Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Highlights and High Jinks from the inaugural Norwich Fret Fest / Sweat Fest - at St Mary's Works
At one stage there was a 50/50 chance as to whether I would make the show - as there were significant disruptions on the Liverpool Street to Norwich line - which meant a bus replacement service between Colchester and Ipswich. Some of the journey times quoted were up to 4 and a 1/2 hours each way! In the end the door-to-door was closer to 3 hours in total! The journey up including the coach was actually more fun that the journey back via Cambridge. Cambridge has obviously sinned grievously as ...
As predicted, we finally have an open release compact HalfLife edition of the EQD Sunn O))) Life Pedal
Back in December of last year EarthQuaker released a special KGR Iron Foundry Edition of the HalfLife - which was limited to just 200 units, and priced at $350. You could only buy it direct from the Sunn Webstore - said release occurred when I was already in Iceland for my Christmas vacation - so there was no way I was going to get in on one of those. I had long predicted that we would eventually get a compact edition - which has now officially happened for general release!
This is actually...
Dronechov Noise Machines releases the Stepping Razor crushing low-end Overdrive / Distortion with parallel clean blend and switchable clipping
Utrecht-based pedal builder Dronechov Noise Machines has just unleashed its third creation. The Stepping Razor is an overdrive/distortion pedal based on a certain classic rodent-themed circuit, but with a twist.
Aimed at musicians exploring heavier music genres and especially the bassists among them, Stepping Razor features a fuller low end profile, while delivering a crushing output - especially when pushed to its limits. Its flexible controls allow it to be used as an almost transparent ...
The Full Range of Tru-Fi Mini Pedals is now available at Joe's Pedals in the UK
I initially covered this subject in mid-January - where I announced the arrival of the Tru-Fi Minis. 5 were initially made available, but at my time of coverage only 3 had reached the UK. Since then Teddy has released 3 more variants - and now 8 Minis in total have been released.
All 8 Mini Editions are now at Joe’s Pedals in the UK - priced at £199 each, where the original Tru-Fi USA price is $199 - all very fair.
Each of the 8 pedals are equivalent or better than the original larger size...
2026 March Pedal-Chain Update - Episode III - Giga-Muff Multiplier
After the quiet comfort of February, March unleashed an avalanched of work - both in terms of new releases and acquisitions, but especial in the field of Guitar and Pedal expos - where I attended 3 within a month - first The Birmingham Guitar Show at Cranmore Park, then the London Synth and Pedal Expo at Studio 9294, Hackney Wick - and then back to Birmingham for the Noise Maker Market at Centrala, Digbeth - all grand events.
I burned myself out a little this month, and came back willingly empty...
Birmingham's Noise Maker Market at Centrala is this Sunday - March 29th - from 11:00 to 18:00 - See you there!
One month after The Guitar Show we’re back in ’Birmingham’ again for a brand new venture at a brilliant venue - within walking distance of Birmingham’s New Street Station - while I will probably take a taxi - depending on prevailing weather conditions of course.
Noise Maker Market is at Centrala, Unit 4 Minverva Works, 158 Fazeley Street. Birmingham, B5 5RT.
It takes place on Sunday March 29th, and runs from 11:00 to 18:00 - with the show taking place on the first floor, where there is ...
Birmingham gets a fantastic new Gear Show - Noise Maker Market at Centrala on March 29th - featuring a special edition B1 Show Pedal
One month after The Guitar Show we’re back in ’Birmingham’ again for a brand new venture at a brilliant venue - within walking distance of Birmingham’s New Street Station - while I will probably take a taxi - depending on prevailing weather conditions of course.
Noise Maker Market is at Centrala, Unit 4 Minverva Works, 158 Fazeley Street. Birmingham, B5 5RT.
It takes place on Sunday March 29th, and runs from 11:00 to 18:00 - with the show taking place on the first floor, where there is ...
2026 February Pedal-Chain Update - Episode II - Steady Progress
February is always something of a lull - particularly after the hyper busy NAMM-inflected January. This month is the doldrums of the calendar where not much gets releases. I did though manage to land a decent selection of a dozen pedals - obviously some from the previous year. With the Sinvertek MGAT-1 EVO being the standout pedal landed - where the Klowra Gnash and Wampler Golden Jubilee were pretty spectacular too. 3 x Klowra pedals on the board this month - all excellent!
Of course there...
Does it Doom? Pedals are now available at Andertons!
Andertons have just recently landed 7 of the 13 Does it Doom? pedal range. Per their moniker - these are mostly higher gain stoner, doom and sludge varieties - including a couple that lean intro Black Sabbath tones.
Andertons are still quite adventurous in seeking out new pedal brans - and it’s good to see them give so many brands a fair shake.
I’ve not fully processed this series yet to decide which ones are priorities for me - while a cursory glance would indicate that there are ...
End of Year Pedal Chain Update - Class of 2025
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
The 10 Pedal Challenge!
