with two more excellent mini creations today. The BO-1 Boost and RD-1 Retro Drive are small, yes, but they will instantly elevate your tone and push your favorite amps. With simple controls and mini enclosures, these pedals fit onto any pedalboard, and into ANY budget… The BO-1 boost creates a rich,...
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Today’s pedal combines three effects into one enclosure, saving space on your board and giving you a wide range of sounds. The ATD Alien Tone Dragon, the latest release from our friends at Analog Alien, lets you easily meld from boost to breakup to crunch to fuzz and more. We’re excited to help bring this one to the masses, let’s dive right in! *Grab an Alien Tone Dragon from Sweetwater:...
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