ao link
Filter content by area of interest
Amps
Boost and Overdrive
Delay
Distortion
Fuzz
Guitars
Modulation
Pitch
Reverb
Utility
All
All

Boss's brand new VE-22 Vocal Performer Effects Processor massively improves on 2009's VE-20

Ambient EffectsBitcrushing and Lo-FiBossChorus and VibratoCompressorDelayDistortionEQFlangerHarmonizerModulationMulti-FXNoise GatePhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingReverbRing ModulationSlicer and Stutter+-
2023-GPX-Boss-VE-22-Vocal-Performer-700.jpg

We’re steadily seeing the Boss 20-Series pedals being replaced now, and the VE-20 is the latest to get a very significant upgrade. The new VE-22 moves things on pretty massively and completely revamps and enhances the form factor, switches, knobs and overall control interface - with 3 core switches now in place of the former 2 - and really smart dedicated controls for each of the core functions - all served by a highly visibly and usable LED screen.

 

If you’re a singer or vocal performer of ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

End of Year Pedal-Chain Update - Final Formation - Class of 2023

ALABS AudioAmbient EffectsAnasoundsBig Muff Style FuzzBispell AudioBitcrushing and Lo-FiBixonicBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCompressorCoppersoundDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDouble TrackingDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveEchoverbElectric LoveEmpress EffectsEnvelope Filter and Auto WahEQEventideFjord FuzzFlangerFortin AmpsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGermanium FuzzGlitchGuitar Synth and SequencerHello Sailor EffectsHologram ElectronicsIntensive Care AudioJackson AudioJAM PedalsKernomKeyztoneKlone and Transparent OverdriveLo-Fi DelayLooperMaestro Style FuzzMarshall Style DistortionMessiah GuitarsMetal DistortionModulated FuzzModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXNoise GateOctave FuzzOctaverOddball DelayOddball FuzzOddball ModulationOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzOverdrivePalmer Custom FXPastFXPedal ChainPedalPalFXPickup ModellerPitch-ShiftingPlate ReverbPoly EffectsPreAmpRack Style ReverbRainger FXReverb WorkstationReverse DelayReverse ReverbRing ModulationRotary SpeakerShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbStrymonSuper-Fuzz StyleSwellTape DelayTark AudioTC ElectronicThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTubescreamer Style OverdriveTubesteaderTweed Style OverdriveUtilityVox Style Distortion+-
2023-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-Class-of-2023-700.jpg

The final arrangement for the year - all the pedals that impressed the most!

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2023 Guitar Pedals of the Year - The Best of the Best

ALABS AudioAmbient EffectsAmp and Cab IR SimAnalog DelayBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCollision DevicesDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDouble TrackingDriveDual-DriveEchoverbElectric LoveFjord FuzzFlangerFlower PedalsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGermanium FuzzGranular DelayHello Sailor EffectsHologram ElectronicsJackson AudioJAM PedalsKernomKeyztoneLo-Fi DelayMaestro Style FuzzMarshall Style DistortionMeris EffectsMessiah GuitarsModulated FuzzModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXOctave FuzzOddball DelayOddball FuzzOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzOverdrivePalmer Custom FXPastFXPickup ModellerPlate ReverbPoly EffectsRack Style ReverbRainger FXReverbReverb WorkstationReverse DelayReverse ReverbShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbStrymonSuper-Fuzz StyleTark AudioTC ElectronicTremoloUtility+-
2023-GPX-Best-of-the-Best-Pedals-700.jpg

So we featured 120 pedals across the 5 Genre categories this year - as you’ve witnessed over the last 5 days, and those have been whittled and distilled down to these 27 Magnificent and Exceedingly Flavoursome candidates.

 

Picking out the very best of those is obviously a slightly subjective exercise while based on a series of exacting criteria - including innovation, versatility, practicality, variability, playability, quality of manufacture, quality of output and sheer enjoyment.

 

Here ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2023 Best of New Modutility Pedals of the Year

ALABS AudioAlexander PedalsAll-PedalAmbient EffectsAmp and Cab IR SimAmpliTubeBeetronics FXBest in ClassBitcrushing and Lo-FiBondi EffectsBossChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCompressorCrazy Tube CircuitsDeath By AudioDr ScientistDrunk BeaverFjord FuzzFlangerFormula BGuitar Synth and SequencerHarmonizerHologram ElectronicsJackson AudioJAM PedalsKeyztoneLooperModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXOctaverPastFXPeterson TunersPhaserPickup ModellerPitchPitch-ShiftingRainger FXRed Witch EffectsRing ModulationRotary SpeakerSubdecay EffectsSwellThorpyFXTremoloTru-Fi Guitar EffectsTunersUni-Vibe and VibeUtility+-
2023-GPX-Best-of-Modutility-Pedals-700-.jpg

The Modutility roundup combines Modulation, Utility and Pitch type pedals - it also includes Multi-FX and Multi-Modulation pedals of course. Some years this selection is relatively sparse - while this year it’s totally chock-a-block! In fact it was a struggle to whittle the Longlist down - and inevitably some pedals I wanted to feature did not make the cut - including the Endorphin.es Ghost Pedal Multi-FX and Subdecay Prometheus 3 Dual Super Filter.

 

I still feel that this selection of 26 is...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Chase Bliss collaborates with Goodhertz to deliver a Pedal version of their well loved 'Lossy' Data Compression Signal Degradation Plugin

Bitcrushing and Lo-FiChase Bliss AudioCompressorDigital ReverbEnvelope Filter and Auto WahModulationNoise GateReverbSampler+-
2023-GPX-Chase-Bliss-Goodhertz-Lossy-V2-700.jpg

Joel obviously dropped a number of clues as to what Chase Bliss’s new pedal would be - and most guessed it was some kind of Lo-Fi / Fidelity Reducing - Filter / Compressor / Bitcrusher type of thing. While typically ’Bitcrushing’ is associated with the extreme 8bit style of effect which typically creates harder, harsher and more brittle artefacts - while the Lossy is a much more expansive, refined and nuanced affair.

 

Goodhertz describe their own source Lossy Plugin as the "infinitely ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

With the arrival of the Custom Shop Nectar Tone Sweetener Drive/Fuzz - my Beetronics capsule collection is now up to 9

ArpeggiatorBeetronics FXBitcrushing and Lo-FiBoost and OverdriveChorus and VibratoEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFlangerFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionHarmonizerModulation WorkstationMulti-FXOctave FuzzOctaverOddball ModulationOverdrivePhaserPitch-ShiftingRing ModulationSwellTremoloWah and Fixed Wah+-
2023-GPX-Beetronics-Capsule-Collection-V2-700.jpg

When I first started doing the visual for this I thought I had amassed 10 Beetronics pedals to date - but it turns I’m one short of that milestone - it still kind of made sense to mark the occasion of the Custom Shop Nectar’s arrival - which is probably my favourite Custom Shop edition to date. I had to wade through 3 batches to pick out that one - I wanted metal knobs - and a pinkish hue to the core - and the one pictured really captured my imagination. I quite liked my SeaBee at the time of ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Hologram Electronics's Chroma Console is a genuinely innovative 20-Algorithm Stereo Multi-Effector that you can route and shape in all kinds of clever ways

Bitcrushing and Lo-FiBoost and OverdriveChorus and VibratoCompressorDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDouble TrackingFuzzHologram ElectronicsModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingReverbReverb WorkstationTremolo+-
2023-GPX-Hologram-Chroma-Console-700.jpg

This is one pedal you definitely need to dip into the manual to understand fully what’s going on - while the Hologram Electronics engineers have imbued this device with so much intuitive smarts that you should be up and running in no time.

 

This pedal is a shoe-in for the Eventide H90 on my #35 slot while they’re quite different beasts really - and the H90 gets you more granular in some ways - with many more algorithms precisely modelled - while you can only deploy two in combination. While ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Endorphin.es' Andreas Zhukovsky brings his Magical Eurorack Multi-FX to the Pedal format via Ghost Pedal collaboration with Andrew Huang

Bitcrushing and Lo-FiBoostBoost and OverdriveDelayDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDriveEndorphin.esEnvelope Filter and Auto WahModulationMulti-FXOverdriveReverbTremolo+-
2023-GPX-Endorphines-Ghost-700.jpg

One of my readers alerted me to this pedal quite a while back, but it was a little too far away then, and with not enough final details on the pedal yet to really pique my interest - while when I see it now in all its final glory - it seems to me to be the most obvious pedal to stand in for my Hologram Microcosm on slot #39 - and I am therefore very interested in acquiring one for just such a purpose.

 

It’s of course a magnificent Multi-FX pedal - in fact here labeled a ’Multi-Dimensional ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Rainger FX's Break Box, Drone Rainger and Snare Trap are all brilliantly creative devices each on their own - while all three together deliver something extraordinary!

Beat MachineBitcrushing and Lo-FiDelayDigital DelayDistortionFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGuitar Synth and SequencerOddball DelayRainger FXUtility+-
2023-GPX-Rainger-FX-Trifecta-V2-700.jpg

I’ve been meaning to do this article ever since the Witney Pedal Party event - where we lucky few who attended - were spellbound by some David Rainger magic - courtesy of a sort of combination performance and demo piece which mostly made use of the above 3 core pedals but in fact included every pedal in the range at some stage.

 

The Snare Trap and Drone Rainger have a real Dubby / SoundSystem dynamic to them - where in this context - this particular combination kind of renders as a sort of 3...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2023-GPX-Chase-Bliss-Anniversary-Mood-Gen-Loss-700.jpg

These are just different enclosure artwork editions where all else is the same as for the standard editions - just the graphics are different. Note that my background visual here is very apt gold confetti!

 

Both limited edition anniversary pedals retail for the same standard price of $399 and equivalent in your local currency. Of course available for order right now from the Chase Bliss Webstore. Generally there is a 10% Anniversary discount on most pedals on the site - while some exceptions...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions
News Navigation






















































Alev Guran
Some Thoughts on the Sheeran Looper+ and Looper X
"Hi Stefan, I’m not a looper pro but I use my "...
1 hour ago
Paul Smith
9 of the Best Mid-Size Fuzz Face+ Pedals
"Don't know if you would count this, but I "...
7 days ago
Richard kupisz
Oneder Effects' Onederbolt is a beautifully textured distortion with 4 gears of operation
"Stefano, have you considered signing up to one of "...
12 days ago
Paul Smith
Expandora extracts the Forbidden Fuzz Mode for a standalone extended-range Fuzz
"Bit of a bump here, but having just attended to "...
15 days ago
Jet Hasie
Robert Keeley Boss Mods Trifecta
"Hey Stefan, that freak fuzz seems so cool thank "...
17 days ago
Cyril Demaegd
2024 February Pedal-Chain Update - Episode II - Triple Tremolo Flutter
"As usual very inspiring. I'd be curious to "...
18 days ago
Waiting