Continuing on this Boost-happy weekend (check out the Bad Penny FX Smoothflow from yeaterday), we’ve got a PAIR of pedals to show off today. Coming to us from R2R Electric, these One and Two Knob Treble Boosters each offer gorgeous components inside, as well as amp-driving bliss for your eardrums. Let’s check out the features for each of these sonic marvels: One-Knob Mullard AC107 Germanium Transistor NOS Piher 10K...
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What’s the one pedal that everyone should probably have on their board, but one that gets often overlooked for something fancier that makes wacky noises? BOOST. THat’s right, friends, a BOOST pedal. When used correctly, it just enhances everything around it, giving you a more solid core tone to use other pedals with. Today’s featured effect is a boost, but it’s also a DOUBLE channel pedal, and maybe it’s...
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A good boost can add sparkle, shine, nuance and gusto to any tone, and we’re thrilled to have yet another one in the house today. The Teisco Boost looks like another simple boost, but once you realize all the options, bells and whistles its got, you’ll need to add it to your sonic arsenal instantly. Whether you need a tone-enhancing buffer or extra ‘oomph’ for your drives and amps, this one covers it all. Just like the...
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Preamps, in our mind, are an essential piece of gear for any really great-sounding rig. Usually placed fairly early in your signal chain, it drives the front end of your amp into blissful breakup territory….but what if it was placed at the END of your signal chain? Introducing the Night Owl Industries Monolith, a Post-Amp. This custom-voiced clean boost features very high headroom and a powerful tone control. The increased...
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Having an EQ, a Boost and a Compressor in your signal chain are key ingredients for a lot of guitar players, and we tend to agree. Most times, however, these effects have to come from three separate sources, taking up a lot of real estate on your board, and having you tap dancing around like a maniac to get even a core sound correct. Well, those days just might be over. Today, we’re checking out the marvelous DryBell Unit67 EQ...
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What can you say about one-knob boost pedals? They’re not super flashy, no one really anticipates the “hot new release” of a simple booster, and there are lots of players who have never even used one in their rigs. Well, they’re important, and they add a tone and sound to your setup that just can’t be achieved with any other kind of pedal. Overdrive? No. Preamp? Close, but also no. Today’s pedal is...
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If you play guitar, chances are you have wanted or still do want to emulate the amazing tones of David Gilmour from Pink Floyd. Even if their music isn’t your jam, it’s hard to deny the affect he has had on the guitar as an instrument, and his tone from the 70’s is the stuff of legend. One of the main pieces of said tone was the Colorsound Power Boost, later renamed the Overdriver, which is where today’s pedal...
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You’ve heard of Jimmy Page, right? Be you a fan of Led Zeppelin or not, it’s hard to ignore the culture impact he’s had on music, and rock n’ roll especially. That first Zepp album opened the floodgates for a new generation of guitar players who wanted to emulate Mr. Page, and basically altered music forever. The Danelectro The Breakdown™ Boost Overdrive seeks to emulate those classic, unforgettable tones from...
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Ah, Strymon. Musical effects pioneers and makers of some of the most well-known and used pedals around the world. Today, we’re going to take a look at their latest creation, the Strymon Compadre Dual Voice Compressor & Boost. A wonderful dual pedal that will fit perfectly at the front of your signal chain, you’ve got access to 2 excellent tone-shaping effects in one beautiful box. Used independently or together, the...
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Some of you may know Area 51 from their impressive line of wah pedals, but they also do buffers, fuzz, mod kits and more. Today we’re going to look at The Alienist Voicing Boost, another impressive creation of theirs which gives you a ton of tonal options in a wicked rad enclosure. Hand-wired and designed to specifically drive your favorite tube amp, this futuristic-looking machine is the ultimate in treble-boosting, giving you...
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TUBE. SCREAMER. These words are loved (and sometimes hated) by guitar players the world over. So many classic sounds from some of the best players ever have come via the Tube Screamer, including Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Mayer, Trey Anastasio, Eric Johnson, The Edge and many, many more. With so many variations and models, not to mention the price tags for some of the more sought-after pedals, its hard to know where to start with these...
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Like ’em or not, Tube Screamers and their clones are a HUGE part of the effects pedal world. They’re found on pedalboards, in studios and adjacent to practice spaces the globe over, and can be heard on countless classic and modern recordings alike. For those of us that DO enjoy a good TS, wouldn’t it be nice if you could find one that had a built-in Boost section as well, to give you that over-the-top punch if you...
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As is evidenced by our series on YouTube, The Klone Wars, we love a good Klon clone here at Pedal of the Day. We’ve had many such a pedal come through the office, but today’s effect has a special feature not often added into this mystical enigma of a pedal. It looks killer, it sounds killer – lets have a look-see at the Klone from 68 Pedals. The Drive, Treble and Volume controls are present here, as they have to be...
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With access to a seemingly endless supply of incredible vintage pedals, our friends at JHS have revamped yet another long-lost, obscure and intriguing effect, all while putting their own unique spin on it, as usual. Based on the strange and rarely talked-about Boss FA-1 FET Preamp, the Clover is a Preamp EQ Boost, a true tone-shaper / always on / can’t-live-without-it pedal that will really sculpt and mold your sound. Top...
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Through our Klone Wars videos on YouTube, we pit two Klones against each other and see which one sounds best (in everyone’s vastly different opinion, of course), but what about some other effects that are getting cloned around the world? One of the most sought-after effects, and one that has a years-long wait list, is the King of Tone from Analogman. A dual channel Boost/Drive/Distortion, it has become one of the most popular...
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Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Anything You Choose to Celebrate! Now then, we’ve been checking out some effects pedals from a company called Caline Technology over the course of this year, and are excited to bring one last one to the table before we say goodbye to 2019. Having already been a part of our Klone Wars series on YouTube, the CP-99 Medusa Overdrive brings a familiar look, feel and sound to the...
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Well, we’ve got another Klone pedal review and demo for you today, so buckle up! This one comes to us all the way from Brazil, via our friends at Old-Fx Custom Pedals. As you can see, the layout is the same as the original Klon, but this one is available in several different color schemes to fit the aesthetic of any pedalboard. The circuitry is the same as the original, and each one of these are built, by hand, one by one, as...
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It’s been a hot minute since we’ve had anything in the shop from Joe and Lone Wolf Audio, but we’re pretty stoked about today’s pedal, for sure. The Outsider V2 is a bit of an oddity pedal, based on a super rare piece of gear that most of you have probably never heard of. Described as a Lead Boost Sub-Harmonic Energizer, this little black box has the ability to conjure up some fun sounds, bold tones and, if...
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The folks at Caline Technology have been pumping out some affordable but pretty rad-sounding pedals over the last couple of years, and we’ve been fortunate enough to be able to try a bunch of them. Up next, we have the explosive, bright orange CP-70 High Chief Dual Overdrive, which seeks to conjure up tones reminiscent of the classic (and spendy) King of Tone from Analog Man. With two separate but similar circuits, you can...
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As you might guess from our “Klone Wars” series on YouTube, we love a good klone pedal here at Pedal of the Day. With so many to choose from, we’ve had a great time exploring each one we can get our hands on, and test the differing nuances and tonal subtleties that make each one unique in their own way. Today, we’re going to check out yet another one, this time from our friend to the north in Winnipeg, Canada,...
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There are a lot of Klone pedals out on the market, with each seeking to replicate the sounds of the mythical Klon pedal from the 90’s, and we love ’em all (check out our Klone Wars demo series as we search for the best of the best). We’re going to check out another one today, one that boasts “no major tweaks or adjustments from the original unit.” Hey, that caught our attention right there, and probably...
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About a year ago, we reviewed and demoed a new and exciting pedal from our friends at Walrus Audio, the DEFCON4 Preamp/EQ/Boost. Vintage-looking and killer-sounding, this pedal was an excellent tone-shaper, one that we thought would surely be around for many years. Unfortunately, due to some unforeseen circumstances, the DEFCON4 had to be abruptly discontinued, but it’s come roaring back as the EB-10 Preamp/EQ/Boost, complete...
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Who doesn’t love some AC/DC? Really? Well, you’re wrong, and you need to go download their whole catalog immediately. Speaking of folks who really dig that band, our featured pedal today is basically the accumulation of facts, tones and info regarding Mr. Angus Young (of said band) and his instantly-recognizable tone, compiled over a lifetime and finally brought to life in the form of the TSR Schaffer Replica Compander...
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Sometimes, we stumble across a company that doesn’t have a lot of information pertaining to them on the old interwebs, making it a tricky puzzle as to if they’re still in business or not. Today’s pedal comes to us from AboveGroundFX, whose pedals are available at Vintage King, but who don’t appear to have a social media presence or an updated website to their name. Regardless, the Tone Control Booster is a nice...
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“Eh, it’s just a Boost pedal, right?” Wrong. Boost pedals can absolutely be the key ingredient to any rig, and we’ve got one today that will prove just that. The new BEQ-2 from Diamond Pedals is a Boost-EQ that’s simple yet versatile. Boasting just a couple of controls, this seemingly basic effect will transform your sound, and alter the way you see and use your overall setup as well. Let’s give it...
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We have always had a bit of an affinity for the exquisite pedals produced by our friends at Spaceman Effects, and are always excited to check out their creations. One of our favorites was the Saturn V Harmonic Boost, a pedal that just adds that extra little bit of POW! and WOW! that your tone sometimes is lacking. Today’s pedal, the Mercury IV, is also rooted firmly in the Boost department, but with a couple more options and a...
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We love a good overdrive pedal here at Pedal of the Day – who doesn’t, really? We recently began showcasing two different Klone pedals a week in a series we dubbed The Klone Wars, and today’s featured pedal here has been one of our favorites in that lineup so far. The Pelion from Kasleder FX is a simple, three-knob overdrive that also works wonders as a clean boost, and will drive any tube amp right into the sweet...
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AC/DC. Even if you’re not a fan (not sure why that would be, but whatever), there’s still a good chance you know the words to at least 10 of their songs, if not more. Part of the appeal they’ve had since their inception in 1973 is, hands down, the guitar sound that seemingly has stayed exactly the same over the last 4+ decades. Angus Young’s signature schoolboy uniforms, love of SGs and the tone he produces are...
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When we started doing our YouTube series “The Klone Wars”, we had a number of klones on our list that we wanted to include, and today’s pedals was one of those. The Gladiator Overdrive from AD Pedals is based on that certain mystical pedal that few of us can afford, but with a little more grit and dirt to it. Get ready to get shot down in a blaze of glory with this one, people – it’s a rocker! The range...
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Here’s the rub: we really dig us some pedals from Adventure Audio. If for nothing else than being rabid Stranger Things fans, the Demogorgon Fuzz Tremolo Reverb was one of our favorite pedals pretty much EVER, and the Dream Reaper Fuzz Mod Machine was no slouch itself. That said, we were of course super-stoked to check out the Glacial Zenith II, an overdrive, EQ and boost all wrapped into one pedal, with a myriad of order and...
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Star Wars. Han Solo. Taun-Tauns. The Klon. Normally, only three of these things have something in common, but the guys at IdiotBox Effects decided enough was enough. Combining some catchy graphics with even catchier tones, the Han-Taun Boost Overdrive smashed these fantastic things together to form a magnificent klone pedal, one that was apparently created in a galaxy far, far away…. The Han-Taun is set up just like the famous...
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The Infamous Klon. Tons of debates about this one: some swear by it, some think it’s incredibly overpriced, some just want one to add to a collection of status symbol pedals and some just like the way it sounds, period. Since the majority of us don’t have roughly $2,000 to drop on one pedal, there are companies like Kink Guitar Pedals who make it easy for us to get the Klon sound affordably. Their Femtaur pedal is what...
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Altough we don’t do it as often as we should, a good bass demo is always a fun way to end a long week. And speaking of bass pedals, the crew at Mantic Effects have been building some low end-inspired pieces of gear for years now, several of which we’ve been fortunate enough to tackle here at Pedal of the Day. Today’s effect might not be as flashy as some of those others, but it’s an important piece to any bass...
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Newer effects pedals that are based on older effects, or electronic unit, or tape machines, or screen projectors, or whatever, always put a smile on our face. Taking something that might not have been geared towards our current effects world and utilizing the sounds it makes to enhance our musical world is a fascinating concept, so we’re stoked about today’s featured pedal. The Jive from our pals in Germany, JPTR FX, is a...
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We love a gritty, dirty preamp boost overdrive pedal, because who doesn’t? The Dirty Boy from Massive Unity Ltd. is just that, a powerful, clean-looking but dirty-sounding effect that is powered by T.A.E. (proprietary tube amp emulation) technology. Based on the amp used by legendary guitarist Blues Saraceno, which was built by his dad, this pedal features two different modes, a bunch of options and a whole slew of sounds that...
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Ah, the Klon….such a mysterious, magical and ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE piece of gear. Now, we love a delicious overdrive, and have even grown to love boost pedals over the last few years, but really, enough is enough. Since we have no money (or desire) to spend over $1500 on one singular item, especially when it’s an EFFECTS PEDAL, we’re glad there are companies like Rock Your Repaired Amp, or RYRA, as...
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Now fully established as a fuzz and distortion-producing powerhouse of a company, we are always happy to get new effects in the office from our friends at Wren & Cuff, and we’ve got another mammoth for you today. The Super Russian is a potent fuzz pedal, plus a buffer/boost as well, a well-rounded machine that works wonderfully with bass and guitar alike. Featuring loud, boisterous, Muff-y tones and distortion, plus a...
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Collaborations between pedal companies and artists/players are always a good time, especially when said guitarist is one of your favorite songwriters around. Walrus Audio has teamed up with Mr. Ryan Adams for a special tone-shaping pedal, designed to work quickly and easily with both single coil and humbucking pickups, perfect for when your set requires multiple guitar changes and you don’t want to have to re-adjust your tone...
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Sometimes, you just need ONE knob to get some incredible tone out of your guitar and amp. Today’s featured pedal proves that in spades, bringing a wide range of tones and dBs to work with and apply to your sound, beefing it up with any coloration. The B1G 1 is a simple gain booster, but has been designed by and electronics guru, and brings true studio quality right onto your pedalboard. The B1G 1 is an all-analog gain boost with...
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Cross-company collaborations are always a fun excursion in the effects pedal world, and today’s featured piece of gear is from two of the best. Robert Keeley and Keeley Electronics have partnered up with Dan and Mick, from the hugely popular YouTube series That Pedal Show, to create an overdrive/boost combo pedal that features a wide range of tones, spanning the full spectrum of overdriven glory throughout its many options and...
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The resurrection and resurgence of the new Shin-ei brand of pedals started off with the stellar Vibe-Bro (click here for our review and demo), and continues to build and build with more pedals from vintage eras. The Screaming Sister is an octave boost based on the Prescription Electronics’ Clean Octave Boost (COB), a now rare (and crazy expensive) effect used by Doyle Bramhall II, Jonny Lang and more. This simple three-knob box...
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A lot of times, when a Boost pedals comes to us, it’s intended to just boost your signal, and why shouldn’t it? However, we love it when a Boost comes in that isn’t JUST for boosting, but enhancing your tone, and maybe even getting a little bit dirty. The Germanium Boost from Expresso FX does both of these things, adding a shimmer and sparkle to your tone, giving you a number of options to use AND driving your...
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Although not the flashiest or most exciting of all the effects genres, the Boost pedal still has an important role to play in the overall tone shaping we all like to do with our rigs. While some boosts are just one knob and others more complicated and experimental, today’s featured pedal presents two parameters for you to dial in a perfect clean enhancement of your tone. The MT-SB Signal Booster from ModTone Effects helps...
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After getting the chance to review and demo the M-1 Ram’s Head Fuzz from Buffalo FX, we were looking forward to something a little milder from them, as the M-1 was a real powerhouse (in only the best of ways, mind you). They responded with the Carrera Overdrive, a low-to-mid gain boostable dirt pedal that was designed for clean and edge-of-breakup types of tones. Combining an easy-to-use control layout with impressive circuitry...
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We’ve been wanting to get our grubby mitts on a pedal from Wilson Effects for a couple of years now, and that day has finally arrived. Today’s featured pedal, the Stoned Grasshopper, not only has one of the best monikers we’ve come across so far, but also houses three independent effects that can be used by themselves or in conjunction with each other. While Boost, Overdrive and Fuzz are three fairly popular effects...
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One of the new key ingredients to our demo video sound is the marvelous Black Box from Sarno Music Solutions, a true audiophile quality, vacuum tube pickup driver that brings your tone to life. In addition to this marvel, they also make some effects pedals, and today we’re going to look at the Earth Drive Overdrive Boost. An easy control section makes this one a cinch to set and go, but there’s a lot to be discovered...
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Somehow, we hadn’t yet discovered the company building today’s featured pedal until now, and we’re sure excited that we did. Midnight Amplification Devices hail from Brisbane, Australia, and feature an eclectic lineup of effects over a variety of musical genres. We’re checking out the Giant Sound Boost Fuzz Preamp today, and have a couple more pedals from these guys in the queue for review as well…...
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It’s always a treat when we get a 2-in-1 pedal to check out here at Pedal of the Day, and even cooler when we get a 3-in-1 effect. Today’s pedal blows right past these and gives us a rare and unsurpassed FIVE-in-1 stompbox, something that sounds complicated, but in reality is just easy to use and produces great sounds. The PRISM from Jackson Audio is a buffer, boost, EQ, overdrive and preamp all rolled into one –...
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After the thrilling experience we had with the Fat Gett Sub-Octave Fuzz from Champion Leccy a couple months back, we were super-stoked to have another one of their creations on our workbench. Once again, these guys did not disappoint, bringing a fury of thundering, powerful tones representing a number of different genres into the fold. The Evil Twin actually consists of two of Champion Leccy’s Wee Fettle Boosts in one enclosure,...
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When we started doing reviews for Pedal of the Day, the EM-Drive from Emerson Custom was all the rage, followed shortly by the Paramount, two of the finest drive pedals we have come across, and staples on pedalboards around the world. So, we got pretty damn excited when we heard that the Pomeroy Boost Overdrive was going to be hitting the market, and couldn’t wait to check it out for ourselves. Well, the wait is over – a...
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