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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 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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Rob Chapman's All-Time Favourite Guitar Pedals

Amp and Cab IR SimAtomic AmpsBad Cat AmplifiersBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossCryBabyDawner Prince EffectsDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDigiTechDistortionElectro-HarmonixEQFuzzG-Lab Guitar LaboratoryGuitar Synth and SequencerJim DunlopKlone and Transparent OverdriveKorgMarshall Style DistortionModulationMooerMXRMythos PedalsNeunaberOctave FuzzOddball ModulationODR Style OverdriveOverdrivePitchPitch-ShiftingPreAmpReverbReverb WorkstationRob ChapmanRockBoxSilicon FuzzThropyFXUAFXUniversal AudioUtilityVemuramVox Style DistortionWah and Fixed WahZvex+-
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So right at the end of last month Rob Chapman posted up a YouTube video of a rundown of his all-time favourite guitar pedals. He initially states he’s going to name his 10 most favoured ones - but goes on to mention 20 - which I’ve fully included here.

 

Rob has a great ear for tone - as countless of his own and Anderton’s videos have proven time and time again. And I really love his everyman approach to guitar gear. I’ve encountered him in person 2 or 3 times now over the years - and he’s ...

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Ben Fulton's Red Witch 4-Voice Synthotron III with Sample & Hold Filter and Dual-Voice Chorus is an incredible sounding killer All-Analog Monophonic Synth

Chorus and VibratoEnvelope Filter and Auto WahGuitar Synth and SequencerModulationRed Witch Effects+-
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This 3rd Edition of the Analog Synthotron Synth is a pretty magnificent achievement - with 7 key Control Blocks featuring a total of 28 controls - covering 4-Voice Synthesis, Sample & Hold / Envelope Filter, and a 2-Voice Analog Chorus.

 

Ben reports that everything has been updated and improved in this new version - with smarter controls, and greatly improved tracking. Considering the quality and price of this device I would have really wanted better knobs than those basic mini types - ...

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Rainger FX's Break Box, Drone Rainger and Snare Trap are all brilliantly creative devices each on their own - while all three together deliver something extraordinary!

Beat MachineBitcrushing and Lo-FiDelayDigital DelayDistortionFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGuitar Synth and SequencerOddball DelayRainger FXUtility+-
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I’ve been meaning to do this article ever since the Witney Pedal Party event - where we lucky few who attended - were spellbound by some David Rainger magic - courtesy of a sort of combination performance and demo piece which mostly made use of the above 3 core pedals but in fact included every pedal in the range at some stage.

 

The Snare Trap and Drone Rainger have a real Dubby / SoundSystem dynamic to them - where in this context - this particular combination kind of renders as a sort of 3...

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Joe's Pedals is Exclusive UK Dealer for Acorn Amplifiers' superior Preamp, Distortion and Fuzz pedals

Acorn AmpsBest of BrandsBig Muff Style FuzzDistortionDual-DriveFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGuitar Synth and SequencerOddball FuzzOverdrivePitch-ShiftingPreAmp+-
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I’ve been a significant fan of Acorn Amps Pedals over the years and have hitherto had to acquire mine direct from their Atlanta, Georgia Webstore which is not ideal in terms of overseas customs / import and shipping charges. I already had two to my name via said route - the ADHD Synth Fuzz and Kakarot 2-Transistor Fuzz, and I fully intended to get the Compact Solid State Preamplifier fairly imminently too.

 

I’ve reviewed quite a few of the Acorn Amps Pedals over the years on this site - ...

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2023-GPX-Boss-GM-800-Guitar-Synthesizer-700.jpg

Boss’s Guitar Synthesiser history is somewhat complex - but generally it stems from a system / platform that Roland introduced in 1977 with the GR-500. Through the 80’s and 90’s we then had the GR-100, GR-300, and GR-700. These devices relied on specialist GK type guitar pickups which connected to the workstations via proprietary 13 Pin DIN connectors / cables. I believe the last significant Roland GR type was 1992’s GR-1.

 

In the latter 90’s Guitar Synthesisers waned a touch - before Boss ...

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2023-GPX-Subdecay-Tremcoder-MKII-700.jpg

Similar to its recent and utterly superb Prometheus 3 Dual Super Filter which I have and love - Subdecay now takes the same kitchen-sink approach to its Tremcoder Pattern Tremolo and Sequencer. You can see that its control topology is almost identical to its predecessor Prometheus sibling - with 6 main control knobs, a 3-way Mode toggle-switch, and dual footswitches.

 

However Sudecay seem to have gone a step further forward with the newer pedal in that each of the 4 Parameter knobs now has ...

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2023-GPX-October-Audio-Mntns-F-Division-700.jpg

F Division stands for frequency division - where each of the number 1-3 switches divide the output frequency by a certain fraction / degree - resulting in progressive sub-octaves - you can use the switches in any combination - and each one denotes the level of Sub Octave generated 1, 2 and 3.

 

This is essentially a kind of analog Bass Synth really - while it produces really cool glitches at different combinations and settings - and particularly when you play below the 5th fret.

 

There are...

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2022 Best of New Modutility Pedals of the Year

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+-
2022-GPX-Best-New-Modutility-Pedals-Annual-700.jpg

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 :

  • Chase Bliss
...
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