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8 Monster Gain Machine Pedals

Best in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioDazatronyxDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveElektronFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzKernomMaestro Style FuzzMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMulti-DriveMulti-GainOctave FuzzOpAmp FuzzOrigin EffectsOverdriveSilicon FuzzSuper-Fuzz StyleTeaching MachinesTone Bender Style FuzzTubesteaderVox Style Distortion+-
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I thought I should focus on my large format heavy-hitters for a change - where these 8 are some of my largest, most potent, and best favoured gain pedals. They are arranged here in alphabetical order, while they were released in the below chronological order. All 8 have featured heavily in my rig at different times - and all 8 are still very valid award winners and still in rotation. While the enormous girth of the Elektron Analog Drive means that is gets somewhat less of a rotation nowadays - ...

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2026 London Synth and Pedal Expo Highlights from Studio 9294, Hackney Wick

Audio Distribution GroupAudio.ComputerBossChase Bliss AudioCircle GuitarsCircle InstrumentsDelicious Audio / Stompbox ExhibitDryBell EffectsEmpty Head EffectsExpoFace MIGuitar Gear ResourcesGuitar Gear RetailGuitarGuitarHigh Tech DistributionJAM PedalsKernomLondon Synth and Pedal ExpoMAS distroMC Sound labmentha.worksMIMUOrigin EffectsRainger FXStrymonThorn SoundlabsThorpyFX+-
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I believe this is the first time I’ve met Paolo’s lovely partner Nadège - and it’s her birthday today when this article goes live - so let’s all wish her well!

 

Nadége was on the door for most of the two days, and missed out on Sunday Roast - which Paolo and I had on the second day. I decided that Nadège and Paolo deserved to be this year’s covers stars - they put so much work into this event - to make sure it runs flawlessly smoothly - and the easy ambience and vibe of the event is a ...

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2026 Birmingham Guitar Show Highlights

Audio Distribution GroupBossExpoFace MIFlattley Guitar PedalsFredric EffectsFunny Little BoxesGuitar Gear ResourcesGuitar Gear RetailHello Sailor EffectsLost Soul LeatherManson Guitar WorksOrigin EffectsRedbeard EffectsRitual DevicesThropyFXZona Guitars+-
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Hearty congratulations to showrunner Jason Hunt for the most successful show day to date - with 3,000 visitors through the doors on the Saturday alone! The queue was already massive and nearly the whole length of the building when I arrived at 09:30.

It’s always good to attend on the first day - especially if you want to be sure of grabbing the best looking of the new releases - and particularly the one-offs on the Hello Sailor Effects stand!

 

This was another great show for me - with ...

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2025 Best New Boost and Overdrive Pedals of the Year

AudiostormBest in ClassBlammo ElectronicsBoostBoost and OverdriveBrelliottCatastro FXChase Bliss AudioCrazy Tube CircuitsDr. No EffectsDriveDrunk BeaverFlatley Guitar PedalsGigaheartsHangman fxHello Sailor EffectsJHS PedalsLichtlaerm AudioMad Professor EffectsMXROrigin EffectsOverdrivePaul CochraneReeves Electro Guitar PedalsREVV AmplificationRhPf ElectronicsRogue RehousingSoundLad LiverpoolThorpyFXTubesteaderTWA EffectsWalrus AudioXotic Effects+-
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36 outstanding Boost and Overdrive pedals  featured here in various sizes - 35 of which are already in the reference collection - with the Superlunar SR-01 the last remaining straggler!

 

The rules of the game are that I can only finally recommend pedals that I own and have lived with, while I can also feature a few other intended targets in the overview which I fully intend to acquire (like the Superlunar SR-01) - but those can’t feature in the final rankings. So there is only one remaining ...

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2025 September Pedal-Chain Update - Episode IX - 55-Part Lunacy!

Analog DelayBecos FXBlack MountainBlue FX DevicesBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionCompressorDelayDigital DelayDistortionDown-TunerDrunk BeaverFjord FuzzFortin AmpsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzHarmonic OverdriveHarmonizerIK MultimediaJHS PedalsKlone and Transparent OverdriveMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMI AudioMI EffectsModulated FuzzMoVallOctave FuzzOctaverOddball FuzzOpAmp FuzzOrigin EffectsOscillating FuzzPedal ChainPitchPitch-ShiftingPreAmpReverbREVV AmplificationRhPf ElectronicsSilicon FuzzSpring ReverbThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzToneXUtilityWampler+-
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Another super busy month - where the lack of a holiday is really starting to impact my wellbeing - as I’m about as shattered and burned out as is possible without going entirely into meltdown - I’m teetering on the edge!

 

Here follow the highlights of the month - which I normally try to limit to around 10 elements - but stand at 12 for September. No show or onside attendances this month - while plenty of other activities - and some killer releases of course!

  • Jo Quail @ the Roland Store,
...
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Klon Klones Kapsule Collection [27]

AnasoundsBeetronics FXBest in ClassBig Tone Music BreweryBondi EffectsBoost and OverdriveCKK ElectronicsDecibelicsDrunk BeaverElectro-HarmonixFoxpedalJ RockettJackson AudioJRADKeeley EngineeringKlone and Transparent OverdriveLichtlaerm AudioMatthews EffectsMXROhmless PedalsOrigin EffectsVFE PedalsWalrus AudioWampler+-
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My Klon/Klone journey started in December of 2016 with the Wampler Tumnus Mini - very near the start of my overall pedal journey - so very much in the first 50 pedals I acquired. That pedal had emerged a year earlier (2015) - and players were loving it for the extra bass / oomph it has in its low end. The Mini Tumnus is often selected as the favourite in Blind Tests - and has won a few of those Andertons rundowns.

 

It took me a while to run across my favourite Mini Klone - the Decibelics ...

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2025-GPX-Thorigin-Effects-Folked-Up-Fuzz-700.jpg

Official

For the first time - the two Titan UK Pedal Builders combine forces to elevate the simple accousic guitar into a more vibrant era. We’ve had little evolution of the acoustic guitar since the emergence of the eclectic finger-style players like Mike Dawes.

 

The mission here was to make the acoustic guitar as exciting as an electric - by imbuing it with the science of wood resonant frequencies - where the properties of Rosewood and Mahogany proved to be particularly suitable for those...

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2025 London Synth and Pedal Expo Highlights from Studio 9294, Hackney Wick

AM FXAudio Distribution GroupBossChase Bliss AudioD'AddarioDelicious Audio / Stompbox ExhibitExpoFace MIFormula B PedalsGreat Eastern FX Co.Guitar Gear ResourcesGuitar Gear RetailGuitarGuitarHeadstock GroupIntensive Care AudioJAM PedalsKernomMad Professor EffectsOrigin EffectsRainger FXSource DistributionTeenage EngineeringUAFXUniversal AudioWestside Distribution+-
2025-GPX-London-Show-Formula-B-V2-Cover-700.jpg

So - we’ve had 3 incredible guitar gear events this month - covering Birmingham, then Woking, and now London - in probably my favourite venue on the circuit. Studio 9294 is such a unique place - having the outside canal-side terrace, and superb next-door restaurant and bar - in the guise of Number # 90 - which always serve up a very decent lunch! With the sun out - like we experienced at the weekend - this venues is wholly glorious - there’s a cool nearby Sainsbury’s, and indeedned ’Bad Coffee’...

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2025 Birmingham Guitar Show Highlights

Audio Distribution GroupBossBrelliottBuzzing Bugs Audio DevicesChris BuckExpoFidelity GuitarsFlattley Guitar PedalsFredric EffectsFunny Little BoxesGoliath FXGuitar Gear ResourcesHamstead SoundworksHello Sailor EffectsKDHKernomMaking Waves EffectsOrigin EffectsPedal PatchRedbeard EffectsReeves Electro Guitar PedalsRitual DevicesThe Alternative Guitar ShowTheGigRigThorpyFXZona Guitars+-
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Hot off the press!

Well, I had a fabulous Guitar Show this year, best one yet for me personally! I picked up 5 pedals at the show, as well as bumping into Chris Buck, KDH (Kelan Hughes), and my very good friends Markus and Izzy Reeves, also - I had lunch with Jonny Brelliott over at Brew 23!

 

One of the big highlights for me was meeting the full GigRig Crew - and getting a team photo with all of them. I’m not one for selfies typically - but Dan was very strongly persuasive on this occasion. I...

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2025-GPX-Origin-Effecst-Cali76-Stacked-Compressor-700.jpg

I think most of you know this one already - that classic double dose of Cali76 Compression - for those who want more flavour, and use the compressor as a special effect. The pedal has been shrunken down, and enhanced at the same time - where previously you had 9/18V power, but now get 24V from a 9V input!

 

Controls - Dry, Out, In, Attack/Release 2, << Thru << Attack/Release 1.

 

Because of the nature of the effect, you don’t get that cool floating point meter that first appeared on the ...

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