Throughout the years, I’ve been fortunate to get my hands on nearly every pedal that Chase Bliss has put out, except one…until today. Much like its rare and elusive namesake, the Condor HiFi Analog Tone Bird has eluded our grasp, but the long wait has finally come to and end. Building on the original version released in 2018, this updated unit has some new features, new design aspects and the “must-have” sound...
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Well, we did it – today marks the official TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY of Pedal of the Day!! It’s been quite a ride, and we’ve seen an unbelievable amount of effects over the years…but today, I thought we’d head back to the very beginning, and revisit the one that started it all, one of our favorite pedals ever: the Boss DM-3 Analog Delay. The last analog delay pedal produced by Boss in the ’80s, it has a...
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Usually, the pedals we review and demo here make some kind of NOISE, whether it’s delayed notes, powerful distortion, psychedelic phasing or any number of other effect genres. Today, however, the pedal we’re looking at simply helps to determine where your multiple audio signals will actually GO, making it a key piece of gear you may not have known you needed. Come along as we explore the signal-changing, super-routing...
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Well, it’s been quite a while since we had a pedal from JPTR FX in the shop, and we are coming back to them today with a VENGEANCE. The Warlow Fuzz Monstrosity takes your favorite elements of classic Big Muff pedals, mixes in some ProCo RAT Distortion flavor and creates a unique, amp-crushing fuzz monster that is waiting to be unleashed. Plus, we got a limited pink color release, so it’s even cooler than you think…...
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The EF-X2 Tape Echo and the EF-P2 Spring Reverb from Echo Fix have been some of our favorite units we’ve reviewed in the last couple years, and we’re excited today to bring you their latest creation. Anointing you with a simple control section, but one that’s filled with gorgeous, vintage-tinged sonic options, this modulation machine is sure to conjure up tonal voices, forgotten sounds and beautiful feelings from...
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The entire lineup of UAFX pedals from Universal Audio is amazing, let’s just be honest. With each new release, there’s another options-filled gem that gets our creativity flowing and takes our musical thinking and approach up a notch. Today’s pedal, the Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp, shifts things from a modulation/delay/reverb vibe to some classic amp-pushing, overdriven sounds from decades past… Grab a Lion...
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We’re continuing our lineup run-through of the first four pedals from Bolt & Forge Analog Audio today. Coming to you from Yakima, Washington, we’re excited to jump back in and check out the third of FOUR effects they sent over, the Sawbones Optical Compressor. Bringing the funk and evening out the most fluctuating of signals, let’s see what it can do for you… The Appaloosa is a noise-free, full-featured...
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We’re stoked to bring you the ENTIRE lineup of pedals from Rockready Mini Pedals over the coming weeks, and we’re continuing with two more excellent mini creations today. The BC-1 Brit Crunch and NG-1 Gatekeeper are small, yes, but they pack a big punch with their sonic output. With simple controls and mini enclosures, these pedals fit onto any pedalboard, and into ANY budget… The BC-1 Brith Crunch delivers classic...
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Today, we’re looking at another pedal from the stellar lineup from Bolt & Forge Analog Audio, with the Bad Hoss Harmonic Sustainer. With a switchable EQ, a couple different gain modes and a TON of gorgeous sustained distortion, this golden god will immediately perk up your eardrums. After testing the Appaloosa from Bolt & Forge the other week, we were excited for this one, and it did not disappoint… Reimagined...
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Sure, you probably have a tone knob on your guitar, and most likely your amp has some sort of EQ capabilities, but what happens when you really need to shape your sound via certain frequencies? Well, you turn to the pros at Source Audio, and their newest tone-shaping masterpiece, the EQ2 Programmable Equalizer (brought to you today by our friends at Sweetwater). EQ’ing, on-board tuning, presets and more: this pedal will sculpt...
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Today’s pedal is not one that your casual musician will get, or like, or want to have anything to do with, and that makes it all the more rad. The mad scientists at Industrialectric have been conjuring up crazy experimental gear for years, and the 567-M Modulation Machine keeps that streak alive and well. Lots of knob-twisting, ear-piercing and general sonic confusion give you a slight idea about what this pedal is capable...
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While most of our reviews are focused on the pedals themselves, we couldn’t hear the magical sounds they make without the aid of cables, and we’ve got a new release from Rock Stock Pedals in that department today. Their Solderless Patch Cable Kit gives you high performance and perfect customization to make your pedalboard look, feel and sound exactly the way you need it to. Let’s hear what Rock Stock has to say about...
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We’ve never come across a pedal we didn’t completely love from Spaceman Effects, and are proud to say that tradition continues with today’s gorgeous piece of gear. The Meridian Time Modulator blends aspects of chorus, vibrato, flanger, filter, pitch-shifting and more into one beautiful purple, sparkly enclosure. Opening new sonic pathways you never knew existed, this modulated machine will have you rethinking your...
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It’s always amazed me how tone-shaping a one-knob effect can truly be – the simplicity seems like it might not have a lot to offer, but that’s usually not even close to the case. Which brings us to today’s pedal, the oddly-named beAst beWst Full Range Boost from EEIDI FX (Everyone Else Is Doing It), the brainchild of Will from Third Age Amplifiers. This hand-wired boost has a killer range, great tone and will...
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When we started reviewing effects pedals from the Walrus Audio lineup in 2014, the first distortion unit we saw from these guys was the Iron Horse, and it blew us away. Since then, we’ve come across the Red and the Melee, and we’ve got another powerful pedal for you today. Eras is a no apologies, high-gain distortion that’s ready to chug, shred, and palm mute with tight response and multiple clipping options…here we...
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We recently had the chance to check out one of the latest offerings from Sentimental Bob Electronics, the Tephra Distortion, and it was gloriously dirty and loud. Today, we take things down just a little bit and move into overdrive and boost territory, via the Albert Overdrive. If you’re in the hunt for an OCD-style drive with a TON of sonic options, this might be exactly what you need… The Overdrive section of Albert is...
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Distortion pedals are a finicky bunch – what sounds great to one player might sound like garbage to another. As with most pedals, personal preference always comes into play. But what if there was a distortion pedal that let you know it was focusing on high-gain tones, then gave you a slew of options to achieve your perfect sound? Well, the DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds High-Gain Distortion translates a clear...
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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!!) I Have Too Many Pedals, How To Pare Down By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. There comes a point where every guitar player realizes they have too many effects pedals! It’s true, it happens, but you don’t need to get rid of any, you just...
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Our first journey into the world of Sentimental Bob Electronics in Ukraine was the amazing Tacana Tap Tremolo, and it’s been three long years since. Thankfully, a package arrived a little while ago that contained not one but TWO new devices from these guys, and we’re excited to bring you the first today. The Tephra Distortion looks amazing right out of the box, one of those pedals you can just tell is gonna rock…and...
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We’re happy to help launch today’s pedal to the world, even though aspects of it may be familiar to many of you out there. Taking IK Multimedia’s TONEX platform and allowing you to put it into pedal form, the TONEX Pedal features three footswitches, full EQ and parameter set, state-of-the-art modeling and sound quality and much, much more. Let’s dig in and see what this unit is all about, shall we? There are...
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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...
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The innovative, creative team at Death By Audio have been supporters of Pedal of the Day for years, so when they released today’s limited edition pedal, we knew we had to snag one and help support them right back. The Exploding Head Triple Delay harkens back to a classic DBA effect, as well as celebrates a milestone anniversary for a landmark album. Just when you thought echo couldn’t go any further… “Long ago,...
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Continuing our awesome week of reviews and demos, which has included the Eventide H90 Harmonizer® and the Meris LVX Modular Delay System, we bring you the highly-anticipated Chase Bliss Generation Loss MKII VCR Duplicator. A comprehensive study and smorgasbord of tape in all its forms, this effect is somewhat hard to categorize, and those are always some of our favorite pieces of gear. We should also mention that this is the first...
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(This article comes from our friends at GuitarTricks.com – check out their site for tons of guitar-related tips and tricks!!) How Can Pedals Improve Your Guitar Playing? By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. Many guitarists use effects and pedals for emulating the playing of other songs. Whether it is just bedroom practice, beginner guitar lessons, or on-stage...
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Well, it appears that the crew at Flamma Innovation are back at it, releasing FIVE new pedals, all of which we’re going to take a look at here at Pedal of the Day. First off, we’ve got the FC17 Analog Delay, a simple but excellent-sounding echo effect that brings warm, vintage analog sound right into your living room, practice space or gig. You know how much we love delay here, no matter how big or small, so this one is,...
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After checking out the incredible 432k Rev2 Distortion a couple months ago, we couldn’t wait to jump back into some more gear from Retro Mechanical Labs. Today’s powerful piece is the Mig Fuzz Special Edition, another big box effects with a ton of options, great dirt tones and, of course, a vintage VU meter on board. Providing a modern sound using vintage parts, this unique creation really gets the musical creativity...
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(This article comes from our friends at GuitarTricks.com – check out their site for tons of guitar-related tips and tricks!!) The History of the Space Echo Echo Echo… By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. History of the Space Echo Echo Echo… Before the electric guitar was invented, guitarists were limited on using reverb and delay in their music. The...
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Effects that come with a backstory, or some kind of accompanying literature, are always a hit here at Pedal of the Day (and elsewhere, we assume). Today’s pedal has a bit of mystical mystery to it, as well as sounding absolutely incredible. The Tulpa FX Tsathoggua Overdrive is rooted in dangerous adventure, but brings all the tone and power to back it up… In certain circles, Tsathoggua (also known as The Sleeper of...
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The effects we’ve checked out so far from Malaise Forever have been glorious, starting with the magnificent Clubber Lang Harmonic Percolator Fuzz, and continuing with the Rage Monster Germanium Gain Stage. For Pedal #3 today, we’re helping with the release of the brand new Iron Fistula JFET Preamp Drive, a swiss army knife of incredible tones and dialed-in dirt for days – let’s see what’s in store, shall...
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For their ridiculously low price points, it’s hard to beat the lineup of effects pedals from Flamma Innovation. We’ve covered nearly every one in their lineup so far, and are excited to help introduce their newest offerings, with the FC16 Optical Tremolo being today’s focus. This fire engine red machine has an easy-to-use control set and a small footprint, to easily slide into any rig, big or small. The FC16 Optical Tremolo...
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It’s always an exciting time when the folks at Death By Audio create a new pedal, and we’re honored to be a part of today’s new release. The Space Bender Chorus Modulator replicates and warps your signal into beautiful and organic transmissions from a dimension somewhere beyond linear time. Under the hood lies an array of dynamically modulated delay lines allowing you to craft subtle vintage sci-fi sounds, bending...
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Sometimes, great effects come from the unlikeliest of places – such is the case with the wonderful pedals from our friends at Jānis.lv Effect Pedals, who reside in Birzgale, Latvia. From the Miesnieks and Tre Tre to the RNGD and Laika Plūsma, each creation they release has a unique spin on its musical genre, all while looking very cohesive as a brand. Today, we’ve got their latest for you – the Purvs Fuzz, which...
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The recent revival of the Maestro brand has brought a couple of great pedals our way. The Discoverer Delay and Comet Chorus were both a joy to explore, and we’ve got the third pedal in this impressive lineup for you today. The Invader Distortion features three knobs, one switch and a ton of tone to shape and sculpt your favorite distortion and overdrive sounds perfectly…let’s see what it’s all about! The...
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Octave pedals don’t tend to get the hype and focus that modulation, overdrive, delay and reverb might, but we’re gonna try to change that. Today’s pedal, the October Audio Junk Lantern Dirty Octave Up Fuzz, provides a unique spin on a genre that you might normally overlook. Easy to dial in while full-ranged and inspiring, this little gem will make you rethink how you approach your next songwriting session…...
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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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A few months back, we reviewed and demoed the NUX Tape Core Deluxe, an excellent vintage tape echo machine, with a ton of features packed into a small pedal. Well, NUX decided that they wanted to give us all more of that classic flavor, so we present to you the NDD-7 Tape Echo. A tribute to the Japanese-made Space Echo from 1974, offers all the essential components from the old machines, plus some modern features, for an incredible...
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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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Delay…elay…lay…ay…y… We just can’t get enough of it, and today’s simple yet extremely impressive pedal shows just why that is. The Mythos Pedals Oracle Analog Echo pays homage to classic Japanese echo pedals, but is a unique circuit and not a direct clone of anything in particular. Don’t let the 3-knob layout fool you into thinking this is a regular old delay effect – ’cause...
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The Mu-Tron Tremu-Tron is an optical tremolo effect which can be used as a “clean boost”, and features the famous Mu-Drive preamp from the original Mu-Tron III Envelope Filter. By utilizing an 18 volt dual-rail internal power supply, this effect provides a crisp, clean signal and high headroom. The Tremu-Tron utilizes Mu-Tron’s patented opto-mod technology to provide classic, hi-fidelity attenuation without extra noise...
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We love a good multi-effect around here – who doesn’t? Today’s pedal is a bit different from the usual pedals of this type that we see. First, it’s super small. Second, it’s mainly modulation-focused. Third, it’s as experimental as they come. The 3Degrees Audio Bygones Stereo Nostalgia Effect combines elements of pitch shifting, delay and vintage noise to form a wonderfully unique and creative...
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If you are looking for out-of-the-ordinary, mind-blowing, noise-creating machines, you should look no further than ezhi&aka. Made in extremely small batches and pretty hard to obtain, we’ve only had our grubby mitts on one other pedal of theirs, the Moomindrone T Drone Delay, until today. Let’s take a look at the Polarized Flutter Lofi Tapestop, a hard-to-define machine that utilizes a pad you “play” with...
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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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We really loved the Echosex Baby Delay from FoxGear we reviewed a couple months back, and thought we should probably test out its sibling as well. The Echoes Delay provides a bucket brigade of analog delay tones that will enrich your sound instantly. Three-dimensional, ambient, lush echo tones mixed with precise repeats make this simple -looking device on you’re gonna want to stick on your board permanently… The Echoes...
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A one-knob pedal can be a perfect compliment to an otherwise crazy board, or a simple solution to upping your tone or adding some flavor to your sound. The Dirty Haggard Audio Fiddy for an Ounce Fuzz, along with having an incredible moniker, does just that – find your sound and let it be. Complex gear is fun with a ton of knobs and switches are fun, for sure, but sometimes, all you need is ONE… The Fiddy for an Ounce Fuzz...
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Much like its older brother, the Warspit Distortion, today’s Pedal of the Day boasts a bunch of knobs and switches, and we can’t get enough of it all. The Olsen Interface MudWedge Fuzz is capable of deep and fuzzy tones, as well as very loud and intense distortion – what’s not to like here? We’ve got more knobs and switches to discover, so let’s get right to it! The MudWedge features 2 Fuzz...
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We love pedals with a lot of controls, and today’s featured effect showcases this in fine fashion. From the moment you gaze upon the Olsen Interface Warspit Distortion, you’re both frightened and intrigued, which can become a perfect combination. With no labels, seven knobs, 5 switches and two stomps, this is an experimenter’s dream box… The golden knobs give you a wide range of sounds and tones to test out and...
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We eagerly await each new release from our pals at Strymon, as many of you do, and their latest is an absolute mindbender. The Zelzah Multidimensional Phaser, aside from having a wicked rad name, is a modulation pedal like no other. Focusing on phasing, it also sports elements of chorus, vibrato, flanger and tremolo, all while sweeping an enormous range of phaser tones, modern and vintage. Grab your headphones and strap in,...
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Seemingly out of nowhere, Discomfort Designs has become one of our favorite pedal companies of late. Creating loud, weird and exciting effects, these guys are pushing the levels of noise creation to new heights. Their latest, the Neon Black Fuzz Booster, combines two odd circuits and makes them into one powerhouse of a pedal. In your face, bold, screechy and fantastic, let’s check it out… The left side of the Neon Black is...
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Over the years, a Volume pedal has become basically a requirement for all of our pedalboard and demo setups here at Pedal of the Day. We also love a good wah pedal, and Expression pedals are key to controlling many effects’ parameters in demo situations as well. But what if you could harness the power of these three different pedals and put them into ONE super-enclosure? Well, the crew at Hotone Audio has done just that, with...
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