Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Thomas Blug îs unerringly close now to a full release of his new state of the art BluGuitar Amp X Analog Amp & Pedal Modeller
This is a culmination of a life’s work for Thomas Blug - we’ve seen Amp 1, Mercury and Iridium editions over the years - and it’s like seeing an elite watchmaker add further complication to his triple-axis tourbillon watch!
You have 26 digitally-enhanced controls - which shape analog components (including a 100W NanoTube) into myriad amp and pedal profiles - by engaging and fine-tuning those components in various ways. Thomas has been developing this for at least a decade now - with the aim...
Beetronics follows up its Analog Bee Bee Dee Delay with a smart 8 Mode Pollinator Hazee Modulated Digital Delay
What we have here is a much simpler digital modulated delay - with a central Mode rotary selector - which selects one of 8 Filter or Tremolo Modulated Repeats.
The control topology could not be simpler - and we have the perfect complement of controls for maximum impact.
Controls - Time, Feedback, Mix, Modulation, MODES 1-8.
MODES
- 1] Filter + Forward Repeats
- 2] Filter + Forward Octave Up
- 3] Filter + Reverse Repeats
- 4] Filter + Reverse Octave Up
- 5] Trem + Reverse Octave Up
- 6]
Old Blood Noise Endeavors collaborates with Emily Hopkins on the PARTING Glitch Delay / Reverb / Crushing Modulation Device
OBNE teams up with Emily Hopkins to deliver her favourite glitch, signal crushing, and ambient sounds.
We’re familiar with the format by now - with this being the 5th in the square format - which started with the Stereo Dark Star Edition.
The same layout - but with different parameters. The PARTING is a slightly experimental device - and for the braver sonic adventurers among you!
Controls - Rate, Depth, Chance (variation), Smear, 7 x Wave Shape, Dissolve, Glitch, 3 x Presets, ...
Ibanez's new LD303 Layer Delayer uniquely combines Sixteenth and Triplet sort of multi-head delays with variable repeats levels
This is a really cool and unique delay - somewhat reminiscent of the Andy Timmons’ Halo Echo - as both use a combination of 2 different time signatures delays!
The control topology works a little like a Multi-Head Delay - where it combines 16th Notes (in Quarters) with Triplets.
You essentially set the level on each repeat / beat - where you have 1-3 LED indicators to indicate strength of each of those.
And by deploying those in different combination - you can achieve some really ...
Collision Devices introduces new compact Snack Series of Mono effects - a Fuzz, a Pitcher, and a Delay
Collision Devices delivers a unique compact form factor of effects, all well priced at €199, and all with identical 6 x Controls Topologies, and with 3 x Modes and 3 x Presets onboard. As well as cool stepped wedge-shape enclosure.
The Magic Knob does something different in each mode. Plug in an expression pedal and assign it to the control of your choice. No further documentation is offered, and no manuals as yet!
All 3 SNACK pedals have a high appeal, these seem to be a mix of analog...
End of Year Pedal Chain Update - Class of 2025
New Pedals in the Class of 2025 Pedal-Chain Snapshot = 41
[OCTOBER] = 9
[NOVEMBER] = 6
[MARCH] = 5
[SEPTEMBER] = 5
[AUGUST] = 4
[JANUARY] = 3
[FEBRUARY] = 3
[APRIL] = 2
[JUNE] = 2
[MAY] = 1
[JULY] = 1
[A-Z by Brand]
- Becos FX CompIQ Pro Yuna Soft Knee Blackmer VCA Studio Style Compressor [SEPTEMBER]
- Blue Colander Grimrobe Dual Cascaded Super Rat [OCTOBER]
- Blue FX Devices Fuzz Fields Ultimate Modulated Fuzz [SEPTEMBER]
- Boss RT-2 Rotary Ensemble Leslie / Rotary Speaker
2025 Best New Delay and Reverb Pedals of the Year
In many ways this is the most straightforward category with singular award nominees - GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE.
It’s the second smallest category after Distortions - and the one where I own the least number of pedals in proportion to the whole - just 10 out of these 26.
The order pretty much set itself - with the Cornerstone Nucleo being the clear winner from the start. I’m so impressed with every aspect of that pedal - it’s a perfect Trifecta of Design, Feaures and Playability - pretty ...
Death By Audio unleashes killer Destroyer Series with an Expansive Dream Station Echo-Verb, 6-Mode Moonbeam Phaser, and Thee Treble Overloader
What we have here is a killer Trifecta of potent shoegazer-enhanced compact editions - where two of them are fully Stereo capable.
Conventional wisdom would decree the order of : Treble Overload > Moonbeam Phaser > Dream Station.
While for shoegazer optimisation you need to reverse the order and put the reverb at the front of the chain - as several demoers have done below. I quite like Ian Pritchard’s setup too - with the Dream Station in the middle, and Thee Treble Overlaod in front! ...
Mentha.Works evolves highly stylised and unique Monk Echo + Reverb pedal with Celestial Human Formant Voices, Presets, and smart Macro control and LED display
Set up by 2 former Gamechanger Audio alumni - Toms Lazdovskis and Matiss Tazans - with a Team steeped in Darkglass Electronics / Neural DSP and Marshall.
The pedigree and provenance is pretty clear here, and Menha.Works have understandably come up with an ulra modern killer aesthetic for heir very unique new Monk Echo + Reverb. The Monk Echo is inspired by Baltic Choirs and Mystical Spiritual Spaces.
Apart from the gorgeous design here, the Monk Echo has a unique Human Formant Voicing ...
2025 November Pedal-Chain Update - Episode XI - Double Decked
Another super busy month for me - particularly towards the end - with numerous large scale articles out this week. That also coincided with my busiest week of the year for my other day job. Meaning that I was up until 4-5 in the morning every day - just to keep up with my commitments.
I was already somewhat shattered and burned out before I even got to this super busy period - and it’s a relief that all that work has now been completed on schedule.
I’m especially proud of my work on the Bucket ...
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