Electro-Harmonix first released the Echoflanger circuit back in 1977, that then became the Polyflange in 1979, and ended up as the Polychorus in circa 1981. Mostly the exact same circuit throughout - just with different names and artworks applied - where the final jade-accented Polychorus is the prettiest of the lot. Those 3 editions are distinct from the later 1997 Stereo PolyChorus Reissue - so we’re keeping ourselves to the 70’s and 80’s here alone!

Verlie has done her usual magic in ...

After the quiet comfort of February, March unleashed an avalanched of work - both in terms of new releases and acquisitions, but especial in the field of Guitar and Pedal expos - where I attended 3 within a month - first The Birmingham Guitar Show at Cranmore Park, then the London Synth and Pedal Expo at Studio 9294, Hackney Wick - and then back to Birmingham for the Noise Maker Market at Centrala, Digbeth - all grand events.

I burned myself out a little this month, and came back willingly empty...

Verlie has outdone herself once more - with 3 more killer takes on notable vintage effects - utilising the same rarified components as those originals.

For her Klon take - she has removed a number of previously core circuit elements which can otherwise generate excess noise for some players. In removing those trouble-making parts - she has delivered an utterly unique take on the Klon - which she further enhances with 2-Band EQ, and an extra Presence switch. It has the usual Buffered Bypass ...

This is such a smart pedal - it took me a while to figure out all the controls and their impact - but it’s mostly second nature now. I had to do a lot of experimentation for it all to slot into place for me. Klowra’s Jinbo was very helpful in getting me to understand the interplay between the main variable playback head - and the further fixed relative playback heads - which you can dial in and out of action or accentuate - by using the [Spawn], Heads Volume, [Groove] and [Sum-Invert] ...

You may recall that the last time I did a Mad Professor roundup I still had 3 long-term targets remaining - that I was hoping to land somewhat opportunistically.

And just recently my good friend Joe Light had a pristine second-hand Sky Blue available on his Joe’s Pedals store - which I snapped up at a great price. And while looking around for my other 2 active Mad Professor targets - I was given an offer on a near pristine Double Moon too - at a price that I could not refuse. So in quick ...

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]

1. Becos FX CompIQ Pro Yuna Soft Knee Blackmer VCA Studio Style Compressor [SEPTEMBER]
2. Blue Colander Grimrobe Dual Cascaded Super Rat [OCTOBER]
3. Blue FX Devices Fuzz Fields Ultimate Modulated Fuzz [SEPTEMBER]
4. Boss RT-2 Rotary Ensemble Leslie / Rotary Speaker

This has turned out to be the largest category for 2025 with 38 pedals in this selection. As I favour those pedals that I own first, and then the more pedalboard-friendly editions - inevitably there would be some casualties for the year. With the most significant of those being the larger format Meris Enzo X, and the Polyend MESS Multi-Effect Step Sequencer. I know there are some who favour each of those - but they just aren’t targets for me personally.

 I always talk about having a lane - ...

My close association with Thorpy started back in late September of 2018 - at the now defunct Olympia UK Guitar Show. He was the first pedal maker I reached out to, and the first I connected with.

Since then ThorpyFX Pedals have become my 3rd most populous selection after Boss and Drunk Beaver. Those 3 brands alone contribute over 200 pedals to my reference collection!

The fact that I’m now at 31 ThorpyFX Pedals is a major milestone - and features every mainline MKII pedal Thorpy has made. ...

The Splinter Twin reminds me a touch of the Fjord Fuzz Loke, and Spaceman Effects Meridian - but with quite a few more bells and whistles, and variations onboard.

I simply just watched Ryan Burke’s video - and got instantly smitten, This to my mind is one of he most unusual Delay Line Modulators / Manipulators I’ve seen to date. Cosmodio talks of the Splinter Twin as being a Time Modulator - and Time is obviously the most significant control on the pedal!

"The Splinter Twin Time ...