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

2026 January Pedal-Chain Update - Episode I - A Flying Start!

Amp and Cab IR SimBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveBrown Sound DistortionCarl MartinChorus and VibratoCitadel ElectronicsDeath By AudioDistortionDOD EffectsDriveDrunk BeaverDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveEarthQuaker DevicesElectro-HarmonixFjord FuzzFlattley Guitar PedalsFuzzKlone and Transparent OverdriveLichtlaerm AudioMad Professor EffectsMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMissing Link AudioModelling AmpModulationMulti-DriveMulti-FXMulti-GainOCD Style OverdriveOctave FuzzOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainPhaserPreAmpRhPf ElectronicsSeymour DuncanSilicon FuzzSuperlunarTube OverdriveTubescreamer Style OverdriveUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityValetonWampler+-
2026-January--Pedal-Chain-700.jpg

January has been a bumper start for the year - with lots of killer arrivals - especially the DSM & Humboldt Dumblifier which I’ve been hugely impressed with.

 

Also my most formidable NAMM coverage to-date - where I only started work properly on the 8th of January - but have managed to do 60 articles since that time - which is a record of course, as is the week of 20 posts.

 

I feel I covered all the key moments - and mixed up new and old in my usual inimitable fashion.

 

There was ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

16 of the Best Extended Range Marshall Pedals with Plexi + JCM800 Coverage : The Next Iteration

Blues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionCarl MarinCrazy Tube CircuitsDistortionDriveDryBell EffectsDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveEmpress EffectsFlattley Guitar PedalsFormula BFortin AmpsFrost Giant ElectronicsFuzzJackson AudioMarshall Style DistortionMulti-DriveOverdriveSeymour DuncanSinvertekThorpyFXTsakalis Audio WorksTubesteader+-
2026-GPX-Exended-Marshall-Plexi-JCM800-700.jpg

This is the 2nd Iteration for this article - where we go from a selection of 13 to 16.

 

I landed 4 of these these last year - the Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker, Flattley Outlaw, Fortin Kali, and Tubesteader Gainlord.

 

And two early this year - the Car Martin PlexiRanger and Seymour Duncan Diamondhead

 

We have 4 distinct types of pedals here across 4 format sizes (Compact / Mid-Horizontal / Mid-Vertical / Large) :

  1. Dedicated Dual Channel Plexi + JCM800 Overdrive / Distortion with
...
Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2026-GPX-Flattley-Joker-Valve-Tone-Boost-Gain-Stage-700-.jpg

I must start by congratulating Phoebe on her excellent artwork here - which is one of her best works to date. Where that all-green metallic flake finish looks so fabulous ’in the flesh’ and is beautifully accentuated by a matching green Halo LED.

 

This is my second favourite looking Flattley pedal after the recent all-red Outlaw. I’m really loving these tone-on-tone designs.

 

And as for the core voicing of this device - it really is one of the most vibrant and amp-like experiences I have ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2025 Best of the Best Pedals of the year

Best in ClassBlind Panic DevicesBlue ColanderBlue FX DevicesBoost and OverdriveBossBrelliottChase Bliss AudioColortone PedalsCoriolis EffectsCornerstone Music GearCrazy Tube CircuitsDelayDistortionFjord FuzzFlattley Guitar PedalsFortin AmpsFuzzGamechanger AudioGreat Eastern FX Co.Hangman fxJHS PedalsKernomKrozz DevicesModulationMuir Audio DesignMXRPastFXRedbeard EffectsReverbSinvertekSolar PedalsSoundLad LiverpoolTeaching MachinesThorpyFXTubesteaderWampler+-
2025-GPX-Best-of-the-Best-BBX-700.jpg

And here we have the GRAND FINAL- with all 36 Award Winners from the Group Stages - across all 5 categories!

 

The first two places have kind of been obvious for a while, where the 3rd / BRONZE position was actually the hardest to decide on - it was between the eventual recipient - the Tubesteader Gainlord, Boss’s XS-100 Poly Shifter, Blue FX Devices Fuzz Fields and Gamechanger’s Motor Synth - all of whom would have been worthy runners-up - while in the end I went for the one that overall ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2025 November Pedal-Chain Update - Episode XI - Double Decked

Analog DelayBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveChorus and VibratoCompressorDelayDigital DelayDistortionDriveDrunk BeaverElectronic Audio ExperimentsEmpty Head EffectsFlattley Guitar PedalsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzGreat Eastern FX Co.Intensive Care AudioJHS PedalsLo-Fi DelayManson Guitar WorksMarshall Style DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMoose ElectronicsMuir Audio DesignMulti-DriveMulti-FXMulti-GainOctave FuzzOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePasta PedalsPastFXPedal ChainPoly EffectsRat Style FuzzRitual DevicesSilicon FuzzSinvertekSpaceman EffectsThorpyFXTremoloTubescreamer Style OverdriveTWA EffectsTweed Style OverdriveUtility+-
2025-November-GPX-Pedal-Chain-700.jpg

Another super busy month for me - particularly towards the end - with numerous large scale articles out this week. That also coincided with my busiest week of the year for my other day job. Meaning that I was up until 4-5 in the morning every day - just to keep up with my commitments.

I was already somewhat shattered and burned out before I even got to this super busy period - and it’s a relief that all that work has now been completed on schedule.

I’m especially proud of my work on the Bucket ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

13 of the Best Extended Range Marshall Pedals with Plexi + JCM800 Coverage

Blues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBrown Sound DistortionCrazy Tube CircuitsDistortionDriveDryBell EffectsDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveEmpress EffectsFlattley Guitar PedalsFormula BFortin AmpsFrost Giant ElectronicsFuzzJackson AudioMarshall Style DistortionMulti-DriveOverdriveSinvertekThorpyFXTsakalis Audio WorksTubesteader+-
2025-GPX-Exended-Marshall-Plexi-JCM800-700.jpg

This feature has been a long time coming. I have somewhere around 60 to 70 Marshall-style Pedals in my collection - while this selection mostly features Dual-Channel or Drive + Boost Pedals - which cover you both for Marshall Plexi and JCM800 flavours - actual and ballpark.

 

I landed 4 of these this year - the Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker, Flattley Outlaw, Fortin Kali, and Tubesteader Gainlord.

 

We have 4 distinct types of pedals here across 4 format sizes (Compact / Mid-Horizontal / ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Flattley's New Outlaw Pedal - Plexi Drive + Ace Tone Boost - is probably their best pedal to date - certainly the best looking - and which delivers instant satisfaction from both barrels

BoostBoost and OverdriveBrown Sound DistortionDistortionDriveDual-DriveFlattley Guitar PedalsMarshall Style DistortionOverdrive+-
2025-GPX-Flattley-Outlaw-Plexi-700.jpg

What a gorgeous pedal the sparkly Outlaw is (check the below last video t see it sparkle!) - with its holographic chrome metal flakes and glorious dipped paisley skull artwork. A killer red-on-red / tone-on-tone theme - with Enclosure, Knobs, Footswitch Toppers and Halo LEDs - all matching.

 

Flattley typically favours blue-hued devices with blue Halo LEDs - so the Outlaw is a glorious contrast to that norm!

 

The Outlaw benefits from the perfect complement of controls. I typically like my ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2025 Brighton Guitar Show / FX Expo Highlights from the Brighton Racecourse

Angelic EffectsAudiostormBlue FX DevicesBossBright Onion PedalsCave PedalsChase Bliss AudioCrimson GuitarsExpoFidelity GuittarsFlattley Guitar PedalsFredric EffectsFunny Little BoxesGreat Eastern FX Co.Guitar Gear RetailHamilton EffectsHamstead SoundworksHello Sailor EffectsIntensive Care AudioMaybury GuitarsNRG EffectsPedal PatchTimber TonesZona Guitars+-
2025-GPX-Brighton-HSE-Cover-700.jpg

Brighton is normally one of the easiest shows to attend - usually just an hour Journey from London Victoria to Brighton Station. But on this day - when I got to Victoria - it had been announced that all trains to Brighton had been cancelled owing to a landslide near Purley.

I was initially advised to head for Hove instead (Littlehampton service) as the nearest destination to Brighton. I had arrived around 06:30 at Victoria with a view to catching the 06:59 train - which should have got me into ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Leeds Pedal Show Highlights from the Northern Monk Refectory

ABL PedalsAudiostormBleak District ElectricBlind Panic DevicesBoostBossBuzzing Bugs Audio DevicesChase Bliss AudioEmmergy FXExpoFlattley Guitar PedalsFredric EffectsFunny Little BoxesGlowfly EffectsGoliath FXGreat Eastern FX Co.Guitar Gear ResourcesHamstead SoundworksHiwattHudson ElectronicsIntensive Care AudioJ. Drawbridge AudioSoundLad Liverpool+-
2025-GPX-Leeds-Emmergy-FX-Cover-700.jpg

This was funnily something of af 2022 Stourbridge Pedal Expo Reunion of sorts - where Audiostorm, Bleak District Electric, Emmergy FX, Fredric Effects, and Goliath FX were all present at that inaugural Pedal Expo. There are marked similarities between the two venues and events - both are  similar sort of Mill House style building set within a kind of packing district and both relatively near to a waterway / canal. And both had a really friendly vibe to them. It’s incredible how far we’ve come ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2025 Birmingham Guitar Show Highlights

Audio Distribution GroupBossBrelliottBuzzing Bugs Audio DevicesChris BuckExpoFidelity GuitarsFlattley Guitar PedalsFredric EffectsFunny Little BoxesGoliath FXGuitar Gear ResourcesHamstead SoundworksHello Sailor EffectsKDHKernomMaking Waves EffectsOrigin EffectsPedal PatchRedbeard EffectsReeves Electro Guitar PedalsRitual DevicesThe Alternative Guitar ShowTheGigRigThorpyFXZona Guitars+-
2025-GPX-The-Guitar-Show-GigRig-Crew-700.jpg

Hot off the press!

Well, I had a fabulous Guitar Show this year, best one yet for me personally! I picked up 5 pedals at the show, as well as bumping into Chris Buck, KDH (Kelan Hughes), and my very good friends Markus and Izzy Reeves, also - I had lunch with Jonny Brelliott over at Brew 23!

 

One of the big highlights for me was meeting the full GigRig Crew - and getting a team photo with all of them. I’m not one for selfies typically - but Dan was very strongly persuasive on this occasion. I...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Content Subscriptions

Guitar Pedal X News
News Navigation





















































Waiting