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2023-GPX-ALABS-Timeslip-Delay-700.jpg

The ALABS Audio Pedals were so successful over the Christmas / New Year period - that they were sold out for a while. So I thought it prudent to pause the action until ALABS were back in sync with the demand.

 

The TimeSlip is my second-favourite of the quartet and shares Cetus’s perfect mix of algorithms - mixing up classic and more traditional flavours with some more intriguing and unusual modern and futuristics ones. I really love this pedal in particular for superb sweep of algorithms - ...

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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 New Time-Based Effects Pedals of the Year

ALABS AudioAmbient EffectsAnalog DelayAnasoundsBenson AmpsBest in ClassBleak District ElectricBossChase Bliss AudioCoffee Shop PedalsColortone PedalsDelayDelay WorkstationDiamond PedalsDigital DelayDigital ReverbDouble TrackingEchoverbFjord FuzzFlower PedalsGranular DelayJet PedalsLo-Fi DelayMeris EffectsOddball DelayPlate ReverbPoly EffectsRack Style ReverbReverbReverb WorkstationReverse DelayReverse ReverbShimmer ReverbSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbStrymonTape DelayTC ElectronicT-Rex EffectsWalrus Audio+-
2023-GPX-Best-Time-Based-Effecst-V2-700.jpg

And so to the final category - where competition is extremely fierce this year. No doubt some of your favourites will have missed the cut here - but hopefully this selection is fully representative of the best of the year. Obvious I lean more towards immersive stereo effects - mono doesn’t really do it for me so much - while there is a smattering of mono pedals in here too. Price, format, versatility and practicality - everything counts!

 

Of the 23 featured in the selection - I own around ...

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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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Walrus Audio releases the Fable Granular Soundscape Generator Delay and Reverb in the same format as its recent Lore

DelayDigital DelayDigital ReverbGranular DelayPitch-ShiftingReverse DelayReverse ReverbWalrus Audio+-
2023-GPX-Walrus-Audio-Fable-700.jpg

Walrus Audio certainly seem to be on an innovative roll these days with another cool experimental pedal based on the same template as its Lore Reverse Delay and Reverb.

 

You have the same number of controls but with somewhat different parameters and a new set of 5 smart Modes / Programs.

 

At its core there are Dual Analog Feedback Paths controlled in turn by the Feedback and Regen knobs, and then loaded with granular delay algorithms - which also combine Modulation, Pitch-Shifting and ...

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2023 January Pedal-Chain Update - Episode I - A Mighty Start

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+-
2023-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-Jaunary-700.jpg

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 ...

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2022 Best of the Best Guitar Pedals of the Year

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+-
2022-GPX-Best-of-the-Best-Pedals-Annual-700.jpg

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...

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2022 September Pedal-Chain Update - Episode IX - a Ramble Through History

All-PedalAmptweakerAnasoundsBig Muff Style FuzzBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBrown Sound DistortionChorus and VibratoColortone PedalsDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDistortionDouble TrackingDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveEchoverbEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFjord FuzzFlangerFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionFX TeacherGermanium FuzzGoosoniqueworxGranular DelayKlone and Transparent OverdriveKuro Custom AudioLo-Fi DelayMarshall Style DistortionMeris EffectsMetal DistortionModulationMulti-DriveOCD Style OverdriveOddball DelayOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePastFXPedal ChainRamble FXReverse DelayRitual DevicesSilicon FuzzSuproTape DelayTone Bender Style Fuzz+-
2022-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-September-700.jpg

What a hectic but great month September has been overall - still beset with all manner of challenges - pedals getting delayed, lost in the post and being held up in customs. In fact had everything landed that was due this month - it would have been the biggest bumper month of all time - while as things turned out - there were some really close shaves!

 

The Fjord Fuzz Berserk II literally just arrived yesterday afternoon - and I was able to fully test and write that up in record time - ...

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Discontinued Rarities Targets - 12 that mostly Got Away!

AnasoundsAnimal FactoryBig Muff Style FuzzBitcrushing and Lo-FiBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBuffalo FXDelayDirty Visions FXDistortionDriveDwarfcraftEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzGlitchGoosoniqueworxGranular DelayGworXKlone and Transparent OverdriveMagnetic EffectsMetal DistortionMI AudioMI EffectsModulationMulti-FXOscillating FuzzOverdriveSpaceman EffectsSSD DevicesSuper-Fuzz StyleThroBakTubescreamer Style Overdrive+-
2022-GPX-Rare-Targetlist-700.jpg

Readers have heard me refer to my ’Infinite Wishlist’ - which consists of a mix of new releases (Weeks & Months), relatively recent releases (Years), and older releases (Decades) that I either missed out on or was oblivious to at the time. What’s special about this process and exercise - like many things in life - and reminiscent of my DJ-ing days when it was all about a very specific version of remix - the same is the case with pedals - where the pedal reference and particular iteration is...

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The Meris LVX True Stereo Modular Delay System issues major challenge to all Delay Workstations!

DelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDouble TrackingEchoverbGranular DelayLo-Fi DelayMeris EffectsOddball DelayReverse DelayTape DelayTuners+-
2022GPXMerisLVX700.jpg

Meris may very well have a new champion on the block with its new LVX Modular Delay System. If features an attractive full-colour screen with ’Fractal Bubbles’ interface for building up your own favourite personal delays from an incredibly wide array of parameters and secondary effects, modulations and modifiers!

 

I would imagine there is something of a learning curve here, and some things at least superficially seem a little clunky - but I imagine that once you get used to this then you ...

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