BoostBoost and OverdriveOverdrivePoly EffectsUtility+-
This often happens in the evolution in artist signature devices. The first edition is somewhat expansive, with added features. But then the artist realises that they’re only using a select few elements - and the second edition is often a refined and simplified version of the original - as is the case with this Kanso.
The Kanso takes the 4 Diode options from the Flat V - in a slightly different arrangement, and then harnesses them with a super smart universal combined rotary and footswitch ...
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
...
ArpeggiatorBeat MachineBest in ClassBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlender and MixerBossBrowne AmplificationBufferButterfly EffectsCatalinbreadChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoColortone PedalsCustom TonesDigiTechDown-TunerElectro-HarmonixElectronic Audio ExperimentsEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFlangerFlower PedalsGamechanger AudioGlitchGuitar Synth and SequencerHarmonizerKernomKinotoneKlowraLichtlaerm AudioLooperModulationModulation WorkstationMoth ElectricMr Black PedalsMulti-FXMXRNobelsOctaverOddball ModulationPastFXPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingPoly EffectsPolyendRing ModulationRitual DevicesRotary SpeakerSampler / SustainerSingular SoundSlicer and StutterSubdecay EffectsSuperCool PedalsSwellThermionThorpyFXTremoloTsakalis Audio WorksUni-Vibe and VibeUtility+-
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 - ...
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 ...
DelayDistortionGuitar Synth and SequencerModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXOddball ModulationPoly Effects+-
So the latest Poly Effects Trails Pedal is a slight departure from the norm - part of the same series obviously as the Flat-V, Verbs and Ample - while those are larger collections of themed algorithms - grouped together in multiples of 8.
For the Trails - there are simply just 8 effects in total, with the 8th being an 8-Step Sequencer.
As before - I’ve tried to cram all the essentials into one infographic visual that explains it all - most of the pertinent details are on the visual - ...
AC NoisesALABS AudioAmbient EffectsBest in ClassBossColortone PedalsConvolution ReverbCooper FXCornerstone Music GearDigital ReverbDr ScientistElectro-HarmonixEmpress EffectsEventideFjord FuzzHotone EffectsIK MultimediaKlowraMooerNeunaberOld Blood Noise EndeavorsPlate ReverbPoly EffectsRack Style ReverbRainger FXRed Panda LabReverbReverb WorkstationReverse ReverbShimmer ReverbSource AudioSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbStrymonWalrus Audio+-
I own a fairly significant number of Reverb Pedals - where I’m mostly focused on Workstation style Pedals with multiple algorithms. I normally have at least 2 Reverbs on the board - a Primary Multi-Verb, and a Secondary more Specialist Verb. Occasionally I have a 3rd Reverb - which can be another Stereo Secondary, or more likely a Mono Tertiary. In fact I can have as many as 4 Reverbs on the board - as the Eventide H90 is always there too!
You can see from my various Pedal-Chain posts that ...
Acoustic SimulatorAmbient EffectsAnalog DelayBecos FXBeetronics FXBig Muff Style FuzzBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoColombo Audio ElectronicsColortone PedalsCompressorCoriolis EffectsCornerstone Music GearDecibelicsDelayDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveFlangerFlower PedalsFormula B PedalsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGuitar Synth and SequencerHarmonizerHorrothia EffectsJHS PedalsKeeley EngineeringKrozz DevicesLichtlaerm AudioLife Is Unfair AudioMarshall Style DistortionMenatoneMetal DistortionModulated FuzzModulationMulti-DriveOctave FuzzOctaverOddball FuzzOneControlOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzOverdrivePastFXPedal ChainPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingPoly EffectsPreAmpRat Style FuzzReverbReverb WorkstationSampler / SustainerSentimental Bob ElectronicsSilicon FuzzSinvertekSkreddy PedalsSpacey ReverbStrymonTavysh EffectsThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTube OverdriveTubesteaderUtilityVox Style DistortionWalrus Audio+-
33 slots updated this year - #2, #3, #4, #5, #7, #9a, #9b, #10, #11, #12, #15a, #15b, #15c, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #22a, #22b, #23, #24, #25, #26, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #36, #38, and #41.
There’s been a fair amount of re-routing and re-organising this year - which you should be able to pick via the pattern of changes. The introduction of the stereo Poly Amplitude introduced the biggest change to the board order - to get th most out of that format!
I try to limit acquisitions /...
Beetronics FXBest in ClassBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCoffee Shop PedalsCoriolis EffectsDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDiamond PedalsDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDriveDual-DriveEchoverbFlangerFormula B PedalsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzGFI SystemGuitar Synth and SequencerHamstead SoundworksHarmonizerHorrothia EffectsJHS PedalsKeeley EngineeringKrozz DevicesLife Is Unfair AudioLo-Fi DelayMarshall Style DistortionMenatoneMetal DistortionModelling AmpModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXMXROctaverOld Blood Noise EndeavorsOneControlOpAmp FuzzOrigin EffectsOverdrivePastFXPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingPoly EffectsPreAmpRat Style FuzzReverbReverb WorkstationReverse DelayRing ModulationRotary SpeakerSampler / SustainerSentimental Bob ElectronicsSilicon FuzzSinvertekSource AudioStrymonSwellTape DelayTavysh EffectsThorpyFXTomkat PedalsTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTubesteaderTweed Style OverdriveUni-Vibe and VibeVox Style DistortionWalrus Audio+-
So this is the big one - all the top performers from the year in one selection.
We’ve already covered :
- 35 Boost & Overdrive Pedal Finalists
- 34 Distortion Pedal Finalists
- 32 Fuzz Pedal Finalists
- 38 Modutility Pedal Finalists
- 25 Delay and Reverb Pedal Finalists
Total Overall Finalist Selection of 164 Pedals!
Distilled down to the final favourites selection, where I own 27 of them, and will try to secure the final missing ones next year :
- Coffee Shop Pedals London Fog Tape Delay -
...
All-PedalAudio Blend EffectsBeetronics FXBest in ClassBleak District ElectricBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBuzzing Bugs Audio DevicesChase Bliss AudioColortone PedalsCoriolis EffectsCornerstone Music GearCusack MusicDecibelicsDOD EffectsDrunk BeaverDumble Style OverdriveElectro-HarmonixKeeley EngineeringKlone and Transparent OverdriveLichtlaerm AudioMuir Audio DesignNobelsNRG EffectsOCD Style OverdriveODR Style OverdriveOlinthusOneControlOrigin EffectsOverdrivePoly EffectsTanabeTavysh EffectsThorpyFXTimmyTube OverdriveTubescreamer Style OverdriveTubesteaderTweed Style OverdriveVS AudioWalrus AudioWampler+-
It’s that time of year when I pick out my personal favourite pedals in each category - starting with the Boost and Overdrive ones. I weigh up each candidate on the basis of my own experiences, preferences and sensibilities - and include pedals also that I intended to get but did not quite yet around to acquiring during the year of release!
For this selection I personally own all but these 8 :
- Aleks K Production Honey Moon Sweet Overdrive V3
- Bleak District Slate Discrete Gemanium
...
Beetronics FXBig Muff Style FuzzBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChorus and VibratoDanelectroDecibelicsDistortionDriveDrunk BeaverDumble Style OverdriveEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFenderFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionHello KittyMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModelling AmpModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXOlinthusOneControlOneder EffectsOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainPhaserPoly EffectsPreAmpRat Style FuzzSilicon FuzzSkreddy PedalsTube OverdriveTubescreamer Style OverdriveTubesteaderVox Style DistortionWalrus Audio+-
November has been a crazy month! With such a flurry of activity from around the middle of the month onwards. So many companies took full advantage of Black Friday promotions - and the smartest of them started early, and extended their campaign through to the 2nd or 6th of December - in order to be able to take advantage of 2 pay packets!
If you started your Black Friday sales with just a week to go or less - then alas you’re bang out of touch with the new paradigm shift. The early bird ...
