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

Boss BD-2 Blues Driver-ology - Originals, Derivatives, and Adjacents!

Best in ClassBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossDigiTechDistortionDOD EffectsDriveElectric LoveFuzzGermanium FuzzHello Sailor EffectsKeeley EngineeringMooerOneder EffectsOverdrivesmallsound/bigsoundSoul Power InstrumentsStrymonWinnipeg Electrical Co+-
2023-GPX-Boss-Blues-Driverse-Labels-700.jpg

This rundown has been a long time in the making - having been iterated many times over, and changed as recently as this last Tuesday - when Keeley brought out its Muse Driver - Super AT Mod replacement!

 

Readers will know that I’ve cited the Keeley Freak Fuzz Modded BD-2 Blues Driver as my favourite all-time overdrive pedal, and be extension - the Blues Driver circuit and variations of it are my own very favourite gain tones. Some gravitate towards Tube Screamer, others Blues Breaker, Timmy ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2024-GPX-Mooer-Harmony-Tender-700.jpg

I’ve long been a fan of Mooer’s potent X2 series - which typically has 14 Presets / Algorithms and stereo output alongside 6 controls and dual footswitches - and is the most capable variety of Mooer Compact Pedals. I’ve intended to add a few of these to the reference collection - while to date only the Preamp Model X is in the collection.

 

Here we have the X2 varieties of the Harmony and Tender Octaver pedals - where I really like the look of the Harmony’s Channel Separation capabilities - ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

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+-
2023-GPX-Rob-Chapman-Favourite-Pedals-700.jpg

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 ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

TC Electronic doubles down on its runaway successful Ampworx Preamp range with new takes on the Peavey 5150, JCM800 and Dual Rectifier Amps

AMT EffectsAMT ElectronicsDistortionMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMooerPreAmpTC Electronic+-
2023-GPX-TC-Electronic-Ampworx-PT2-700.jpg

Even though I wasn’t particularly enamoured with the look of the first 3 releases - they obviously went down a storm - where I feel the $150 price tag was a big part of their success. While people obviously and very evidently seem to really like them. Which has encouraged TC Electronic to rush-release 3 more.

 

This time around tackling 3 Heavy Metal Classic amp inspirations - the Peavey 5150, Marshall JCM800, and MESA/Boogie Dual Rectifier - all 3 which featured in my Iconic Amps Roundup ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

The Brighton Guitar Show & FX Expo takes place TOMORROW, 15th of July at Brighton Racecourse

AudiostormBispell AudioBleak District ElectricBright Onion PedalsBrighton Guitar ShowBuzzing Bugs Audio DevicesDemiurge InstrumentsEmmergy FXFlattley Guitar PedalsFunny Little BoxesFX ExpoGoliath FXGreat Eastern FX Co.Guitar Gear ResourcesGuitar Gear RetailGuitar NerdsHamstead SoundworksHorrothia EffectsIndifferent EngineIntensive Care AudioLatent Lemon AudioMaking Waves EffectsMooerNRG EffectsPedal PatchRainger FXRedbeard EffectsRitual DevicesRotoSoundStrings and ThingsTate FXThorpyFXTimber Tones PicksTwo Notes Audio EngineeringWaterbear College of MusicZander Circuitry+-
2023-GPX-Brighton-Guitar-Show-V2-700.jpg

So we’re just one day away from the Brighton Guitar Show and FX Expo - where Mr PedalPatch - Phil Steere takes up the reins alongside show partners and sponsors Zander Circuitry (Alex Millar), RotoSound (Jack Dunwoody), Strings & Things (Marc Snelling), and WaterBear College of Music (Adam Bushell and Bruce John Dickinson). All those brands are listed in the middle of the above visual! With further details below.

 

The show is in a handy location at the Brighton Racecourse - just a 10 ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2023-GPX-Mooer-Drummer-Looper-II-X2-700.jpg

I’m a big fan of both Mooer’s Micro / Mini and X2 series, while I think NUX has stolen a march with its Mini TRS Stereo pedals - that Mooer has yet to answer. Mooer is still though the archetypal Mini Pedals Brand - with so many great examples in that diminutive format - including fantastic gain, modulation and utility pedals - and the formidable Micro Preamp Series.

 

Here we see new generations of the Drummer Drum Machine and Looper Pedals - each featuring 7 ’Parts’ in the larger more ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

12 Degrees of Saturation 2023 Mini Edition

12 Degrees of SaturationAnalog.ManBecos FXBJFEBoost and OverdriveCoppersoundDecibelicsDistortionEl Músico Loco FXEWS EffectsFeaturedFortin AmpsF-PedalsFree Fall DiverFunction F(X)FuzzIbanezKHDKKO AmpsMenatoneMooerMXRNFYFXOneControlPickdropperPigtronixRainger FXSchu-ToneSnouse Electric CompanySonderySuhrTWA EffectsWamplerXotic EffectsXvive Audio+-
2023-12-Degrees-Saturation-Mini-Edition-700.jpg

So it’s about time for another round of ’12 Degrees of Saturation’ - featuring an updated selection and including most of the more recently released notable Mini Gain Pedals. Please note that as before - this is something of a Grey Science with simply approximated best fit positioning - as all those pedals have slightly different gain ranges, and certain ones within each selection / category can have vastly more extended range than others - and often cover more than one of the categories.

 

...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2022 Best New Distortion Pedals of the Year

Aleks K ProductionAura AmpsBeautiful Noise EffectsBest in ClassBlackhawk AmplifiersBossBrown Sound DistortionDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDual-DriveFrost Giant ElectronicsGear AntKMA AudioKSR AmplificationKuro Custom AudioLeyland PedalsMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMidValleyFXMissing Link AudioMooerMulti-DriveOld Blood Noise EndeavorsPreAmpRainger FXSinvertekSolar GuitarsSolar PedalsSoldanoTone InkVictory AmpsWamplerWampler CollectiveWestminster EffectsWren and CuffZander Circuitry+-
2022-GPX-Best-New-Distortion-Pdeals-Annual-700.jpg

Obviously the big Distortion story of the year for me was my recent Full Metal Racket High Gain Distortion roundup - and roughly one third of this selection was in service of that feature alone. Even then I didn’t get to everything I wanted to as a couple or so builders weren’t particularly responsive. This is often quite a thankless task of revolving and closing doors - in any case case I’m proud of what I managed to accomplish regardless - and some of the candidates are quite superb.

 

The ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2022 April Pedal-Chain Update - Episode IV - Binary Emissions

Aleks K ProductionBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoDelayDigital DelayDistortionDrive WorkstationDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveFunny Little BoxesFuzzGermanium FuzzGranular DelayGreuter AudioJ RockettKeeley EngineeringKlone and Transparent OverdriveMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMissing Link AudioModulationMooerMulti-DriveNeunaberOddball DelayPedal ChainPreAmpRed Noise PedalsTC ElectronicThermionTone Bender Style Fuzz+-
2022GPXSKPedalChainUpdateApril700.jpg

As you can see from the flurry of activity during the last week of the month in particular - April has seen the culmination of 3 very significant projects  - which is mostly reflected by the end-of-month Pedal-Chain snapshot.

 

It was not as if I was short of an overdrive or two, having around 150+ to-date to choose from, but I always felt I was missing a few classics, and in the last couple of months in particular - I made a real concerted effort to make my reference collection fully ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Some Thoughts on Digital and Hybrid Multi-Drive Pedals

BoostBoost and OverdriveBossDistortionDriveDual-DriveFuzzMooerMulti-DriveNeunaberOverdrivePreAmpStrymon+-
2022GPXDigitalOverdrives700.jpg

Readers will know that I’m quite the fan of Digital / Hybrid pedals - where the Strymon Riverside and Sunset in particular have been pretty much permanent fixtures of my pedal-chain since they first came out. I’m obviously a fan of the Boss OD-200 too and did a significant in-depth warts-and-all review of it when that materialised. More recently I have acquired both the Mooer Preamp Model X X2, and Neunaber Neuron Gain Intelligence Preamp / Multi-Drive pedals.

 

The Boss and Strymons are ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions
News Navigation






















































Paul Smith
9 of the Best Mid-Size Fuzz Face+ Pedals
"Don't know if you would count this, but I "...
7 days ago
Richard kupisz
Oneder Effects' Onederbolt is a beautifully textured distortion with 4 gears of operation
"Stefano, have you considered signing up to one of "...
11 days ago
Paul Smith
Expandora extracts the Forbidden Fuzz Mode for a standalone extended-range Fuzz
"Bit of a bump here, but having just attended to "...
15 days ago
Jet Hasie
Robert Keeley Boss Mods Trifecta
"Hey Stefan, that freak fuzz seems so cool thank "...
16 days ago
Cyril Demaegd
2024 February Pedal-Chain Update - Episode II - Triple Tremolo Flutter
"As usual very inspiring. I'd be curious to "...
18 days ago
Waiting