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12 Compact Gain Pedals with Fully Variable Sweepable Parametric Mids

Abominable ElectronicsBig Muff Style FuzzBig Tone Music BreweryBoostBoost and OverdriveBossChase Bliss AudioDistortionDOD EffectsDriveEmpress EffectsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionHardWire EffectsJHS PedalsKMA AudioMarshall Style DistortionMenatoneMetal DistortionOverdriveRat Style FuzzSilicon Fuzz+-
2023-GPX-12-Parametric-Mids-Compacts-700-V2.jpg

So a follower on Instagram asked me to do a piece on which pedals had Sweepable mids - meaning really semi-parametric mids - with one control for Mids Frequency, and another to Cut/Boost that Frequency.

 

I thought there were a lot more than those that I finally uncovered. It’s mostly distortion pedals that have 3-Band EQs, and so it stands to reason - that it’s mostly distortion pedals that have parametric mids too.

 

While there is also a now long discontinued series - by Big Tone Music ...

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Full Metal Racket! - 32 of the Best Compact High Gain Metal Distortion Pedals - 2022 Ultimate Selection

Abasi ConceptsAbominable ElectronicsAleks K ProductionAmptweakerAMT EffectsAnarchy AudioAura AmpsBardic Audio DevicesBest in ClassBlackhawk AmplifiersBossBrown Sound DistortionDistortionDOD EffectsDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveFriedman EffectsHardWire EffectsKeeley EngineeringKlirrton ManufakturKMA AudioMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMidValleyFXMulti-DriveRedbeard EffectsREVV AmplificationSinvertekSolar GuitarsSolar PedalsSoldanoTone InkVictory AmpsWamplerWestminster EffectsXIX Tech FX+-
2022-GPX-32-Best-Metal-Distortions-V6-700.jpg

This article has been such a long time coming - I last did a compact high gain distortion pedal roundup all the way back in 2019 - where only 24 featured. This time around I was determined to have it as comprehensive as possible, and like the recent 32 Overdrive and 32 Mini Fuzz selections - I was determined to have all in my reference collection.

 

I’ve long been a fan of heavier / metal textures and tones, and have always had certain pedal-chain slots dedicated to high gain pedals - in ...

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HM-2 Capsule Collection Goes to 11!

Abominable ElectronicsBardic Audio DevicesBlackhawk AmplifiersBossDecibelicsDistortionKlirrton ManufakturKMA AudioLone Wolf AudioMetal DistortionXIX Tech FX+-
2021GPXHM2CapsuleCollection11700V2.jpg

2021 has been a magnificent year for the HM-2 Chainsaw / Twin Peaks / Swedish Death Metal Distortion Weapon of Destruction category - punctuated of course by the revival of the OG Boss HM-2 - in the guise of the all-round improved HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza Craft Edition.

 

6 recent HM-2 style pedals / editions entered the collection this year besides the HM-2W - the Abominable Electronics Pedalboard-friendly Chaotic Evil Ned, Bardic Audo Devices HM-Demon, Lone Wolf Audio Left Hand Wrath, ...

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The Ever-Expanding Boss HM-2 Twin Peaks Heavy Metal Distortion Capsule Collection

Abominable ElectronicsBardic Audio DevicesBlackhawk AmplifiersBossDecibelicsDistortionKlirrton ManufakturKMA AudioLone Wolf AudioMetal DistortionXIX Tech FX+-
2021GPXHM2CapsuleCollection700V9.jpg

There’s no doubt that I’m a fan of the HM-2 format - and there are some very fine derivations of that circuit out there in all different shapes and sizes. Much like in many parts of my collection I try to assemble a carefully curated selection of the very best examples out there - and obviously there are plenty of new surprises evolving which keep you on your toes.

 

My original capsule collection was all set to have 7 classic pedals - while there have been a slew of great ...

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Boss FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz Pedal Considerations and Alternatives

Abominable ElectronicsBaltimore Sonic Research InstituteBossFTelettronicaFuzzFuzzlordHiero EffectsLone Wolf AudioPepers' PedalsSilicon FuzzSuper-Fuzz Style+-
2021GPXBossFZ2Alternatives700.jpg

The Boss FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz (1993-1997) has long been a perennial Boss favourite - even though long since discontinued. Second-hand prices are hovering as high as they have ever been (as much as $600 equivalent) and there’s a certain anticipation that following the success of the TB-2W and (re)launch of the HM-2W that the FZ-2 may just be the next in line.

 

While I feel that much the same as with the HM-2W - Boss will be wanting to see a populist petition first before they commit to ...

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Black and Orange HM-2 Style Distortion Target Capsule Collection in honour of the imminent Boss HM-2W Waza Craft Launch

Abominable ElectronicsBossDecibelicsDistortionKlirrton ManufakturKMA AudioLone Wolf AudioMetal DistortionXIX Tech FX+-
2021GPXHM2CapsuleCollection700V4.jpg

Most are aware that the updated and revived Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal is due for imminent release - I believe sometime around June. In order to celebrate that momentous occasion I’ve been building up a sort of capsule collection of some of the very best HM-2 style distortions - specifically in that Black and Orange colourway. Note that I’ve taken liberties with the Klirtonn Grindstein visualisation which is actually currently Black and Red, while I’m going to try to persuade ...

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9 of the Best Mid-Size Extended-Range Muff-Style Fuzz Pedals

Abominable ElectronicsBig Muff Style FuzzBlack Arts ToneworksBuffalo FXDemon PedalsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionKMA AudioLone Wolf AudioOpAmp FuzzSilicon FuzzTone ElectronixToneczarTX PedalsWren and Cuff+-
2021GPX9MediumMultiMuffs700V3.jpg

This post marks the milestone that all these are now in the reference collection - with the Animalizzer and Pharaoh Supreme the most recent to be added. There are still a few more out there that I have my eyes on, while this selection in and of itself is pretty much as good as it can be.

 

These are all Extended-Range Muff-Style Fuzz Pedals which have a very significant coverage via additional clipping, gain-structure and tone controls. Each of these covers a number of varieties, while ...

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2021 January Pedal-Chain Update - Episode I - A New Dawn

Abominable ElectronicsBig Muff Style FuzzBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBrown Sound DistortionCoppersoundDecibelicsDistortionFriedman EffectsFulltone EffectsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionJAM PedalsKlirrton ManufakturKlone and Transparent OverdriveMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulationOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainPushking PedalsRat Style FuzzReeves Electro Guitar PedalsSilicon FuzzSinvertekThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzToneTuga EffecctsTremoloWalrus AudioWay Huge EffectsZander Circuitry+-
2021GPXSKPedalChainUpdateJan700V3.jpg

And so it begins again! This time punctuated by Virtual NAMM / Believe in Music Week and some certain JA incident.

 

I will include a mini NAMM roundup here of what some of my favourites were. In the past I’ve done a separate highlights article on the subject - but there really weren’t that many releases this time around to warrant such - in fact I would estimate only around 10% of the volume released in 2020 and 2019.

 

I will also indicate where I think I’m heading for the year and what ...

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Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal Pedal Considerations and Alternatives

Abominable ElectronicsAnarchy AudioArionBehringerBossBuild Your Own CloneBYOCDistortionDOD EffectsDunn EffectsDunwich AmplificationEarthbound AudioKeeleyKMA AudioLone Wolf AudioMetal DistortionTC ElectronicWalrus AudioWren and CuffXIX Tech FX+-
2018GPXBossHM2Clones700-min.jpg

In the wake of the new and admittedly really cool Waza Craft Edition of the Metal Zone - the MT-2w, there were nonetheless lots of Boss fans who were super surprised that Boss had seen fit to do a Waza edition of a pedal that has been in continuous production since its release in 1991, versus the long-discontinued cult favourite HM-2 (1983-1992) which is likely its most popular pedal on the second-hand market, and which likely also has the most number of clones in that marketplace.

 

The...

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