We always enjoy when a new type of device or way to add to your sound is unleashed on our community, and today’s effect(s) really take things up a notch. The crew over at Chaos Audio has designed the Stratus, a unit that allows to create an entire pedals board from one pedal and your phone. You control the effects in real-time from an app, chaining multiple pedals together in any way you choose. The app currently features over...
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The combination of overdrive and reverb is a no-brainer, and when they are paired up in an enclosure like today’s pedal has, that just makes things sweeter. The Clifton Guitarworks Torque Converter Overdrive Reverb is a big ‘ol box of awesome, a bright beacon that’s easy to find on any board, and easy to dial in a great sound quickly. Let’s not waste any more time, here we go…!! The Torque Converter is a...
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The fine folks at Flamma Innovation are back at it, releasing FIVE new pedals, all of which we’re going to take a look at here at Pedal of the Day. This week, we continue with the FC20 British Distortion, a simple but powerful amp-driving effect that takes your tone to the next level. Whether you’re on a budget, or just looking for a new heavy sound, this little one has got you covered… Need rich, British amp breakup...
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It’s been a little while since we had a pedal from EarthQuaker Devices come through here, but apparently it was worth the wait. The Hizumitas Fuzz Sustainar is based on a rare fuzzy distortion from Japan, and was designed for the one and only guitar sorceress Wata from the band Boris. This effect is full of dirt, warmth and character, and is an instant eye-opener as you as it is engaged… The ELK Sustainar is a Japanese...
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The Ventura Overdrive from HTJ-WORKS was one of the best pedals we saw last month, and after putting it through the paces, we were excited for more gear from this Japanese company. Today, we’re bringing you another gorgeous-looking-and-sounding effect from them, the Bright Horse Boost Overdrive. Another take on a mysterious and mythical circuit, this 3-knob gem provides a wide range of amp-pushing and tone-shaping tones… A...
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We love it when a new pedal company emerges, especially when we’re one of the first to help unleash their products on the world. Fox River Devices has created a new Drive Series that changes with the seasons (much like guitar tones tend to do), the first of which is called Autumn. This versatile overdrive has its own unique sound and vibe, providing a wide array of tonal ‘colors’ for the season… Inspired by the...
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The fine folks at Flamma Innovation are back at it, releasing FIVE new pedals, all of which we’re going to take a look at here at Pedal of the Day. This week, after looking at the FC17 Analog Delay and FC18 Clean Boost, we’ve got the FC19 Black Distortion, a simple but wide-ranging distortion effect that takes your tone to the next level. You might not expect sounds as huge as these to come out of something this small, but...
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We recently got to check out our first pedal from the team at Colfax Recorders, the Apache Rose Preamp, and were more than a little impressed. Today, we’re venturing down their path once again, as we explore the Zephyr Overdrive. A versatile but easy-to-dial-in drive, this baby blue beauty adds the perfect dirt element to your pedalboard, and fits right in as your new favorite always-on effect… The Zephyr Overdrive with...
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Mario Marino has been creating products under the name Axess Electronics since 1998, crafting custom buffered splitters, routers, switchers MIDI foot controllers and more, for names like Alex Lifeson, Peter Frampton, Richie Sambora, John Petrucci, Dweezil Zappa and Eddie Van Halen. Bringing decades of expertise to the effects pedal world, he has released the AXSGTR OBViouS™ Boost/Overdrive, an option-filled beauty that dirties up your...
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The fine folks over at Eventide have been big supporters of Pedal of the Day for years now – we’ve reviewed just about every one of their modern pedals, and have been lucky enough to be included in their last several new release days as well. Today, we’re doing it once again, and with possibly their biggest, most grandiose effects unit to date. The H90 Harmonizer® takes everything that we all love about the...
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About a month ago, we had the honor of reviewing and demoing a pedal from Harby Pedals called the Centauri Clean Boost/Overdrive, a most excellent Klon-inspired beast that had “it” from the moment we first turned it on. It was with much anticipation that we plugged into another Harby gem for today’s review and demo – the BMF Distortion Sustainer Fuzz. Bringing a classic circuit into the present time, this blue...
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We have had a bunch of new pedal companies join our ranks as of late, and they just keep on comin’ with today’s featured builder, HTJ-WORKS from Japan. As soon as I plugged in their Ventura Overdrive, I knew something special was happening, and it has not disappointed yet. Bringing vintage and modern overdrive elements together, this monster shapes your tone and drives your amp in a unique and beautiful way… Although...
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The effects from Summer School Electronics just keep getting better and better, and today’s pedal from these guys combines two classic circuits into one delicious piece of gear. The Science Fair Overdrive Distortion takes elements of a classic black rodent distortion pedal and a green, mids-forward drive and brings them together in wonderful musical harmony. All the dirt you could ever need? Maybe, just maybe… The left...
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Earlier this year, two of the best Klon clones we’ve ever played came to us via Studio Daydream Handmade Pedals, in the form of the KCM-OD Gold V9.0 and the KCM-OD Silver V10. After those two beauties, we were eager to see what their next overdriven creation would be, and now we’ve got it for you today. The Dhyana Overdrive V2.5 takes on a super-rare pedal, one we’d never even heard of, and brings it into the present...
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Pedal of the Day has been fortunate to help with the promotion of each and every iteration of the wonderful Ampero series of multi-effects units from our friends at Hotone Audio, and we’ve got the newest one for you today. Following in the footsteps of the original Ampero, Ampero One and Ampero II, the Ampero Silver Edition Amp Modeler / Effects Processor somehow builds on the previous models’ functionality, options and...
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After recently jumping back into the marvelous world of pedals from Cusack Music with the brilliant Meta Plexi Distortion Boost, we were stoked to have another piece of their gear on our demo table. The Screamer Fuzz V3 Fuzzdrive combines elements of overdrive and fuzz in one pedal, allowing you to blend and mix as you see fit. Along with a great control section and several clipping options, this was a fun one right out of the...
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We love exploring new pedal companies, and we also love a good Klon-inspired piece of gear. Luckily, today’s pedal checks off both boxes, putting a delicious spin on a classic circuit and sound. The Harby Pedals Centauri Clean Boost/Overdrive brings a wide range of sounds to the table, ranging from simple volume boost to amp breakup to glorious tube-amp overdriven tone for days…let’s jump in and see what makes this...
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Over the last 2 months, we’ve had the distinct pleasure to usher in a newly revitalized pedal lineup from our friends over at Poison Noises. Today marks our 17th review and demo from them, and we’re bringing it back to where our collaborative efforts began. The Crook Overdrive V3 was our first foray into the Poison Noises world back in February, so we’re ending this long run with its successor, The Crook Overdrive...
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After checking out the incredible 432k Rev2 Distortion a couple months ago, we couldn’t wait to jump back into some more gear from Retro Mechanical Labs. Today’s powerful piece is the Mig Fuzz Special Edition, another big box effects with a ton of options, great dirt tones and, of course, a vintage VU meter on board. Providing a modern sound using vintage parts, this unique creation really gets the musical creativity...
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Following in the footsteps of the Gladys Overdrive, Stone Thrower Fuzz, Snow Day Delay, The Bootster Booster and Gus-Drive pedals, the Trash Panda Overdrive Distortion continues to expand on the diverse effects lineup from Summer School Electronics. This soft-clipping overdrive/distortion unit has just three knobs, but don’t be fooled: the range here, both in dirt and tone, is vast, opening up new sonic pathways at every turn....
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Our friends over at Poison Noises are releasing new versions of their entire lineup of effects pedals, and have asked us to help showcase these overhauled creations. We’re looking at 2 pedals a week for the next couple months, continuing today with the Knuckle Sandwich Overdrive V3. Get prepared to pummel some eardrums and grab a fistful of tone…. Designed to work as a low mid boost at lower drive levels, the Knuckle...
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From the Archer Ikon to the El Hombre to the Mr. Moto and beyond, the folks at J. Rockett Audio Designs keep finding ways to pack a whole lot of effect into a small enclosure. This wonderful trend continues today with the .45 Caliber Overdrive, a dirt pedal derived from the classic rhythm playing of Malcolm Young and the face-melting goodness of Pete Townshend. If you’re on the hunt for your next amp-in-a-box pedal, this might...
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Effects that come with a backstory, or some kind of accompanying literature, are always a hit here at Pedal of the Day (and elsewhere, we assume). Today’s pedal has a bit of mystical mystery to it, as well as sounding absolutely incredible. The Tulpa FX Tsathoggua Overdrive is rooted in dangerous adventure, but brings all the tone and power to back it up… In certain circles, Tsathoggua (also known as The Sleeper of...
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It’s been a while since we saw an effects pedal from Wounded Paw Audio, and it’s also been a while since we had a bass pedal to review and demo. Luckily, both of these are getting fixed today, with the introduction of the Attack Goat OD DI Bass Pre-Amp, a 2-channel fuzz, overdrive, EQ and more. If you’re looking for a tone-shaping, amp-pushing, low-end machine to handle your 4, 5 or 6-string needs, you’re in...
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Our friends over at Poison Noises are releasing new versions of their entire lineup of effects pedals, and have asked us to help showcase these overhauled creations. We’re looking at 2 pedals a week for the next couple months, continuing today with The Gaia Overdrive. This one just might be your new desert island pedal…. The Gaia Overdrive is loosely based on a K-style circuit, but with a new take on the whole thing....
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The effects we’ve checked out so far from Malaise Forever have been glorious, starting with the magnificent Clubber Lang Harmonic Percolator Fuzz, and continuing with the Rage Monster Germanium Gain Stage. For Pedal #3 today, we’re helping with the release of the brand new Iron Fistula JFET Preamp Drive, a swiss army knife of incredible tones and dialed-in dirt for days – let’s see what’s in store, shall...
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Our friends over at Poison Noises are releasing new versions of their entire lineup of effects pedals, and have asked us to help showcase these overhauled creations. We’re looking at 2 pedals a week for the next couple months, continuing today with the Dirt Nap Distortion V3. This is one dirt pedal you’ll absolutely die for…. Pushing your amp to get that 70s crunch you know and love, the Dirt Nap brings rich,...
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(This article comes from our friends at GuitarTricks.com – check out their site for tons of guitar-related tips and tricks!!) How To Get The Most Out Of Your Pedals By Steven Kendzorski for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. I have GAS, and it’s bad. GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) is a common ailment among new guitar players, triggered by tone-envy, causing them to spend every...
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Our friends over at Poison Noises are releasing new versions of their entire lineup of effects pedals, and have asked us to help showcase these overhauled creations. We’re looking at 2 pedals a week for the next couple months, continuing today with The Narc Fuzz Distortion V2. The secret is out with this effect, don’t get caught without one…. Packed with a combination of biting distortion and gnarly fuzz tones, The...
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We recently had the opportunity to check out an amazing double drive pedal, the Pantheon Dual Overdrive Deluxe from Wampler Pedals, and today we’re back with a similar effect. The Gearbox Any Wood Signature Overdrive gives you two separate channels of dirt, each based on a classic circuit, to push you amp and your sound where it needs to go. Lots of knobs and switches here, let’s get right to it, shall we? The Gearbox is...
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Andrew and the crew at Mozztronics just keep putting out incredible pedal after incredible pedal, and we’re so glad we get to keep on reviewing and demoing these wonderful creations. For the last pedal in the latest batch they sent us, we’re taking a look at the JD-2 Thunder Drive, an amp/drive/preamp/distortion all wrapped into one undefinable and glorious effect. Strap in and hold on, this one’s a crusher (as...
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Hard to believe it’s been SIX YEARS since we had the pleasure of a pedal from Retro Mechanical Labs grace our presence, but this one definitely made up for lost time. The 432k Rev2 Distortion builds on the original version of the 432k, adding in some modifications to improve tone and give you more sonic options to experiment with. Beauty and brawn are once again combined into a big, gorgeous enclosure, complete with the classic...
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Sometimes, it’s nice to just get downright HEAVY with your effects, and today’s pedal and company both have the answers for all your sonic queries. This Heavy Earth makes heavy effects. PERIOD. Today, we’re taking a look at their Widower High-Gain Distortion, a blistering yet sophisticated unit that will literally take your head off with its high-gain, high-sustain, amp-like distortion. Sporting an active boost/cut 2...
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It’s been a minute since we had a pedal from Cusack Music in the shop, but today’s effect from their lineup comes absolutely roaring back into action. The Meta Plexi Distortion Boost, as the name might suggest, follows in the footsteps of a certain hallowed, classic amplifier preamp, instantly transforming your tone and sending you back to classic rock and metal heydays gone past. Plug in, crank up, annoy neighbors, melt...
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Over the last several months, we’ve had the opportunity to get to know a relatively new company, Summer School Electronics, and explore their impressive lineup of effects. Ranging from boost (Bootster) to overdrive (Gladys) to fuzz (Stone Thrower) and delay (Snow Day), their pedals span multiple musical genres, providing something for everyone across the board. Today, we’ve got another effect of theirs for you, the...
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For the second time in a row, we’ve got a seemingly basic but surprising pedal from our friends at Discomfort Designs. Following in the footsteps of The Big Mistake Fuzz, we present the mighty Doomsailor Distortion, a powerful beast with a simple control setup. With a wide range of tones and all the heavy grit you can handle, this one is ready to annihilate everything in its musical pathway… The Doomsailor Distortion is...
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The Klone. Since the majority of us think it’s absurd to spend $5,000 or more on a pedal, klones have become a musical godsend, offering a ton of different sonic flavors without the hefty price tags that go with the originals. We’re bringing you another lovely offering today, in the form of the My Little Klony from Daddy Daughter Pedal Works. This pink beauty is dialed in sonically to the mythical units, with a couple of...
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A good overdrive can really make you amp come alive and sculpt your tone, but what if you have TWO in one single pedal? That’s the name of the game with the impressive and options-laden Pantheon Dual Overdrive Deluxe from Wampler Pedals. From boost to crunch to powerful drive and up to heavy distortion, this purple beast has all you could want in a dirt pedal…and then some. The now legendary Wampler Pantheon provided a...
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The recent revival of the Maestro brand has brought a couple of great pedals our way. The Discoverer Delay and Comet Chorus were both a joy to explore, and we’ve got the third pedal in this impressive lineup for you today. The Invader Distortion features three knobs, one switch and a ton of tone to shape and sculpt your favorite distortion and overdrive sounds perfectly…let’s see what it’s all about! The...
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Fuzz and Distortion effects with multiple knobs and switches are always a good time to experiment with, and today’s pedal, while not over the top, provides a multitude of sonic caverns waiting to be explored. The Calico Effects Antlers Fuzz Distortion pays homage to the classic Green Muff circuit, giving you vintage-sounding and modern high gain tones alike. Three knobs, three switches and a lot of dirty dirt here –...
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The Blessed Mother Overdrive from Heather Brown Electronicals was one of the hottest pedals of last year, and one of our favorites as well. Then, Heather released a 2nd incarnation, the Fuzz Assumption, which was just as amazing, but with a little more bite to it. Today, we bring to you the third effect in this lineup, one which combines both Overdrive AND Fuzz, but can’t really be classified as either…take a journey with...
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(This article comes from our friends at GuitarTricks.com – check out their site for tons of guitar-related tips and tricks!!) The Buzz on Distortion Pedals By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer Ever since the electric guitar was invented guitarists and sound engineers have attempted to manipulate its signal. When you pluck the strings, the pickup changes sound waves into electrical energy, which can then be...
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We’re always on the lookout for new pedal companies to discover, and today we’ve done EXACTLY that, with our first pedal from That New Pedal Company. Coming all the way from Galacia, Spain, the Raio Tones & Circuits 70s Overdrive uses a simple 2-knob layout to reproduce classic tones from a classic decade. Perfectly recreating the original sound of the first overdrive models, this one has a vintage sound that never...
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The RAT. In all its forms and iterations, it has remained one of the most popular distortion circuits in the world for more than 40 years, with many companies tweaking and trying their hand at improving it. We’ve got one of the best throwing their hat in the ring today, as we bring you the Wampler Pedals Ratsbane Distortion. Small in size but big in stature, this mini effect brings all the thunder of the original Rat sound, with...
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We’re honored to be a part of the story for today’s pedal, a special limited edition effect whose proceeds are helping those in need during the current horrible invasion of Ukraine. Rare Buzz Effects has taken their Snitch Distortion and re-branded it with the colors of the Ukrainian flag, as well as Ukrainian text for the control knobs. This is the Cyborg Ukrainian Distortion, folks… A little backstory: Cyborgs are...
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Since the Femtaur Boost Overdrive arrived here at the shop 3 years ago, we’ve had the pleasure of getting to check out a bunch of effects from Kink Guitar Pedals, located in Cranbourne, Australia. Each has been unique and exciting, but with a cohesiveness to the brand that makes them all work well as a group. Today, we’re taking a look at our 5th Kink pedal, the Atomic Spaghetti Overdrive Tremolo, which is exactly as fun...
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From the Zero Hybrid Amp to the Black Sun and Stone Age effects, we love the gear coming from the Thermion camp. Each piece is so unique and well thought out, not to mention adding a myriad of tonal choices to any rig. Today, we’re taking a look at their Gasoline Distortion Preamp, which combines classic rock, crunchy amps and a bit of heavy metal into a savory auditory stew… Gasoline is the tool that will make you set...
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When you think of experimental effects pedal companies, Death By Audio immediately jumps right to the top of the list. Dirty, loud and beautiful, their lineup keeps us all on our toes, and opens up a myriad of new musical possibilities. Today, we’re looking at their latest release, the Germanium Filter, which proves that sometimes you only need 2 knobs to make a gigantic wall of sound. The Germanium Filter is DBA’s love...
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The Klon. There might not be a more easily-recognizable, more debated-about effect on the planet. And since they are rare and pricy, there are a LOT of copycats out there, but how to choose the right one? Well, the quest for the perfect clone may have just ended – welcome in the Centura Professional Overdrive from Ceriatone Amplification. Aesthetics aside, this beast sounds spot on to its original counterpart, made with...
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2-in-1 effects are always a treat – just having more than one option of sound in a single pedal can instantly open up ideas and get the creative train a’rollin’. Two switchable Boost/Distortion circuits are what awaits us in today’s pedal, the ZVEX Effects Double Rock Vexter Distortion, which squeezes elements from THREE other ZVEX effects into one enclosure. This one is loud, crisp and amp-thumping, to say the...
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