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2 Cool Dumble-esque Dual Channel Overdrives - the Free The Tone Overdriveland and Mythos Pedals Herculean Deluxe

Blues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveFree The ToneMythos PedalsOverdrive+-
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Both these pedals materialised around the same time - in and around the recent NAMM Show - although the Herculean Deluxe has not been officially launched yet (21st February) - but there is plenty of coverage of it online already.

 

I thought it made sense to cover off both of these in a single post - as they are kind of competitors to each other - each with its own unique elements. And the Herculean DLX contains that very rare mix of Dumble and Bluesbreaker.

 

I like the look / sound of ...

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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+-
2024-GPX-Zoom-MultiStomp-MS-200Dplus-V2-700.jpg

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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Pelican NoiseWorks reissues and refreshes its 50/50 Dual DOD250 style Overdrive 60 Cycle Hum Collaboration

BoostBoost and OverdriveDistortionDriveDual-DriveOverdrivePelican Noiseworks+-
2024-GPX-Pelican-NoiseWorks-50-50-MKII-700.jpg

Readers should know that I collect the more extended range DOD250 style overdrives - and I’ve long had the original 50/50 in the collection - where it initially emerged in 2017 I believe. So it’s good news for everyone who missed out on one of those then as we now have a reissue of this in a very slightly smaller enclosure with a flush back-plate and momentary and latching footswitches.

 

The core circuit and functionality is unchanged - so probably not worth getting if you already have one -...

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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 Guitar Pedals of the Year - The Best of the Best

ALABS AudioAmbient EffectsAmp and Cab IR SimAnalog DelayBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCollision DevicesDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDouble TrackingDriveDual-DriveEchoverbElectric LoveFjord FuzzFlangerFlower PedalsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGermanium FuzzGranular DelayHello Sailor EffectsHologram ElectronicsJackson AudioJAM PedalsKernomKeyztoneLo-Fi DelayMaestro Style FuzzMarshall Style DistortionMeris EffectsMessiah GuitarsModulated FuzzModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXOctave FuzzOddball DelayOddball FuzzOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzOverdrivePalmer Custom FXPastFXPickup ModellerPlate ReverbPoly EffectsRack Style ReverbRainger FXReverbReverb WorkstationReverse DelayReverse ReverbShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbStrymonSuper-Fuzz StyleTark AudioTC ElectronicTremoloUtility+-
2023-GPX-Best-of-the-Best-Pedals-700.jpg

So we featured 120 pedals across the 5 Genre categories this year - as you’ve witnessed over the last 5 days, and those have been whittled and distilled down to these 27 Magnificent and Exceedingly Flavoursome candidates.

 

Picking out the very best of those is obviously a slightly subjective exercise while based on a series of exacting criteria - including innovation, versatility, practicality, variability, playability, quality of manufacture, quality of output and sheer enjoyment.

 

Here ...

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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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2023 October Pedal-Chain Update - Episode X - Transformation Multipliers

All-PedalBardic Audio DevicesBoostBoost and OverdriveBossDistortionDriveDrunk BeaverDual-DriveElectric Eye AudioEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFlattley Guitar PedalsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGermanium FuzzHello Sailor EffectsIntensive Care AudioLoe SoundsMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulated FuzzModulationMuir Audio DesignMulti-DriveOscillating FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainPhaserRainger FXSilicon FuzzSpaceman EffectsTark AudioTone For Punk+-
2023-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-October-700.jpg

Wow what a wild ride of a month - one of the busiest to date - bookmarked with two superb events. You really need to read my event round-ups - they’re so full of little details - and of course personalities - the bigger friendship network and sort of family that makes up this magnificent sector in many ways. For sure everyone is in hard competition with each other for the same customer money - but there’s genuine warmth of spirit - a friendliness and willingness to cooperate and get along. Both...

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Ben Carlin's Electric Love collaborates with Brian Wampler on the Aquatone Overdrive / Distortion - a very special evolution of the BD-2 Blues Driver

Blues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveDistortionDriveDual-DriveElectric LoveOverdriveWampler+-
2023-GPX-Electric-Love-Aquatone-700.jpg

Before I jump into talking about this fantastic pedal it’s good to do a little background on Ben Carlin’s essentially ’Electric Love’ sort of Foundation - a pedal business specifically set up to raise money for cancer research.

 

Both Ben’s Wife and Daughter have had serious and significant cancer scares in the past few years - which were overcome through wonderfully attentive service and effective treatments delivered by a variety of healthcare professionals - who brought both those family ...

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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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Joe's Pedals is Exclusive UK Dealer for Acorn Amplifiers' superior Preamp, Distortion and Fuzz pedals

Acorn AmpsBest of BrandsBig Muff Style FuzzDistortionDual-DriveFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGuitar Synth and SequencerOddball FuzzOverdrivePitch-ShiftingPreAmp+-
2023-GPX-Acorn-Amps-Joes-Pedals-700.jpg

I’ve been a significant fan of Acorn Amps Pedals over the years and have hitherto had to acquire mine direct from their Atlanta, Georgia Webstore which is not ideal in terms of overseas customs / import and shipping charges. I already had two to my name via said route - the ADHD Synth Fuzz and Kakarot 2-Transistor Fuzz, and I fully intended to get the Compact Solid State Preamplifier fairly imminently too.

 

I’ve reviewed quite a few of the Acorn Amps Pedals over the years on this site - ...

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