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2024-GPX-El-Garatge-Tripl3X-Expressor-700.jpg

This is the second time I collaborate with my good friend Oriol Domingo and his El Garatge brand of superior miniature expression devices - following on from my last article on his trio of really smartly engineered diminutive Expression Knob, Echo Knob (Oscillating Expression), and own 3D-printed Magnetic Dust Cover for the Chase Bliss Automatone series. All of which I love and still use regularly - and which are pictured below : ...

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2024-GPX-TWA-Octoverdrive-Updated-700.jpg

I first featured this pedal in the run-up to Halloween 2023 - where it most definitely has a suitably seasonal pumpkin theme to the artwork. So it’s taken a while to land - thanks once more to Kevin Bolembach and Trevor Shaikin for the assist.

 

Obviously the first thing you notice is the excellently themed appearance of the pedal, while it’s not without its idiosyncrasies. Bypass state delivers an all-green lit-up pumpkin - which then becomes orange, with green stem when engaged. While there...

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The Tanabe Zenkudo Dumble Drive is truly an inspiration machine full of verve and vibrancy

BoostBoost and OverdriveDumble Style OverdriveOverdriveTanabe+-
2024-GPX-Tanabe-Zenkudo-700.jpg

So I’ve finally hit the trigger on a Tanabe Zenkudo - Tanabe-San’s humbucker-optimised Dumble Drive variant (Dumkudo is the one for Single Coils). I thought I had snagged one of these on Ebay a few weeks back, but the seller had gotten mixed up between Dumkudo and Zenkudo - and the one he had in stock was actually the former - which is generally much more available out there in the wild than the Zenkudo variety.

 

I had kind of been putting this off, as I knew that this would likely be the ...

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Inaugural Alternative Guitar Show Highlights from Kingston's The Fighting Cocks

Fidelity GuitarsFredric EffectsGood Fuzzy SoundsGuitar Gear ResourcesGuitar Gear RetailKingston The Fighting CocksLost Soul LeatherMaybury GuitarsMolyenaux GuitarsThe Alternative Guitar ShowThorpyFXZona Guitars+-
2024-GPX-Alt-GitShow-Fidelity-700.jpg

I’m a huge advocate for supporting any kind of grassroots endeavour happening within the guitar industry - obviously the pedal side in particular. So it was a foregone conclusion really that I would attend the very first Alternative Guitar Show and lend it my support - held this time at the wonderful Fighting Cocks Bar / Pub / Live Gig Venue in Kingston.

 

I loved the venue - which was accesses behind the main bar / pub - and the whole vibe of the space really reminded me of my student years....

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2024-GPX-Walrus-Fundamentals-Ambient-700.jpg

I did a fairly substantive feature on the original set of 8 Fundamental Series - and how they stacked up against the other competing Budget Boutique Series. I love this format - while there are still questions about how long-term robust those sliders are - but so far so good! And then there’s the price - which sits mostly at the $129 which is quite significantly above the usual $99 price tag.

 

Overall though I feel Walrus have about got the formula right - while I feel that they may not have...

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2024-GPX-Lastgasp-46-Sooper-Fuzz-700.jpg

I have quite a number of Super Fuzzes in the collection by now - and this Lastgasp Art Laboratories variant is another wonderful take on that format - with some quite distinct circuit differences - but most importantly it has all the flavour - and those fantastic blooming and percolating waves of harmonic fuzz.

 

The circuit topology is somewhat different to the norm - being composed of a mix of C1815 Transistors and JRC4558DD opamp. I’m not particularly familiar with the C1815’s, but ...

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2024-GPX-Chase-Bliss-Mood-II-Trifecta-700.jpg

I’m getting a little bit Beetronics syndrome here - as a warning to not necessarily acquire the first edition that comes along - as subsequent editions are typically prettier and more appealing.

 

It just so happens that I still quite like my sort of Original Lilac MKII, while it’s quite evident that the 10 Year Anniversary ’Birthday Cake’ and this recent ’Light Bright’ edition are somewhat more aesthetically pleasing!

 

I’m generally a huge fan of Chase Bliss designer Eric Nyffeler - and ...

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2024-GPX-JRAD-Airchild-660-700.jpg

For some reason I didn’t get a press release for this one - which is unusual for J Rockett, as I’ve collaborated quite closely with that brand of late - it turns out my main connection Zac was not overseeing this release - and hence I got overlooked! And while in the other release materials, and in the manual in particular - much is made of the legacy of that most favoured 60’s studio compressor inspiration, there is no proper mention of how J Rockett managed to replicate such a complex circuit...

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2024-GPX-Leprechaun-FX-Paddy-Whacker-Distortion-700.jpg

I’m a huge fan of richly textured gain pedals - and have a particularly liking for super potent firecracker mini pedals with huge sounds! - for which this Paddy Whacker Distortion certainly seems to fit the bill. The distortion circuit is designed by Ryan and Neil at Dr Scientist Sounds. The Enclosures are individually hand painted and assembled by Patrick, in-house, at Leprechaun FX in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

 

I love those ’Landgraff’ style swirly paint jobs - while Leprechaun note that ...

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2024-GPX-JHS-SuperBolt-TacoBolt-700.jpg

JHS’s SuperBolt first materialised in 2012 as a Preamp / Overdrive take on the 1960’s Valco Supro Thunderbolt amp. It’s been through a few iterations throughout its 12 year history - where the original 3-part Thunderbolt symbol needed to be extended to 4 parts to avoid trademark copyright issues.

 

The pedal also picked up a Red Remote socket and Gain boost switch along the way. But evidently the pedal had not been selling particularly well - and Josh decided that it should be discontinued - ...

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