If you play guitar, chances are you have wanted or still do want to emulate the amazing tones of David Gilmour from Pink Floyd. Even if their music isn’t your jam, it’s hard to deny the affect he has had on the guitar as an instrument, and his tone from the 70’s is the stuff of legend. One of the main pieces of said tone was the Colorsound Power Boost, later renamed the Overdriver, which is where today’s pedal...
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You’ve heard of Jimmy Page, right? Be you a fan of Led Zeppelin or not, it’s hard to ignore the culture impact he’s had on music, and rock n’ roll especially. That first Zepp album opened the floodgates for a new generation of guitar players who wanted to emulate Mr. Page, and basically altered music forever. The Danelectro The Breakdown™ Boost Overdrive seeks to emulate those classic, unforgettable tones from...
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Ah, Strymon. Musical effects pioneers and makers of some of the most well-known and used pedals around the world. Today, we’re going to take a look at their latest creation, the Strymon Compadre Dual Voice Compressor & Boost. A wonderful dual pedal that will fit perfectly at the front of your signal chain, you’ve got access to 2 excellent tone-shaping effects in one beautiful box. Used independently or together, the...
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Some of you may know Area 51 from their impressive line of wah pedals, but they also do buffers, fuzz, mod kits and more. Today we’re going to look at The Alienist Voicing Boost, another impressive creation of theirs which gives you a ton of tonal options in a wicked rad enclosure. Hand-wired and designed to specifically drive your favorite tube amp, this futuristic-looking machine is the ultimate in treble-boosting, giving you...
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As impressive as their amps have always been, the crew at Orange have, especially in recent years, had a knack for conjuring up some fantastic effects pedals. The Orange Amps Bax Bangeetar Guitar Pre-EQ is a pedal, but is more of a machine masquerading as a pedal (and it has the girth to prove it). Not shy about its size or power, this mammoth boasts a unique and hugely versatile gain structure with extensive EQ controls. You can dial...
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While we haven’t ever ventured TOO far into the world of multi-effects processors, we did get a chance to check out the Ampero from Hotone Audio almost exactly a year ago today, and were extremely impressed by how well it performed. Cramming a ton of amps, cabinet and effects into one unit has got to be tricky for any company, and to do it as well and for such an affordable price point was a stroke of genius. Today, we’re...
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TUBE. SCREAMER. These words are loved (and sometimes hated) by guitar players the world over. So many classic sounds from some of the best players ever have come via the Tube Screamer, including Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Mayer, Trey Anastasio, Eric Johnson, The Edge and many, many more. With so many variations and models, not to mention the price tags for some of the more sought-after pedals, its hard to know where to start with these...
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Like ’em or not, Tube Screamers and their clones are a HUGE part of the effects pedal world. They’re found on pedalboards, in studios and adjacent to practice spaces the globe over, and can be heard on countless classic and modern recordings alike. For those of us that DO enjoy a good TS, wouldn’t it be nice if you could find one that had a built-in Boost section as well, to give you that over-the-top punch if you...
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As is evidenced by our series on YouTube, The Klone Wars, we love a good Klon clone here at Pedal of the Day. We’ve had many such a pedal come through the office, but today’s effect has a special feature not often added into this mystical enigma of a pedal. It looks killer, it sounds killer – lets have a look-see at the Klone from 68 Pedals. The Drive, Treble and Volume controls are present here, as they have to be...
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With access to a seemingly endless supply of incredible vintage pedals, our friends at JHS have revamped yet another long-lost, obscure and intriguing effect, all while putting their own unique spin on it, as usual. Based on the strange and rarely talked-about Boss FA-1 FET Preamp, the Clover is a Preamp EQ Boost, a true tone-shaper / always on / can’t-live-without-it pedal that will really sculpt and mold your sound. Top...
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Through our Klone Wars videos on YouTube, we pit two Klones against each other and see which one sounds best (in everyone’s vastly different opinion, of course), but what about some other effects that are getting cloned around the world? One of the most sought-after effects, and one that has a years-long wait list, is the King of Tone from Analogman. A dual channel Boost/Drive/Distortion, it has become one of the most popular...
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Well, we’ve got another Klone pedal review and demo for you today, so buckle up! This one comes to us all the way from Brazil, via our friends at Old-Fx Custom Pedals. As you can see, the layout is the same as the original Klon, but this one is available in several different color schemes to fit the aesthetic of any pedalboard. The circuitry is the same as the original, and each one of these are built, by hand, one by one, as...
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The folks at Caline Technology have been pumping out some affordable but pretty rad-sounding pedals over the last couple of years, and we’ve been fortunate enough to be able to try a bunch of them. Up next, we have the explosive, bright orange CP-70 High Chief Dual Overdrive, which seeks to conjure up tones reminiscent of the classic (and spendy) King of Tone from Analog Man. With two separate but similar circuits, you can...
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As you might guess from our “Klone Wars” series on YouTube, we love a good klone pedal here at Pedal of the Day. With so many to choose from, we’ve had a great time exploring each one we can get our hands on, and test the differing nuances and tonal subtleties that make each one unique in their own way. Today, we’re going to check out yet another one, this time from our friend to the north in Winnipeg, Canada,...
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There are a lot of Klone pedals out on the market, with each seeking to replicate the sounds of the mythical Klon pedal from the 90’s, and we love ’em all (check out our Klone Wars demo series as we search for the best of the best). We’re going to check out another one today, one that boasts “no major tweaks or adjustments from the original unit.” Hey, that caught our attention right there, and probably...
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The Klon. It has achieved mystical, mythical and maniacal status since its release in the early-to-mid 1990’s. While there have been dozens of clones (or Klones, as it were) produced over the years, trying to capture that sound without the $1500+ price tag, few sound as good as the Centura from Ceriatone Amplification. Deciding to further expand on their killer replication, Ceriatone has released a new, dual overdrive pedal,...
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About a year ago, we reviewed and demoed a new and exciting pedal from our friends at Walrus Audio, the DEFCON4 Preamp/EQ/Boost. Vintage-looking and killer-sounding, this pedal was an excellent tone-shaper, one that we thought would surely be around for many years. Unfortunately, due to some unforeseen circumstances, the DEFCON4 had to be abruptly discontinued, but it’s come roaring back as the EB-10 Preamp/EQ/Boost, complete...
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Who doesn’t love some AC/DC? Really? Well, you’re wrong, and you need to go download their whole catalog immediately. Speaking of folks who really dig that band, our featured pedal today is basically the accumulation of facts, tones and info regarding Mr. Angus Young (of said band) and his instantly-recognizable tone, compiled over a lifetime and finally brought to life in the form of the TSR Schaffer Replica Compander...
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Sometimes, we stumble across a company that doesn’t have a lot of information pertaining to them on the old interwebs, making it a tricky puzzle as to if they’re still in business or not. Today’s pedal comes to us from AboveGroundFX, whose pedals are available at Vintage King, but who don’t appear to have a social media presence or an updated website to their name. Regardless, the Tone Control Booster is a nice...
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If you use pedals, chances are you have a boost, overdrive, distortion or fuzz on your board….or maybe all of them, or many multiples of all of them. But what if you had a pedal that could do ALL of those things, that was built for classic and contemporary tones and was as versatile as can be? Then you’d probably want to check out today’s featured effect, the Odyssey Intergalactic Driver from Hamstead Soundworks. Not...
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“Eh, it’s just a Boost pedal, right?” Wrong. Boost pedals can absolutely be the key ingredient to any rig, and we’ve got one today that will prove just that. The new BEQ-2 from Diamond Pedals is a Boost-EQ that’s simple yet versatile. Boasting just a couple of controls, this seemingly basic effect will transform your sound, and alter the way you see and use your overall setup as well. Let’s give it...
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We have always had a bit of an affinity for the exquisite pedals produced by our friends at Spaceman Effects, and are always excited to check out their creations. One of our favorites was the Saturn V Harmonic Boost, a pedal that just adds that extra little bit of POW! and WOW! that your tone sometimes is lacking. Today’s pedal, the Mercury IV, is also rooted firmly in the Boost department, but with a couple more options and a...
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We love a good overdrive pedal here at Pedal of the Day – who doesn’t, really? We recently began showcasing two different Klone pedals a week in a series we dubbed The Klone Wars, and today’s featured pedal here has been one of our favorites in that lineup so far. The Pelion from Kasleder FX is a simple, three-knob overdrive that also works wonders as a clean boost, and will drive any tube amp right into the sweet...
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AC/DC. Even if you’re not a fan (not sure why that would be, but whatever), there’s still a good chance you know the words to at least 10 of their songs, if not more. Part of the appeal they’ve had since their inception in 1973 is, hands down, the guitar sound that seemingly has stayed exactly the same over the last 4+ decades. Angus Young’s signature schoolboy uniforms, love of SGs and the tone he produces are...
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If you happened to have seen our Klone Wars series on YouTube, you may very well be aware of an excellent Klon-inspired beast called the Pegasus Overdrive. Based on the original Golden Professional edition of the Klon, this beaut made by Caline produces some gorgeous vintage-style overdrive and boost sounds, it brings everything we all love about that famous mythical pedal and offers it in an affordable and still true-to-form effects...
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When we started doing our YouTube series “The Klone Wars”, we had a number of klones on our list that we wanted to include, and today’s pedals was one of those. The Gladiator Overdrive from AD Pedals is based on that certain mystical pedal that few of us can afford, but with a little more grit and dirt to it. Get ready to get shot down in a blaze of glory with this one, people – it’s a rocker! The range...
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Here’s the rub: we really dig us some pedals from Adventure Audio. If for nothing else than being rabid Stranger Things fans, the Demogorgon Fuzz Tremolo Reverb was one of our favorite pedals pretty much EVER, and the Dream Reaper Fuzz Mod Machine was no slouch itself. That said, we were of course super-stoked to check out the Glacial Zenith II, an overdrive, EQ and boost all wrapped into one pedal, with a myriad of order and...
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Star Wars. Han Solo. Taun-Tauns. The Klon. Normally, only three of these things have something in common, but the guys at IdiotBox Effects decided enough was enough. Combining some catchy graphics with even catchier tones, the Han-Taun Boost Overdrive smashed these fantastic things together to form a magnificent klone pedal, one that was apparently created in a galaxy far, far away…. The Han-Taun is set up just like the famous...
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The wonderful world of multi-effects has had quite a resurgence in the last couple of years, with bigger, more powerful machines that actually sound incredible being put on the market. With all of these fantastic sounds and options available, there’s also been a considerable price hike in these effects units, too, making it hard for those on a lower budget to even be able to test them out, to see if it’s a good fit for...
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Today’s pedal features a revolutionary new design, aimed at giving you virtually ANY pickup sound you desire. The EXchanger from Keyztone is a pickup remodeler, which means you can instantly switch between 8 pickup flavored options, no matter what equipment you have installed on your guitar. Their patented analogic technology brings the ability to change your pickup tone just in seconds, transforming your single coil into a P90,...
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The crew at Neunaber Audio have always had a reputation for coming up with engaging, progressive and somewhat futuristic pieces of gear, and their latest keeps that streak alive. The Neuron Gain Intelligence is a preamp, but with that name, you know it is capable of so much more. Boasting varying degrees of overdriven glory, along with MIDI capabilities, presets, speaker simulation and more, this is one tool that will heighten any rig...
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The Infamous Klon. Tons of debates about this one: some swear by it, some think it’s incredibly overpriced, some just want one to add to a collection of status symbol pedals and some just like the way it sounds, period. Since the majority of us don’t have roughly $2,000 to drop on one pedal, there are companies like Kink Guitar Pedals who make it easy for us to get the Klon sound affordably. Their Femtaur pedal is what...
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Animals Pedal, formerly Ninevolt Pedals, has been producing some really great gear over the last couple of years. Affordable, simple and with each one assigned a name wackier than the previous, these effects are made really well and sound just fantastic. Their latest offering is what we’re going to check out today – the Vintage Van Driving is Very Fun Overdrive (say that three times fast). This orange gem brings a vintage...
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Altough we don’t do it as often as we should, a good bass demo is always a fun way to end a long week. And speaking of bass pedals, the crew at Mantic Effects have been building some low end-inspired pieces of gear for years now, several of which we’ve been fortunate enough to tackle here at Pedal of the Day. Today’s effect might not be as flashy as some of those others, but it’s an important piece to any bass...
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Newer effects pedals that are based on older effects, or electronic unit, or tape machines, or screen projectors, or whatever, always put a smile on our face. Taking something that might not have been geared towards our current effects world and utilizing the sounds it makes to enhance our musical world is a fascinating concept, so we’re stoked about today’s featured pedal. The Jive from our pals in Germany, JPTR FX, is a...
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We love a gritty, dirty preamp boost overdrive pedal, because who doesn’t? The Dirty Boy from Massive Unity Ltd. is just that, a powerful, clean-looking but dirty-sounding effect that is powered by T.A.E. (proprietary tube amp emulation) technology. Based on the amp used by legendary guitarist Blues Saraceno, which was built by his dad, this pedal features two different modes, a bunch of options and a whole slew of sounds that...
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We’ve checked out a couple of pedals by Garland FX out of Houston, Texas, before, so we were excited that they wanted us to take a gander at one of their newer effects pedal creations, and put it through the ringer. The Pink Drive brings you the classic rock and roll sounds of the 1960’s and 70’s, complete with a couple of add-on control choices for you to seriously dial in whatever tones you’re after. With a...
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Ah, the Klon….such a mysterious, magical and ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE piece of gear. Now, we love a delicious overdrive, and have even grown to love boost pedals over the last few years, but really, enough is enough. Since we have no money (or desire) to spend over $1500 on one singular item, especially when it’s an EFFECTS PEDAL, we’re glad there are companies like Rock Your Repaired Amp, or RYRA, as...
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Now fully established as a fuzz and distortion-producing powerhouse of a company, we are always happy to get new effects in the office from our friends at Wren & Cuff, and we’ve got another mammoth for you today. The Super Russian is a potent fuzz pedal, plus a buffer/boost as well, a well-rounded machine that works wonderfully with bass and guitar alike. Featuring loud, boisterous, Muff-y tones and distortion, plus a...
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Collaborations between pedal companies and artists/players are always a good time, especially when said guitarist is one of your favorite songwriters around. Walrus Audio has teamed up with Mr. Ryan Adams for a special tone-shaping pedal, designed to work quickly and easily with both single coil and humbucking pickups, perfect for when your set requires multiple guitar changes and you don’t want to have to re-adjust your tone...
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If you’ve heard one or a hundred or more demos of ours over the last couple years, there’s a good chance the sound you’ve heard was coming from a Benson Amp. The Monarch has been part of our demo setup for a while now, and since we love its sound and tone so much, we were stoked to hear that Chris and the crew were finally putting out a pedal. Now, as far as effects go, “Preamp” isn’t always one...
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Tattoos and music have gone hand in hand for decades, so it only makes sense to add effects pedals in and make a killer trio, right? Our new pal Joe Halliday from across the pond in the UK has managed to successfully fuse all three of these things together, to create a company offering reasonably-priced effects that look and sound great, perfect for the working musician and up-and-coming bands throughout the globe. Today, we look at...
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When a pedal describes itself as a Phaser, our interest is automatically peaked. Now, not everyone loves the phaser effect, for whatever reason, but then a pedal comes along that changes the game, and could possibly make a whole slew of haters into converts after they hear it in action. That pedal has arrived today, folks: the Arctic Wolf from Dogmatek Effects Pedals is a twin modulator phaser, but is also a ring modulator, tremolo,...
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Big. Black. Bold. Bowerful. Well, maybe not that last one, but the others (and Powerful) definitely describe the lineup of pedals produced by Wounded Paw Audio. Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure to check out their Battering Ram Overdrive/Fuzz, Echo Drive and, most recently, the Black Wolf, a massive distortion for guitar AND bass. Today, we’ve got another creation of theirs for you: the Bighorn Overdrive. A little...
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We were recently fortunate enough to review and demo the String Slinger Overdrive from our friends at Free The Tone, and what an overdrive that was. Seeing as how they released TWO overdrives at virtually the same time, we were understandably excited to see what lay in store for us with the Fire Mist FM-1V Overdrive, a different spin on another classic amp, packed into one pedal and ready to rip. Where the String Slinger focused on...
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The World of Compressors here in effects pedal land has really come on strong the last couple of years, with some incredible, studio-quality stompboxes coming out into the fold more and more. Today’s featured pedal is no exception, using an expected control section to produce not just excellent, high-quality compression, but a gorgeous clean boost sound if you need it as well. Straight from our friends at Analog Alien, the Alien...
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TWENTY-FIVE VOLTS OF POWER? Welcome to today’s beast of an overdrive, folks: the Two Five 25V from classic noisemakers Wren and Cuff. It’s been a minute since we had a pedal of theirs pass through the shop, and what a way to return! This yellow monster reminds us of those striped, buzzing insects you hope don’t sting you on a picnic, full of terror, gusto, determination and oozing with grit and tone. Not only do the...
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Sometimes, huge things arrive in extremely small packages. At just 3.5″ x 3.5″ x 3.5″, today’s featured pedal packs a big punch while taking up minimal real estate on your pedalboard. The Oscar from Night Owl Industries is an all-tube preamp, designed to boost your signal, overdrive a distortion pedal, bring out the best in your amplifier and more, fitting in to any rig around. The Oscar uses either an EF86...
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Sometimes, you just need ONE knob to get some incredible tone out of your guitar and amp. Today’s featured pedal proves that in spades, bringing a wide range of tones and dBs to work with and apply to your sound, beefing it up with any coloration. The B1G 1 is a simple gain booster, but has been designed by and electronics guru, and brings true studio quality right onto your pedalboard. The B1G 1 is an all-analog gain boost with...
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Cross-company collaborations are always a fun excursion in the effects pedal world, and today’s featured piece of gear is from two of the best. Robert Keeley and Keeley Electronics have partnered up with Dan and Mick, from the hugely popular YouTube series That Pedal Show, to create an overdrive/boost combo pedal that features a wide range of tones, spanning the full spectrum of overdriven glory throughout its many options and...
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