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+-
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...
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+-
The final arrangement for the year - all the pedals that impressed the most!
Boost and OverdriveEventideModulationOverdriveUni-Vibe and Vibe+-
Quite a number of us bought the Eventide H9 at least in part because of Josh Smith’s Leslie / Rotary Speaker Preset among other choice modulations, reverbs and harmonizers. We didn’t get a Uni-Vibe voicing until the relatively recent H90, and now for the first time we now have a stand alone edition of Eventide’s Uni-Vibe Algorithm with two slightly different voicings in tow - a Classic Uni-Vibe swirl, and a deeper more Phasey alternative. On the other Channel we have two versatile Drive ...
Beetronics FXBleak District ElectricBlurry PedalBossChase Bliss AudioCicognaniCioksCollision DevicesCornerstone Music GearCrazy Tube CircuitsDaredevil PedalsDarkglass ElectronicsDeath By AudioDreadbox FXDryBell EffectsDunlop ManufacturingEarthQuaker DevicesEmma ElectronicsEmpress EffectsEventideGreat Eastern FX Co.Guitar Gear ResourcesGuitar Gear RetailGurus AmpsJ RockettJackson AudioKeeley EngineeringKMA AudioKorgKSR AmplificationMaxonMeris EffectsMXRNobelsNuTektOld Blood Noise EndeavorsOrigin EffectsPeterson TunersPRS GuitarsPRS PedalsRainger FXSolidGoldFXSource AudioTwo Notes Audio EngineeringValco FXVemuramWalrus AudioWay Huge Effects+-
With me being a pedal aficionado first and foremost - that’s obviously my main area of focus for this imminent show and the above pedal brand visual - while there is an equal amount of killer Synth brands present too - as listed below.
This London Synth & Pedal Expo is my good friend Paolo De Gregorio’s first UK Event - who always has a fantastic multi-brand Stompbox Exhibit Booth at the NAMM Shows - and has organised a series of events for several years now throughout the North ...
Beetronics FXBleak District ElectricBlurry PedalBossChase Bliss AudioCicognaniCioksCollision DevicesCornerstone Music GearCrazy Tube CircuitsDaredevil PedalsDarkglass ElectronicsDeath By AudioDreadbox FXDryBell EffectsDunlop ManufacturingEarthQuaker DevicesEmma ElectronicsEmpress EffectsEventideGreat Eastern FX Co.Guitar Gear ResourcesGuitar Gear RetailGurus AmpsJ RockettJackson AudioKeeley EngineeringKMA AudioKorgKSR AmplificationMaxonMeris EffectsMXRNobelsNuTektOld Blood Noise EndeavorsOrigin EffectsPeterson TunersPRS GuitarsPRS PedalsRainger FXSolidGoldFXSource AudioTwo Notes Audio EngineeringValco FXVemuramWalrus AudioWay Huge Effects+-
With me being a pedal aficionado first and foremost - that’s obviously my main area of focus for this imminent show and the above pedal brand visual - while there is an equal amount of killer Synth brands present too - as listed below.
This London Synth & Pedal Expo is my good friend Paolo De Gregorio’s first UK Event - who always has a fantastic multi-brand Stompbox Exhibit Booth at the NAMM Shows - and has organised a series of events for several years now throughout the North ...
Analog Music CompanyBeautiful Noise EffectsBitcrushing and Lo-FiBixonicBoostBoost and OverdriveChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDual-DriveEQEventideFairfield CircuitryFjord FuzzFlangerFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzGlitchGranular DelayHologram ElectronicsHumanoid PedalsKlone and Transparent OverdriveMarshall Style DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMuir Audio DesignMulti-DriveMulti-FXNordland ElectronicsODR Style OverdriveOhmless PedalsOneControlOverdrivePedal ChainPhaserPoly EffectsRing ModulationRotary SpeakerSilicon FuzzStrymonTremoloUni-Vibe and VibeUtility+-
What a magnificent start to the year - I don’t think I’ve ever had such a strong January selection - I could almost stick a pin in it and take the rest of the year off! Several of these slots won’t see much change between now and the end of the year - and so impressive is this latest batch of additions - that I can’t really see what might be improved in order to replace most of those.
I was not expecting to add the Eventide H90 quite so quickly - while the Hologram Microcosm has always ...
Ambient EffectsBardic Audio DevicesBeetronics FXBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChorus and VibratoColortone PedalsCompressorCoppersoundDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDouble TrackingDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveEchoverbEmpress EffectsEQEventideFlangerFrost Giant ElectronicsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzGoosoniqueworxHamstead SoundworksHorrothia EffectsJackson AudioKeyztoneLooperMarshall Style DistortionMeris EffectsMetal DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXMXRNoise GateNordland ElectronicsOCD Style OverdriveOctaverOld Blood Noise EndeavorsOverdrivePastFXPedal ChainPettyjohn ElectronicsPhaserPickup ModellerPitchPlate ReverbPreAmpRack Style ReverbReverbReverb WorkstationReverse ReverbRitual DevicesShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSinvertekSlicer and StutterSoldanoSpaceman EffectsSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbStrymonTape DelayTC ElectronicThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTone InkUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityVictory AmpsVox Style DistortionWah and Fixed WahWalrus AudioWampler+-
^ 2022 Final Arrangement - December
So the time has come again to to the final reckoning of the layout and composition of this year’s ultimate pedal chain arrangement. I’ve introduced a new ’⚓’ symbol into the visual - which indicates those Slots / Pedals that are unchanged from last year’s Class of 2021 arrangement. That element really is testament to how much has changed between years. It’s also indicative of how much I love those particular pedals - and pretty much find them ...
Alexander PedalsBardic Audio DevicesBeetronics FXBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoColortone PedalsDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDistortionDouble TrackingDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveEchoverbEmpress EffectsEQEventideFjord FuzzFlangerFlower PedalsFrost Giant ElectronicsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzGranular DelayHamstead SoundworksHorrothia EffectsKeeley EngineeringKernomKinotoneKMA AudioLine 6Lo-Fi DelayMarshall Style DistortionMeris EffectsMetal DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXMXRNordland ElectronicsOctaverOddball DelayOld Blood Noise EndeavorsOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePastFXPitchReverb WorkstationReverse DelaySilicon FuzzSinvertekSlicer and StutterTape DelayThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTone InkTremoloUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityVictory AmpsWalrus Audio+-
As I’ve just done all the category overviews / best of genre rundowns - you can refer to those for all the individual pedal details - most have full reviews on this site too - here I will simply lay down the longlist - and explain why I picked those top 3 here - so just the details for the 3 overall winners!
I normally try to single out around 40 each year in the final overview - but it also depends on how many can fit the ’jigsaw’ of the visual.
There were 4 pedals in the full longlist...
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+-
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 :
...
Ambient EffectsBoostBoost and OverdriveChorus and VibratoCompressorDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionEnvelope Filter and Auto WahEQEventideFlangerFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGuitar Synth and SequencerHarmonizerLooperModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXOctaverOddball ModulationOverdrivePhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingReverbReverb WorkstationRing ModulationRotary SpeakerSwellTremoloTunersUni-Vibe and VibeWah and Fixed Wah+-
As a long-term user and fan of Eventide’s H9 Max, the H90 Harmonizer has been something we have all been clamouring for - for a very long time. There is much to recommend the H9 - but its on-pedal interface has always been somewhat feeble, and without the superb Bluetooth connected App the pedal wouldn’t really have been particularly usable.
Multitudes of us have been asking for a better and more intuitive interface - with more meaningful screen display. And Eventide have really pulled out ...