We love the weird and quirky when it comes to effects pedals around here, and we’ve got a wild one for you today (Happy Valentine’s Day, too, kids). The Way Huge Atreides Analog Weirding Module sounds about as eclectic as its name, making noises and tones that will shock and awe you instantly. Aimed directly at the heart of the sun, for all the experimenters out there, this is one you’ll want to keep playing again...
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Ahh, the Phaser pedal. One of the most loved/hated effects out there, for some reason – I mean, people either LOVE phase shifting, or they HATE it with a passion. Not a lot of in between on this one – we, however, cannot get enough of it. From vintage units to complicated modern machines, adding in some phaser effect changes any rig or tone, and almost always for the better, in our opinion. The Hochstrasser Electronics...
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We love a good phaser here at Pedal of the Day, and we say, the bigger the better! Well, today’s featured pedal is about a big as they come, bringing a vintage classic back to life, and combining incredible phasing with a wee bit o fuzz on top. The Warm Audio Jet Phaser recreates a classic 70’s phase shifter made popular by Larry Graham (Sly and the Family Stone), giving you gooey swirls and pulsing rhythm for days…...
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Waaaaaayyyyyy back in 2014, we were introduced to a wild phaser pedal called the Astrospurt, from some new company in Germany, by our friend Kyle Ragan. Little did we know that over the course of the next couple of years, that small company called KMA Machines would become a powerhouse in the effects building community. They also revamped the Astrospurt, a 4-Stage JFET Phaser with a HUGE spectrum of sounds, and they sent us one to...
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There’s something about a really good phaser that makes your entire rig seem to just com alive. Alright, phaser-haters, just move right along to the next review. For the rest of us sane-folk, we’re here today to discuss the classic Phase 45 Vintage Script Phaser – the one from the 1970’s, mind you, not the Dunlop reissue, in case you were wondering. This true piece of phaser history only features one knob,...
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We’ve been waiting patiently to get a shot at today’s pedal after seeing the developments and progress being done on social media. The Zander Circuitry Junipero Aqueous Modulator takes 8 different modulation effects, stuffs them into a nice, big enclosure and gives you a TON of options as to how to use them. These classic sounds can sound as vintage or modern as you’d like, and there’s a lot to cover here, so...
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If you can’t have fun with a multi-modulation pedal, you’re doing something wrong, plain and simple. If that modulation pedal gives you EIGHTEEN different effects, tap tempo capabilities, STEREO in and out connectivity and costs less than 100 bucks, you’re definitely doing something RIGHT. The Joyo R-09 Dual Channel Stereo Modulation pedal gives us all of these things, all in a 2-footswitch pedal that is the perfect...
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While we haven’t ever ventured TOO far into the world of multi-effects processors, we did get a chance to check out the Ampero from Hotone Audio almost exactly a year ago today, and were extremely impressed by how well it performed. Cramming a ton of amps, cabinet and effects into one unit has got to be tricky for any company, and to do it as well and for such an affordable price point was a stroke of genius. Today, we’re...
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Over the last couple of years, we’ve had a blast testing out and investigating the affordable lineup of effects coming from CNZ Audio. Delving into delays and echoes, overdrives, octaves and even a phaser, there was always one pedal that we had out eyes on specifically, and we’re bringing it to you today. The SMD-10 Mod Station traps a ton of different effects into one tiny enclosure, then unleashes them unto the world one...
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The pulsing, audio ebb-and-flowing, peaks and valleys sounds of Vibrato are some of our favorites in the world. Whether it’s coming from a modern day effects pedal or from the circuit of a vintage amplifier, it’s hard to beat adding that type of effect into any signal chain and being the least bit disappointed. Today’s pedal, the SurfyVibe from Surfy Industries, brings a vintage sound into our modern world, keeping...
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They may be small in size, but the lineup of space-saving effects from the crew over at CNZ Audio have been a pleasure to peruse each time we’ve had them come through the shop. Overdrives, delays, modulation and more – these guys have an inexpensive answer for everything you need. The next one we’re going to look into today is the SPH-20 Phaser, a simple one knob, one toggle concoction that produces some excellent...
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Happy Holidays, everyone! As we approach the close of 2019, we’d like to take a look at a new and truly unique piece of gear, one that has been much anticipated in the effects world. As we all know, multi-effects pedals can be really, really good…and sometimes, they’re really, really bad. Thankfully, today’s pedal falls squarely into the former category, as an options-filled modulation machine that will blow...
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Phasers are one of our favorite effects here at Pedal of the Day, as they can enhance your tone and sound a little, a lot or anywhere in between. From smooth, almost background-like subtleties to pulsing, space-infused journeys through the cosmos, phase shifter pedals hold a special place in our (and many others) hearts. Therefore, it’s with great pleasure that we bring a kind of rare, vintage and killer-sounding phaser to your...
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The Mu-Tron / Musitronics Phasor was one of our favorite phasers (and favorite pedals, really) to ever come through the shop here at Pedal of the Day. Big, bulky and badass, it helped define the phaser effect in the 70s and beyond, creating giant soundscapes of whooshing pulses and out-of-this-world types of sonic embellishments for all to enjoy. Fast forward to the present day, and we’re lucky enough to have the Mu-Tron company...
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The first two pedals we took a crack at from Hochstrasser Electronics, the Disco Terrapin Envelope Filter and the Helping Friendly Box Overdrive Compressor, were absolute gems, two pedals we instantly fell in love with and have been experimenting with ever since. Today, we get to investigate a third pedal of theirs, the Transmogriphaser, a dual channel, OTA (Operational Transconductance Amplifier), 4-stage phaser that conjures up Pink...
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Maverick. Goose. Fast jets. Bogeys. The weird volleyball scene. What’s not to love about the classically-cheesy movie “Top Gun?” Well, today’s pedal is a high-flying-themed effect, taking your tone and blasting it into the stratosphere. The Danger Zone from WingManFX is an analog tremolo and phaser in one, with each channel independent of each other, with a ton of options to propel you up, up and away…....
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The wonderful world of multi-effects has had quite a resurgence in the last couple of years, with bigger, more powerful machines that actually sound incredible being put on the market. With all of these fantastic sounds and options available, there’s also been a considerable price hike in these effects units, too, making it hard for those on a lower budget to even be able to test them out, to see if it’s a good fit for...
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The next pedal in our “Walrus Week”, which features the three newest pedals from our pals at Walrus Audio, is a phaser. Now, we LOVE phasers, and modulation in general, here at Pedal of the Day, and were super-stoked when we saw the announcement about the Lillian Multi-Stage Analog Phaser. This gorgeous-sounding, pulsating, whirling effect boasts differing phase stage selection, a unique Blend knob and intense,...
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There’s no shortage of incredible effects pouring out of the Keeley Electronics office, and with each one, we’re taken aback a bit by the sheer ingenuity and creativity they possess, especially the Workstation Series. Looking at another one of those today, we’re excited to bring you the Dark Side, a Fuzz Delay Phaser Vibe Flanger extravaganza, with tasty fuzz tones and all the modulation you can handle. Conjuring up...
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Multi-effect pedals can be hit or miss, as far as options, sound quality and ease of use are concerned. The Slate Stereo Effect from Neunaber Audio Effects is a definite HIT, cramming a ton of tonal candy and functionality into one regular-sized pedal. Complete with software editing on your computer and gorgeous tones coming from every genre programmed into its circuit board, this multi-tasker keeps your sound fresh and your mind...
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The Phaser Effect. It’s been heard on famous recordings and utilized in live settings by all of our favorite guitarists for decades, and continues to be one of the more interesting effects genres out there. Now, as much as we love a good, simple, one-knob phase shifting unit, the ones that are REALLY fun are the multiple-switch, more-than-you-need knob configuration, too-many-options-to-handle types of phasers, and that is...
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It’s Day Two of our “Deadbeat Week” here at Pedal of the Day, and brings with it the first of three “Station” effects pedals we’re going to check out. Modulation is always a good time, no matter what type of rig you have or what music you play, so cramming 11 unique modulating effects into one pedal sounds like a pretty rad idea to us. The Modulation Station combines Tremolo, Vibrato, Chorus,...
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When a pedal describes itself as a Phaser, our interest is automatically peaked. Now, not everyone loves the phaser effect, for whatever reason, but then a pedal comes along that changes the game, and could possibly make a whole slew of haters into converts after they hear it in action. That pedal has arrived today, folks: the Arctic Wolf from Dogmatek Effects Pedals is a twin modulator phaser, but is also a ring modulator, tremolo,...
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The phaser is one of those effects that is excellent a being both subtle and super-nutso-crazy, so we’re always up for checking out any company’s take on one of our favorite effect genres. Today we’re going to look at the R-408 RAW Phaser from Big Joe Stomp Box Company, a vintage analog phase machine loaded with a ton of classic sounds, yet featuring an easy on-board control system. Parameter-wise, there’s...
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It’s been a little while since we’ve anything in the shop for our friends at Anasounds, but today we’ve got the first of three pedals from their stellar lineup to chat about and demo. A good phaser can add that special something that maybe you didn’t know you needed in your rig, or can be take you on a beautiful, space-infused journey, depending on what you need it for. The Phase Lag is an organic, analog...
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What can you say about the crop of pedals coming out of Portland, Oregon from Spaceman Effects? They have taken on a life all their own, with limited edition runs, outside-the-box designs and sonic explorations and a design, both inside and outside the pedals, that is rivaled by none. We try to get our hands on each pedal they release, just to see what they’ve come up with now, and are proud to bring you their latest today: the...
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Continuing their status as one of the top-of-the-heap companies in the effects pedal world, Keeley Electronics introduced some multi-effects boxes to the world last year, and we’re lucky enough to have one of them to check out today. The Super Mod Workstation covers more ground than it probably needs to, or should be able, which is definitely NOT a bad thing. With more effects and parameter settings than you’ll know what...
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We’ve always admired the small footprint mentality of the mostly no-knob effects pedals coming from our friends at Henretta Engineering. Get the sound you want, set it, forget it, play your ass off. Perfect. However, we were excited to see that they had collaborated with the crew at Chicago Music Exchange to make a bigger pedal with some control knobs to play with, too. The Planetarium is a combination of Henretta’s Moody...
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After already getting our grubby mitts on the Tru-Tron 3X and Boostron 3 effects pedals from Mike Beigel and the newly revamped Mu-FX, we absolutely could not wait to see what today’s pedal had in store for us. Boy, did it deliver and then some! The Phasor 2X is the Modern Vintage Analog™ refinement of the original Musitronics® Phasor II pedal, but housed in Mu-FX’ signature “mini-mu” enclosure, and featuring...
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There are a group of pedals from DOD, manufactured decades ago that have been making a resurgence as of late, and we’ve got one of ’em for you today. The 490 Phasor doesn’t have a ton of information on it, but we have narrowed the production date down to around 1978 (we think), making it a vintage classic that features some wild tones that ooze out of this effect. Can’t get much simpler than two knobs, but...
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If you guys have ever had the pleasure to play an effects pedal from the warped mind of Joe Anastasio from Lone Wolf Audio, you know what kind of crazy gear that dude creates. Today we’re going to look at one of the wackiest, awesomest pieces of musical equipment we’ve seen, a pedal that really can’t fit into just one category, but will revive your interest in how music and sound are created. The Acetylene Nirvana is...
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The effects pedals coming out of the SiB Electronics camp are all fairly unique in design and sound, and we’re excited to look at another one of their musical concoctions today. If you’re a fan of the Phaser genre, you’ll really dig the Mr. Fazeadelic. This dual channel phaser gives off tones that will send your sound back to the psychedelic era with a quickness, or add a slight bit of shimmer and pizazz to your...
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The first couple of pedals from McCaffrey Audio that we reviewed, the Zero to Sixty Drive and Green Vodka Muff Fuzz, were just plain awesome, and we couldn’t wait to see what their next creation was going to be. Taking a turn towards the unexpected, they have now released the Run Rabbit Run, which is their take on a Vibrato-type pedal, but with so much more going on than you’d think. Designed to give you that classic...
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Pedals such as today’s featured behemoth are intimidating, plain and simple. However, once you sit down and chat with the Flanger Hoax from Electro-Harmonix for a little while, you’ll find that it’s a mellow, mild-mannered piece of gear, that just so happens to have a bunch of features and options, making it that much more lovable. A flanger, phaser and modulation monster all wrapped into one, this pedal has a bit of...
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Today’s guest review comes to us from Marlin M. – find him on Instagram (@goes_by_fish), Twitter (@goes_by_fish) or Facebook (Marlin.Morin)! The NuX Mod Force is a multi effects pedal boasting an impressive 12 modulation types in a compact, pedalboard friendly enclosure. This unit has a full color LCD display (128×128) to adjust parameters for each of the modulation models. These models include chorus, tri chorus,...
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Well, it appears that we are in a familiar situation, reviewing another dynamite effects pedal from our friends at Keeley Electronics. It seems you can’t take 2 steps forward these days without literally stepping on one of Robert’s pedals (in our office, anyway), which is not necessarily a bad thing. Today’s gem of a pedal features a trio of effects again strewn together into one marvelous (and super space-saving)...
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Multi-effects pedals can be tricky to write reviews about, as there is so much going on, and so many different options to choose from that it makes it hard to narrow the writing down and focus on a few things to discuss in detail. Such is the case with today’s featured pedal, the M5 Stompbox Modeler from Line 6 – and if the regular functionality of this pedal wasn’t overwhelming enough, this model has been modded by...
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Vintage pedals seem to always have a mysterious aura about them, whether there were only a few of one model made, or pedals made with certain inner chips no longer available, or obscure effects made famous by players who possessed them. Mu-Tron / Musitronics was known for creating incredible, state-of-the-art and technologically advanced effects back in the 1970’s, and their pedals were made popular by the likes of Jerry Garcia,...
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No doubt you’ve heard of the old pedal company Ross, who are probably most famous for what many consider to be the finest compressor pedal ever made, the ever-cloned Grey Compressor. In addition to this expensive and much sought-after grey box, Ross made a slew of other awesome (and extremely underrated) pedals in the 70s and 80s, and we’ve got one for today’s featured pedal. Simple to use but great-sounding and...
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Colt and the crew at Walrus Audio are continually popping up with new pedals that change the way you think about certain effects, and how to use them in your rig. Today’s featured pedal takes a classic effects and essentially turns it around, flips it upside down and magically creates a powerful phaser tool that’s sure to make your playing improve and your tone sparkle. The Vanguard Dual Phase is a series phaser, with 2...
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Our second entry for “Moog Week” brings us into spacey, trippy, sci-fi territory, a place we love to be. Boldly going where no phaser has gone before (hehe), the MF-103 12-Stage from Moog represents everything that you’ve always wanted in a phaser pedal, but didn’t even know existed. Featuring Moog’s signature array of controls, sounds and available customization to each pedal, this MF-103 will leave you...
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Let’s get funky, shall we? Continuing in their line of compact, bass-voiced pedals, Pigtronix has released the Bass Envelope Phaser, a unique take on the classic filter effect. Even more so than their compressor and drive offerings, the controls on this unit are incredibly simple: knobs for Sensitivity and Resonance, and a switch that changes the wave-form. In both modes the Sensitivity controls how responsive the effect is to...
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I think the TonePrint idea that the folks over at TC Electronic had was brilliant, and continue to think that same thing, especially since they’ve incorporated it into all different types of pedals, not just the delays. Phaser pedals seem to be kind of a love/hate thing, and since I lean toward the former, I was super-stoked to see that TC was coming out with a TonePrint-enabled phaser. Well, I finally got my hands on the Helix,...
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Oh boy, this pedal really opens up a can for sure. I was on a search. I wanted something specific. Tremolo speed control with an expression pedal. The Worm! An affordable pedal with tremolo and expression control! Well with that feature I have to say I was a little disappointed to say the least. The Worm by Electro-Harmonix is a multi effect unit from one of the industries greats, with so many “classic” “must have” units to their...
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Today’s pedal, the Enterprise Phaser from VFE Pedals, no longer exists in the form I am reviewing it in – to avoid any legal entanglements with a certain BOLD television show, it is now known as the Tractor Beam Phaser. While there have been a few improvements since the Enterprise changer monikers, the version I’m reviewing today is just phenomenal, and takes the premise of a phaser pedal to a level where no man has...
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All-in-one pedals can be great, and they can be terrible, as anyone who has ever tried a few out can attest to. The good ones, though, when they’re good, they are GOOOOD. Where to begin with a pedal like this, with so many options, tones, squeaks, sound and delights? With a long-standing reputation of making some of the finest musical gear around, the folks at Eventide have one-upped even themselves at this point, and released...
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Rainbows and Unicorns are known to be magical, especially in the realm of musical instruments (no duh). But let’s not get caught into rainbows at the moment… Unicorns, yes unicorns can often be found in the wild land of “Hendrix,” but the Unicorn can be tamed and domesticated for much subtler uses too. JHS has produced a modern *Uni-vibe* device which is reviving the nearly “extinct” species. With...
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Some pedals are great at doing one thing, and one thing only. It’s usually quite specific, and they’re not trying to do anything but the ONE thing they’re great at. The Depths from EarthQuaker Devices is NOT one of those pedals, as it can perform many effect functions, with ease and sounding great in the process. Chorus, vibrato, rotary speakers, phasers and more – this pedal has got your needs more than...
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If you haven’t heard it, or of it, yet, the Warped Vinyl Analog Vibrato/Chorus pedal is one of the hottest pieces of gear on the market right now, but Chase Bliss Audio didn’t stop there. They managed to revamp another of their flagship pedals, the Wombtone Analog Phaser, and somehow make it more incredible than it was previously. I got the chance to check both pedals out recently (click here for my review of the Warped...
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