Continuing the New Year’s rocking start, we’ve got an excellent, versatile and robust pedal for you all today. The Bennett Custom Audio Weather Man Overdrive + Boost boasts a wonderful control section, 3 different mid-range voicings and a wide range of boost-to-drive settings. Combining a versatile, dynamic, light-to-medium gain overdrive with a powerful, totally independent JFET-based clean boost, these 2 effects would...
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There are certain tones that are highly sought-after in the guitar player world, one of them belonging to a Mr. Stevie Ray Vaughn. However, most of us cannot afford an original early ’80s Tube Screamer, much less a $50,000 Dumble Amp, so we rely on pedal companies to create those tones for us. Today’s effect, the Pedal Pawn Texan Twang Overdrive Boost, seeks to encapsulate SRV’s ‘Twang’ in a box,...
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A good boost pedal will bring your clean tone up in volume, a perhaps even add in a bit of grit when it’s really pushed, too. But what if there was a boost pedal that was specific to what one kind of TUBE sounded like? That’s today’s effect, the Rift Amplification EL34 EQ Boost, a powerful three-knob machine that aims to be the secret weapon in your rig… The EL34 EQ Boost helps emulate the tone and harmonics of...
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We have had the pleasure of reviewing every iteration of the Ampero Series of effects units from Hotone Audio thus far, and we’re going to keep that streak alive today. Presenting the new Ampero II Stomp, and amp modeler and effects processor that takes everything from the previous versions and pushes them to their limits. Ampero II Stomp implements brand new tri-core digital platform and independent AD/DA from ESS® Sabre®...
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Turning the effects pedal world upside down, thinking outside the box and creating something brand new is harder and harder to do these days. Luckily, we’ve become pals with a company who is doing just that, with an effects unit that’s gonna be a game changer. The Modal Effects Disruption Modular Gain pedal utilizes individual effect modules, or “Mods”, that are easily swappable, to create an entire customized...
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The fabulous crew at Free The Tone have been supporting Pedal of the Day for years, and we’re always excited when they send us new gear to review and demo. Today is no exception, except that there are TWO new effects we’re bringing to you, instead of just one. The SG-1C Silky Groove Compressor + CC-1B Crunchy Chime Booster are both excellent additions to the beginning of any pedalboard, providing enhanced, equalization and...
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Flashy graphics and newly-shaped enclosures have their place in the effects pedal world, for sure, but sometimes, simplicity can be welcome. That seems to be the goal with the lineup from our pals at Kenny B Pedals, and we’re taking a look at our 4th effect from them today. The Double Double has an easy-to-figure-out control section, complete with multiple sonic options, housed in an unassuming, minimalistic case. That’s...
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The final pedal in the Dept. 10 Series of valve pedals from Blackstar Amplification is the Dual Distortion, a bold, black beauty that takes high gain action up a notch. A formidable-sounding valve distortion and world-class recording preamp, this one features 3 Crunch/Overdrive voices alongside the clean channel, Blackstar’s patented ISF control, low latency USB, XLR out and Dept. 10’s proprietary Cab Rig simulator technology....
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Our journey through the Dept. 10 Series of valve pedals from Blackstar Amplification continues today, as we take a gander at the Dual Drive. This one is touted as “the best valve drive pedal you will ever own and a world-class valve recording preamp”, and they’re not too far off. Featuring 3 Crunch/Overdrive voices alongside the clean channel, Blackstar’s patented ISF control, low latency USB, XLR out and Dept....
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Our friends at Blackstar Amplification recently released a group of three valve-powered effects known as the Dept. 10 Series. We’re bringing you in-depth coverage and demos over the next three days, starting with today’s pedal, the aptly-titled Boost. Referred to as the “ultimate high voltage valve boost pedal”, this one sports not only signal boosting abilities, but a wonderful EQ section as well. And...
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When a dirt pedal can do more than one thing, that’s never a bad option. Today’s pedal, Berch Audio’s The Golden Axe, combines aspects of Fuzz, Overdrive and Boost into one medieval enclosure, sparking ancient imagery and conjuring up vintage tones with a quickness. The wide-ranging control panel ensures you’ll be able to get virtually any dirty sounds you want out of this beauty… The Golden Axe features...
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Boost pedals have slowly become an essential part of every pedalboard we build, and when they’re combined with an excellent Overdrive, it’s a hard combo to beat. The RFO Electronics Tone Star Custom Overdrive/Boost Combo is a dual workhorse, smashing a wicked drive circuit into an enclosure with a powerful, tasty boost, along with some fun switching options and overall tonal bliss. Fasten those seatbelts, here we go…...
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We reviewed a couple of effects from Kenny B Pedals a few years ago, and are excited to jump back in and check out some more of his gear today. The William Overdrive is a seemingly simple 3-knob, 1-toggle affair, but beneath the surface lies a powerhouse boost overdrive distortion that’s just waiting to unleash itself on the world. Let’s see what’s in store for us, shall we? Inspired by the Prince of Tone, the...
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Single knob pedals aren’t always the flashiest, but usually bring something to the sonic table you didn’t know you needed. Today’s pedal follows that to a T, providing gorgeous boost and tone-shaping with ease. The Xtonebox Carbon Booster Signal Boost is an essential tool for guitarists and bass players alike, both raising your volume and improving your overall sound. The circuit inside the Carbon Booster consists of...
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We recently added a new amplifier into our demo mix, the wonderfully and versatile Revv Amplification D20, and we can’t get enough of it. Revv also makes effects pedals, and they sent a couple over for us to check out, starting with the G2 Overdrive. Based on the “Green Channel” from Revv’s Generator amps, this powerhouse provides clear, dynamic, amp-like tone to push your rig where you need it to go. The...
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We love to dive in and explore any sort of Multi-Effects units that come our way – they can hold so many effects and combinations, the possibilities to what you can create are endless. Today, we’re checking out the newest unit from Valeton, the GP-100VT Multi-Effects Processor. Crammed full of all your favorite effects, amps, cabs, presets, a looper and more, this little machine has got a lot to offer. The design and...
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Seemingly out of nowhere, Discomfort Designs has become one of our favorite pedal companies of late. Creating loud, weird and exciting effects, these guys are pushing the levels of noise creation to new heights. Their latest, the Neon Black Fuzz Booster, combines two odd circuits and makes them into one powerhouse of a pedal. In your face, bold, screechy and fantastic, let’s check it out… The left side of the Neon Black is...
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Only one knob on today’s pedal, you say? How boring… Well, sometimes, that’s all you need to make a bold and loud musical statement. We’re taking a look at the Animals Pedal Dawn Ocean Meditation Boost, a clean booster that reproduces numerous vintage tones and powerful, classic style boosting to your signal… A collaboration with Matthew Holl from Wren and Cuff, the Dawn Ocean raises your...
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We’ve got something special for you all today, a dual post featuring an effects pedal AND a guitar…from the same company. Sometimes, all you need is one good pedal with one good guitar (and an amp, of course), like the Dunable Guitars Eidolon Boost Delay Reverb and the Cyclops DE Series guitar. Both add key ingredients to a successful and tone-filled setup, each adding their own bits of flavor to compliment each other, and...
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We’ve been chatting a lot about Boost pedals recently, and are excited to present a new version of an instant classic. The Vertex Boost MKII picks up right where the original MKI left off, offering a smaller enclosure without sacrificing any tone or functionality. Not just a signal booster – this one enhances and drives any rig that needs it. At 33% slimmer than the Boost MKI, the MKII easily sneaks onto any pedalboard....
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Much like the Boost pedals we were talking about in the other day’s review, there are certain pedals that you sometimes don’t even know you need. Today’s pedal is one of those, hands down, and it’s hard to even describe why. When a piece of gear works, sometimes it just works, without explanation. However, we’ll try our best to tell you about the 29 Pedals EUNA Elite UNity Amplifier…just be patient,...
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The Boost Pedal. It doesn’t make crazy sounds, or usually have more than one knob, or stand out in the “cool crowd” of the effects pedal world. However, it’s a necessity to your sound that you just might be skipping, and today’s pedal shows you why. The Dophix Perseo Boost has one knob, and it has one job as well. The Perseo Boost is simple but, like a blade strike, is extremely sharp and cared for in...
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Normally, you don’t think of overdrive pedals as being laden with options. Volume. Tone. Gain. Done. Today’s pedal, however, takes things up a notch, building on an original circuit to create a powerful amp-driving machine. The LPD Pedals Sixty8 Deluxe Overdrive brings boost, overdrive and distortion elements to the table – all with smooth and sweet tonal bliss. Taking the LPD Pedals’ original Sixty8, the...
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Right out of the box (and, actually, including the box itself), today’s pedal and company are bringing something unique to the table. The Whimsy Machines Short Stack JFET Booster Preamp looks modern and vintage simultaneously, and once you turn it on, it feels that way somehow as well. A single stage, ultra high gain JFET machine, this throwback features nostalgic graphics, killer tones and a wide range of options to blend into...
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Equalization and Boost pedals are not always flashy, or the most talked-about, or the hottest new releases when they are debuted. Today’s pedal flips the script, though, providing plenty of eye-opening tonal brilliance and showing us all how these two pedal genres can be best utilized in any situation. The Ground Control Audio Noodles Tone Shaper EQ Boost gives you a whopping 64 different tone combinations from its 3 bands, each...
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Since the inception of Pedal of the Day, Josh Scott and JHS Pedals have been on board, sending us pedals to review and demo over the last 7+ years. Somehow, their most famous pedal, the Morning Glory Overdrive, has never passed through our shop, for whatever reason….until today. Unleashed in collaboration with The Pedal Movie (which is fantastic, if you haven’t seen it), this Morning Glory 2009 Limited Edition Throwback is...
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Today, we continue our journey into the DCP Dual Series of pedals from our friends at Caline. So far, we’ve been delighted with all of the effects combinations they’ve come up with, and the DCP-01 Artemis Compressor Boost pairs two of our favorites together. Used independently or in tandem, these two sides exist to enhance your sound, and we think they do a damn good job of just that. The compressor side is Caline’s...
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Today’s pedal has been on our radar for a minute now, and we were stoked when the head honcho of Heather Brown Electronicals tapped us to review and demo her flagship effect. The Blessed Mother Overdrive works as a boost, low-gain drive and overall tone-shaper, and found its way instantly into our demo rig. Heather learned her skills from industry wizards Mike Matthews of EHX and Robert Keeley, so you know you’re in for a...
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We’ve seen a LOT of klone pedals come through here, as is evidenced by our Klone Wars series on YouTube. Each one, while wanting to get a certain base sound, has its own uniqueness and quirks, making them all special in their own right. Today’s pedal, the Noise Space Audio Klone, builds on the mythical tone, offering up a couple of not-usually-seen options, for a well-rounded and dialed in tone. If you want to build a good...
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What better way to start the weekend than with a classic effects pairing? Continuing down the road as we explore the DCP Series from Caline, today we bring you the DCP-11 Andes Boost Overdrive. Need some dirt? Need to push your amp? Just need more volume? This pedalboard gem has got you covered. The Boost side features just one knob, and is the circuit from Caline’s CP-97 Recluse Boost. Giving you up to +20dB of wicked boost,...
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The Simplifier Zero Watt Amp + CABSIM is a preamp, EQ, boost, overdrive, cabinet simulator and more wrapped into one tidy little package. The crews at DSM Noisemaker and Humboldt Electronics have created a machine which allows you to integrate your pedalboard adding full stereo routing directly to a PA System, Amps, Audio Interfaces or anything you need with its 4 simultaneous outputs (2 x XLR, 2 x 1/4 bypass-able outs), stereo...
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Alright, kiddos, we’re back with yet another mystery machine from our pal James Bowman of Against Me! The latest here is a circuit that might be familiar to a couple of you, the infamous Klon. With the look and feel of the original, with its own spin, the Bowman Audio Endeavors Bowman Overdrive crushes amps and delivers the goods, as you’d expect. The Bowman is a direct descendent of an original Klon pedal, James’...
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Our first foray into the heavy world of Hilbish Design effects was the incredible Red Fang Night Destroyer Distortion Preamp a couple months back. Big and bold, it encompassed Red Fang’s music and attitude perfectly. Today’s pedal, the Pessimiser King Buzzo Distortion, focuses on the multitude of unique distorted tones coveted by The Melvins’ leader for decades, bringing them all together into one box. The Pessimiser...
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In today’s brave new world, filled with digital amp emulators and effects processors, sometimes it’s nice to take it back old school and analog. Today’s “pedal” is actually an amp that fits right onto your pedalboard, and is full of tonal and routing options. The Thermion Zero Dynamic Hybrid Amplifier lets you play live, rehearse or practice at home with just your pedals. Lots to explore, let’s get...
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It’s been a while since we’ve heard from ADAG Audio, the last time being back in 2019 with the Metal Shock Distortion. But we’re glad they’re back, and with yet another BANG! The Seagull Overdrive is a transparent, low-mid gain drive pedal, with four simple controls and a lot of tonal tweakability. A great tone-shaper, you can run this one as a boost, first stage bump or right at the perfect level of amp...
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The music of Dinosaur Jr is known throughout the world, and for guitar fanboys, so is lead singer and guitarist J Mascis. With one of the most recognizable fuzz tones in the business, he has become synonymous with the Big Muff family of pedals, both as a player and as a collector. Today’s pedal, the Garbage Face Fuzz Boost, is a collaboration between J and Matt from Wren and Cuff, featuring a uniquely Muff-inspired fuzz side, a...
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So, our friend James Bowman, who happens to be the guitarist for Against Me!, decided he wanted to build some guitar pedals (as Bowman Audio Endeavors). He sent them over to us to check out, and we’ve got the second one in the lineup today for you. After the wild and dirty Harmonic Percolator, the Fortune and Glory Boost might seem a little tame. However, this one-knob wonder can get down right DIRTY if you want it to…...
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The new DCP Series of pedals from our friends at Caline are all Dual Effects, featuring two of your favorite Caline pedals in one enclosure. With the effects ranging from overdrive to EQ to distortion to compression to fuzz and more, there’s something in this lineup for everyone. Today, we’re going to take a look at the DCP-06 Sundance Special Overdrive Boost, a powerful dual-dirt combo that packs a punch and adds to your tone. The...
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The first pedal that came through our shop from Interchange Noise Works, the Element 119 Distortion, was an absolute powerhouse of a dirt pedal. Therefore, we’re pretty stoked to be back with them again today to bring you their next creation, the “On Air” Fuzz. This wooden-topped beauty is a fuzz pedal for players of all genres, with some extra options that will make it an easy addition to your rig. You’ll...
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Our new friends at PedalFarm FX are cranking out some wonderful pedals, and we’ve got another gem for you today. The B-1 is a classic germanium treble booster, but one with some unusual options. Featuring 16 selectable frequency settings, via internal dipswitches, this pedal takes a usually run-of-the-mill effect into an entirely new dimension… Aside from the giant output Volume knob, the B-1 also boasts a single toggle...
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We’ve had lots of preamp pedals coming through the shop lately, and we honestly couldn’t be happier. Preamps take everything you love about your rig and amplify it, pushing it to whatever the sweet spot is that you find, as sort of a final piece to the puzzle for any pedalboard or setup. Today’s pedal is useful on both guitar and bass, so we decided to make demos with each instrument, and show what the Sunnaudio NU-1...
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Continuing on this Boost-happy weekend (check out the Bad Penny FX Smoothflow from yeaterday), we’ve got a PAIR of pedals to show off today. Coming to us from R2R Electric, these One and Two Knob Treble Boosters each offer gorgeous components inside, as well as amp-driving bliss for your eardrums. Let’s check out the features for each of these sonic marvels: One-Knob Mullard AC107 Germanium Transistor NOS Piher 10K...
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What’s the one pedal that everyone should probably have on their board, but one that gets often overlooked for something fancier that makes wacky noises? BOOST. THat’s right, friends, a BOOST pedal. When used correctly, it just enhances everything around it, giving you a more solid core tone to use other pedals with. Today’s featured effect is a boost, but it’s also a DOUBLE channel pedal, and maybe it’s...
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A good boost can add sparkle, shine, nuance and gusto to any tone, and we’re thrilled to have yet another one in the house today. The Teisco Boost looks like another simple boost, but once you realize all the options, bells and whistles its got, you’ll need to add it to your sonic arsenal instantly. Whether you need a tone-enhancing buffer or extra ‘oomph’ for your drives and amps, this one covers it all. Just like the...
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Preamps, in our mind, are an essential piece of gear for any really great-sounding rig. Usually placed fairly early in your signal chain, it drives the front end of your amp into blissful breakup territory….but what if it was placed at the END of your signal chain? Introducing the Night Owl Industries Monolith, a Post-Amp. This custom-voiced clean boost features very high headroom and a powerful tone control. The increased...
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Having an EQ, a Boost and a Compressor in your signal chain are key ingredients for a lot of guitar players, and we tend to agree. Most times, however, these effects have to come from three separate sources, taking up a lot of real estate on your board, and having you tap dancing around like a maniac to get even a core sound correct. Well, those days just might be over. Today, we’re checking out the marvelous DryBell Unit67 EQ...
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A good overdrive can put an instant smile on your face, as soon as you click that bypass switch. Your amp comes alive, you’re most definitely a better player all of a sudden and the teenage goal of becoming a full-fledged rock star doesn’t seem so far off. We got those kinds of feelings plugging into today’s pedal, the TEFI Vintage Lab Maccheroni Bros MKII Overdrive. A dual channel dirt pedal, this one will cover a...
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What can you say about one-knob boost pedals? They’re not super flashy, no one really anticipates the “hot new release” of a simple booster, and there are lots of players who have never even used one in their rigs. Well, they’re important, and they add a tone and sound to your setup that just can’t be achieved with any other kind of pedal. Overdrive? No. Preamp? Close, but also no. Today’s pedal is...
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Ah, the infamous Klon Centaur. That mythical sound that can be yours for the low, low price range of $2,000-4,000, if you can find one. For those of us who think that staggering amount of cash just might be able to be spent elsewhere, we’ve got the Klone. Surfacing in many forms, colors, configurations and sizes, these homages to the original give the masses that Klon tone, without the hefty price tag. We’ve got another...
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There’s nothing ordinary about anything released by Audio Disruption Devices, as evidenced by their Optical Ring and L.A.G. pedals. If the name somehow doesn’t clue you in, they make. exciting, non-traditional noise boxes that push the limits of every genre imaginable. Our third visit from them brings yet another intriguing and off-the-cuff sonic adventure, the Eroder 3-Stage Fuzz. This magnificently yellow monster is...
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