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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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2021 March Pedal-Chain Update - Episode III - An Atypical Pedal Plethora

Big Muff Style FuzzBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlackhawk AmplifiersBoostBoost and OverdriveCrazy Tube CircuitsDrunk BeaverElectro-HarmonixEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFlower PedalsFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzLone Wolf AudioMetal DistortionModulationOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainPettyjohn ElectronicsRat Style FuzzReverse DelaySilicon FuzzSwellTone Bender Style FuzzTone ElectronixTX PedalsVox Style Distortion+-
2021GPXSKPedalChainUpdateMarch700V3.jpg

March seems to have been unusually busy on all sides really, particularly with the day-job’s annual keynote event. Generally this year has been off to quite a moderate start, but that seems to have accelerated somewhat during this month.

 

It’s been a mixture of January NAMM pedals materialising and spring-time special offers, all of which contributed to a somewhat bumper month - with a record-breaking for me 29 acquisitions, prior to that the record stood at 26, while that in itself is more ...

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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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Best of High Gain and Metal Distortion Pedals Mini Focus and Final Roundup

Airis EffectsAleks K ProductionAmptweakerAMT EffectsAMT ElectronicsBlackhawk AmplifiersBogner AmplificationBossBrown Sound DistortionDecibelicsDistortionDual-DriveEmpress EffectsFriedman EffectsGoosoniqueworxHorizon DevicesIbanezKeeley EngineeringKlirrton ManufakturKMA AudioKSR AmplificationLone Wolf AudioMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMI EffectsMooerMulti-DriveOneControlPushking PedalsRedbeard EffectsREVV AmplificationRock Fabrik EffectsSTL TonesSuhrTWA EffectsWamplerXvive Audio+-
2019GPXPersonalFavouriteHighGainPedals700.jpg

So I thought I would combine the Mini Pedal selection with the final overall category roundup featuring my current favourites and forthcoming/future acquisition targets. The above visual may be somewhat convoluted, but it well illustrates the trade off in footprint and practicality/utility you get across the different enclosure form factors.

 

I’ve stated before that I’ve largely moved away from the larger styles of enclosures in favour of more pedals of a more compact nature - which means ...

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24 of the Best Compact High Gain and Metal Style Distortion Pedals - Updated 2019 Edition

Abasi ConceptsAiris EffectsAleks K ProductionAmptweakerAMT ElectronicsAnarchy AudioBlackhawk AmplifiersBossDistortionDOD EffectsFriedman EffectsKeeley EngineeringKHDKLone Wolf AudioMESA/BoogieMetal DistortionRedbeard EffectsREVV AmplificationThropyFXWamplerWeehboXIX Tech FX+-
2019GPX24CompactMetalDistortionsNovember700V2.jpg

This is an update to the feature I wrote back in March of this year. I now have more of this selection in my collection - 18 of these 24, and there are 3 pedals that are new to this updated roundup - the Airis Effects Nemesis PreAmp, Blackhawk Amplifiers Balrog Distortion V3, and of course the Redbeard Effects Red Mist MKIV.

 

The 6 here that I’ve yet to acquire for my collection but which are of course all on the wishlist are the aforementioned Airis Effects Nemesis PreAmp and ...

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9 of the Best Vertical Medium Enclosure High Gain Metal Distortion Pedals

AmptweakerDistortionEmma ElectronicsKMA AudioLone Wolf AudioMetal DistortionOKKO FXPushking PedalsRock Fabrik EffectsSTL TonesWampler+-
2019GPXVerticalMediaMetalDistortions700.jpg

This article was sparked by the recent launch of the Andy James Signature Revenant Distortion Pedal - made by STL Tones - which are an outfit best known for their digital apps and plugins - this is their first hardware effect and is excellent regardless of a first attempt. It uses all-analogue components to recreate the Andy James tone that STL previously generated via software and DSP means.

 

Most of the other pedals here have been listed and featured before on this side - and besides ...

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9 of the Best Mid-Size Multi-Voice Muff-Style Fuzz Pedals

Big Muff Style FuzzBlack Arts ToneworksDemon PedalsExpresso FXFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionKMA AudioLone Wolf AudioSilicon FuzzStone Deaf EffectsToneczarWren and CuffZander Circuitry+-
2019GPX9MediumMultiMuffs700-min.jpg

I can’t recall exactly what the catalyst was to this article, but I’ve been considering versatile medium enclosure Big Muff style fuzzes a lot of late. I have 3 of the best of these already in constant rotation (Update 4 now actually!) - i.e. one momentarily replacing the other on the #19 slot of my pedal-chain - and alternating a whole lot with the PLL style fuzzes right at this moment.

 

In any case during the process of cycling the Demon Pedals Parvati, Toneczar Vault and ...

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