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2024 London Synth and Pedal Expo Pedal Highlights

ALABS AudioAmpliTubeAudio Distribution GroupAudio KitchenAudiolithe FXBlack Country CustomsBossChase Bliss AudioCornerstone Music GearEndorphin.esEventideFace MIFilling DistributionFlattley Guitar PedalsGamechanger AudioGreat Eastern FX Co.Guitar Gear ResourcesGuitar Gear RetailIK MultimediaIntensive Care AudioLaney AmplificationOrigin EffectsPRS GuitarsRabbit Hole FXRainger FXRed Panda LabTubesteaderVS Audio+-
2024-GPX-London-Synth-Pedal-Expo-Main-Great-Eastern-700.jpg

Where the Birmingham Show was a little sprawling and chaotic for me, I very much felt more at home at the Studio 9294 venue for this year’s London Synth and Pedal Expo. As Media Partner for the show, the second year in a row, I was of course in for the entirety of both the day, and actually in very early in particular on the Sunday.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the two days -I love having the #90 Bar & Kitchen next door - for some very decent lunches - superb burger on the first day, and Sunday...

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2023 Compact Chorus Pedal Capsule Collection

Alexander PedalsBeetronics FXBossChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoDemedash EffectsDemiurge InstrumentsDigiTechDrunk BeaverFlangerHungry Robot EffectsJackson AudioModulationParadox EffectsPastFXRotary SpeakerTC ElectronicVS AudioWalrus AudioZvex+-
2023-GPX-Capsule-Chorus-Collection-V3-700.jpg

To many commentators - ’2023’ has sort of been the ’Year of Chorus’ so far - while overall I’m not sure there have been enough releases to fully justify the label. While at the same time my own collection of compact chorus pedals has reached a very decent 21. I also have the larger format ThorpyFX Deep Oggin, and recent TC Electronic SCF reissue. So really not short of options for that style of Modulation!

 

This year has seen a number of recent additions - including most recently the ...

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2023-GPX-Platinum-Preamp-700.jpg

1987’s Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 Amp Combo / Head - had an innovative and unusual preamp section that gave it a slightly higher gain and a somewhat darker and smoother output than the JCM800. The preamp circuit had three gain modes : Clean, Rhythm Clip, and Lead. Where the styling of the amp was also quite different too - with a silver / almost mirror-like finish facia panel, and a sort of muted cream Tolex - contrasting significantly to Marshall’s usual Black and Gold styling.

 

Part of ...

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2022 Best of New Modutility Pedals of the Year

Beetronics FXBest in ClassBitcrushing and Lo-FiBossChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCompressorCornerstone Music GearDeath By AudioDemiurge InstrumentsDSM & HumboldtElectro-HarmonixEmpress EffectsEnvelope Filter and Auto WahEQEventideExpressionFjord FuzzFlangerFlower PedalsGlitchGlowfly EffectsGuitar Synth and SequencerHarmonizerHorrothia EffectsJAM PedalsKeyztoneKMA AudioModulationModulation WorkstationMuir Audio DesignMulti-FXMXRNoise GateOctaverOddball ModulationOld Blood Noise EndeavorsPastFXPedal BrainzPhaserPickup ModellerPitchPitch-ShiftingPladask ElektriskPRSRitual DevicesSamplerSlicer and StutterSource AudioSpaceman EffectsTC ElectronicTremoloUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityVS AudioWah and Fixed WahWalrus Audio+-
2022-GPX-Best-New-Modutility-Pedals-Annual-700.jpg

Another healthy selection - Modutility covering Modulation, Pitch and Utility pedal categories - for one of the strongest selection to date. Some of the pedals here are truly stellar, and I have a little over half here already in the collection.

 

I’m unlikely to ever get all the pedals featured here, but there are several already earmarked for acquisition in 2023 - with the Eventide H90 at the top of that list.

 

The ones I don’t yet own, or may never own even - include :

  • Chase Bliss
...
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2022 Best New Boost & Overdrive Pedals of the Year

29 Pedals3rd Power Amps3RD Power ElectronicsAll-PedalAnalog.ManBest in ClassBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveCKK ElectronicsColortone PedalsCrazy Tube CircuitsDaredevil PedalsDeath By AudioDecibelicsDrunk BeaverDSM & HumboldtDumble Style OverdriveEarthQuaker DevicesGreat Eastern FX Co.Hamstead SoundworksHorrothia EffectsHot Cake Style OverdriveJ RockettJHS PedalsKernomKing Tone EffectsKlone and Transparent OverdriveMissing Link AudioMXRNordland ElectronicsOCD Style OverdriveODR Style OverdriveOKKO FXOneControlOrigin EffectsOverdrivePastFXPRSREVV AmplificationSource AudioSpaceman EffectsThorpyFXTimmyTubescreamer Style OverdriveTweed Style OverdriveVictory AmpsVS AudioWamplerWay Huge Effects+-
2022-Best-of-Boost-Overdrive-Annual-700.jpg

So it’s that time of year again when I trawl through the releases over these past 12 months or so and endeavour to extract the pedal highlights of the year. This exercise is all about drawing a line in the sand and figuring out which pedals deserve to be on the notable side of the line.

 

Of course everything I publish on Guitar Pedal X is highly curated - those are my own particular preferences and choices, and those are the pedals that I like the look of. So everything that appears on ...

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7 of the Best Dual Channel Blues Breaker Derived Overdrive Pedals

Analog.ManBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBrowne AmplificationDemiurge InstrumentsDistortionKeeley EngineeringKing Tone EffectsKlone and Transparent OverdriveMatthews EffectsODR Style OverdriveOverdriveTubescreamer Style OverdriveVS Audio+-
2022GPXDualBluesbreakerOverdrives700.jpg

Back in March of 2020 I did a piece on leading Blues Breaker derived Dual-Channel Overdrives - where I only owned one of the ones featured - namely the JHS 4-Star Mod Edition of Analog.Man King of Tone. In the interim period I have managed to collect 5 more in a fairly happenstance sort of manner - so that the only one in the above visual that I’ve still to land is the Browne Amplification Protein Dual Overdrive.

 

Of all the ones I have - all are special and / or limited editions apart from ...

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2022-GPX-VS-Audio-Blackbird-Deluxe-700.jpg

So it’s only about a year ago that VS Audio launched its Blackbird early Fender Amps Preamp - which then came with 5 controls.

 

The new edition significantly expands on the original template by adding a Bias Tremolo with Intensity and Speed controls.

 

On the Preamp side we still have Drive, Volume and Tone knobs and the ERA switch - where you flip between Brownface and Blackface Mode. The Channel switch is new - allowing to flip between Normal and Bright Modes, while the former Gain ...

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2022GPXVSAudioAlchemyIVSII2700.jpg

As promised, I have recently taken delivery of a MKII Alchemy Chorus with the intent of putting it through its paces against its progenitor / predecessor. The demos for sure sound brighter and sparklier - while there’s no substitute for proper due-diligence!

 

The process involved straight up comparisons for same knob positions - across the range, and then a head-to-head with the various presets.

 

When when you play the MKI in isolation it’s not particularly noticeably darker on its own - ...

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2022GPXVSAudioAlchemy2700.jpg

The original VS Audio Alchemy is already one of my favourite Choruses - where it borrows from the Chase Bliss Audio playbook of Analog Signal combined with Digital Control Layer. So you get those gorgeous warm Stereo Analog BBD sounds - but with the added benefit of 6 onboard presets - which with the manual panel settings gives you a combined 7 possible settings you can rapidly flip between via right hand footswitch - for superior live playback!

 

The upper left hand output socket - as well ...

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2022 March Pedal-Chain Update - Episode III - Cosmic Transmissions

Audio KitchenBarber ElectronicsBig Ear PedalsBig Muff Style FuzzBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossCKK ElectronicsDelayDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDriveEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFree Fall DiverFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzKlone and Transparent OverdriveKMA AudioMastro ValvolaMetal DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveOctaverOverdrivePedal ChainPitchPreAmpReverbSilicon FuzzTape DelayThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTriungulo LabTubescreamer Style OverdriveVS AudioWamplerZander Circuitry+-
2022GPXSKPedalChainUpdateMarch700V6.jpg

After a slow start to the year, everything sort of came to a crescendo in March - where I took delivery of a pedal for each day of the month. Of course some of these were embargoed from earlier months - while that volume of pedals for testing and pedalboard accommodation can be a little relentless.

 

There were also a number of key launches this month which can stress me out a touch - I obviously want to do well for those brands I support and pinpoint launches are always a little messy as you...

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