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...
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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!!) Guitar Tricks presents Delay Pedals Do’s and Don’ts By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. One of the best ways to add depth and space to your guitar signal is by using delay effects pedals. In fact they work great for any...
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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...
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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 Flanger By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. The Flanger guitar pedal has an interesting background that involves both science and a lot of luck! Like many guitar and music effects it stems from early experiments with...
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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...
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We’ve got one more effect left in the newest releases from JHS Pedals’ Legends of Fuzz collection, and we’re going out with a bang!. Today, we’re taking a look at the Mary-K 1969 Japan, which again features just two simple controls and a Mode switch…PLUS an variable, hands-free control of one of the parameters. Let’s jump into this sonic pool and get the fuzz out, shall we?? Grab a Mary-K 1969 Japan...
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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!!) Favorite Pedal Brands for Specific Pedal Types By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. Of course many guitar effects unit builders create pedals that provide a variety of methods to change the signal. If you like sticking to one brand, that...
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After checking out the Berkeley 1973 a few weeks ago, we were excited to dig further into more new Legends of Fuzz pedals from JHS. Today, we’re taking a look at the Plugin 1973 California, which again features just two simple controls and a Mode switch. Don’t be fooled, however: there are a TON of sounds just waiting to be unleashed here… Grab a Plugin 1967 California at Sweetwater: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3ej7ey...
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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!!) Can You Use Pedals to Help You Learn Guitar? By Mitch Wilson for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. Learning to play guitar can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be challenging. While mastering the basics of chords, scales, and technique is...
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After the Dream ’65, Ruby ’63, Woodrow ’55, Starlight, Golden and Astra effects units from Universal Audio were released, everyone was wondering what creations they’d come up with next for their stompbox lineup. Today, we’re proud to present the first of the next three pedals: the Galaxy ’74 Tape Echo & Reverb. Built upon award-winning UAFX dual‑engine processing and an unquenchable thirst for...
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We’re headed back to familiar territory today, both in pedal company and pedal model. Poison Noises has just released The Crook Overdrive V5, the latest version of the pedal that put them on the effects map. We started with Version 3, and have loved to see the progression of this circuit over the last couple of years. If you liked the other Crooks, you’re gonna really dig this one… The Crook has more gadgets in its...
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Flanging. Players love it and players hate it, but it has had an effect (pun intended) on music since its inception decades ago, and we think it’s a great tool to use for musical experimentation. Sometimes, however, flange units can get too crazy, almost to the point of unusability for some genres – that’s why we really dig today’s pedal, the M152 Micro Flanger from MXR and Dunlop Manufacturing. With two simple...
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A few weeks ago, we ventured into the Land of Bass when we reviewed the Gus-Plus Bass-Friendly Overdrive – today, we’re picking up that low-end instrument once again, this time in the genre of blistering fuzz and distortion. The Wren and Cuff Pickle Pie B Hella Fuzz strives to resolve many of the common quandaries bassists come across in their search for a fuzz that really works for their instrument and their playing...
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We’ve got another unique and impressive effect from TC Electronic for you today, folks – something that you don’t see everyday, or might not even think about as a key piece of your rig. The Mimiq Doubler takes the classic studio trick of doubling your guitar tracks to thicken up your sound, and squishes it into a compact, pedalboard-friendly unit. Turn yourself (almost) into Dimebag Darrell, Randy Rhodes or James...
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We’ve been loving the replication effects that Warm Audio has been creating over the last couple of years, starting with the Jet Phaser, then the Foxy Tone Box and, most recently, the Centavo Overdrive. Today’s pedal from these guys is the Warmdrive Overdrive, a tribute to impossible-to-obtain amps and a special Zen-influenced drive. Your amp and your ears will thank you for checking out this beautiful machine, trust...
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Pedals that defy explanation or categorization are always some of our favorites, and today’s effect defies both in spades. The Boss SL-2 Slicer Audio Pattern Processor takes you on a wild ride from the moment you plug it in, unrelenting in its ability to astonish, inspire and bewilder. Taking your audio signal and morphing it in a thousand different ways, this little machine will flip your rig right on its…head. *Grab an...
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We’re excited today to be taking a bit of a detour from our regularly scheduled pedal reviews, and diving into a different type of medium. We love effects here at the shop, but music is also playing on a pretty consistent basis, and the folks at 1byone Audio sent over their H004 Hi-Fi Turntable with Speakers setup for us to check out. Needless to say, our small collection of vinyl is already growing after having this thing just...
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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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It’s Klone Time Again, Kiddos!! We love a good mythical circuit around here, especially when it looks and sounds *really close* to an original…well, at least what we’ve heard an original sounds like, having never been knighted into the club. This particular clone comes to us from Warm Audio as the Centavo Overdrive, an accurate recreation of one of the most unattainable overdrive pedals in guitar history. Let’s...
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We love exploring all the great effects pedals out there, obviously, but in order to do so, we need guitars. Today, the fine folks at Sweetwater have sent over a new gitbox for us to check out: the Squier 40th Anniversary Vintage Edition Jazzmaster. After the success of the J Mascis Signature Jazzmaster, it seems Squier and Fender wanted to delve deeper into their classic catalog for some wonderful reissues, and we are all about...
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Over the years, the folks at Aclam Guitars have put out some extremely specific and well-done effects pedals that have certain iconic sounds in mind. The Dr. Robert replicated the soul of the VOX UL730 am, used by the Beatles on Revolver & Sgt. Pepper; the Windmiller captured the sound of the preamp from the rare Grampian Reverberation Unit Type 636; the Cinnamon Drive gave us vintage British tube amp sounds of the 60’s and...
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If you’ve never indulged in the high octane effects units produced by our friends Wounded Paw Audio up in Canada, you should check out a couple, such as the Attack Goat Bass Pre-Amp, Bighorn Overdrive or Black Wolf Distortion. First, however, let’s talk about today’s pedal, the Hellhound Distortion, one of their latest offerings and a downright scorcher of an effect. With a wide range of sounds emitting from a...
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The Mu-Tron Phasor II is arguably the best phaser pedal ever created, right? Well, as always, that’s debatable, but it sure is one of the best ones I’ve ever played – however, original units, even in bad condition, go for $500+ all day, which is pretty steep for most of us. Thankfully, the fine folks over at StewMac have come up with a wonderful solution, and one that you get to build yourself: the Lightcycle Optical...
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In stark contrast to the last TC Electronic pedal we reviewed and demoed, the Magus Pro Distortion, we’re heading into modulation and pitch territory today. The Brainwaves Pitch Shifter is an exceptional pitch-shifting effect, with studio-grade algorithms, 4 octave dual voices and TC’s groundbreaking MASH footswitch technology. As you can see, there are lots of switches and knobs and dials and fun here, let’s jump...
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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 recent revival of the Maestro brand has brought a couple of great pedals our way. We recently had the chance to check out the FIVE newest pedals in Maestro’s Original Collection, and today we’re heading back a bit to check out one of their earlier releases. The Ranger Overdrive features three knobs, one switch and a ton of tone to shape and sculpt your favorite distortion and overdrive sounds...
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When a huge company like StewMac contacts you and asks if you’d like to demo some gear from them, there’s only one answer: an emphatic YES, PLEASE. Today, we’re going to check out a pedal, yes, but some other guitar-related gear as well, all of which is available on the StewMac website, and all of which can help you greatly improve your tone and unleash your creativity. Lots to get into, let’s do it!! First up,...
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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...
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A good multi-effects unit is always fun to take a look at, and when it’s focused on modulation, delay and reverb, it makes it that much better. The PLETHORA X3 TonePrint Pedalboard from TC Electronic takes its origin from the larger PLETHORA X5, slimming it down for an easier fit on your board, while still giving you the quality effects you need. We love the versatility in this unit, and can’t wait to dig in with you all...
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We’ve had a blast checking out the lineup of pedals from the newly-revamped Maestro brand, and have a BIG surprise for you all today. They’ve just released FIVE new units, and we have got them all in one place for you. Today, we’re looking at the Orbit Phaser, Mariner Tremolo, Titan Boost, Arcas Compressor Sustainer and Agena Envelope Filter – 5 effects building on the first 5 pedals they initially released...
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The combination of overdrive and reverb is a no-brainer, and when they are paired up in an enclosure like today’s pedal has, that just makes things sweeter. The Clifton Guitarworks Torque Converter Overdrive Reverb is a big ‘ol box of awesome, a bright beacon that’s easy to find on any board, and easy to dial in a great sound quickly. Let’s not waste any more time, here we go…!! The Torque Converter is a...
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In all the years we’ve been demoing and reviewing effects units from our friends over at Strymon, we never delved into their beloved Flint – a crime, to be sure, but one that has been remedied today. The newer Flint Tremolo & Reverb V2 brings all the sonic glory of the original into focus, along with a slew of new upgrades and controls, for one of the most versatile, well-rounded pedals we’ve ever seen. Two...
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The fine folks over at Eventide have been big supporters of Pedal of the Day for years now – we’ve reviewed just about every one of their modern pedals, and have been lucky enough to be included in their last several new release days as well. Today, we’re doing it once again, and with possibly their biggest, most grandiose effects unit to date. The H90 Harmonizer® takes everything that we all love about the...
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About a month ago, we had the honor of reviewing and demoing a pedal from Harby Pedals called the Centauri Clean Boost/Overdrive, a most excellent Klon-inspired beast that had “it” from the moment we first turned it on. It was with much anticipation that we plugged into another Harby gem for today’s review and demo – the BMF Distortion Sustainer Fuzz. Bringing a classic circuit into the present time, this blue...
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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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Pedal of the Day has been fortunate to help with the promotion of each and every iteration of the wonderful Ampero series of multi-effects units from our friends at Hotone Audio, and we’ve got the newest one for you today. Following in the footsteps of the original Ampero, Ampero One and Ampero II, the Ampero Silver Edition Amp Modeler / Effects Processor somehow builds on the previous models’ functionality, options and...
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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...
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Earlier this month, we were fortunate enough to be able to check out the Star Eater, a wild analog fuzz machine from Pigtronix, and really dug the new style of that pedal. Today, we’ve got their latest release, an intriguing, not really before seen effect that will take you on a musical journey like none you’ve encountered before. The Gloamer Polyphonic Amplitude Synthesizer Compressor isn’t as complicated as the...
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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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Our friends over at Poison Noises are releasing new versions of their entire lineup of effects pedals, and have asked us to help showcase these overhauled creations. We’re looking at 2 pedals a week for the next couple months, continuing today with The Gaia Overdrive. This one just might be your new desert island pedal…. The Gaia Overdrive is loosely based on a K-style circuit, but with a new take on the whole thing....
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Amp emulator pedals are always a delicate topic of conversation amongst guitar players, and while some of these pedals can be hit or miss, the three we’re checking out today from Universal Audio are completely legit, and more. Drawing inspiration from three classic amps first released many decades ago, the Dream ’65, Ruby ’63 and Woodrow ’55 allow you to easily lose yourself in vintage tone, and save your back...
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(This article comes from our friends at GuitarTricks.com – check out their site for tons of guitar-related tips and tricks!!) How To Get The Most Out Of Your Pedals By Steven Kendzorski for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. I have GAS, and it’s bad. GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) is a common ailment among new guitar players, triggered by tone-envy, causing them to spend every...
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Our friends over at Poison Noises are releasing new versions of their entire lineup of effects pedals, and have asked us to help showcase these overhauled creations. We’re looking at 2 pedals a week for the next couple months, continuing today with the Gluttonous Fuzz V3. Back for seconds, this one’s coming at ya with all of the delicious noise you were starving for…. Bringing back parameters from all the original...
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For those of us that really dig the vintage Uni-Vibe sound, but can’t afford to buy (or repair) an original unit, we all probably have a favorite pedal or two that gets that sound done really well. But, did you ever wish that it had something MORE, like maybe, I dunno…REVERB? The brand new J.Rockett Audio Designs Uni-Verb Chorus Vibrato Reverb takes these two gorgeous effects and smashes them into one reasonably-sized...
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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!!) Message in a Pedal: How to Get Andy Summers’ Signature Sound By Steven Kendzorski for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. Andy Summers joined The Police in 1977, and quickly catapulted the group to international superstardom. With hits like “Every Breath You...
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The Klone. Since the majority of us think it’s absurd to spend $5,000 or more on a pedal, klones have become a musical godsend, offering a ton of different sonic flavors without the hefty price tags that go with the originals. We’re bringing you another lovely offering today, in the form of the My Little Klony from Daddy Daughter Pedal Works. This pink beauty is dialed in sonically to the mythical units, with a couple of...
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Fuzz pedals are awesome. Spitty, gated, nasty fuzz pedals are even awesomer. Today’s pedal, the Zero G IOD Honey Coma Fuzz, can do both, in spectacular fashion. With 4 knobs for a wide range of sounds on tap, this exciting and scary beast will give you a jolt of creativity from the second you plug it into your amplifier… Based on some old hooved honey producer of a fuzz known as the BeeBaa (read our review here), the Honey...
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Tremolo and Reverb: a classic combination, originally found built-in to amplifiers over 5 decades ago. Having one or the other on your board is always key, but to have them BOTH? And in ONE PEDAL? The J. Rockett Audio Designs Mr. Moto Tremolo Reverb makes all those dreams come true, giving you complete control over these two gorgeous effects. The Mr. Moto is everything you wish your amp had built in. The Mr. Moto is a very musical...
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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 Buzz on Distortion Pedals By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer Ever since the electric guitar was invented guitarists and sound engineers have attempted to manipulate its signal. When you pluck the strings, the pickup changes sound waves into electrical energy, which can then be...
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