FuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzJAM PedalsSilicon Fuzz+-
We’re living in interesting times - where the more classic Germanium Transistors have almost all been used up already. JAM Pedals’ Fuzz Phrase used to be a purple suede-wrapped Custom Shop Edition loaded with Germanium CV7003 variants - which are military spec equivalents to OC44. While those were always is short supply and stocks eventually ran out!
It turns out that Jimi Hendrix favoured the Silicon variety of Fuzz Face - which for many is just as good as or even preferable to the ...
Big Muff Style FuzzFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionJAM PedalsSilicon Fuzz+-
JAM Pedals takes its Eureka Ducky Fuzz to its logical evolution with a 3D-Printing masterclass. The Eureka Fuzz of course combines Fuzz Face and Big Muff voicings in a single circuit - aided by a smart 3-way Bass Boost Switch.
Controls - Level, Tone, Gain, Bass Boost Switch : +1 / 0 / +2.
JAM Pedals is of course very well known for its artistry and artisan approach to pedal making - where all of its pedals are hand-painted. While their limited edition EureQuack edition of the Eureka ...
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!
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+-
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 ...
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+-
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...
Best in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBispell AudioBixonicCollision DevicesCrazy Tube CircuitsFarmer Factory EffectsFenderFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGermanium FuzzGreat Eastern FX Co.Hello Sailor EffectsJAM PedalsKernomKMA AudioLife Is Unfair AudioLoe SoundsMaestro Style FuzzModulated FuzzOctave FuzzOddball FuzzOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzPalmer Custom FXPedal PartnersRainger FXRat Style FuzzRedbeard EffectsReeves Electro Guitar PedalsSilicon FuzzSpaceman EffectsStone Deaf EffectsSuper-Fuzz StyleTark AudioThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTru-Fi Guitar EffectsTWA EffectsUnsound Circuitry+-
And so to what is often my favourite category - the many wonderful flavours of fuzz - and we have some hugely innovative pedals in the selection this year - one of these may even be my pedal of the year!
So there are 24 in this year’s selection - where I’m just missing the Collision Devices TARS, Fender Shields Blender, JAM Pedals Octaurus, KMA Machines Mandrake, Reeves Electro Facet IZ, and Unsound Circuitry Kato Glitch Fuzz - where I will attempt to add most of those to the reference ...
FuzzJAM PedalsOctave FuzzSilicon Fuzz+-
Following in the footsteps of its Limited Custom Shop Editions - Fuzz Phrase, Rattler and Rooster, JAM Pedals releases a really cool 4-transistor turret-style octave fuzz - wrapped in a fine olive drab suede - in a similar style to the Fuzz Phrase and Rooster.
The Octaurus is not based on any specific octave fuzz circuit - but takes its inspiration from the accumulative experience of the very best vintage octafuzzes. It houses a quartet of early 60’s NOS Silicon Transistors - Transitron / ...
Alexander PedalsAnimals PedalBJFEBlackhawk AmplifiersColortone PedalsDeath By AudioDemedash EffectsDiamond PedalsEarthQuaker DevicesFlower PedalsGuitar Gear Improvements and PrototypesGuitar Gear ResourcesGuitar Pedal 101GuitarSystemsIconic GearJackson AudioJAM PedalsJHS PedalsMu-TronOrigin EffectsPettyjohn ElectronicsSitek Guitar ElectronicsSpaceman EffectsTanabeTru-Fi Guitar EffectsVFE PedalsWalrus AudioZander CircuitryZvex+-
So this is the second of this series - where the first was more about the uniqueness of the enclosure shape - more structural really - covering the overall form factor. While this edition is more about ’Trade Dress’ or the Memorability of the Aesthetics - style of graphics, consistency of theme, and consistency of control topology - doing something in a consistently measurable way that makes that pedal instantly recognisable from afar as belonging to a certain single brand.
So this one is ...
BoostBoost and OverdriveBufferJAM PedalsUtilityVolume+-
A really simple utility pedal here - but ever so useful and versatile - combining several tone-enhancing functions in an incredibly streamlined format.
At the root of this compact wonder is a hi-fi-grade Burr Brown OPA 2132 Chip which delivers ultimate fidelity across the Boomster’s 3 key function.
Controls - Level (up to +16dB of Boost), 3-way Range Switch : Up for Attenuating Highs / Middle for Flat Full-Range Response / and Down for a Mids Boost.
You further have :
...
Andy TimmonsArtistArrayBlack Country CustomsBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossCarl MartinChorus and VibratoCompressorDelayDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionEchoverbElectro-HarmonixExpressionFuzzGNI MusicIbanezJAM PedalsJHS PedalsJim DunlopKeeley EngineeringLoop-SwitcherMarshall Style DistortionModulationNeunaberOctave FuzzOctaverOverdrivePitchReverbSonic ResearchTape DelayTheGigRigTubescreamer Style OverdriveTunersUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityVolumeXotic Effects+-
This exercise has totally underlined just how much of a tone genius Andy Timmons is. His pedals are selected incredibly carefully and deliberately - and don’t just have that certain glorious sound about them - but beautiful dynamics, harmonics, smart guitar volume gain clean-up and an abundance of musicality.
Andy wrings magic out of each and everyone of these pedals - and his Halo Dual Echo algorithm / preset is amazing - and can sit under anything and make it sound at least 50% percent ...