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Former Marshall, Darkglass Electronics and Hughes & Kettner Technical and Brand Directors launch new Citadel Electronics Pedal Brand at the Guitar Summit

BoostBoost and OverdriveCitadel ElectronicsCompressorFuzzModulationNoise GateOctave FuzzOverdrivePhaserPreAmpSuper-Fuzz StyleTube OverdriveUtility+-
2025-GPX-Citadel-Electronics-Overview-700.jpg

So we have Santiago Alvarez (ex Marshall), Tommi Otsavara (ex Darkglass Electronics), and Torsten Woelle (ex Hughes & Kettner) in a very formidable new partnership - with an excellent mid-priced full-range offering! Quite a pedigree really in terms of the principals involved.

 

According to Andertons these are mostly at the £169 mark, with two of the compacts being just £149, and then the Tube Preamp / Tube Driver going for £269 - all announced, but not yet in stock. Actually GuitarGuitar got...

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NUX reboots its Stereo Solid Studio Amp and IR Simulator - now in MKII Edition with intuitive Colour Screen and extra features

Amp and Cab IR SimAmpsDigital DelayDigital ReverbEQModelling AmpNoise GateNux FXPreAmpUtility+-
2025-GPX-Nux-Solid-State-MKII-700.jpg

When I first saw this pedal I thought it could be decent competition for my Poly Ample (which has 56 different Amp Types onboard), while it turns out that the Nux Amp Core Studio is more like that - with the below selection of 26 Amp Types : 

 

Jazz Clean, Deluxe Rvb, Bassmate, Tweedy, Twin Rvb, Hiwire, Cali Crunch, Class 15, Class 30, Plexi 100, Plexi 45, Brit 800, 1987 X50, SLO 100, Fireman HBE, Dual Rect, Die VH4, Vibro King, Budda, MR.Z.38, Super Rvb, Brit Blues, Match, Brit 200, Uber ...

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15 of the Best Compact Format Noise Gates

BossElectro-HarmonixFortin AmpsFree The ToneIbanezISP EffectsJoyo EffectsKMA AudioLichtlaerm AudioMXRNoise GateRedSeven AmplificationREVV AmplificationStone Deaf EffectsTC ElectronicUtility+-
2025-GPX-Compact-Noise-Gates-700.jpg

So I took a little bit of flack about the 4 of a kind noise gates I included in that feature. It was really just a matter of the first 4 I came across that fit the pattern - I did not do any extra curation for that selection - simply first come first serve. Inevitably I left out some killer ones - which I make amends for by including the largest possible selection of high quality compact noise gates in his very article - including my current incumbent - Alchemy Audio Modded Boss NS-2 - which ...

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4 of a Kind One Knob Noise Gates

4 of a KindIbanezISP EffectsLichtlaerm AudioMXRNoise GateUtility+-
2025-GPX-4-of-a-Kind-One-Knob-Noise-Gate-700.jpg

All 4 of these are One-Knob 4-cable / 4-port Noise Gates - where you can place all your ’noisy’ pedals in an FX Loop, and allow your other effects to pass through unaffected. I feel Boss pioneered this approach first with its 3-knob NS-2 from 1987 while there may have been someone before then which I don’t have any references for!- while I still rely on my Alchemy Audio Modded NS-2 Noise Suppressor - which has been firmly lodged in my rig / signal chain almost from the start - probably my ...

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Fractal Audio's new VP4 Virtual Pedalboard Multi-FX Processor goes head-to-head with Line 6's Helix HX Effects and Eventide's H90

Big Muff Style FuzzBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveChorus and VibratoCompressorDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDown-TunerEnvelope Filter and Auto WahEQExpressionFlangerFractal Audio SystemsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGlitchGuitar Synth and SequencerHarmonizerHot Cake Style OverdriveKlone and Transparent OverdriveModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXNoise GateOCD Style OverdriveOctave FuzzOctaverOddball ModulationOverdrivePhaserPitch-ShiftingReverb WorkstationRing ModulationRotary SpeakerSlicer and StutterSwellTimmyTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTubescreamer Style OverdriveUni-Vibe and VibeWah and Fixed Wah+-
2024-GPX-Fractal-VPX-Multi-FX-Processor-700.jpg

So Fractal Audio Systems has thrown its hat in the ring with its first non-modelling device / unit - the VP4 Virtual Pedalboard Multi-FX Processor - which is quite a departure for the brand.

 

It’s obviously gunning for Line 6 and Eventide in particular, but also looking to knock out Boss and Strymon Workstation pedals. It has several of its own advantages, but with a number of caveats too. Overall it’s well priced for what it delivers - but for my own preferences it’s still somewhat over-...

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The 10 Pedal Challenge - Mini and Large Enclosure Varieties

10 Pedal ChallengeAmbient EffectsAnalog.ManBecos FXBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveChase Bliss AudioDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDouble TrackingDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveElectro-HarmonixEmpress EffectsEventideFeaturedFortin AmpsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionKernomModulationModulation WorkstationMooerMulti-DriveMulti-FXNoise GateOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePigtronixReverbReverb WorkstationStrymonUtility+-
2024-GPX-10-Pedal-Challenge-Mini-Large-V2-700.jpg

So I said I would expand the scope of the 10 Pedal Challenge to Mini and Large Enclosure variants if the original was well received. And in indeed that seems to be the case - with several readers encouraging me in particular to do the Large Pedals Edition.

 

So of course I’ve done the 2 remaining categories - Mini and Large! The Large Pedals were pretty much all obvious choices really and that board largely suggested itself. It was the Mini Pedals version that took the most cogitation!

 

It...

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The 10 Pedal Challenge!

10 Pedal ChallengeAnalog DelayBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBYOCChase Bliss AudioDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDistortionDouble TrackingDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveFeaturedFlower PedalsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionJackson AudioModulationModulation WorkstationMooerMulti-DriveMulti-FXNoise GateOctave FuzzOpAmp FuzzOverdriveRat Style FuzzReverbReverb WorkstationSilicon FuzzSinvertekTavysh EffectsTC ElectronicThorpyFXTX PedalsUtilityWalrus AudioWampler+-
2024-GPX-Pedaltrain-Nano-Max-Challenge-700.jpg

So a follower on instagram challenged me to shrink my elaborate pedal-chain down to just 10 pedals. My original plan was just to fill a Pedaltrain Nano Max board with 10 compact pedals. But I then decided I should do a Mid-Size variation too, using the Pedaltrain Classic 2 board or thereabouts. I may do further Mini and Large Format editions as a follow-up - depending on how well this article is received!

 

This was a trickier exercise than you would imagine - as I needed to shuffle through ...

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GPX Inspired #1 - The Pedalboards of Cyril Demaegd

Amp and Cab IR SimArtistArrayBeetronics FXBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBossCioksCompressorDelayDelay WorkstationDouble TrackingDual-DriveDunlop EffectsEmpress EffectsEnvelope Filter and Auto WahEQEventideEWS EffectsExpressionFortin AmpsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGFI SystemGPX InspiredGuitar Synth and SequencerJackson AudioKernomKinotoneLooperLoop-SwitcherMaestro Style FuzzModulated FuzzMorningstar FXMulti-FXNeunaberNoise GateOctave FuzzOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePoly EffectsReverbReverb WorkstationRing ModulationSchmidt ArraySource AudioStrymonSuper-Fuzz StyleTape DelayTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTunersVolumeWalrus Audio+-
2024-GPX-Cyril-Demaegd-Main-Board-700.jpg

So this has been on the cards for a while, in fact I needed to get an update of both boards featured here, as the first version I had was almost a year ago now. The idea was always to feature reader’s pedalboards - which had been somewhat noticeably / significantly inspired by this very site.

And I’m delighted that Long-term GPX friend and pedal fan Cyril Demaegd, board game designer / developer (founder of Ystari Games) and touring musician, has been somewhat ’Inspired by GPX’ since December of...

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Massive restock of Lichtlaerm Audio Pedals at Joe's Pedals in the UK - Compact Range Overview

Ambient EffectsBest of BrandsBoostBoost and OverdriveDigital ReverbEQFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionKlone and Transparent OverdriveLichtlaerm AudioMetal DistortionModulationNoise GateOpAmp FuzzPhaserPreAmpRat Style FuzzReverbShimmer ReverbSpacey ReverbTubescreamer Style OverdriveUni-Vibe and VibeUtility+-
2024-GPX-Joes-Pedals-x-Lichtlaerm-700.jpg

It’s been quite the epic journey for me to get to Lichtlaerm Audio - which goes all the way back to February of 2020 - where I believe I was the first Pedal Blog to feature Daniel Ringl’s original first incarnation line of pedals - which had white graphics onto black facias , on top of wine-red gloss-finished enclosures (Update! - looked like white print in photos, but Daniel says - "the old line-up was silver prints directly on smooth black enclosures - the photos looked a bit white but it was...

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AmpliTube incredibly shrinks its ToneX AI Infused Modelling Pedal into a mini enclosure - courtesy of the ToneX One

Amp and Cab IR SimAmpliTubeAmpsCompressorDigital ReverbEQIK MultimediaModelling AmpMulti-FXMulti-GainNoise GatePreAmpReverbTunersUtility+-
2024-GPX-AmpliTubes-Tonex-One-700.jpg

This is truly quite a feat of engineering, and it’s all so beautifully executed too. That said Boss’s Katana : Go had a useful tiny screen, and Bluetooth connectivity to its app - which this devices could really have benefitted from. I’ve long grown tired of having to USB-cable-connect my pedals to a laptop app for updates - it should all really just be bluetooth to an iOS or Android mobile phone app by now.

 

In any case, the operation of this device could not be easier - you first of course...

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