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+-
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 ...
Alexander PedalsAnimals PedalBJFEBlackhawk AmplifiersColortone PedalsDeath By AudioDemedash EffectsDiamond PedalsEarthQuaker DevicesFlower PedalsGuitar Gear Improvements and PrototypesGuitar Gear ResourcesGuitar Pedal 101GuitarSystemsIconic GearJackson AudioJAM PedalsJHS PedalsMu-TronOrigin EffectsPettyjohn ElectronicsSitek Guitar ElectronicsSpaceman EffectsTanabeTru-Fi Guitar EffectsVFE PedalsWalrus AudioZander CircuitryZvex+-
So this is the second of this series - where the first was more about the uniqueness of the enclosure shape - more structural really - covering the overall form factor. While this edition is more about ’Trade Dress’ or the Memorability of the Aesthetics - style of graphics, consistency of theme, and consistency of control topology - doing something in a consistently measurable way that makes that pedal instantly recognisable from afar as belonging to a certain single brand.
So this one is ...
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+-
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 ...
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+-
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 ...
Blackhawk AmplifiersDistortionDriveFuzzMetal Distortion+-
Blackhawk’s Uruk-hai famously combines two of its finest circuits within the one enclosure - where the Valkyrie Saturated OpAmp Drive is cascaded into the Valhalla Sludgy Fuzz. You actually have separate gain controls for each side of the circuit, supported by common / universal Volume, Treble and Mids knobs, along with a fairly unique gate.
Controls - Volume, Valhalla Gain, Treble, Valkyrie Gain, Gate, Mids.
The Gate almost works like a bias in some respects as the texture changes ...
Ambient EffectsAmp and Cab IR SimAmpliTubeBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBlackhawk AmplifiersBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChorus and VibratoCoppersoundDecibelicsDemedash EffectsDigital ReverbDistortionDriveDrunk BeaverDryBell EffectsDual-DriveEarthQuaker DevicesEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFjord FuzzFlangerFlower PedalsFoxpedalFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGuitar Synth and SequencerIK MultimediaKlirrton ManufakturKlone and Transparent OverdriveKuro Custom AudioMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXOCD Style OverdriveOctaverOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainPete CornishPettyjohn ElectronicsPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingPlate ReverbPreAmpRack Style ReverbRat Style FuzzRedbeard EffectsReverbReverb WorkstationReverse ReverbRotary SpeakerShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSinvertekSpaceman EffectsSpacey ReverbSpiral Electric FXSpring ReverbStrymonTimmyTremoloTsakalis Audio WorksTubescreamer Style OverdriveUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityVox Style DistortionWah and Fixed Wah+-
2021 was another very significant year for me - and one that signals that I probably need to slow down now - as I picked up well over 200 new pedals during the year - which really is excessive. Storage is starting to become an issue - and I will need to be a lot more prudent and strategic in my acquisitions next year!
So more than 200 new ones, and in fact 25 slots were switches up during the year - where only 12 were totally untouched and unchanged. A slew of new gain pedals as always - ...
All-PedalAmbient EffectsAmp and Cab IR SimAmpliTubeAnalog DelayBeat MachineBecos FXBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlack Arts ToneworksBlackhawk AmplifiersBoostBoost and OverdriveBossChorus and VibratoCompressorCooper FXDecibelicsDelayDemedash EffectsDigital ReverbDistortionDrunk BeaverDryBell EffectsDual-DriveEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFjord FuzzFlangerFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzGreuter AudioGuitar Synth and SequencerIK MultimediaJHS PedalsKlone and Transparent OverdriveKuro Custom AudioMaestro Style FuzzMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulationNeunaberOctave FuzzOld Blood Noise EndeavorsOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePete CornishPhaserRainger FXRat Style FuzzRedbeard EffectsReverbReverb WorkstationSilicon FuzzSinvertekSpaceman EffectsSpun Loud EffectsStrymonSuhrThermionThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTsakalis Audio WorksTubescreamer Style OverdriveUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityWah and Fixed WahWalrus AudioWamplerWay Huge EffectsZander Circuitry+-
This Grand Finale has been through several iterations and some very advanced Tetris-style re-arrangements. Last year I had 25 finalists, while this year I’ve upped that quotient to 40! I still would have liked to have included a few more - including the EQD Hizumitas, but in the end felt this was about right on balance.
As I’ve already covered all of these in the very recent end of year category rundowns - this article will just be listed mentions - bar the 3 sort of specially singled out ...
Ananashead EffectsBardic Audio DevicesBecos FXBenson AmpsBest in ClassBlackhawk AmplifiersBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionCatalinbreadCornerstone Music GearCustom Audio ArtDecibelicsDemedash EffectsDemiurge InstrumentsDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveElectronic Audio ExperimentsFoxpedalFunny Little BoxesFuzzrociousGreuter AudioKlirrton ManufakturKlone and Transparent OverdriveKMA AudioKuro Custom AudioMarshall Style DistortionMatthews EffectsMetal DistortionMulti-DriveMXROverdrivePete CornishPettyjohn ElectronicsPigtronixPolarbear EffectsRedbeard EffectsSinvertekSpun Loud EffectsTsakalis Audio WorksTubescreamer Style OverdriveTweed Style OverdriveWalrus AudioZander Circuitry+-
The Boost, Overdrive and Distortion category is the most heavily contested, and indeed the most heavily congested category this year. I started with a Longlist of more than 70 and whittled down to the 39 featured here. Note that for balance I have included Rat pedals in the Fuzz Category already listed. This list features some of the more subtle fuzz-edged / fuzzy-drive varieties - although there will of course be some slight degree of overlap.
Featured above and listed here are 39 ...
Abominable ElectronicsBardic Audio DevicesBlackhawk AmplifiersBossDecibelicsDistortionKlirrton ManufakturKMA AudioLone Wolf AudioMetal DistortionXIX Tech FX+-
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, ...
Big Muff Style FuzzBlackhawk AmplifiersBossChorus and VibratoDemedash EffectsDemiurge InstrumentsDistortionDr ScientistDriveEarthQuaker DevicesElectronic Audio ExperimentsEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFlangerFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionJHS PedalsKuro Custom AudioMetal DistortionModulationOddball ModulationOpAmp FuzzPedal ChainRat Style FuzzSilicon FuzzSuper-Fuzz Style+-
It was inevitable that November would be a slower month after the birthday bounty that was October. In fact I deliberately made it so - as I can only deal with so many incoming pedals at a time - and too many makes things rather chaotic.
That said there are still quite a few changes to the chain - or 10 all told - including the featuring of the two Blackhawk Fuzzes I recently required which hadn’t been covered yet. Boss delivers another killer gain pedal in the shape of the FZ-1W 60’s Style...