Guitar Pedal X

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+-

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 ...

2 of the best from Seymour Duncan have just recently landed - the Diamondhead Multistage Distortion + Boost, and Polaron Dual Modulated 2-16 Stage Analog Phase Shifter

Jan 23, 202614:00 by

Brown Sound DistortionDistortionMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulationPhaserSeymour Duncan+-

I first covered the Diamondhead back in November of 2019, and it’s been on the wishlist ever since. I guess I was never presented with the right opportunity - until I came across it during my Christmas visit to Reykjavik’s 2 main pedal shops - Tónastöðin and Hljóðfærahúsið.

It turns out that it was the only reasonably priced pedal that I encounter in Iceland - where it was priced at 32,500 ISK which amounts to around £192 equivalent. I had my father in tow - and he managed to wrangle a ...

MXR unleashes EVH Modern High Gain Distortion Pedal - based on the EVH 5150 III Amp's Red Lead Channel

Jan 23, 202610:00 by

Brown Sound DistortionDistortionMetal DistortionMXR+-

Most are familiar with this format by now - as it’s near enough the same as MXR’s 5150 Overdrive. Obviously this Red edition is the 3rd Channel - the Red Lead Channel from that EVH 51510 III Amp.

Apart from the extra gain, sear and saturation we also have a new Bass Shift control - which gives you two options of the Bass Centre Frequency.

Controls - Gate, Output, Bass, Bass Shift : 55Hz / 80Hz, Mid, Treble, Gain, Boost.

I wonder how much this was influenced by the equally red Anti ...

Mr Wu has expanded the envelope further - another evolved and improved MGAT-1 Pedal is incoming - the Marshall EVO Edition Sinvertek Real Amp Abstraction

Dec 12, 202512:00 by

Brown Sound DistortionDistortionDriveMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMulti-DriveOverdriveSinvertek+-

I already thought we had witnessed Peak Full-Range Marshall back in 2022 with the original MGAT-1, then Mr Wu significantly improved that circuit in 2024, and the new one promises to be even better!

So far we’ve only had a teaser on Instagram - where I got the EVO pic from - while there is no web page yet or much in the way of further details.

Like the MGAT-5 - the first batch will contain especially mojo components - so it’s worth getting involved early on.

The actual control ...

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End of Year Pedal Chain Update - Class of 2025

Dec 12, 202508:00 by

Ambient EffectsAnalog DelayBeat MachineBecos FXBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlender and MixerBlue ColanderBlue FX DevicesBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrelliottBrown Sound DistortionButterfly EffectsChase Bliss AudioColortone PedalsCompressorCoriolis EffectsCornerstone Music GearCosmic Loop FXCrazy Tube CircuitsCryBabyDelayDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDown-TunerDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDryBell EffectsDual-DriveEarthQuaker DevicesEchoverbElectro-HarmonixExpressionFlangerFlatley Guitar PedalsFortin AmpsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzGlitchGranular DelayGreat Eastern FX Co.Hangman fxHarmonizerIK MultimediaIntensive Care AudioJim DunlopLo-Fi DelayMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulated FuzzModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXMulti-GainOctave FuzzOctaverOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePastFXPedal ChainPitchPitch-ShiftingPlate ReverbPlutoneium EngineeringPoly EffectsPolyendRack Style ReverbRat Style FuzzRedbeard EffectsReverbReverb WorkstationRotary SpeakerShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSinvertekSolar PedalsSpaceman EffectsSpacey ReverbTeaching MachinesThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTubesteaderTweed Style OverdriveUtilityWah and Fixed WahWampler+-

New Pedals in the Class of 2025 Pedal-Chain Snapshot = 41

[OCTOBER] = 9

[NOVEMBER] = 6

[MARCH] = 5

[SEPTEMBER] = 5

[AUGUST] = 4

[JANUARY] = 3

[FEBRUARY] = 3

[APRIL] = 2

[JUNE] = 2

[MAY] = 1

[JULY] = 1

[A-Z by Brand]

Becos FX CompIQ Pro Yuna Soft Knee Blackmer VCA Studio Style Compressor [SEPTEMBER]
Blue Colander Grimrobe Dual Cascaded Super Rat [OCTOBER]
Blue FX Devices Fuzz Fields Ultimate Modulated Fuzz [SEPTEMBER]
Boss RT-2 Rotary Ensemble Leslie / Rotary Speaker

...

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2025 Best New Distortion Pedals of the Year

Dec 5, 202508:00 by

Best in ClassBlue ColanderBrown Sound DistortionDistortionDrunk BeaverElectric Eye AudioEmpty Head EffectsEngl AmplificationFortin AmpsFuzz ImpGreat Eastern FX Co.Hello Sailor EffectsKrozz DevicesLastgasp Art LaboratoriesLichtlaerm AudioMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMuir Audio DesignOla EnglundRat Style FuzzREVV AmplificationRhPf ElectronicsSinvertekSolar PedalsThis Heavy Earth+-

And so onto the Distortions of the year - the smallest group stage this year! There’s no particular logic as to why there are just 20 Disortions this year. There were a further couple of acquisitions that I was disappointed with - and I deliberately left out of this selection. It’s mostly a case of what appeals each year - and evidently there weren’t that many appealing ones beyond those I acquired. I’m not aware of any particular ones that are still in the wind. The last one in was the ...

Lichtlaerm Audio now has a Quadfecta of superior Compact gain machines with this potent Lennart Bossu Signature Thorn 3-Mode High Gain Distortion, newly in at Joe's Pedals in the UK

Dec 1, 202508:00 by

DistortionLichtlaerm AudioMetal Distortion

Readers should know that I’ve long lauded Lichtlaerm’s previously High Gain Trifecta - the Altar, Gehenna, and Medusa. And now we have the 4th killer compact candidate to join that elite!

I believe the first batch (which sold out very quickly!) was only available on the EvilGreed.Com Webstore - while the second batch is more widely available, including at Joe’s Pedals in the UK - where indeed I got mine from.

Lennart Bossu, of Amenra, Living Gate, Oathbreaker and Predatory Void bands - ...

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2025 Full Metal Racket - 32 of the Best Compact High Gain and Heavy Metal Pedals

Nov 27, 202512:00 by

Abominable ElectronicsBardic Audio DevicesBest in ClassBlackhawk AmplifiersBossBrown Sound DistortionDistortionDOD EffectsDriveDual-DriveElectric Eye AudioEmpress EffectsFortin AmpsKeeley EngineeringKlirrton ManufakturKMA AudioLichtlaerm AudioMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMidValleyFXMulti-DriveMulti-GainRedbeard EffectsREVV AmplificationSinvertekSolar GuitarsSolar PedalsThis Heavy EarthTone InkVictory AmpsWamplerWestminster EffectsWinnipeg Electrical Co+-

So we’re at that time of year again for another Full Metal Racket Rundown. I meant to have it coincide with halloween - but was so inundated with new releases work - that I really struggled to fit this one in. And it now appears a month later than I wanted it to - but still very much at the appropriate end of the year!

As is ever the case - this selection continues to evolve over the years - and inevitably some previous candidates get bounced for more impressive newer variants.

For this...

2025 October Pedal-Chain Updated - Episode X - Big Thrills and Overspills

Oct 31, 202517:00 by

Blammo ElectronicsBlue ColanderBoostBoost and OverdriveBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioCoriolis EffectsCrazy Tube CircuitsDr. No EffectsDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveEarthQuaker DevicesElectro-HarmonixEmpty Head EffectsFlangerFortin AmpsFuzzGamechanger AudioGermanium FuzzGigaheartsHangman fxHarmonic OverdriveHello Sailor EffectsMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXMulti-GainOctave FuzzOddball FuzzOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzOverdrivePastFXPedal ChainPhaserRat Style FuzzSilicon FuzzSpaceman EffectsTanabeTeaching MachinesTone Bender Style FuzzTubesteaderVox Style Distortion+-

October was a super busy month - one of the busiest ever - with such a scope and scale and body of work covered - I’m quite shattered as a result!

We had of the penultimate Events of the year :

The 2nd Woking Boutique Guitar Show
Kempton Park London International Guitar Show

And around one dozen key posts as below also :

Letter from Dr.No
Teaching Machines FuzzBillion Component Combinations Wheels Gain-Shaper
Hangman fx DAGG’R Dynamic Auto-Gain/Gate Mighty Morphing Gain-Ramper

...

The Magnificent Teaching Machines' FuzzBillion is one of my all-time favourite pedals - its combination wheel gain-shaping delivers myriad exceptional tones across the gain spectrum

Oct 31, 202508:00 by

BoostBoost and OverdriveDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationFuzzHarmonic OverdriveMetal DistortionModulated FuzzMulti-DriveMulti-GainOctave FuzzOddball FuzzOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzOverdriveSilicon FuzzTeaching Machines+-

I have spent a week now with the magnificent analog mechanical marvel that is FuzzBillion - and I’ve been utterly dazzled by its brilliance. This pedal is genuinely extraordinarily high fidelity and is a superb enclosed breadboarding device and analog sound-design machine.

Leon and his colleagues at Teaching Machines (+ Frank, Luke, and Mat) recommend you work left to right - and start off every sound design task - with all wheels at zero - and then mix your favourite sound cocktail from ...