IK Multimedia ToneX One Joe Satriani Chrome Edition Deep Dive
I was down for getting the original black ToneX One edition - one was offered to me, but never quite arrived. Which turns out I’m quite happy about in the end really as it was the much better looking Chrome Joe Satriani Edition that finally landed for me. So thanks to UK IK Multimedia Ambassador / UK & Ireland Sales & Marketing Manager Paul Kaufman for arranging!
Considering I’m mostly a classic stompbox guy - then the ToneX One isn’t always going to be he most natural fit for me. While as...
Jonny Brelliott's TODP is an ingeniously expansive and a superb sounding Modular Tube Overdrive with a built-in upgrade and customisation path
Many thanks to my good friend Henry Kaiser - who introduced me to my new friend Jonny Brelliott. Henry was one of the early adopters of Jonny’s TODP Overdrive - where his model hadn’t yet evolved to the modular format / concept that it is now - as per my pictured one. The core Pentode Tube circuit is the same in my review version as in Henry’s, as are the clipping options and controls - but more fixed in their arrangement. The exterior has an identical control topology with all the same ...
Benson Amps collaborates with Jessica Dobson on signature Deep Sea Diver Fuzz-Echo
Chris Benson makes incredibly musical devices - and that is very much the case once more with his Jessica Dobson signature Deep Sea Diver Fuzz-Echo pedal. I don’t always gel with the horizontal medium enclosure format with is inoptimal dimensions - I don’t understand why this cannot be a vertical format - as it’s the pedal’s width which is mostly the limiting factor for pedalboard compatibility. All that needs to happen is that the enclosure layout is rotated 90 degress clockwise - so the ...
Two cool new Lichtlaerm devices have arrived at Joe's Pedals - the As Above So Below Octave and Shimmer Reverb, and the 60W PandorA Pedalboard Power Amp
You should know by now that I’m a huge fan of Lichtlaerm Audio and have a special relationship with Joe’s Pedals here in the UK as well as Lichtlaerm’s Daniel Ringl. I own five Licthlaerm pedals to date as per my January update, and there are now two further candidates here - a 2-way Octave and Shimmer Reverb, alongside a really potent 60W Pedalboard Power Amp.
The As Above So Below Reverb is a fairly expansive and full fat Octave Shimmer type unit with FX Loop and ports for Ramping and ...
Drunk Beaver's Pedal Drop #27 is the superb enhanced Volnovakha take on the Univox Super-Fuzz
I love the blooming harmonics of the Super-Fuzz circuit, yet a lot of those originals are a little underpowered on the output. I prefer vintage-inspired but slightly modernised circuits which have a significantly improved output profile.
This will be my own 25th Super-Fuzz - that’s how much I like the format. And Vitalii has really pulled out all the stops for his version. The original 1968 Super-Fuzz essentially had 3 controls :
Balance (Volume), Expander (Fuzz Amount), Tone Switch : ...
Audio Cultivation Projects' Fourth Solid-State Distortion is a great take on those trashier sounding solid state amps - using a Hybrid Transistor + OpAmp topology
I’ve been wanting to cover this pedal since I first glimpsed it. Something about its elegant design really appeals to me - as does its Drive / Distortion output profile. It supposedly sits somewhat adjacent to the Music Man 112 RD, Epiphone Studio 10s, and the Silvertone 1464 solid state amps - for that kind of brasher garage-punk / rock sound.
It starts with a fairly conventional control topology of Output / Level, Gain and Shape (Bass EQ),
while it’s 3 toggle switches make it really...
Cosmic Loop FX's new Parallelarator is not just a Parallel Blender, but an ingenious Wet-Dry-Wet Gateway / Junction Box
My now good friend Rich Cattell came along at just the right time, as I was having issues with my TheGigRig Wetter Box at that very moment, and still somewhat in the market for a top-notch Parallel Blender.
Superficially those pedals look quite similar, but they’re quite different animals. The Wetter Box is an excellent Full Stereo (TRS) Parallel Blender - where everything can be Stereo - including the Main Core Input. All the Send & Return Loops are full stereo here in both directions - ...
Hello Sailor Effects' Compact SeaWolf PT2399 Delay is a super lush hand-wired take on the Deep Blue
I now totally understand the allure of Mad Professor’s Deep Blue Delay which is so well-loved, and which my good friend Joe has managed to further refine and improve - using the very best in primo vintage and NOS components - all hand-wired in the most exquisite fashion.
This is truly a lush delay - leaning somewhat towards dampened and softened - slightly spongy in some ways - for the most beautiful decaying repeats. The nature of the decay is exceptional here - and I like riding the ...
Walrus Audio's Canvas Clock allows you to seamlessly sync up the Clock Speed / Tempo of 4 pedals at a time
Essentially you have both full-size 5-Pin MIDI and 1/8" Mini MIDI connections - along with Ports for up to 4 devices at a time.
The Two Knobs set the various Parameters for the system - Time signatures etc., and the A & B assignable Footswitches allow you to set different functions - step through different song tempos, tap tempo etc.
Controls - Preset / Menu, Tempo / Save, A Footswitch, B Footswitch.
Ports - MIDI In, 1/4" Sync 1, 1/4" Sync 2, 1/4" MIDI Out, 1/4" Sync 3, Sync 4, USB-...
Aclam's latest Vox Conqueror Go Rocky Go take further cements their reputation as the leading purveyor of Highest Quality Beatles' Vox Sounds
This lates Vox-Conqueror-inspired pedal covers the Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour and White Albums. Interestingly ’Magical Mystery Tour’ is my brother’s favourite Beatles Album, while the White Album is my own second-favourite Beatles work. My favourite is of course ’Revolver’ - which is covered by Aclam’s previous Dr. Roberts pedal. And my 3rd favourite Beatles Album - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is ably covered by Aclam’s Mocker pedal.
Controls - Volume, Drive : Attack <> ...
