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...
Read More
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...
Read More
Boost. You think it only does one thing, but it can be so much more – a perfect example of that is the pedal we’re going to take a look at today. The Megaphone Transparent Booster from Dronechov Noise Machines in The Netherlands will boost your signal, sure, but it can also shape your tone. And if you like to push your overdrive/distortion pedals or your favorite tube amp to the edge and beyond, this seemingly simple...
Read More
We’ve been having a lot of fun with this latest round of effects pedals from our friends at NUX, and we’ve got another gem for you all today. The Solid Studio MKII Preamp / Power Amp Simulator & IR Loader really pushes the envelope when it comes to easy portability, without losing any of the options or tones you need at the gig. Once you see what this guy can do, you might not ever lug around a heavy amp or cabinet...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
It’s been about a year since we had a pedal from DPE Pedals in the shop, but after the gloriousness that was the Chromosome Dual Overdrive, I was excited to see what they had in store for me. The DC-30 EF86 Valve Preamp exceeded all my expectations, taking the world of preamp pedals to another level, and really punching my amps and eardrums alike. You gotta love pedals that use REAL TUBES, and this jet black beauty is one of the...
Read More
I’ve always loved the looks and unique tones created by Spaceman Effects, and today we’re gonna showcase their lastest creation, our first of theirs in over two years. The Atlas IV: Preamp Booster make seem simple on the outside, with just one big knob and two small toggles, but there’s a ton going on under the hood here. This is one of those pedals that makes your amp instantly come to life as soon as you turn it...
Read More
It’s New Pedal Company Day again, folks – today, we’re checking out the first release from Color Audio, coming to you all the way from fine Finland! The Cassette Preamp takes a portion of an old classic, rips it out, puts it into pedal form and modernizes it, for a unique and intriguing new device. Five knobs + a three-way toggle = wide tonal range and sonic exploration for days… The Cassette Preamp is the...
Read More
Each release from Heather Brown Electronicals seems to top the previous one, starting with the Blessed Mother Overdrive, followed by the Sensational Fuzzdrive and the Spirit In The Sky Tremolo Fuzz. Heather’s latest release, the Volga Preamp, builds on the success of those previous three, providing a unique take on preamps and their relationship with your guitar and amplifier. With lots of knobs and switches, there’s...
Read More
The recently released NOTADÜMBLË from JHS Pedals is a DIY Pedal Kit that you can easily put together, and get great Dumble Amp-esque tones out of. It features two channels, but the original design only allowed the user to switch one on at any given time, perhaps short-changing the full potential of this pedal. Well, the fine folks at Cosmodio Instruments have changed all that – come along as we explore their Dumble and Dumbler...
Read More
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!! Today’s effects pedal has 2 knobs, a classic sound and an excellent price tag. Chicago Stompworks has been making handbuilt pedals at extremely affordable prices for years, and the Gray Speck OD250™ Overdrive is no different. With just a couple of knobs, it isn’t an effect that takes a ton of time to figure out, but you get great tone instantly, and a big spectrum of...
Read More
I love when you turn on a pedal for the first time and it instantly captivates your brain and eardrums. Such is the case with today’s effects unit, the Amplified Nation Bigger Bloom Overdrive Preamp. Based on the D-style amp sound, this four-knob, two-switch streamlined silver beauty gives you great sounds at any settings, providing a wide range and killer tones for days… The Bigger Bloom is an Overdrive Preamp pedal that...
Read More
DI boxes can be used in a multitude of musical settings, and are always a great help to advance your tone and sonic presentation. Today, we’re teaming up once again with our pals at Sweetwater to bring you the ART Tube MP Studio V3 Mic Preamp and Instrument DI, an excellent little box that can be used for acoustics, electrics, vocals and much more. With a bunch of specifically-tailored presets, multiple connection options and a...
Read More
Not being an engineer, or particularly skilled in the ways of electronics creation, I have never built an effects pedal. I love how they sound and what they can do, but their innerworkings completely baffle me, and I’m not alone. For all of us who want to tinker and experiment a little, without having to do too much actual work, Josh and the JHS Pedals crew have created the NOTADÜMBLË DIY kit, a boost/preamp/overdrive based on a...
Read More
We love the devotion to classic Beatles’ tones that our friends at Aclam work so hard towards on each of their releases, bringing impossibly-hard-to-achieve tones back into the mainstream. Today’s pedal is their latest release, the Go Rocky Go, which seeks to replicate the Magical Mystery Tour and White Album vibes, along with some modern upgrades for an options-laden effects unit. The range of sounds here is INSANE,...
Read More
Although it’s been a few years since we saw a pedal from Sunnaudio, their previous creations were always intriguing, and I couldn’t wait to check out what they’d been working on since 2021. The answer is the incredible Helion R2D3 Guitar & Bass Preamp, an options-laden powerhouse pedal that gives you ALL the options you could want in a preamp, for either instrument. With specific settings, dipswitches, pots and...
Read More
In the past, the pedals we’ve reviewed and demoed from our friends at FTelettronica Pedals have been pretty complex, with lots of buttons and switches and knobs and exploration involved. Today’s pedal from them, the Final Cut Preamp Booster EQ, dials things back just a bit, with 4 simple knobs and a no-frills approach to a very specific sound. Sometimes, you just need a simple setup to get amazing tone, and that’s...
Read More
It’s been a couple years since we last saw a pedal from This Heavy Earth (or is it thisheavyearth – ??), but today’s effects unit really brings the sonic goodies. The Hesher v3 Preamp brings several famous amplifier circuits from across the pond together into one beautiful sonic stew, ranging from slightly dirty and broken up to amp-pushing, eardrum-crushing glory. A true amp-in-a-pedal production, this one brings...
Read More
Many moons ago, we had the opportunity to check out a revolutionary Boost/Overdrive pedal from Massive Unity Ltd. called the Dirty Boy T.A.E. Preamp. Today, Dirty Boy is its own company, owned by our pal Danny Gomez, and we’re going to take a look at their latest, simply called the Preamp. With not as many bells and whistles as its predecessor, this one has a simple control section, a few output options and a ton of gorgeous...
Read More
Last year, we were honored to help with the release of the TONEX Pedal from IK Multimedia, a dazzling amp, cabinet and effects modeler unit that broke new sonic ground. Today, we’ve teamed up with our new friends at Vintage King to bring you all IK’s latest creation, the TONEX ONE Amplifier/Cab/Pedal Modeler, a smaller version of last year’s wonderful concoction. There are a TON of options, sounds and wonder trapped...
Read More
There’s not a lot that’s better than plugging in your favorite Overdrive pedal, cranking up a good amplifier and hitting an E, G or D chord of your choice and letting it ring out, is there? Well, the short answer is YES, if you have a pedal like the AmpMojo Sol Drive Responsive Tube Overdrive. This one has an ACTUAL TUBE inside, bringing warm and inviting drive sounds anywhere and everywhere you need them to be… The...
Read More
The pedals we’ve reviewed from Studio Daydream Handmade Pedals have continually gotten better and better, providing different, unique overdrive and compression effects around every corner. Today, we’re bringing you their FETBOX Custom V8 Preamp, a compact pedal that simulates the pre-amp of a boutique 30W tube amp. With 2 channels of gorgeous tone available at a moment’s notice, you’ll easily find a sound to...
Read More
Although we’ve never had the pleasure of playing through an actual amp from Science Amplification, today’s pedal is as close as we can get right now to the real thing. Based on the circuitry from the amplifier of the same name, The Mother Preamp Pedal is a recreation of its dual channel tube-powered namesake, but refined into pedal format. Just like the full-fledged amp, it’s a modern take on the vintage high-wattage...
Read More
Well, it’s Benson Amps time again, folks!! It’s always a pleasure when their effects make it to our office, and this latest gem is sure to get everyone talking. The Germanium Preamp builds on the first pedal that Benson ever released, the aptly-titled Preamp Pedal, but with some tweaks and new circuitry options along the way. The result is a slightly lower gain, but richer sounding and feeling...
Read More
We’re looking at another wonderful pedal from Boss today, kiddos, one that gives you access to a couple of classic circuits and some amp-pushing glory. The BP-1W Waza Craft Booster / Preamp gives you three different boost and preamp tonal options, each with its own characteristics and sounds. This pristine beauty is a boost, overdrive and preamp rolled into one, and we think it sounds pretty amazing… Grab a BP-1W...
Read More
We love a good-sounding overdrive here at Pedal of the Day, and if it has the aesthetics to match, we’ve in pedal heaven. Today’s piece of gear meets both of these requirements with ease, providing a wonderfully warm and inviting drive tone while looking sharp as can be on the finest of pedalboards. Come along on a journey as we explore the gorgeous, tone-shaping, amp-driving Twilight Pulse Audioworks Konstante Overdrive,...
Read More
Today, we continue our journey of the exploration of the Ampworx Series of preamp pedals from our friends at TC Electronic. We’re looking at all six effects in the series (so far), starting with their three latest releases, and moving through the previous three, over the last several weeks. Let’s wrap things up today with the Combo Deluxe 65′ Preamp, a pedal that faithfully recreates the sound of a 1965 Blackface...
Read More
Lots of new visitors to Pedal of the Day over the last few weeks, and we’re keeping it going today with our first effect from Lounsberry Pedals. The Organ Grinder Overdrive was designed for, you guessed it, organ and keys, but we’re testing it out with guitar and bass today, and it rips. Sometimes two knobs, a great circuit and perfect gain staging is all you need to push your amp and tone right into that sweeeeet...
Read More
If you’ve never had the pleasure of playing a DRV Overdrive Distortion, you should make it a priority to do so. While that pedal has a lot of meat and potatoes to it, today’s pedal from 1981 Inventions is a bit calmer, but still brings beautiful tone to any rig. The LVL Full-Range Overdrive Preamp Boost has just 2 knobs, but inside this circuit there’s a huge range of sounds waiting to be discovered… LVL is a...
Read More
“Dirty in a good way!” Today’s pedal, the Analog Music Company SHSL (So High So Low) Filter & Preamp, is based on the high-pass/low-pass filter inspired by an MS-20 filter and a Moogerfooger preamp. This combination of two classic circuits yields some strange and wonderful tonal creations, getting super weird at times, but in the very best of ways. The control section is extremely sensitive as well, so...
Read More
Today, we continue our journey of the exploration of the Ampworx Series of preamp pedals from our friends at TC Electronic. We’re looking at all six effects in the series (so far), starting with their three latest releases, and moving through the previous three, over the last several weeks. Let’s keep it going today with the DC30 Preamp, a beast that faithfully recreates the sound of a 1965 Top Boost AC30 amplifier, giving...
Read More
A couple weeks back, we had the opportunity to check out our first effects pedal from Voodoo Lab, the Superfuzz. Impressive, to say the least, was this unit, and we couldn’t wait to see what joys the next one held. Today, we bring you the Giggity Analog Overdrive + Preamp, a massive, amp-pushing beast that sweetens your tone and your mind…let’s see what this one can do! Grab a Giggity from Sweetwater:...
Read More
Today, we continue our journey of the exploration of the Ampworx Series of preamp pedals from our friends at TC Electronic. We’re looking at all six effects in the series (so far), starting with their three latest releases, and moving through the previous three, over the last several weeks. Let’s keep it going today with the JIMS 45 Preamp, a beast that faithfully recreates the sound of a 1965 Marshall JTM45 tube amp, for...
Read More
We really dug the Psychosis Tremolo Overdrive from Humanoid Pedals that they sent us a couple months ago, and we’re proud to bring you all another creation of theirs today! Hand built with two high gain silicon transistors, The Goblin Tone Distorter has intense yet smooth and full-bodied fuzz tone, combining elements of Preamp, Overdrive, Fuzz and Distortion into one versatile effect. Just a couple of controls, but a ton of...
Read More
Today, we continue our journey of the exploration of the Ampworx Series of preamp pedals from our friends at TC Electronic. We’re looking at all six effects in the series (so far), with their three latest releases, and moving through the previous three, over the coming weeks. Let’s keep it going with the JIMS 800 Preamp, a beast that faithfully recreates a modified Marshall JCM800 tube amp, and pays gorgeous tribute to...
Read More
Today, we continue our journey of the exploration of the Ampworx Series of preamp pedals from our friends at TC Electronic. We’re looking at all six effects in the series (so far), with their three latest releases, and moving through the previous three, over the coming weeks. Let’s keep it going with the V550 Preamp, a monster that emulates the legendary 5150 High-Gain amp, embodying a charismatic sonic profile reminiscent...
Read More
Today, we begin our journey of the exploration of the Ampworx Series of preamp pedals from our friends at TC Electronic. We’re going to look at all six effects in the series (so far), starting with their three latest releases, and moving through the previous three, over the coming weeks. Let’s begin with the Dual Wreck Preamp, a monster that emulates the classic Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier amp, utilizing component-based...
Read More
Combining Preamp, Overdrive and Boost into one pedal might seem like a lot, but with the Westerlund Audio ONE, everything melds together in sonic perfection. This options-laden mammoth can give your signal a pop, shape your tone, add in some breakup or get downright crunchy – whatever you need, it can handle with ease. So many knobs and swithces, and we’re totally here for it – let’s check it out! The...
Read More
Recently, we’ve had the pleasure of checking out the new Galaxy ’74 Tape Echo & Reverb and Del-Verb Ambience Companion from Universal Audio, and were (as usual) pretty blown away. Today, we’re looking at the final unit in their latest lineup releases, the Max Preamp & Dual Compressor. Providing all the funk your single coils (and humbuckers, too) can handle, along with a gorgeous vintage-sounding preamp,...
Read More
The crew at Thermion constantly pushes the boundaries of what is sonically possible in their pedals, and today’s effect brings classic rock tones to the table. The Heartbreaker Preamp Overdrive gives you two gains, three modes and six parameters to explore, providing dynamics, crunch and delicious overdrive in the ultimate preamplifier for classic sound lovers. If you’re on the hunt of a unique, mid-gain British drive...
Read More
The effects pedals coming out of the English shop where Tom Oakes and Horrothia FX call home have always been cool to look at, built with extreme quality and incredible-sounding, to say the least. These marvelous traditions continue today with their latest release, the Triage Discrete Transistor Pre-Amplifier, which covers Boost, Dirt and Volume at the same time. Easily ranging from clean to nasty, we are really digging this...
Read More
Delay is the best effect out there, hands-down…BUT, I do love a good compressor and a good preamp, too. Fortunately, today’s pedal, the Niche Devices Humboldt Preamp SE combines both of these effects into one brilliant effect, with broad range and total tonal control. Conceived over the course of two years, this original circuit offers optical compression coupled with a high headroom preamplifier, and features the unique...
Read More
We love the way the folks at VVco Pedals incorporate great effects with nostalgic merch from past movies, TV shows and more, and we’re especially stoked about today’s featured pedal. The Dark Father Preamp is clearly representative of a certain Jedi-turned-Sith, and it sounds just as evil. Melding elements of overdrive, fuzz, distortion, EQ, boost and preamp, this multi-faceted effect is not only fun to look at, it sounds...
Read More
The majority of 2-knob pedals out there usually have a really wide range of sounds available, regardless of what type of effect they are housing. From overdrives and phasers to compressors and delays and much more, the 2-knob setup often gets overlooked for units with a ton of knobs and switches, but these simple pedals have just as much a place in our world as anything. Today’s effect keeps with that tradition, bringing a wide...
Read More
Jumping into a pedal like the Boss RE-202 Space Echo can be tricky – there’s so much going on, and so many sounds to discover, and so much nostalgia surrounding it, it’s a little daunting, to say the least. What we will say right off the bat is that IT IS INCREDIBLE. Ridiculously emulating the classic RE-201 Space Echo, this model brings all of the tone, delay and reverb from the original units to the table, but...
Read More
We love preamp pedals, and we love reverb effects, so what could be better than to have them both in the same place? AND have them modeled after very old, specific circuitry, making the sound unlike any pedal we’ve encountered before? That’s just what has happened with the Nocturne Brain El Pescadoro Reverberant Hot Preamp, an incredible dual channel device that will transport you about 70 years into the past… The El...
Read More
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...
Read More
