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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When it comes to the 3-knob Overdrive, you’ve got to make it pretty creative and fun in order to stand out from the hundreds, or thousands, of other similar effects out there. Today’s pedal does just that, with intriguing graphics, a fun outer space backstory and, of course, incredible sound. The Interstellar Audio Machines Octonaut Hyperdrive brings classic, inspired tones to the forefront, creating a perfect addition to...
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Effects pedals with one footswitch are great…but TWO footswitches? You know you’re in for a real treat. Such is the case with today’s mammoth beast, the Crossfire Overdrive Preamp from Crazy Tube Circuits. Inspired by one of the most iconic Pedal/Amp combinations in musical history, this two-sided gem shapes your tone, pushes your amp and much, much more… The left side is voiced after the blackface amps that...
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We can’t get enough of the effects coming out of the Mozztronics camp, and we’re so honored to bring another brilliant creation to you all today. Using a real 12AX7 tube internally, the TD-2 HV Tube Driver provides authentic, crunchy tube amp tone, with an easy control section for instant overdriven glory. Three knobs doesn’t give you the whole story, so let’s go for a ride and see what this orange beauty is...
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We see a LOT of overdrive effects come through the shop here at Pedal of the Day, so at first glance, today’s pedal *seemingly* was just another 3-knob dirt creator. Upon further investigation, however, it seems that the crew at JET Pedals has taken the conventional drive and tossed it right out the window, opting instead to create the MR JAX Overdrive Distortion. There are a lot of sounds hiding inside this one, let’s...
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Recently, we had the privilege to check out the Acid Cat Fuzz Distortion from our friends at Stacks FX. Part of their Ohms Series, it had a nice sonic range, going from mild crunch to all-out sonic destruction. Today, we’ve got another pedal from that Ohms Series for you – the Distorter of Worlds, another fuzz distorter that packs a myriad of options into one perfectly-sized enclosure. Lots to explore here, let’s get...
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The infamous Klon has produced more clones than perhaps any other circuit (well, maybe the Tubescreamer has it beat). We love a good Klone here at Pedal of the Day – hell, we even have a series dedicated to them on our YouTube channel. Today’s pedal brings another mythical creation to the table, this time in the form of the Handy FX Minotaur Overdrive… With the familiar layout and classic oxblood knobs, you’ll feel...
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Most of us have, unfortunately, been affected in one way or another by cancer. Research and development of new ways to combat this killer are the only way we can rid the world of it forever, and today’s pedal set seeks to help fight that fight. The Electric Love Pedals Fuzz, Overdrive & Delay are being sold as a set, with ALL proceeds going to fund breast cancer research. Let’s see what creator Ben Carlin has to say...
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After the Catalinbread Tribute Parametric Overdrive a couple days ago, we’re honored to get to share in the release of another brand new drive pedal today, this time coming to you from J. Rockett Audio Designs. Based on the classic tones of a bearded Texas legend, El Hombre is the ideal overdrive for those feeling the blues or ready to rock all night. Capturing the nuances and touch sensitivity of an amplifier, El Hombre can go...
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One of the first pedals we ever reviewed here at Pedal of the Day was from our friends at Catalinbread (the Semaphore Tremolo) and we’ve been marveling at every new release they’ve had since then. Today, we’re proud and honored to help introduce the world to the Tribute Parametric Overdrive, a 4-knob, amp-driving, tone-shaping powerhouse that’s sure to find its way onto pedalboards across the globe. Let’s...
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The legendary Nobels ODR-1 Natural Overdrive has been a staple of session players around Nashville for years and years, gaining praise from the likes of Jerry Donahue, Guthrie Trapp, Carl Verheyen, John Shanks, Tim Pierce and more. This secret weapon works great for all musical genres, not just country, and will give your rig a truly natural-sounding overdrive, without a ton of coloration. Today, we’re bringing you a couple of...
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The Clubber Lang Harmonic Percolator Fuzz from Malaise Forever was one of our Top Pedals of 2021, and we were stoked to check out more gear from this fine company out of Columbus, OH. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait too long – today, we’re helping with the Brand New Release for their next creation, the Rage Monster Germanium Gain Stage. Packing some classic and modern boost sounds into one pedalboard-friendly...
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Over the last couple of years, we’ve joyously learned that Mozztronics doesn’t make clone pedals, opting instead for emulation circuits of amps and specific but original takes on classic effects. Today we’ve got a good old overdrive, the GD-1 Bone Breaker Green Drive, which gives you FIVE different Screamer-esque options to choose from, and use as you see fit. You get 5 incredible drives in one pedal – what...
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There are times when an overdrive pedal can be “eh, just another overdrive” and there are times when the word “Overdrive” doesn’t even begin to touch what a pedal can do. Luckily, today’s pedal is the latter, coming to use from Fancy Wolf Effects, in the form of the Scoop & Scream Parallel Gain Machine. If you like Fuzz, and Overdrive, and like them IN STEREO, you’ll want to stick around...
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We had the recent opportunity to check out our first effect from Handy FX, the Whiteout Fuzz, and it was an impressive piece of gear. We’re back again today to bring you the next gem in their lineup, the Muskrat Distortion Booster, a powerful 2-in-1 that oozes tone and grit, adding a much-needed punch to any rig. It doesn’t just look rad, folks, it sounds that way, too… The left side of the Muskrat is based on the...
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Many, many moons ago, we got our hands on an overdrive from a company we had just recently heard of, Free The Tone, called the Red Jasper. We loved that pedal, and have loved every one of their creations since, as our friendship and partnership has grown over the past 7 years. Therefore, we’re pretty excited to bring it full circle, back to where it all started, with the upcoming release of the RJ-2V Red Jasper Overdrive, back...
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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!!) A Practical Look at Guitar Pedals By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer Guitar pedals are an incredible way to sculpt the final sound from your guitar, they provide amazing effects at just the push of a button. In some cases they are even necessary to get the right sound for a particular...
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Believe it or not, I have never owned, borrowed or even seen an actual DOD 250 Preamp pedal. I’ve used effects that were based on this legendary unit, but haven’t had to privilege to hold one in my hands and hear it in all its vintage glory. Needless to say, then, I was pretty excited about the release of the JHS Pedals Overdrive Preamp – although slightly different from the Gray Box version that everyone is used to,...
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We love discovering new, up-and-coming effects pedal builders here at Pedal of the Day, and we’ve got another for you today. Summer School Electronics has a three-pedal lineup so far, and we’re going to check them all out over the coming weeks, starting with the Gladys Overdrive. This three-knob, one-switch beauty is a no-frills overdrive unit, with one added option to set it apart from the rest. Let’s what what...
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We’ve been reviewing pedals from our friends at Stacks FX since 2015, and though it’s been a minute, we’re stoked to have some more of their gear in the shop. Today, we’re taking a look at the Ohms Series: Acid Cat Fuzz Distortion, a blistering dirt machine that’s primed to crush amps and eardrums alike. This original circuit takes your signal and sends it into brutally heavy territory with ease…...
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A lot of overdrive pedals come through the office here. A LOT. As fun as they can be, and as good as they can sound, we like it when the circuits get crazy and offer some options we haven’t seen before. Such is the case with today’s Limited Edition pedal, the Spiral Electric FX Yellow Spiral LF351 Overdrive. With a rare opamp and 3 different texture settings, this one sounds different from any other drive we’ve come...
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In continuing with our theme of unique and inspiring pedals this week, we’ve got another weird, wild effect for you today. From the amazing and disturbing mind of Lefa Pedals, the I DEEP THFUZZ combines elements of fuzz, distortion, octave and more into one HUG box. This one doesn’t f*ck around, folks, crushing and destroying everyone and everything in it’s musical path. Lots to explore, let’s jump right into...
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We’ve got another Klon-inspired beauty to bring to you today, only this one takes everything up a couple notches. Recently, we had the pleasure of checking out the KCM-OD Silver V10 from Studio Daydream Handmade Pedals, and today we’re bringing you their next version, the KCM-OD Gold V9.0 Overdrive. Looking and sounding similar to a certain horsie-laden and ridiculously expensive pedal from the ’90s, this one has a...
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There aren’t a ton of effects pedals coming out of a city I lived in for 8 years, Boise, Idaho, so I’m proud to represent and bring a hand made gem to the masses today. The Red Velvet Overdrive Distortion from Vanilla Sundae Pedals looks deceivingly simple at first glance, but this crimson beauty is hiding some real power under the hood. Part overdrive, part distortion and all balls-out dirt, this bright beauty tears...
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Last month, we had our first taste of the power and presence of the pedals coming from Minotaur Sonic Terrors, in the form of the exquisite Saturnine Fuzz. We’re lucky enough to be able to check out a second effect from these guys today as well – the Swamp Lord Cyclopean Tone Wizard. This fuzz/drive/distortion can easily cover all of your dirt needs, from ’70s-inspired overdrive to ultra-heavy, and everything in...
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With each new creation we see from Andrew and Mozztronics, we get a different lesson in circuitry, wiring, engineering and how to put squish amplifier tone into a pedal enclosure. Today is more of the same, as we’re investigating the MD-1 Mew Drive, which contains a circuit that uses cascaded JFET Mu amps to give a totally different sound to the screamer pedals, and all the variants (there are many). Lots of controls, lots of...
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What can you say about a good overdrive pedal? That feeling that sweeps over you when you plug it in, crank it up and hit your favorite chord is like nothing else. Today’s pedal, Poison Noises The Crook Overdrive V3, gives you all these feels and more, proving a wide sweep of sounds that will pummel and destroy your amp…but only if you want it to. The Crook isn’t your average three-knob overdrive pedal, no sir. The...
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We’ve been reviewing effects and amp pedals from our friends at Orange Amps for a number of years now, and are always excited to see what they’ve got in store for their next release. We’ve got the latest from them for you today, in the form of the Guitar Butler Dual Channel Guitar Preamp. This monster has been tailored to provide comprehensive, exceptional service to your signal chain, as a standalone unit or as part...
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Last month, we checked out our first pedal from Sundance Electronics, the HI-1 Fuzz, and it was a complete ripper. Needless to say, we were excited for a second pedal from these guys, and we’ve got it for you today. The Clean Fuzz is anything but, as it is a super versatile distortion/fuzz aimed to work wonders on both guitar and bass. There are three simple control knobs present on the Clean Fuzz – Volume, Clean and Gain....
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As evidenced by the “Klone Wars” series on our YouTube channel, we love a good recreation of that famous mythical pedal that we (and most others) can no longer afford. Luckily, there are many companies building their incredible versions of this circuit, and we have another one for you today. The Studio Daydream Handmade Pedals KCM-OD Silver V10 has the look and feel of this type of pedal, and the sounds to match. The...
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As their name suggests, the makers of fine pedals at Fjord Fuzz are relatively obsessed with, well, FUZZ. Having had the privilege of reviewing their gear over the last 2 years, it’s safe to say we’re fairly obsessed with it as well. Today’s fuzzy gem comes to us as the EMBLA Overdrive Fuzz, a mix of circuits that present a wide range of dirt to experiment with, and we’ll probably be obsessed with this one,...
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The pedals we’ve had the pleasure of checking out from Mozztronics have all been incredible, especially their Amp-In-A-Box lineup. Today’s effect continues in that realm, bringing you classic and hard rock sounds, and THAT tone you’ve been chasing since you picked up a guitar. The MS-1 Mehrschall will push your amp, your imagination and the limits of all things sonic and beautiful… Mehrschall is german for...
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What’s better than an amazing, killer, amp-pushing overdrive pedal? Well, not much, unless you have TWO drive circuits in ONE enclosure! Such is the case for today’s unit, the Browne Amplification Protein Dual Overdrive. Taking inspiration from a couple of timeless (but not necessarily accessible) circuits and combining them into a single, glorious pedal makes this one a must-have for any overdrive fan. Each side sounds...
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Somewhat recently, we were able to check out the Valeton GP-100VT, a nice multi-effects pedal that squished a lot of tones into a fairly small enclosure. Well, Valeton has had a quick turnaround beefing up this concept, and we’re proud to help release the GP-200 Multi-Effects Processor today. This new-gen HD modeling multi-effects processor declares an unprecedented upgrade in order to bring you a better sonic experience –...
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THE RAT. Few distortion pedals have as much instant recognizability, despite (usually) just bearing the colors Black & White. There are many iterations of this classic effect, but how could you possibly collect them all without breaking the bank? Well, as usual, JHS Pedals comes to the rescue, in the form of the PackRat Distortion. Taking different RAT circuits from the last 4 decades, from different manufacturers, this pedal...
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Continuing the New Year’s rocking start, we’ve got an excellent, versatile and robust pedal for you all today. The Bennett Custom Audio Weather Man Overdrive + Boost boasts a wonderful control section, 3 different mid-range voicings and a wide range of boost-to-drive settings. Combining a versatile, dynamic, light-to-medium gain overdrive with a powerful, totally independent JFET-based clean boost, these 2 effects would...
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There are certain tones that are highly sought-after in the guitar player world, one of them belonging to a Mr. Stevie Ray Vaughn. However, most of us cannot afford an original early ’80s Tube Screamer, much less a $50,000 Dumble Amp, so we rely on pedal companies to create those tones for us. Today’s effect, the Pedal Pawn Texan Twang Overdrive Boost, seeks to encapsulate SRV’s ‘Twang’ in a box,...
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For many players, a simple setup with an Overdrive, a Delay and a Reverb pedal is all you need to rock and roll. But what if you could get all three of those in ONE miraculous effect? That’s what the crew at Southampton Pedals has done with today’s pedal, the Indie Dream Drive Delay Reverb. Combining three of our favorites into one easy to use but full-featured enclosure, this might be the only pedal you’ll ever need...
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We have had the pleasure of reviewing every iteration of the Ampero Series of effects units from Hotone Audio thus far, and we’re going to keep that streak alive today. Presenting the new Ampero II Stomp, and amp modeler and effects processor that takes everything from the previous versions and pushes them to their limits. Ampero II Stomp implements brand new tri-core digital platform and independent AD/DA from ESS® Sabre®...
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If there’s anything we love around here, it’s when a pedal goes beyond all the usually, normal boundaries. Today’s featured effect, the Intensive Care Audio VENA CAVA FILTER Distortion v.1 takes this concept to new heights, combining filter, distortion and ring modulation into one out-of-this-world machine. Lots of options and lots to discover – you all ready? Let’s Get Weird. The VENA CAVA FILTER is a...
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Turning the effects pedal world upside down, thinking outside the box and creating something brand new is harder and harder to do these days. Luckily, we’ve become pals with a company who is doing just that, with an effects unit that’s gonna be a game changer. The Modal Effects Disruption Modular Gain pedal utilizes individual effect modules, or “Mods”, that are easily swappable, to create an entire customized...
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The first two pedals we saw from Radio Mule, the Red Petal Fuzz and the Electric Beard Fuzz were, well, awesome, to say the least. Eagerly anticipating their next release, we were recently rewarded with today’s pedal, the HIGH Overdrive Preamp. A low-to-mid gain dirt pedal, this one has some excellent add-ons for really digging in and sculpting your sound – let’s dig in, too! The HIGH Overdrive Preamp is inspired by...
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The G-Series of pedals gets progressively heavier and dirtier as they evolve – starting with the G2 Overdrive, then the G3 Overdrive Distortion, we conclude today with the G4 High Gain Distortion. This red monster brings with it a new level of thick, sustained amplifier tone to compliment the other G-Series pedals, or any pedals you might have on your board. Let’s dig into this one and see what it’s all about…...
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Flashy graphics and newly-shaped enclosures have their place in the effects pedal world, for sure, but sometimes, simplicity can be welcome. That seems to be the goal with the lineup from our pals at Kenny B Pedals, and we’re taking a look at our 4th effect from them today. The Double Double has an easy-to-figure-out control section, complete with multiple sonic options, housed in an unassuming, minimalistic case. That’s...
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The final pedal in the Dept. 10 Series of valve pedals from Blackstar Amplification is the Dual Distortion, a bold, black beauty that takes high gain action up a notch. A formidable-sounding valve distortion and world-class recording preamp, this one features 3 Crunch/Overdrive voices alongside the clean channel, Blackstar’s patented ISF control, low latency USB, XLR out and Dept. 10’s proprietary Cab Rig simulator technology....
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Our journey through the Dept. 10 Series of valve pedals from Blackstar Amplification continues today, as we take a gander at the Dual Drive. This one is touted as “the best valve drive pedal you will ever own and a world-class valve recording preamp”, and they’re not too far off. Featuring 3 Crunch/Overdrive voices alongside the clean channel, Blackstar’s patented ISF control, low latency USB, XLR out and Dept....
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Our friends at Blackstar Amplification recently released a group of three valve-powered effects known as the Dept. 10 Series. We’re bringing you in-depth coverage and demos over the next three days, starting with today’s pedal, the aptly-titled Boost. Referred to as the “ultimate high voltage valve boost pedal”, this one sports not only signal boosting abilities, but a wonderful EQ section as well. And...
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The Valco Five-O is a multi 3-in-1 pedal, containing independent Drive, Tremolo, and Reverb sections, all housed in a bombproof enclosure. Conceived originally for giving “surf in a box” tones (Dick Dale/Ventures), it has become more than this through the development process…it’s a pedal that can easily give you a one-pedal setup at a gig or session (maybe add a tuner…), or it can add a whole host of extra sounds and versatility...
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When a dirt pedal can do more than one thing, that’s never a bad option. Today’s pedal, Berch Audio’s The Golden Axe, combines aspects of Fuzz, Overdrive and Boost into one medieval enclosure, sparking ancient imagery and conjuring up vintage tones with a quickness. The wide-ranging control panel ensures you’ll be able to get virtually any dirty sounds you want out of this beauty… The Golden Axe features...
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The gear coming from the NativeAudio camp has always intrigued us, especially ever since we got our mitts on their Wilderness Delay a while back. Their latest release has had a ton of coverage, and we’re gonna join in the fun today as well. The Kiaayo Overdrive is a streamlined drive pedal that focuses on a less-is-more kind of philosophy – not to worry, there’s plenty to explore with this one… With just a...
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