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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We’re jumping back into the World of Plugins today, as well as the next couple of days, starting with a new set of sounds that many, many of us have been waiting many, many years to be able to access. While the 8 effects in the Roland / BOSS Pedals Plug-In Collection are all pretty much classics, a couple of them are rare and expensive, but now we can enjoy them at a reasonable cost. These wonderful recreations bring the...
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I love when you turn on a pedal for the first time and it instantly captivates your brain and eardrums. Such is the case with today’s effects unit, the Amplified Nation Bigger Bloom Overdrive Preamp. Based on the D-style amp sound, this four-knob, two-switch streamlined silver beauty gives you great sounds at any settings, providing a wide range and killer tones for days… The Bigger Bloom is an Overdrive Preamp pedal that...
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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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I love the old Power Series pedals from Ibanez, as do many players and collectors around the planet. Produced in the ’80s, this lineup features just about every effect you could want, and a couple you probably never knew even existed. Today, we’re looking at the SS10 Session-Man Distortion Chorus, one of the rarer and more sought-after units from this series. Instant nostalgia and vintage tones are the focus here, and I...
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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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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 NOTADÜMBLË DIY kit, a boost/preamp/overdrive based on a...
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The Danelectro Cool Cat Stereo Chorus and Dan-Echo Delay Echo are two of the coolest pedals that have ever existed, right? That said, today’s pedal is often in any conversation involving those two as well, as they all come from the same classic lineup. The Daddy O DO-1 Overdrive doesn’t just have a rad-sounding name – it has a ton of rad-sounding sounds inside, as well… The Danelectro Daddy-O is an overdrive...
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It’s always fun to check out pedals that have a little bit of hype around them, and I’ve seeing today’s effect pop up in discussions for a while now. The Aspen Overdrive from Case Study Effects definitely lives up to the hype, combining four kinds of dirt into one gleaming white enclosure. Don’t let the outside of this one fool you – there’s more dirt going on under the hood than you can...
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Today’s pedal is kind of a special one – last fall, I donated money to a raffle that Waterslide Guitars was having to benefit the World Central Kitchen, who have helped feed people in and around Asheville, NC, where I happen to live, in the wake of Hurricane Helene. To my surprise, my name was chose as the winner of the Greer Amps Black Mountain Crunch Drive, and I couldn’t have been happier. It’s been a while...
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Since its release 7 years ago, the DRV Overdrive Distortion from 1981 Inventions has been at the top of many “best of” dirt pedals’ lists, and for good reason. The circuit trapped inside these beautiful enclosures has a wide range of tonal bliss to explore, even with just three knobs present. Today, we’re looking at a slightly different version of this effect, one that uses some different diodes for a sound...
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I couldn’t wait to dive into today’s pedal after checking out the Ozymandias Dual Overdrive Distortion last month from Animal Factory Amplification. Swapping guitar for bass today, come along as we take a look at the Godeater+ Dynamic Bass Distortion, an effects unit full of tonal and routing options, big, bold sounds and a unique look and feel. This second pedal in the new Animal Factory lineup is just as impressive as...
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Having recently been privy to a test of the Nobels ODR-mini2 Natural Overdrive, I was excited to see what today’s pedal had to offer in comparison. The latter’s older brother on steroids, this ODR-1X Natural Overdrive takes all that we know and love about the vintage sound these pedals produce, and takes it all to the next level. Here, you get that signature Nashville-esque sound, along with some added parameter controls...
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Each new creation I see from our friends at Whimsy Machines (The Great Fantabulizing Whatsitdo, The Short Stack) brings a big smile to my face, and I just knew today’s piece of gear would do the same. Come along as we investigate the Sweet Tooth Waveshaping Fuzz Overdrive, an effects unit that defies logic and opens the doorways to brand new sonic possibilities. Innovative and creative as always, this one sounds just about as...
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The first pedal we checked out from Anode Effects, the MOS Fuzz Full Frequency Fuzz Machine, was a revelation in what could be accomplished with a 2-knob pedal. These guys are back again today with a different but equally impressive effects unit, the Dragon Drive V2. If the killer graphics don’t immediately grab you, the sound once the pedal is engaged certainly will. There’s a lot going on with this one, let’s take...
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Who doesn’t love a great-sounding portable/practice amp, especially one with built-in FX, a tuner, Bluetooth connectivity and more? Well, if you do, you’re gonna love today’s piece of gear, the Katana-Mini X 10W Battery Powered Guitar Amp from our friends at BOSS. This little guy packs a LOT into a small package, changing the way you might think about small amplifiers, and perhaps changing the way you write and...
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We love the devotion to classic Beatles’ tones that our friends at Aclam work so hard towards on each of their releases, bringing impossibly-hard-to-achieve tones back into the mainstream. Today’s pedal is their latest release, the Go Rocky Go, which seeks to replicate the Magical Mystery Tour and White Album vibes, along with some modern upgrades for an options-laden effects unit. The range of sounds here is INSANE,...
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Although it’s been a few years since we saw a pedal from Sunnaudio, their previous creations were always intriguing, and I couldn’t wait to check out what they’d been working on since 2021. The answer is the incredible Helion R2D3 Guitar & Bass Preamp, an options-laden powerhouse pedal that gives you ALL the options you could want in a preamp, for either instrument. With specific settings, dipswitches, pots and...
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It’s been a looooong time since we had any effects from Animal Factory Amplification in the shop (like 9 years!), but based on today’s pedal, they have complete stepped up their game over the last near-decade. The Ozymandias Dual Overdrive Distortion looks like it’s fairly complicated pon first glance, but as you sit down with it and dig in, it’s extremely user-friendly, while providing more drive and crunch...
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Tube Screamers are certainly not for everyone, but I happen to LOVE the sound they make. And while there are many different iterations and models, one of the most highly sought-after versions is the mid-80s TS10. This one has grown in lore over the last couple of years, making it difficult to snag one unless you’re making 7 figures a year (not really, but close). Fortunately, our pals at Harby Pedals have created a wonderful...
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After checking out the DEL-mini Digital Delay a couple weeks ago, I was stoked to see another overdrive from Nobels was next on their new release list. Having loved their ODR-1 and ODR-mini drive pedals, I knew the ODR-mini2 was going to be a special piece of gear. This little green monster brings all that you know and love about the original, squishes it down into a compact enclosure, and adds in some new modern developments, all...
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Hey Hey!! Excited to be back again today with another unique piece of gear from our friends at Animals Pedal. This one is a little different than our usual effects forte, but I love when a rad bass pedal comes through the shop, and this is a good one. The Surfing Polar Bear Bass Overdrive features just three knobs, but trapped inside is an angry low-end beast waiting to be unleashed on the world…oh, and it has an adorable bear...
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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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After checking out the Final Cut Preamp Booster EQ from FTelettronica Pedals last month, I was excited to see what was next from this Italian company. Moving in a slightly different direction, today we have for you their Dystopian Fuzz, a remake of a classic pedal in a smaller, more modern footprint. With three different fuzz/drive modes, and EQ section and a whole lotta output volume, this gray beast seeks to destroy everything in...
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I’m excited to bring you all yet another collaboration pedal today, this time it’s Eventide and Third Man that are teaming up on a wild and crazy sonic adventure. With guitar god Jack White on board as well, they’ve all created the Knife Drop Sub-Octave Fuzz & Analog Synth, a completely over-the-top-awesome sonic noise machine that channels your favorite fuzzy synthesizer sounds, along with some new ones...
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Luis over at Lefa Pedals makes some of the most unique, noisy, innovative and often downright scary pedals on the market today (see the I DEEP THFUZZ and Destroy The Day for past examples), and I love ’em all. Today, they’ve sent over their Retardante MKII, an updated version of one of their popular units, one that combines distortion, delay, drones and more into one raucous effect. This pedal is loud, is obnoxious and it...
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First impressions of pedals have always been a big thing for me – as a graphic designer, I love seeing the myriad of different patterns and aesthetic layouts that different companies come up with. Today’s pedal, at first glance, looks sophisticated, classy and like it is hiding some real sonic secrets. Turns out, my initial thoughts were pretty spot on, as the Whitman Audio Decoherence Drive brings gorgeous sonic power to...
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It’s been a couple of years since any pedals from ADAG Audio have appeared in the shop, but I’m happy to bring yet another of their creations to you all today. The Clamour Mark II Distortion brings familiarity and exploration to the forefront of your sound, conjuring up powerful, amp-crushing tone to any rig you can throw at it. And with three different modes of destruction on tap, there’s plenty of delicious audio...
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Intriguing knob placement and original graphics are two things that can instantly draw you to a pedal, and today’s piece of gear has both. At first glance, The Bomber Overdrive from M2 Labs somehow feels both modern and vintage, and that sentiment continues once the effect is engaged. Bringing a wide range of sounds to the table, this pedal is the result of two people united by a common dream and a relentless pursuit of...
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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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Let’s get 2025 off to a proper rockin’ start, shall we? The lineage of Boss Distortion pedals goes back decades, and I’m excited to bring you one today that seems to be somewhat overlooked in general conversation. The DS-2 TURBO Distortion is just that – a blistering, amp-crushing powerhouse meant to destroy eardrums and amp speakers simultaneously. This one isn’t for the faint of heart, kiddos, so...
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Along with the Olinthus Cicada we recently reviewed, today’s pedal continues a wild new trend of shrinking effects pedals down several sizes. The Couch Electronics Baker’s Dozen Overdrive is a bit bigger than its predecessor, but still manages to defy expectations and crush preconceived notions with ease. With a true bypass relay circuit with optical switching and an internal power-up state switch, there’s a lot...
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I love a good mini pedal, for sure, but the creation we’ve got for you today takes the concept of “tiny effects” to an entirely new level. Like something out of a late-80’s Rick Moranis movie, the Olinthus Cicada Overdrive is quite odd upon first sight, but it quickly grows on you, if for nothing else but hilarity at how small it is. However, once you plug it in, you come to find that this green beast is NOT...
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We’ve been checking out the ever-growing lineup of effects units from Animals Pedal since way back in 2017. Although it’s been a couple of years since the last one, we’re excited to bring you FOUR of their newest creations to you over the coming weeks, starting with today’s Push & Pull Distortion. Reminiscent of a classic sound from 5 decades past, this three-knob gem instantly vaults your guitar sound...
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We love a good musician/pedal company collaboration, and today’s brings you three different effects in one very pedalboard-friendly package. Designed specifically to famed guitarist Jack White’s specs, the Triple Threat is a multi-effect collab between Donner and Third Man, bringing three of Jack’s favorite sounds together in a beautiful way. Combining distortion, phasing and echo into one pedal, we ask: what more...
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The pedal creations that come from Supercool Pedals are always great-looking, great-sounding and creative, all the things you want from an effects unit. Today, we’ve got their latest release, a take on a classic, but with their signature Supercool spin on it. The Barstow Bat Distortion is reminiscent of a certain small, black box from the 80’s, with a couple twists and turns to bring a vintage circuit into the modern...
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Although we don’t review bass pedals around here a lot, I always love when they come through, as it forces me to step out of my usual zone and work on something I should be putting more effort into on a regular basis. Today’s pedal, the Trondheim Audio Devices SkarBassOne Analog Bass Compressor EQ Overdrive, wraps three pedals into one, giving you a perfect tone shaper with a little bit of bite if you need it. You can tell...
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My buddy Anthony from Marla Amplification gave me a huge bag of pedals to check out, and one of the many gems I discovered inside was the Dunn Effects Deceiver Distortion. Now, I can’t hardly find out squat about this pedal on the interwebs, so it must be really rare, or a one-off, or discontinued or something…either way, it looks slick and sounds amazing. Let’s jump in and see what this familiar-ish layout has to...
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The good folks at StewMac carry just about every item you need to make your musical dreams come true, from luthier tools to parts & hardware to amps and yes, even Pedals. Today, we’re looking at their latest pedal kit, the International House of Overdrive. You’ll step right into the world of classic overdrive tones, and learn a thing or two about what goes into making effects pedals along the way…c’mon!!...
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Old, vintage, not really talked about effects pedals are usually some of the coolest, and today we’ve got one for you all that I had NEVER heard anyone talk about. A fellow drummer friend of mine had it laying around at his studio, and I took it home, plugged it in and was WOWED. This Morley MOD-DDB Deluxe Distortion looks like it has been through the ringer and back, and both the sound it produces and the beat-up aesthetic make...
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Pedal of the Day, Port City Amplification and countless other people and businesses here in the Asheville, NC area (and elsewhere) have been greatly affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene – if you’re able, please consider making a donation to BeLoved Asheville, or volunteering, or asking people affected by this tragedy if they need any kind of help. Every little bit helps, and any effort to help heal and...
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There’s just something special about plugging in a good distortion pedal and just cranking it to the max, right? Today’s pedal lets you do that, and so much more, with a wide range of gain tones and an EQ section to fit any rig perfectly. We love the pedals we’ve seen from Humanoid FX in the past, and we’re excited to bring you their Apparition High Gain Turbo Distortion today… The Humanoid Pedals...
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The first two pedals we checked out from SviSound (several years ago), the SiMosFuzz and the Germanium Mini, both leaned towards the Fuzz side of things. Today’s pedal, the DistoZoid-3EQ Distortion, brings a different sort of sonic palette to the table. Five simple knobs create a recipe for amp and eardrum destruction – come along as we explore this beastly, sci-fi-looking, pedalboard-friendly creation… The DistoZoid...
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What else can we say about the wonderful world of UAFX from Universal Audio? Well, not much, except that we’ve got ANOTHER one for you all today. Based on extremely expensive and rare model amplifiers from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, the UAFX Enigmatic ’82 Overdrive Special Amp brings what could cost you hundreds of thousands (yes) of dollars onto your pedalboard at a cost that normal folks can actually...
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I’m always excited to take a look at effects pedals from another new (to me, anyway) company, and that’s what we’re doing once again today. Hailing from Austin, Texas, Blank Electronics has a passion for audio electronics, mostly amplifiers and effects pedals, sharing their hobby with those interested in fun and sometimes wonky effects. The first pedal of theirs we’re looking at is the massive Wizard Sleeve...
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We love checking out new companies here at Pedal of the Day, and we love a good distortion pedal, too. Today’s effect checks both of these boxes, as we explore the Tavysh Effects HARM Distortion. Coming to you all the way from Serbia, this dark machine features more switches and knobs than you could ever need, which allows for a multitude of sonic options to experiment and create with… HARM is the essence of all the...
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We’re always excited for a new Death By Audio release, and today’s latest sonic creation from them focuses on the Low End of all things muscial. The Bass War Bass Fuzz Distortion builds on a classic DBA circuit, gearing it in a different direction and for a different set of players. This silver fox is a louder, wider-ranging, earth-shaking bass fuzz that can get more oomph than any other pedal we’ve ever heard… Grab...
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