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Gamechanger Audio brings Advanced-Dynamics Modular Synth Cross-Cabling to Stompboxes with its innovative MOD Series

Analog DelayChorus and VibratoDelayDigital DelayFlangerGamechanger AudioModulationPlate ReverbRack Style ReverbReverbSpring ReverbTape Delay+-
2024-GPX-Gamechange-Audio-Mod-Series-700.jpg

I love that Gamechanger Audio exists and is so free and forward looking in its innovation - continuously delivering new and distinct ideas into the world of pedals. They certainly make very interesting form factors, while their pioneering spirit often kind of ignores the more practical aspects of day-to-day pedalboard management. All their units are larger than the norms - often quite substantially - which makes those pedals difficult to accommodate on a typical board. And those considerations ...

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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 ...

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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!

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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 ...

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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...

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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, ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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Alexander Pedals' 4th Leap Series Edition is the expansive 10-Mode Dynaflanger Model 213

Alexander PedalsChorus and VibratoDigital ReverbEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFlangerModulation+-
2023-GPX-Alexander-Pedals-DynaFlanger-213-700.jpg

It’s somewhat interesting that with every new Leap Series release we’re getting diminishing returns on the pedal graphics. Where the #1 Space Force looked great, the Rewind was still kind of on point, and the Luminous Phase-shifter cooly wavy and glowing - for the Dynaflanger we get a tiny 4 bar strip of colour - what!

 

Everything else is as before - the cool little screen and 4 variable parameter knobs, 32 Presets, TRS Stereo in, Multijack action and Footswitch Ramping. A really elegant and...

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Crazy Tube Circuits shrinks down and improves on its ingenious 80's inspired Sidekick Multi-FX, and doubles down on the number of algorithms

Ambient EffectsChorus and VibratoCrazy Tube CircuitsDelayDigital DelayDigital ReverbFlangerModulationPlate ReverbRack Style ReverbReverbShimmer ReverbSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbTape Delay+-
2023-GPX-CTC-Sidekick-Jr-700.jpg

Crazy Tube Circuits’ Christos Ntaifotis is the master of miniaturisation - and he’s achieved a similar marvel of engineering here as he did with his Phi Golden Ratio Compressor - with the key difference being that the compressor was an all-analog 3-in-1 confection, while there was no way you would be able to fit 3 Analog modulations, 2 delays, and 6 reverbs into a compact enclosure any other way - DSP is the only vehicle that can make that possible.

 

And Chris here has settled on just the ...

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