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2024-GPX-Wampler-EGO76-Compressor-700.jpg

I’m not sure it was Brian’s intention to become a Compressor specialist - but he now has 3 full size offerings covering all the different basis.

 

This time around it’s his UREI 1176 FET Studio Compressor - and for me comes with the perfect complement of controls. Those are pretty much exactly the control parameters that I would specify for a compressor :

 

Controls - Tone, Attack, Release, Level, Blend, Compress.

 

On the stock EGO variety (supposedly based on Ross Compressor), he has ...

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Ben Carlin's Electric Love collaborates with Brian Wampler on the Aquatone Overdrive / Distortion - a very special evolution of the BD-2 Blues Driver

Blues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveDistortionDriveDual-DriveElectric LoveOverdriveWampler+-
2023-GPX-Electric-Love-Aquatone-700.jpg

Before I jump into talking about this fantastic pedal it’s good to do a little background on Ben Carlin’s essentially ’Electric Love’ sort of Foundation - a pedal business specifically set up to raise money for cancer research.

 

Both Ben’s Wife and Daughter have had serious and significant cancer scares in the past few years - which were overcome through wonderfully attentive service and effective treatments delivered by a variety of healthcare professionals - who brought both those family ...

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2023-GPX-Wampler-Black-Tweed-700.jpg

I had both of these pedals on my wishlist back in the day, but never quite got around to getting either. If I still wanted them - now would be the prime time to real them in. The Black ’65 presumably the ’65 Deluxe Reverb, while it could also be a mix of that, the Princeton and Super Reverb - the details aren’t clear on that point. The ’57 Tweed is most likely a Custom Deluxe, but could also be a Custom Champ or a mix of both. Essentially you’re getting two of the most iconic Fender Amp ...

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20232-GPX-Wampler-Cory-Wong-Compressor-700.jpg

It seems like barely a month goes by and we get another fantastic and distinct take on a Compressor - this time from Funk Master Cory Wong - with a little help from Brian Wampler!

 

This is one of those few signature pedals which is both very artist-specific but also incredibly versatile and smart for everyone else at the same time. It consists of 3 core modes of operation - Compression, Sustain and Boost - which you can bring into effect as and when you need to.

 

Controls - Attack, Tone, ...

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Walrus Audio enters the Budget Pedal Arena with its incredibly well-considered Fundamental Series initial offering of 8

Boost and OverdriveCatalinbreadChorus and VibratoDelayDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionEarthQuaker DevicesFenderFuzzGibsonJHS PedalsMaestroModulationOverdrivePhaserReverbTremoloWalrus AudioWampler+-
2023-GPX-Walrus-Fundametnals-vs-Budget-700.jpg

Most people consider JHS Pedals’ 3 Series launch back in October of 2020 as the catalyst and forerunner of this particular effects pedal industry Budget phase / development. While I would go back to August of 2019 to EarthQuaker Devices’ first $99 pedal - the Plumes Small Signal Shredder OD - as the starting point of this trend.

 

Of course Josh Scott was the first to issue a full range of $99 pedals - where he launched with 7 white utilitarian / industrial style 3-knobs + 1-switch - somewhat...

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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.

 

...

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End of Year Pedal-Chain Update - Final Formation - Class of 2022

Ambient EffectsBardic Audio DevicesBeetronics FXBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChorus and VibratoColortone PedalsCompressorCoppersoundDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDouble TrackingDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveEchoverbEmpress EffectsEQEventideFlangerFrost Giant ElectronicsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzGoosoniqueworxHamstead SoundworksHorrothia EffectsJackson AudioKeyztoneLooperMarshall Style DistortionMeris EffectsMetal DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXMXRNoise GateNordland ElectronicsOCD Style OverdriveOctaverOld Blood Noise EndeavorsOverdrivePastFXPedal ChainPettyjohn ElectronicsPhaserPickup ModellerPitchPlate ReverbPreAmpRack Style ReverbReverbReverb WorkstationReverse ReverbRitual DevicesShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSinvertekSlicer and StutterSoldanoSpaceman EffectsSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbStrymonTape DelayTC ElectronicThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTone InkUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityVictory AmpsVox Style DistortionWah and Fixed WahWalrus AudioWampler+-
2022-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-Class-of-2022-700.jpg

^ 2022 Final Arrangement - December

 

So the time has come again to to the final reckoning of the layout and composition of this year’s ultimate pedal chain arrangement. I’ve introduced a new ’’ symbol into the visual - which indicates those Slots / Pedals that are unchanged from last year’s Class of 2021 arrangement. That element really is testament to how much has changed between years. It’s also indicative of how much I love those particular pedals - and pretty much find them ...

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2022 Best New Time-Based Effects Pedals of the Year

Alexander PedalsAmbient EffectsAnalog DelayBest in ClassBlack Country CustomsBossCatalinbreadChase Bliss AudioColortone PedalsDeath By AudioDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDouble TrackingDr ScientistEchoverbFree The ToneJAM PedalsKeeley EngineeringKinotoneLaney AmplificationLine 6Lo-Fi DelayMerisMojo Hand FXOddball DelayOld Blood Noise EndeavorsPigtronixPlate ReverbPLBR EffectsPolarbear EffectsRack Style ReverbReverbReverb WorkstationReverse DelayReverse ReverbShimmer ReverbSolidGoldFXSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbStrymonTape DelayWalrus AudioWamplerZander Circuitry+-
2022-best-New-Time-Based-Pedlas-Annual-700.jpg

So this is the first selection here where I only own a handful of the candidates - it’s easier to say what is in the reference collection than out :

  • Boss RE-2 Space Echo Compact - $249
  • Boss RE-202 Space Echo Deluxe - $399
  • Chase Bliss Generation Loss MKII Stereo Magnetiser - $399
  • Chase Bliss Habit The Echo Collector - $399
  • Meris LVX True Stereo Modular Delay System - $599
  • Old Blood Noise Endeavors Screen Violence Stereo Saturated Modulated Reverb Pedal - $279

Of those the Gen Loss II ...

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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 ...

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2022 Best New Boost & Overdrive Pedals of the Year

29 Pedals3rd Power Amps3RD Power ElectronicsAll-PedalAnalog.ManBest in ClassBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveCKK ElectronicsColortone PedalsCrazy Tube CircuitsDaredevil PedalsDeath By AudioDecibelicsDrunk BeaverDSM & HumboldtDumble Style OverdriveEarthQuaker DevicesGreat Eastern FX Co.Hamstead SoundworksHorrothia EffectsHot Cake Style OverdriveJ RockettJHS PedalsKernomKing Tone EffectsKlone and Transparent OverdriveMissing Link AudioMXRNordland ElectronicsOCD Style OverdriveODR Style OverdriveOKKO FXOneControlOrigin EffectsOverdrivePastFXPRSREVV AmplificationSource AudioSpaceman EffectsThorpyFXTimmyTubescreamer Style OverdriveTweed Style OverdriveVictory AmpsVS AudioWamplerWay Huge Effects+-
2022-Best-of-Boost-Overdrive-Annual-700.jpg

So it’s that time of year again when I trawl through the releases over these past 12 months or so and endeavour to extract the pedal highlights of the year. This exercise is all about drawing a line in the sand and figuring out which pedals deserve to be on the notable side of the line.

 

Of course everything I publish on Guitar Pedal X is highly curated - those are my own particular preferences and choices, and those are the pedals that I like the look of. So everything that appears on ...

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