You know sometimes when you open a pedal box that you’re in for a real treat, just by taking a glance at what’s inside. That’s most definitely the case today, as we check out The Joker, a ruthless-looking and -sounding boost overdrive distortion from Flattley Pedals. Bright in color and a bit scary in presence, this this has range for days, pushing your amp into ALL the sweet spots where you need it to be… The...
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From the beginning with the Blessed Mother Overdrive, Heather Brown Electronicals has been putting out unique effects circuits, ranging across a number of different genres, and they’ve all been simply spectacular. Continuing that tradition today is Heather’s latest release, the Clean Break Boost, a seemingly simple three-knob gem that will push your amp into the sweet zone with just a minute or two of configuration....
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Releasing a new pedal seems like a lot of fun…but what about releasing TWO pedals on the same day?? Doubling the fun today, the folks at Donner have teamed up with guitarist Ruben Wan to bring to the world the Umbria Distortion and the Celestia Chorus, out now!! These two pedals have simple controls, along with big, bold sounds, to easily transform your less-than-stellar rig into a true powerhouse of tone. We’ve got 2x the...
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Jamie at Supercool Pedals always puts out pedal designs that are very much his own, and I’m excited to share his latest creation with you all today! The SPRITZ! Saturator combines 2 classics, Compression and Overdrive, to create an effect entity that will surely give your rig a much-appreciated boost, both in tone and output. Inspired by a bright orange cocktail enjoyed on the streets of Rome, this pedal beckons you to say YES...
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Three knob overdrives. There are a lot of them out there, and the vast majority of them sound pretty fantastic. That streak most certainly continues with today’s effect, the Jade Electric Pedals J-6 Dynamic Overdrive. With a simple control section and easy to dial in tones, this crimson beauty is perfect for a set-it-and-forget-it drive, or for something more if you should need it… The J-6 is a dynamic, responsive...
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When anyone mentions the words “green” and “overdrive” together, our minds probably all go to the same place: Tube Screamer. While the originals are beloved, there’s always room for improvement, and I’m bringing you a new version of this staple sound today. The Browne Amplification GRITADOR Screaming Overdrive brings what we love about this vintage circuit into modern times, with some twists and...
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It’s always a blast when I get a pedal in from a new (to me, anyway) company, and I’m really stoked to bring you all an absolute beast of an effect today. The Glass Drive from Axewerx is an octave, overdrive, distortion and fuzz all rolled into one sonically gorgeous mess, complete with flexible options both on the outside and internally. If the graphics are giving you any kind of indication, this is a wild one, so get...
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The crew at Collision Devices have been putting out innovative, unique effects units since they first came on the scene, and I’m excited to bring you not one, not two, but THREE of their latest offerings. The Snack Series are designed to be fun and useful, while also being accessible and extremely pedalboard-friendly. The first releases in this series are the Fuzz, Pitcher and Delay pedals – there’s lots to talk...
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Well, we’re back with another New Company Friday – this go-round features our first foray into the world of AceTone Electronics, a company founded in the Netherlands where passion for music and craftsmanship come together to create extraordinary sound experiences. Today, we’re checking out their MWK-01 Mojo Work King Overdrive, a bright, bold green effect that is ready to unleash a new brand of dirt onto the world....
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The Bixonic Expandora was a unique, Japanese-made boutique multi-distortion pedal from the mid-1990s, renowned for its circular, “hockey puck” design and diverse tones, ranging from subtle overdrive to heavy fuzz. Today, we’ve got a modern recreation of this odd but incredible pedal, complete with modern updates and some new tonal & functional options. Don’t let the size or shape of the Expandora Pedals...
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Since their first pedal landed on the doorstep to our shop, I’ve been mildly obsessed with the gear coming from the folks over at SoloDallas. From the original Storm Boost Limiter and TSR Compander Booster, to newer offerings like the SVDS Mini Boost and Orbiter Fuzz, there’s always something unique and intriguing being released by these guys. Today, we’ve got their latest for you: the CompanDrive 65 (CD65) Compander...
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In all my years doing pedal reviews, I have come across maybe a handful of stereo distortion pedals (like the Dunable Splatterblaster)…maybe. Sometimes, when the need arises, you just gotta build something yourself, which is exactly what the crew at Land Devices did with the Hunter Stereo Distortion. Killer connectivity options + a wide scope of dirt tones = one badass mamajama (and this one is bright red, too!) – come...
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PEDALXCHANGE.com connects musicians through safe, low-cost trades, exchanging unused pedals for fresh inspiration. Trading is a more affordable way to discover pedals that inspire. As a free-tier member, complete a trade for a flat $3 fee. Prefer to buy or sell? Their seller fees are half those of the leading marketplace. Play more. Spend less. PEDALXCHANGE.com https://pedalxchange.com/ _____________________________ I’m excited...
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It’s been a minute since we had a pedal in from Browne Amplification, but today’s pedal is a fantastic return to an amazing company. The ALKENE Nashville Overdrive brings a certain, specific sound to the table, pushing your amp and driving your tone with some nice options onboard. An instant classic, this tan beauty is sure to turn some heads and awaken the sleeping beast within any setup or rig… Inspired by the...
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When you plug in certain pedals, and they don’t even sound like pedals, but otherworldly creations of their own, you know you’re onto something special. Such is the case with today’s marvelous piece of musical gear, the Bananana Effects QUIMERA Polyphonic Synthesizer Sampler. Breaking all the auditory boundaries you can think of, this sonic marvel is one of the most unique all-in-one units I’ve come across, and...
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You know how sometimes you can tell a pedal is going to sound wicked rad just by looking at it? That’s how I felt about the JHS Pedals Double Dragon Lo-Fi Octave Device, which we’re going to look at today. Octave pedals with more than 2 knobs are always intriguing, and the lineage that this yellow beast is inspired by is the who’s-who of octave creations. The fact that my daughter has been obsessed with dragons for...
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When pedal companies make new models, they sometimes have to discontinue old ones to make room for new stock, or just to move on from particular circuits, or whatever the case may be. One pedal I’m glad I got a hold of before it went the way of the dodo is the All American Distortion V2, an updated take on the classic ProCo RAT circuit. After it’s been sitting on my shelf for years, I suddenly realized that, even though...
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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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After checking out the Aquanaut Delay/Echo and the Velcrow Gated Fuzz pedals from Berserker Electronics, I couldn’t wait to see what they came up with next. I’m excited to help bring their latest creation to the world – this is the Dead Zone Low Fidelity Filter, an homage to a now-classic effect from days gone by that acts like a radio signal broadcaster for your guitar tone…don’t worry, you’ll see...
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A lot of the time, three-knob effects pedals can be quite deceiving – you think there’s not going to be much to them, or that they don’t offer as many options as fancier units, but that’s often far from the truth. Such is the case today as well, as we’re checking out our first pedal from ROMA Devices, the Conviction Overdrive. As the red knob should indicate, there’s a lot of gain range here, and...
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A good distortion pedal should give you a harder edge, more grit and a beefier tone…but it can also shape your sound, get to the edge of breakup and give a whimpy signal some much-needed love. Today’s pedal, the Eavesdropper Pedals Dr. Square Distortion, does all of these things, and a little bit more. Based on a classic effect from the 1970s, this little box will get you all the dirt you need, and some you might not have...
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Dual pedals just rock, no matter what the combination of effects happens to be. When they’re created together by two different companies, that makes them that much cooler. Today’s pedal sees our friends from Summer School Electronics and Supercool Pedals team up to create a grungy, classic type of sound, with a lot of range and all the nostalgia you can handle: ladies and gents, this is the Smoking In The Boys Room Chorus...
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I’ve been hearing about the amazing pedals from Kingsley for years now, but their high price point made it hard for me to ever get my hands on one…until now. On loan from my good buddy Carl P., I’m bringing you the Harlot v3 Tube Overdrive today. I know, I know, they already have a v4 out in the world, but there’s nothing wrong with this version whatsoever, as you’ll soon see and hear. Overdrives with...
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Last month, I checked out my first pedal from Luxury Tone FX, the Overdrive Sustainer 2, and was pretty damn blown away by it. Today, I’ve got another pedal from this crew all the way from Spain: the Sunrise Overdrive Distortion. Keeping with the simplistic layout/control theme, this tan gem features three knobs and one toggle switch, allowing you to free up your time by not having to dig through a 100-page manual, and focus on...
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Pretty excited to bring you all today’s pedal, as it’s a real piece of history finally brought to life. For 50 years, a forgotten schematic sat buried in dust and time – a concept waiting to be born. Now, its moment has come. The JHS Pedals x Electro-Harmonix Big Muff 2 Dual Op-Amp is here, delivering a completely new Big Muff voice unlike anything you’ve heard before. From Bob Myer’s original forgotten workshop to...
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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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When I first saw today’s pedal from Strymon, the Fairfax Class A Output Stage Drive, I said to myself, “Where are all the knobs and switches??” With just three knobs and one switch, this pedal doesn’t seem like a true Strymon creation…at first. Once you dive into it, you will see and hear the obvious time and effort that their engineers put into making this thing. One of those pedals that makes you do...
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I think TWA (Totally Wycked Audio) is a rather underrated effects company, and today I’m gonna show you another reason why. After checking out their Wahxidizer™ WX-01 Envelope-Controlled Octave Fuzz Filter Wah and SC-01 Source Code Overdrive pedals recently, I was stoked to see what was next, as those two creation were AMAZING. Enter the RZ-01 Chemical Z™ Roy Z Signature Dual Channel Overdrive, a beast of a pedal for all musical...
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Running one pedal company has got to be tough, but TWO?? That’s the case with our friend Antonio from Andalucia, Spain, who heads up both Luxury Tone FX and M Pedals, the latter of which we’re focusing on today. Come along as we investigate the wonders trapped inside the Colossus Overdrive Dumbleit, an ode to an amplifier sound that’s sought by many and actually obtainable by few. You might not sound like Stevie Ray...
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I’ve had the honor of demoing every pedal in the Aclam effects lineup over the last 6+ years, and am excited to bring you an oldie but a goodie today. Building on their flagship effect, the Dr. Robert V3 VOX UL730 Replica brings a very specific and unique sound to your practice room, rehearsal space or gig, opening eyes and ears along the way. If you don’t like The Beatles, you may want to keep moving along…but if...
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The Tube Screamer. Love it or hate it, it is a staple of the overdriven effects world, and a piece of gear used by thousands across the globe for over 40 years. Perhaps the most famous model is the TS808, and it has something uniquely in common with today’s pedal: they were BOTH designed by the same person. The TWA (Totally Wycked Audio) SC-01 Source Code Overdrive comes to us via our friends at Godlyke, and it meshes old school...
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Whenever you see a pedal with that certain green tinge to it, there’s a good chance you’re getting a Tube Screamer of some type, right? But what if you saw one that gave you EIGHT overdrive modes in one pedal?? Well, that would be awesome, which is why today’s pedal is so exciting. The NUX Drive Core Deluxe MKII 8-Way Overdrive gives all the best versions of some killer overdrive circuits, letting you get tones...
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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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Complex pedals with tons of knobs and switches have their place, and can be a lot of fun, but sometimes you just want to be able to dial in a sick sound fast and GO. That’s the case with today’s pedal, our first from the crew at Luxury Tone FX in Spain. We’re gonna take a gander at the Overdrive Sustainer 2, a hand built, three knob beauty that shines in any application. This is one of those pedals that opens your...
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One of the most talked-about and now-rare pedals from the last decade has got to be the Kilt Overdrive from JHS Pedals. With two versions released so far, it has been the subject of lots of online chatter, gracing pedalboards all over the world. In honor of the first version being released a decade ago, JHS introduces the Kilt 10 Overdrive Distortion, a continuing collaboration with guitarist Stu G. Although it has the same basic...
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Being a designer by trade, aesthetics always have a way of playing into my love of pedals, and today’s creation is super clean, crisp and professional-looking…not to mention is sounds badass. The Tiptone Audio Devices LA-62: FET Leveling Amplifier is about as versatile as they come, bringing hints of preamp, distortion, compression, limiting and more to your pedalboard or studio recording setup. Not just for guitar, this...
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There’s a very distinct look and feel to effects from Supercool Pedals, and I have grown to love each and every one of their releases I’ve had to opportunity to check out. Today’s pedal, The Cutback Preamp-Style Distortion, is no different, continuing a strong tradition of dirt pedals from our neighbor to the North. Conjuring up sounds from one of my favorite all-time preamp pedals, this chill beast will encourage...
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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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The amplifiers coming out of the Silktone shop in Roseville, California, have always been amazing, and I was so stoked when they entered the effects pedal market a few years back. Having demoed their Germanium Fuzz and overdrive+ pedals, I was excited when the Expander Preamp Fuzz Overdrive was announced, and even more so when it arrived on our doorstep. Combining elements of the three best dirt genres out there, this seemingly simple...
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Well, we’re back again today with another gem from the innovative crew at Chase Bliss. Their latest, the Lost + Found Collection of Curiosities, is unlike anything they’ve released before – and, as you may know, that’s saying something. Combining elements of Chorus, Compression, Reverb, Grain Sampling, Harmonizers, Looping, Octaves, Phasing and much more, this green monster will expand your soul and create new...
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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 Sweet Cream v2025 Transparent Overdrive. If you like your drives crunchy with an edge of break-up tonality, this pedal is really worth checking out! The Tone City Sweet Cream is a...
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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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Whenever a new pedal from Discomfort Designs shows up, there’s a rarified excitement that builds as I open the box and see what awaits. Today’s pedal, the Riemann’s Grave Octave Bit Crusher Distortion Filter, keeps that tradition in tact, with a wide array of controls, knobs and switches waiting to be poked, prodded and pummeled. Unlike most of the effects that I see come through the shop, this one will keep a smile...
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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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New pedals from new (to us) companies are always welcome here at Pedal of the Day, and we’ve got just that for you on this fine Tuesday morning. The King Wizard Germanium Fuzz Driver from Portland, Oregon-based spellcasterFX immediately sucks you in with a wild, trippy aesthetic, then keeps you enthralled with a huge spectrum of tonal shifts, boosts, drives and, of course, lots of FUZZ. Sort of like three pedals in one, this...
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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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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 Golden Plexi v2025 Overdrive Distortion. With a big range of sounds and all the classic amp tone you’ve been searching for, this little wonder proves that you can make big...
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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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Today, we’re checking out our third pedal in the current lineup from Awestruck Amplification, a boutique builder out of Michigan. The last pedal (for now) from this company is the Metro Organic Overdrive, a bright and vibrant effect both in sonic tone and aesthetics. With a couple of toggle switches to shape your sound, and a bunch of drive on tap, you’re not gonna want to sleep on this colorful creation… Inspired by...
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