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Zoom release a compelling 200-Flavours Compact Gain Workstation - the MultiStomp MS-200D+

BoostBoost and OverdriveDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveFuzzMetal DistortionMulti-DriveOverdrivePreAmpZoom FX+-
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As soon as I saw this I thought - ’mini Boss OD-200’ - at least in concept. Zoom effects are fully DSP as far as I’m aware - so we don’t get a JFET input section like on the Boss and Strymon Hybrid / Digital gain pedals - while there should still be plenty of interesting flavours to be found here. The Bixonic Axentrix and Mooer Model X Preamp X2 were both instrumental in convincing me that you can get really decent gain voicings just from digital - also the Neunaber Neuron - all stand-alone ...

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My Sinvertek N5 MGAT-1 Golden Era DS99 Hyper Preamp has landed!

Blues Breaker Style OverdriveBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBrown Sound DistortionDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationKlone and Transparent OverdriveMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMulti-DriveOCD Style OverdriveOverdriveSinvertekTweed Style Overdrive+-
2024-GPX-Sinvertek-N5-MGAT-1-GE-Detailed-700.jpg

Wow - what can I say! The original N5 MGAT-1 was already my favourite distortion of all time - so I initially thought that this was going to be a sort of sideways step from that with more specificity to reach certain key classic era Marshall tones more easily and more precisely - and it certainly does that. While Mr Wu has kind of blown me away again - as this is incredibly a further improvement over the already exceptional MGAT-1.

 

The MGAT-1 Golden Era seems a little bit more poised and ...

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End of Year Pedal-Chain Update - Final Formation - Class of 2023

ALABS AudioAmbient EffectsAnasoundsBig Muff Style FuzzBispell AudioBitcrushing and Lo-FiBixonicBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCompressorCoppersoundDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDouble TrackingDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveEchoverbElectric LoveEmpress EffectsEnvelope Filter and Auto WahEQEventideFjord FuzzFlangerFortin AmpsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGermanium FuzzGlitchGuitar Synth and SequencerHello Sailor EffectsHologram ElectronicsIntensive Care AudioJackson AudioJAM PedalsKernomKeyztoneKlone and Transparent OverdriveLo-Fi DelayLooperMaestro Style FuzzMarshall Style DistortionMessiah GuitarsMetal DistortionModulated FuzzModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXNoise GateOctave FuzzOctaverOddball DelayOddball FuzzOddball ModulationOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzOverdrivePalmer Custom FXPastFXPedal ChainPedalPalFXPickup ModellerPitch-ShiftingPlate ReverbPoly EffectsPreAmpRack Style ReverbRainger FXReverb WorkstationReverse DelayReverse ReverbRing ModulationRotary SpeakerShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbStrymonSuper-Fuzz StyleSwellTape DelayTark AudioTC ElectronicThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTubescreamer Style OverdriveTubesteaderTweed Style OverdriveUtilityVox Style Distortion+-
2023-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-Class-of-2023-700.jpg

The final arrangement for the year - all the pedals that impressed the most!

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2023 Best New Distortion Pedals of the Year

Bardic Audio DevicesBest in ClassBrown Sound DistortionDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveEarthQuaker DevicesElectric Eye AudioEmpress EffectsFairfield CircuitryFortin AmpsFunny Little BoxesHoopla PedalsIntensive Care AudioLaowizMarshall Style DistortionMessiah GuitarsMetal DistortionMulti-DrivePedalPalFXSua DevicesTWA EffectsUAFXUniversal AudioVemuram+-
2023-GPX-Best-of-Distortion-Pedals-700.jpg

A decent showing on the Distortion side too - with some particularly great High Gain Distortions. I was due to review the Licthlaerm Gehenna and Medusa also - but with Daniel Ringl’s workshop move - that didn’t quite get sorted this year - hopefully early in the new year - and then I can update the ’Full Metal Racket’ selection which exercise I normally do late Autumn!

 

There’s couple of really cool filter distortions here that I really like - the Intensive Care Audio Vena Cava Filter / ...

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12 Degrees of Saturation 2023 Compact Edition

12 Degrees of SaturationAll-PedalAudiostormBardic Audio DevicesBig Muff Style FuzzBispell AudioBixonicBlackhawk AmplifiersBogner AmplificationBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioCKK ElectronicsCustom TonesDemon PedalsDistortionDr ScientistDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDryBell EffectsDual-DriveEmpress EffectsFeaturedFoxpedalFriedman EffectsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzGreer AmpsHamstead SoundworksJ RockettJackson AudioJHS PedalsJRADKMA AudioMarshall Style DistortionMenatoneMessiah GuitarsMetal DistortionMI EffectsMidValleyFXMulti-DriveNordland ElectronicsOhmless PedalsOpAmp FuzzOrigin EffectsOverdrivePettyjohn ElectronicsRedbeard EffectsREVV AmplificationSilicon FuzzSinvertekSnouse Electric CompanySpaceman EffectsSuhrThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTone InkTsakalis Audio WorksVictory Amps+-
2023-12-Degrees-Compact-Edition-700.jpg

This article has been a long time coming - where I originally started this ahead of the Mini Edition - which went live on January 24th. I was waiting for a couple of new pedals to be released - while the article has been iterated around 20 times now with a number of recent additions.

 

And the pedal I was waiting to launch still hasn’t quite happened, while the builder has authorised me to tease it in advance of its official release. And if I were to do the same exercise tomorrow - no doubt ...

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DSM & Humboldt upscale their Silver Linings format to create the Black Cloud Killer High Gains Distortion / Preamp

Brown Sound DistortionDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMulti-DrivePreAmp+-
2023-GPX-DSM-Humboldt-Black-Clouds-700.jpg

Readers will know that the DSM & Humboldt Silver Linings Drive / Preamp pedal was one of my very favourite pedals from last year - in fact one of my favourite ever Multi-Drives. It’s a winning formula for sure, and DSM&H in their wisdom have taken the exact same format and now loaded it with killer percussive high gain.

 

Near enough all the controls, topology and parameters of the Black Clouds are identical to the Silver Linings - with the exception of the second 3-way toggle switch ...

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2023 January Pedal-Chain Update - Episode I - A Mighty Start

Analog Music CompanyBeautiful Noise EffectsBitcrushing and Lo-FiBixonicBoostBoost and OverdriveChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDual-DriveEQEventideFairfield CircuitryFjord FuzzFlangerFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzGlitchGranular DelayHologram ElectronicsHumanoid PedalsKlone and Transparent OverdriveMarshall Style DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMuir Audio DesignMulti-DriveMulti-FXNordland ElectronicsODR Style OverdriveOhmless PedalsOneControlOverdrivePedal ChainPhaserPoly EffectsRing ModulationRotary SpeakerSilicon FuzzStrymonTremoloUni-Vibe and VibeUtility+-
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What a magnificent start to the year -  I don’t think I’ve ever had such a strong January selection - I could almost stick a pin in it and take the rest of the year off! Several of these slots won’t see much change between now and the end of the year - and so impressive is this latest batch of additions - that I can’t really see what might be improved in order to replace most of those.

 

I was not expecting to add the Eventide H90 quite so quickly - while the Hologram Microcosm has always ...

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End of Year Pedal-Chain Update - Final Formation - Class of 2022

Ambient EffectsBardic Audio DevicesBeetronics FXBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChorus and VibratoColortone PedalsCompressorCoppersoundDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDouble TrackingDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveEchoverbEmpress EffectsEQEventideFlangerFrost Giant ElectronicsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzGoosoniqueworxHamstead SoundworksHorrothia EffectsJackson AudioKeyztoneLooperMarshall Style DistortionMeris EffectsMetal DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXMXRNoise GateNordland ElectronicsOCD Style OverdriveOctaverOld Blood Noise EndeavorsOverdrivePastFXPedal ChainPettyjohn ElectronicsPhaserPickup ModellerPitchPlate ReverbPreAmpRack Style ReverbReverbReverb WorkstationReverse ReverbRitual DevicesShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSinvertekSlicer and StutterSoldanoSpaceman EffectsSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbStrymonTape DelayTC ElectronicThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTone InkUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityVictory AmpsVox Style DistortionWah and Fixed WahWalrus AudioWampler+-
2022-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-Class-of-2022-700.jpg

^ 2022 Final Arrangement - December

 

So the time has come again to to the final reckoning of the layout and composition of this year’s ultimate pedal chain arrangement. I’ve introduced a new ’’ symbol into the visual - which indicates those Slots / Pedals that are unchanged from last year’s Class of 2021 arrangement. That element really is testament to how much has changed between years. It’s also indicative of how much I love those particular pedals - and pretty much find them ...

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2022 Best of the Best Guitar Pedals of the Year

Alexander PedalsBardic Audio DevicesBeetronics FXBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoColortone PedalsDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDistortionDouble TrackingDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveEchoverbEmpress EffectsEQEventideFjord FuzzFlangerFlower PedalsFrost Giant ElectronicsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzGranular DelayHamstead SoundworksHorrothia EffectsKeeley EngineeringKernomKinotoneKMA AudioLine 6Lo-Fi DelayMarshall Style DistortionMeris EffectsMetal DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXMXRNordland ElectronicsOctaverOddball DelayOld Blood Noise EndeavorsOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePastFXPitchReverb WorkstationReverse DelaySilicon FuzzSinvertekSlicer and StutterTape DelayThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTone InkTremoloUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityVictory AmpsWalrus Audio+-
2022-GPX-Best-of-the-Best-Pedals-Annual-700.jpg

As I’ve just done all the category overviews / best of genre rundowns - you can refer to those for all the individual pedal details - most have full reviews on this site too - here I will simply lay down the longlist - and explain why I picked those top 3 here - so just the details for the 3 overall winners!

 

I normally try to single out around 40 each year in the final overview - but it also depends on how many can fit the ’jigsaw’ of the visual.

 

There were 4 pedals in the full longlist...

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2022 Best New Distortion Pedals of the Year

Aleks K ProductionAura AmpsBeautiful Noise EffectsBest in ClassBlackhawk AmplifiersBossBrown Sound DistortionDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDual-DriveFrost Giant ElectronicsGear AntKMA AudioKSR AmplificationKuro Custom AudioLeyland PedalsMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMidValleyFXMissing Link AudioMooerMulti-DriveOld Blood Noise EndeavorsPreAmpRainger FXSinvertekSolar GuitarsSolar PedalsSoldanoTone InkVictory AmpsWamplerWampler CollectiveWestminster EffectsWren and CuffZander Circuitry+-
2022-GPX-Best-New-Distortion-Pdeals-Annual-700.jpg

Obviously the big Distortion story of the year for me was my recent Full Metal Racket High Gain Distortion roundup - and roughly one third of this selection was in service of that feature alone. Even then I didn’t get to everything I wanted to as a couple or so builders weren’t particularly responsive. This is often quite a thankless task of revolving and closing doors - in any case case I’m proud of what I managed to accomplish regardless - and some of the candidates are quite superb.

 

The ...

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