Best of BrandsDistortionFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzLastgasp Art LaboratoriesMetal DistortionModulated FuzzModulationOctave FuzzOddball FuzzOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzSilicon FuzzSuper-Fuzz StyleTremolo+-
As mentioned previously - I meant to feature Lastgasp Art Laboratories (LAL / Lastgasp) quite a while back, but access to pedals from the UK has been rather limited, and most of these therefore fairly hard to come by! I detailed how there were only two properly active current dealers that had most of the range in stock - my good friend Andy Ebsen’s Effekt Boutique in Germany, and Perfect Circuit in the USA. I also was instrumental in getting Joe’s Pedals’ Joe Light to connect with Lastgasp’s ...
Bitcrushing and Lo-FiBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBuzzing Bugs Audio DevicesChorus and VibratoDistortionDriveDrunk BeaverDumble Style OverdriveEl GaratgeExpressionFjord FuzzFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzHello Sailor EffectsLastgasp Art LaboratoriesMenatoneModulationOctave FuzzOneder EffectsOverdrivePedal ChainPeterson TunersPhaserSilicon FuzzSolidGoldFXSuper-Fuzz StyleTanabeTubescreamer Style OverdriveTunersTWA EffectsUni-Vibe and VibeUtility+-
So scanning through this month it seems to have been mostly about Guitar / Pedal Shows, Japanese Pedals, and Pedals Delayed and Missing in the Post!
The Guitar Shows have been pretty fast and furious for March - with two of the most significant ones of the year, along with a fledgling grassroots one : The Guitar Show (Cranmore Park - Birmingham / Shirley), London Synth & Pedal Expo (Studio 9294, Hackney Wick, London), The Alternative Guitar Show (The Fighting Cocks, Kingston).
I of ...
FuzzLastgasp Art LaboratoriesSilicon FuzzSuper-Fuzz Style+-
I have quite a number of Super Fuzzes in the collection by now - and this Lastgasp Art Laboratories variant is another wonderful take on that format - with some quite distinct circuit differences - but most importantly it has all the flavour - and those fantastic blooming and percolating waves of harmonic fuzz.
The circuit topology is somewhat different to the norm - being composed of a mix of C1815 Transistors and JRC4558DD opamp. I’m not particularly familiar with the C1815’s, but ...
Big Muff Style FuzzFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGermanium FuzzHotone EffectsKernomLoop-SwitcherMaestro Style FuzzModulated FuzzOctave FuzzOddball FuzzOpAmp FuzzRat Style FuzzSilicon FuzzSuper-Fuzz StyleTone Bender Style FuzzUtility+-
In my recent review of the Kernom Moho Magmatic Fuzz - I already lauded it to the high rafters as the greatest Multi-Fuzz pedal ever created. It’s the perfect tool for proper fuzz fans - and in particular for those who have fully mastered the relatively tricky Zvex Fuzz Factory and similar - all those should get along with the Moho fabulously. Newbie fuzz fans may find the device a little tricky to dial in - as every knob impacts the texture and tonality of the output - so pretty much all 6 ...
Best of BrandsDanelectroFuzzGermanium FuzzOctave FuzzSilicon FuzzSuper-Fuzz StyleTone Bender Style Fuzz+-
Danelectro owner Steve Ridinger was quite the Fuzz pioneer back in the 60’s - where two of the fuzzes featured here were his own original designs - the Liverpool Fuzz-Tone from back in 1966 (his very first pedal design), and and then the Foxx Tone Machine in 1972.
Danelectro released its first relic’d Vintage Style Fuzz - the Eisenhower back in 2019, then came the sort of Foxx Tone Machine reissue in similar compact enclosure - and now we have the earliest origin pedal in that trilogy - the...
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 ...
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 ...
Big Muff Style FuzzFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzKernomMaestro Style FuzzOctave FuzzOddball FuzzOpAmp FuzzSuper-Fuzz StyleTone Bender Style Fuzz+-
I’ve had the Moho on my board for an entire wonderful week so far - and it’s been nothing but delightful from the very first encounter. I occasionally use the phrase ’a joy to deploy’ and that’s never been more apt than in these circumstances.
It’s not just that the Moho delivers high fidelity - it truly sounds magnificent every which way you point those dials - with all the verve, ebb and flow, fuzzy feel and full flavour you could ever desire. It has some degree of guitar volume gain ...
Bispell AudioBoostBoost and OverdriveBossColortone PedalsDistortionDriveDrunk BeaverFarmer Factory EffectsFlattley Guitar PedalsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzGreat Eastern FX Co.Marshall Style DistortionNoise GateOctave FuzzOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainRedbeard EffectsSilicon FuzzSuper-Fuzz StyleTWA EffectsUtilityWay Huge Effects+-
Another busy month - doubly busy as I was working on the new website and commercial plans for the most part on top of the normal hectic schedule. Inevitably there are a few pedals that get moved into October - as I just ran out of time - still plenty of coverage. October is going to be incredibly hectic as I’m expecting a lot of incoming pedals - so a lot of review work to complete and a couple more sizeable projects.
I feel the website launch went mostly very well and was universally well ...