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

Chase Bliss reissues the Condor in new HiFi edition - which delivers lower noise floor, smoother breakup, and more headroom

Boost and OverdriveChase Bliss AudioEnvelope Filter and Auto WahEQMulti-FXPhaserPreAmpTremoloUtility+-
2024-GPX-Chase-Bliss-Condor-HiFi-700.jpg

I’m not sure any of us were really expecting the return of the Condor. A lot of us are rather waiting for a stereo Dark World, the assumption was that the Condor was largely obsoleted by the Automatone Preamp MKII.

 

Yet here we have a new and improved version of that well loved format - and whether this is exciting news depends largely on how you mostly use this pedal.

 

If you mainly use the EQ and Filter elements - then the newer lower noise, smoother breakup and higher headroom HiFi ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

God City Instruments' Brutalist is a great sounding throaty distortion with super smart controls

DistortionDriveEnvelope Filter and Auto WahGod City Instruments+-
2024-GPX-GCI-Brutalist-Distortion-700.jpg

This is the first time I’m covering a God City Instruments pedal - I’ve come close before as there are other intriguing pedals on its roster - but this is surely its most intriguing one. Supposedly this Brutalist has been 10 years in the making - and there have been previous iterations of this family of effects - including the most recent BJR Compact.

 

The Brutalist as it says in the title - is beautifully textured throaty distortion with 2-Band Baxandall EQ on the main Bypass footswitch - ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2024 January Pedal-Chain Update - Episode I - Blues-Driven

Ambient EffectsBig Muff Style FuzzBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveDigital ReverbDistortionDrunk BeaverEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFuzzGermanium FuzzKuro Custom AudioMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulated FuzzModulationMulti-DriveOneder EffectsOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainPlate ReverbPoly EffectsPreAmpRack Style ReverbReverbReverb WorkstationShimmer ReverbSinverteksmallsound/bigsoundSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbSubdecay EffectsTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTru-Fi Guitar EffectsVictory AmpsWinnipeg Electrical Co+-
2024-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-January-700.jpg

So 2024 is off to a pretty spirted start! I treaded myself to 2 pedals right at the tail end of the year - the Poly VERBS puts in an appearance in this month’s selection - while the Reeves Electro BHS-D is running a touch late and will be part of the February selection instead.

 

This time of the year has to be mostly about NAMM - while I feel that a lot of builders kind of took away from NAMM and launched / showcased their new release in advance!

 

I’ve still to make it to NAMM - timing’s ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Kuro Custom Audio unleashes the magnificent 4-in-1 19 42 Fuzz + Filter + Envelope + FX Loop

Envelope Filter and Auto WahFuzzGated and Velcro FuzzKuro Custom AudioModulated Fuzz+-
2023-GPX-Kuro-19-42-Fuzz-and-Filter-700.jpg

I do love interestingly textured and smartly shapable fuzzes - and this is one of the very best of its kind - beautifully calibrated, and smartly combining a square wave gated fuzz with 70’s synthesizer style variable bands resonant filter, an envelope follower, and FX Send and Return Loop.

 

The rather unusual name ’19 42’ is not a reference to a year or date, but rather signifies the immaculate interaction of two highly complementary elements - I suppose a reference to the principal Fuzz ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

The King of Gear introduces another cool somewhat glitchy wobbly pitch-shifter pedal - the Pitch Magpie

Best of BrandsChorus and VibratoDistortionEnvelope Filter and Auto WahGlitchMarshall Style DistortionModulationPitchPitch-ShiftingThe King of Gear+-
2024-GPX-TKOG-Trifecta-700.jpg

I’ve followed tkog / The King of Gear for many years now - and have had the Mini Glitch in the reference collection for quite a while - a really cool and relatively simple but impactful Micro-Sampler. I believe that first materialised properly in 2018 - where I’m aware there were a few earlier sort of prototype versions before then - while I think the final design occurred some time in and around 2018.

 

Around a year later, tkog then introduced its Oxford Drive - which I understand is an ...

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

ALABS Audio's NovaDrift Modulator Delivers 9 Classic High Quality Full Stereo Modulations with Enhanced Movement courtesy of Explore Mode Gesture Control and Expression Ramping

ALABS AudioChorus and VibratoEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFlangerModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXPhaserRing ModulationRotary SpeakerTremoloUni-Vibe and Vibe+-
2023-GPX-ALABS-Nova-Drift-Modulator-700.jpg

Here follows an in-depth look at the ALABS Audio Adam Adventures Series NovaDrift 9-Mode Modulator.

 

A pretty decent mix of algorithms - Vibe (Uni-Vibe), Chorus, Multi-Chorus, Phaser, Filter, Rotary, Flanger, Tremolo and Ring.

 

In my opinion really only missing the Roland/Boss Dimensions Chorus and Harmonic Tremol for a full house!

 

Generally I cite the Wampler Terraform as the Modulator which has the most perfect mix of Algorithms for my preferences - Auto-Wah, Envelope Filter, ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

The Brand New ALABS Audio Adam Adventures Series pedal range takes budget pedals into entirely new realms of quality and innovation

ALABS AudioAmbient EffectsBest of BrandsChorus and VibratoDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFlangerGranular DelayLo-Fi DelayModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXOctaverOddball DelayPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingPlate ReverbRack Style ReverbReverbReverb WorkstationReverse DelayRing ModulationRotary SpeakerSpacey ReverbTape DelayTremoloUni-Vibe and Vibe+-
2023-GPX-ALABS-Range-700.jpg

I’m really proud to be supporting a small fledgling audio products brand based in Singapore - which has only been around for a couple of years or so, and was originally known for making studio quality Microphones, Wooden Earcup Headphones and Mixing Consoles. ALABS Audio’s Jinbo Hui reached out to me back in September - to ask if I would want to support the launch of their new Adam Adventures Series pedal range - and I of course said I needed to be properly impressed by those pedals for me to ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Richard McIntosh's Laowiz Cyst Mode Filter Drive generates some of the most visceral Distortion and Fuzz Textures available anywhere

DistortionDriveEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionLaowizModulation+-
2023-GPX-Laowiz-Cyst-Mode-Filter-Drive-700.jpg

I’m a huge fan of richly textured gain pedals - and here with the astute use of resonant filters, clipping diodes and powerful tone-shaping we get one of the ultimate ’noise-boxes’. I always identify myself as a noisemaker first and foremost - and I love generating those otherworldly wall of sound earth-shaking tones - whether sludgy, doomy or all-round speaker-shredding.

 

And while I’m sure you could tone down the output of this machine - it’s really all about making glorious noise in ...

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
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 "...
35 minutes 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