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Amp and Cab IR SimBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveBrown Sound DistortionCarl MartinChorus and VibratoCitadel ElectronicsDeath By AudioDistortionDOD EffectsDriveDrunk BeaverDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveEarthQuaker DevicesElectro-HarmonixFjord FuzzFlattley Guitar PedalsFuzzKlone and Transparent OverdriveLichtlaerm AudioMad Professor EffectsMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMissing Link AudioModelling AmpModulationMulti-DriveMulti-FXMulti-GainOCD Style OverdriveOctave FuzzOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainPhaserPreAmpRhPf ElectronicsSeymour DuncanSilicon FuzzSuperlunarTube OverdriveTubescreamer Style OverdriveUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityValetonWampler+-

January has been a bumper start for the year - with lots of killer arrivals - especially the DSM & Humboldt Dumblifier which I’ve been hugely impressed with.

Also my most formidable NAMM coverage to-date - where I only started work properly on the 8th of January - but have managed to do 60 articles since that time - which is a record of course, as is the week of 20 posts.

I feel I covered all the key moments - and mixed up new and old in my usual inimitable fashion.

There was ...

16 of the Best Extended Range Marshall Pedals with Plexi + JCM800 Coverage : The Next Iteration

Jan 28, 202612:00 by

Blues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionCarl MarinCrazy Tube CircuitsDistortionDriveDryBell EffectsDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveEmpress EffectsFlattley Guitar PedalsFormula BFortin AmpsFrost Giant ElectronicsFuzzJackson AudioMarshall Style DistortionMulti-DriveOverdriveSeymour DuncanSinvertekThorpyFXTsakalis Audio WorksTubesteader+-

This is the 2nd Iteration for this article - where we go from a selection of 13 to 16.

I landed 4 of these these last year - the Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker, Flattley Outlaw, Fortin Kali, and Tubesteader Gainlord.

And two early this year - the Car Martin PlexiRanger and Seymour Duncan Diamondhead

We have 4 distinct types of pedals here across 4 format sizes (Compact / Mid-Horizontal / Mid-Vertical / Large) :

Dedicated Dual Channel Plexi + JCM800 Overdrive / Distortion with

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Thomas Blug îs unerringly close now to a full release of his new state of the art BluGuitar Amp X Analog Amp & Pedal Modeller

Jan 26, 202608:00 by

AmpsBluGuitarDigital DelayDigital ReverbFloor-AmpModelling AmpMulti-DriveMulti-FXMulti-GainTube Amp+-

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...

Shnobel Tone's Dumbbell Driver Boost evolves to an interesting hybrid of its Daily Driver Boost origins, where the conventional Boost on that is replaced by a new enhanced Dumble variant

Jan 23, 202612:00 by

BoostBoost and OverdriveDriveDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveMulti-DriveOverdriveShnobel Tone+-

I have and love my Shnobel Daily Driver pedal - and had long intended to get the enhanced Daily Driver Boost Version - which adds in a smart Clean Boost and Order Switch. I had intended to get a white edition of that for a while which hasn’t happened yet!

When I first saw the Dumbbell Driver from afar - I thought it somewhat reminiscent of the Cosmodio Instruments modification of JHS’s NOTADÜMBLË and Blammo Electronics’ TNYDÜMBLË - which I own - both 6-knob variants - with 2 banks of 3 ...

Superlunar's extraordinary SR-01 Multi-Gain Transistor-based Analog Saturation Device is now available at Northern Stompboxes in the UK

Jan 16, 202612:00 by

BoostBoost and OverdriveDistortionDriveFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionMulti-DriveNorthernStomps.comOverdriveSuperlunar+-

This was one of my priority targets for last year - where it landed at Northern Stompboxes towards the end of that year - and I was determined to land it as early as possible this year.

Controls - Q1 Gain, Blue Button Fuzz / Distortion Switch, White Button Fixed High Pass Filter Switch, V] Volume, A] Attenuate Input, C] Q2 Bias, F] First Order Low Pass Filter.

Key Features

boost, overdrive, distortion, fuzz circuit
large capacitors for all the thickness
fixed high-pass filter
first-

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The forthcoming Sinvertek MGAT-1 EVO Marshall Real Amp Abstraction Preamp comes in 2 limited-run Great Era and Abstractionism Editions and is one month away from landing now

Jan 12, 202615:00 by

Boost and OverdriveBrown Sound DistortionDistortionDriveMarshall Style DistortionMulti-DriveSinvertek+-

Readers will know that I’m a huge fan of Sinvertek’s N5 / MGAT series - where I own each of the key editions released to date - since 2017.

This is the 3rd and ultimate edition of the MGAT-1 MIAB circuit - which retains the same topology as the other 2 MGAT-1’s - but slightly repurposes some of those controls - and aligns them more with specific Marshall Amp Profiles.

Controls - Volume, Marshall Amp Frequency Character : JCM / JTM / SLP & JVM, Gain, Low Frequency Response : Full / ...

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Mr Wu has expanded the envelope further - another evolved and improved MGAT-1 Pedal is incoming - the Marshall EVO Edition Sinvertek Real Amp Abstraction

Dec 12, 202512:00 by

Brown Sound DistortionDistortionDriveMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMulti-DriveOverdriveSinvertek+-

I already thought we had witnessed Peak Full-Range Marshall back in 2022 with the original MGAT-1, then Mr Wu significantly improved that circuit in 2024, and the new one promises to be even better!

So far we’ve only had a teaser on Instagram - where I got the EVO pic from - while there is no web page yet or much in the way of further details.

Like the MGAT-5 - the first batch will contain especially mojo components - so it’s worth getting involved early on.

The actual control ...

End of Year Pedal Chain Update - Class of 2025

Dec 12, 202508:00 by

Ambient EffectsAnalog DelayBeat MachineBecos FXBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlender and MixerBlue ColanderBlue FX DevicesBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrelliottBrown Sound DistortionButterfly EffectsChase Bliss AudioColortone PedalsCompressorCoriolis EffectsCornerstone Music GearCosmic Loop FXCrazy Tube CircuitsCryBabyDelayDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDown-TunerDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDryBell EffectsDual-DriveEarthQuaker DevicesEchoverbElectro-HarmonixExpressionFlangerFlatley Guitar PedalsFortin AmpsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzGlitchGranular DelayGreat Eastern FX Co.Hangman fxHarmonizerIK MultimediaIntensive Care AudioJim DunlopLo-Fi DelayMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulated FuzzModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXMulti-GainOctave FuzzOctaverOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePastFXPedal ChainPitchPitch-ShiftingPlate ReverbPlutoneium EngineeringPoly EffectsPolyendRack Style ReverbRat Style FuzzRedbeard EffectsReverbReverb WorkstationRotary SpeakerShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSinvertekSolar PedalsSpaceman EffectsSpacey ReverbTeaching MachinesThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTubesteaderTweed Style OverdriveUtilityWah and Fixed WahWampler+-

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

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Superlunar's SR-01 Transistor-based Analog Saturation Device is a wonderfully distinctive Multi-Gain Overdrive, Distortion and Fuzz pedal

Dec 3, 202508:00 by

BoostBoost and OverdriveDistortionDriveFuzzMulti-DriveMulti-GainOverdriveSuperlunar+-

I came across this recently on Coast Sonic - and then quite forgot where I saw it original - where it took me a further day or two to find it once more. This Multi-Gain pedal is definitely a target for me early next year.

It’s a cool Overdrive pedal with Fixed High Pass Filter, and fully variable Low Pass Filter, Input Gain Attenuation, and Q2 Bias.

The Blue push-button engages a further gain stage - which delivers Distortion and Fuzz tones.

This is a highly stylised and stylish ...

2025 November Pedal-Chain Update - Episode XI - Double Decked

Nov 28, 202515:00 by

Analog DelayBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveChorus and VibratoCompressorDelayDigital DelayDistortionDriveDrunk BeaverElectronic Audio ExperimentsEmpty Head EffectsFlattley Guitar PedalsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzGreat Eastern FX Co.Intensive Care AudioJHS PedalsLo-Fi DelayManson Guitar WorksMarshall Style DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMoose ElectronicsMuir Audio DesignMulti-DriveMulti-FXMulti-GainOctave FuzzOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePasta PedalsPastFXPedal ChainPoly EffectsRat Style FuzzRitual DevicesSilicon FuzzSinvertekSpaceman EffectsThorpyFXTremoloTubescreamer Style OverdriveTWA EffectsTweed Style OverdriveUtility+-

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 ...