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+-
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 ...
Alexander PedalsAnimals PedalBJFEBlackhawk AmplifiersColortone PedalsDeath By AudioDemedash EffectsDiamond PedalsEarthQuaker DevicesFlower PedalsGuitar Gear Improvements and PrototypesGuitar Gear ResourcesGuitar Pedal 101GuitarSystemsIconic GearJackson AudioJAM PedalsJHS PedalsMu-TronOrigin EffectsPettyjohn ElectronicsSitek Guitar ElectronicsSpaceman EffectsTanabeTru-Fi Guitar EffectsVFE PedalsWalrus AudioZander CircuitryZvex+-
So this is the second of this series - where the first was more about the uniqueness of the enclosure shape - more structural really - covering the overall form factor. While this edition is more about ’Trade Dress’ or the Memorability of the Aesthetics - style of graphics, consistency of theme, and consistency of control topology - doing something in a consistently measurable way that makes that pedal instantly recognisable from afar as belonging to a certain single brand.
So this one is ...
Bearfoot FXBispell AudioBoost and OverdriveBossCatalinbreadDistortionGreer AmpsMarshall Style DistortionMenatoneMI EffectsPettyjohn ElectronicsVictory AmpsVox AmplifcationVox Style Distortion+-
Readers of this blog will know that I’ve long and consistently had 2 key pedal types in my pedal-chain - namely a Brian May Vox style pedal, and an Eddie Van Halen Marshall Plexi style pedal - which for the last number of years have populated slots #17 and #18.
My very first pairing was the hybrid set of Bearfoot FX EGDM and MI Effects Super Crunch Box V2 - which overall probably served the longest innings on those two slots.
Since that first pairing we’ve had matched brand pairs - from...
AMT EffectsAMT ElectronicsBearfoot FXBispell AudioBoostBoost and OverdriveBossCarl MartinCatalinbreadDriveGreer AmpsLovepedalM.A.D. EffectsMenatoneOverdrivePettyjohn ElectronicsVictory AmpsVox AmplifcationVox Style DistortionWestminster Effects+-
It’s been a while since I last did a Vox-in-a-box roundup - in fact all the way back to my 2018 12 of the Best Vox Style Pedals feature - so it was about time I did an update. Readers will know that I always have a Vox pedal in my pedal-chain - occupying what is now slot #17.
It started with the Catalinbread Galileo way back when - and then following this rough sequence :
- Catalinbread Galileo
- Bearfoot FX Emerald Green Distortion Machine Silver (Silicon) - longest raining to-date
...
Ambient EffectsBardic Audio DevicesBeetronics FXBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChorus and VibratoColortone PedalsCompressorCoppersoundDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDouble TrackingDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveEchoverbEmpress EffectsEQEventideFlangerFrost Giant ElectronicsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzGoosoniqueworxHamstead SoundworksHorrothia EffectsJackson AudioKeyztoneLooperMarshall Style DistortionMeris EffectsMetal DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXMXRNoise GateNordland ElectronicsOCD Style OverdriveOctaverOld Blood Noise EndeavorsOverdrivePastFXPedal ChainPettyjohn ElectronicsPhaserPickup ModellerPitchPlate ReverbPreAmpRack Style ReverbReverbReverb WorkstationReverse ReverbRitual DevicesShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSinvertekSlicer and StutterSoldanoSpaceman EffectsSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbStrymonTape DelayTC ElectronicThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTone InkUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityVictory AmpsVox Style DistortionWah and Fixed WahWalrus AudioWampler+-
^ 2022 Final Arrangement - December
So the time has come again to to the final reckoning of the layout and composition of this year’s ultimate pedal chain arrangement. I’ve introduced a new ’⚓’ symbol into the visual - which indicates those Slots / Pedals that are unchanged from last year’s Class of 2021 arrangement. That element really is testament to how much has changed between years. It’s also indicative of how much I love those particular pedals - and pretty much find them ...
Barber ElectronicsBest in ClassBJFEBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossCKK ElectronicsCrowther AudioCustom TonesDemon PedalsDumble Style OverdriveFairfield CircuitryFeaturedFoxpedalFulltone EffectsGreer AmpsGreuter AudioHamstead SoundworksHot Cake Style OverdriveJ RockettJHS PedalsJRADKlone and Transparent OverdriveKuro Custom AudioMenatoneMissing Link AudioNeunaberNordland ElectronicsOCD Style OverdriveODR Style OverdriveOverdrivePaul CochranePettyjohn ElectronicsRedbeard EffectsSnouse Electric CompanySpaceman EffectsThorpyFXTimmyTrue North PedalsTsakalis Audio WorksTubescreamer Style OverdriveTweed Style OverdriveWampler+-
So I last did one of these back in 2020 - meaning that these ’Best of Overdrive’ run-downs seem to be a circa biennial affair. We’ve upped the numbers to 32 this year, while they represent barely a quarter of the overdrives I have in my reference collection - so there are obviously a lot of honourable mentions listed below - before the Final Thoughts section.
These types of exercises are incredibly tricky to strike the right balance of generally considered classic overdrive pedals and ...
Ambient EffectsAmp and Cab IR SimAmpliTubeBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBlackhawk AmplifiersBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChorus and VibratoCoppersoundDecibelicsDemedash EffectsDigital ReverbDistortionDriveDrunk BeaverDryBell EffectsDual-DriveEarthQuaker DevicesEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFjord FuzzFlangerFlower PedalsFoxpedalFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGuitar Synth and SequencerIK MultimediaKlirrton ManufakturKlone and Transparent OverdriveKuro Custom AudioMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXOCD Style OverdriveOctaverOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainPete CornishPettyjohn ElectronicsPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingPlate ReverbPreAmpRack Style ReverbRat Style FuzzRedbeard EffectsReverbReverb WorkstationReverse ReverbRotary SpeakerShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSinvertekSpaceman EffectsSpacey ReverbSpiral Electric FXSpring ReverbStrymonTimmyTremoloTsakalis Audio WorksTubescreamer Style OverdriveUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityVox Style DistortionWah and Fixed Wah+-
2021 was another very significant year for me - and one that signals that I probably need to slow down now - as I picked up well over 200 new pedals during the year - which really is excessive. Storage is starting to become an issue - and I will need to be a lot more prudent and strategic in my acquisitions next year!
So more than 200 new ones, and in fact 25 slots were switches up during the year - where only 12 were totally untouched and unchanged. A slew of new gain pedals as always - ...
Ananashead EffectsBardic Audio DevicesBecos FXBenson AmpsBest in ClassBlackhawk AmplifiersBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionCatalinbreadCornerstone Music GearCustom Audio ArtDecibelicsDemedash EffectsDemiurge InstrumentsDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveElectronic Audio ExperimentsFoxpedalFunny Little BoxesFuzzrociousGreuter AudioKlirrton ManufakturKlone and Transparent OverdriveKMA AudioKuro Custom AudioMarshall Style DistortionMatthews EffectsMetal DistortionMulti-DriveMXROverdrivePete CornishPettyjohn ElectronicsPigtronixPolarbear EffectsRedbeard EffectsSinvertekSpun Loud EffectsTsakalis Audio WorksTubescreamer Style OverdriveTweed Style OverdriveWalrus AudioZander Circuitry+-
The Boost, Overdrive and Distortion category is the most heavily contested, and indeed the most heavily congested category this year. I started with a Longlist of more than 70 and whittled down to the 39 featured here. Note that for balance I have included Rat pedals in the Fuzz Category already listed. This list features some of the more subtle fuzz-edged / fuzzy-drive varieties - although there will of course be some slight degree of overlap.
Featured above and listed here are 39 ...
Big Ear PedalsBright Onion PedalsCaroline Guitar CompanyDigital ReverbDistortionDrunk BeaverFlangerFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionModulationNeunaberOctave FuzzOpAmp FuzzPedal ChainPettyjohn ElectronicsRat Style FuzzReverbReverb WorkstationRotary SpeakerSilicon FuzzSitek Guitar ElectronicsSpaceman EffectsSpiral Electric FX+-
August has been another impressively busy month with lots of excellent new pedal releases which has certainly kept me on my toes. I always thought August used to be a fairly quiet month in the annual release calendar. While I guess this year there have been so many delays - because of parts supply issues and the like - that lots of launches have been unusually pushed back - which means those pedals just weren’t ready until about now.
I am particularly impressed to have got my hands on the ...
AnalogWise PedalsBasic AudioBixonicBoost and OverdriveCaroline Guitar CompanyChase Bliss AudioCrazy Tube CircuitsCusack MusicDecibelicsDemedash EffectsDemon PedalsDistortionDrunk BeaverEmpress EffectsFlower PedalsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionHudson ElectronicsJHS PedalsMad Professor EffectsMythos PedalsPaul Trombetta DesignPettyjohn ElectronicsSitek Guitar ElectronicsSkreddy PedalsStomp Under FootThroBakTrue North Pedals+-
Readers should know by now that I’m a huge fan of the overlapping genre of Fuzzy-Drive and Fuzzstortion style gain pedals - which tend to cover a variety of Fuzz, Overdrive and Distortion pedals - which all have a certain fuzzy character to them where they blur at least a couple of boundaries.
For me the sort of archetype of that sound is the Bixonic Expandora - while there are a great number of pedals that fall into that same sort of catchment area - and the 28 listed here are just a small...