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End of Year Pedal-Chain Update - Final December Formation - Class of 2024

Acoustic SimulatorAmbient EffectsAnalog DelayBecos FXBeetronics FXBig Muff Style FuzzBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoColombo Audio ElectronicsColortone PedalsCompressorCoriolis EffectsCornerstone Music GearDecibelicsDelayDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveFlangerFlower PedalsFormula B PedalsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGuitar Synth and SequencerHarmonizerHorrothia EffectsJHS PedalsKeeley EngineeringKrozz DevicesLichtlaerm AudioLife Is Unfair AudioMarshall Style DistortionMenatoneMetal DistortionModulated FuzzModulationMulti-DriveOctave FuzzOctaverOddball FuzzOneControlOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzOverdrivePastFXPedal ChainPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingPoly EffectsPreAmpRat Style FuzzReverbReverb WorkstationSampler / SustainerSentimental Bob ElectronicsSilicon FuzzSinvertekSkreddy PedalsSpacey ReverbStrymonTavysh EffectsThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTube OverdriveTubesteaderUtilityVox Style DistortionWalrus Audio+-
2024-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-Class-of-2024-700.jpg

33 slots updated this year - #2, #3, #4, #5, #7, #9a, #9b, #10, #11, #12, #15a, #15b, #15c, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #22a, #22b, #23, #24, #25, #26, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #36, #38, and #41.

 

There’s been a fair amount of re-routing and re-organising this year - which you should be able to pick via the pattern of changes. The introduction of the stereo Poly Amplitude introduced the biggest change to the board order - to get th most out of that format!

 

I try to limit acquisitions /...

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2024 Best of the Best New Pedals of the Year

Beetronics FXBest in ClassBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCoffee Shop PedalsCoriolis EffectsDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDiamond PedalsDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDriveDual-DriveEchoverbFlangerFormula B PedalsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzGFI SystemGuitar Synth and SequencerHamstead SoundworksHarmonizerHorrothia EffectsJHS PedalsKeeley EngineeringKrozz DevicesLife Is Unfair AudioLo-Fi DelayMarshall Style DistortionMenatoneMetal DistortionModelling AmpModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXMXROctaverOld Blood Noise EndeavorsOneControlOpAmp FuzzOrigin EffectsOverdrivePastFXPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingPoly EffectsPreAmpRat Style FuzzReverbReverb WorkstationReverse DelayRing ModulationRotary SpeakerSampler / SustainerSentimental Bob ElectronicsSilicon FuzzSinvertekSource AudioStrymonSwellTape DelayTavysh EffectsThorpyFXTomkat PedalsTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTubesteaderTweed Style OverdriveUni-Vibe and VibeVox Style DistortionWalrus Audio+-
2024-GPX-Best-of-the-Best-Pedals-700.jpg

So this is the big one - all the top performers from the year in one selection.

 

We’ve already covered :

  • 35 Boost & Overdrive Pedal Finalists
  • 34 Distortion Pedal Finalists
  • 32 Fuzz Pedal Finalists
  • 38 Modutility Pedal Finalists
  • 25 Delay and Reverb Pedal Finalists

Total Overall Finalist Selection of 164 Pedals!

Distilled down to the final favourites selection, where I own 27 of them, and will try to secure the final missing ones next year :

  • Coffee Shop Pedals London Fog Tape Delay -
...
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2024 Best New Spatial, Immersive and Time-Based Effects of the Year

AC NoisesAmbient EffectsAnalog DelayAnalog ReverbAnasoundsBeautiful Noise EffectsBest in ClassBlind Panic DevicesBossCachalote AudioChampion LeccyCoffee Shop PedalsDawner Prince EffectsDelayDelay WorkstationDiamond PedalsDigital DelayDigital ReverbDiscomfort DesignsDouble TrackingEarthQuaker DevicesEchoverbFjord FuzzGFI SystemGranular DelayHangman fxJHS PedalsKeeley EngineeringLo-Fi DelayMXRNobelsOddball DelayOld Blood Noise EndeavorsPlate ReverbRack Style ReverbReverbReverb WorkstationReverse DelayReverse ReverbShimmer ReverbSkreddy PedalsSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbStrymonTape DelayTomkat PedalsWampler+-
2024-GPX-Best-Time-Based-Effects-700.jpg

I obviously just recently won me an AC Noises Ricorda Retro Series Reverb as a Chase Bliss Mystery Box Bonus Pedal - so the first iteration I had to make on this article was to update the standard Blue Ricorda image to the limited colourway edition that I was gifted by my Mystery Box. This selection is typically the one where I own the least proportion of pedals featured, in fact in this case it’s easier to list the few that I own here :

  • AC Noices Ricorda Stereo Granular Reverb + Freeze /
...
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2024 Best New Modutility Pedals (Modulation / Pitch / Utility)

Amp and Cab IR SimAmpliTubeBecos FXBeetronics FXBenson AmpsBest in ClassBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlender and MixerBuzzing Bugs Audio DevicesCatalinbreadChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCompressorDiamond PedalsDistortionDouble TrackingDriveElectro-HarmonixElectronic Audio ExperimentsEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFlangerFlattley Guitar PedalsGlitchGreat Eastern FX Co.Guitar Synth and SequencerHamstead SoundworksHarmonizerKeeley EngineeringKinotoneKMA AudioKrozz DevicesModelling AmpModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXMXRNative AudioOctaverOddball ModulationOneControlOrigin EffectsPastFXPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingRainger FXRed Panda LabRing ModulationRotary SpeakerRounder SoundsSampler / SustainerSlicer and StutterSolidGoldFXSource AudioSplitter and Frequency SplitterSwellTC ElectronicTEFI Vintage LabThe King of GearTremoloUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityWalrus AudioWampler+-
2024-GPX-Best-New-Modutilty-Pedals-V2-700.jpg

There’s an incredibly rich mix here of no less than 38 killer Modulations, Utilities and Pitch-Shifters - no one does rundowns quite like me! I always dive in at the deep end of things - and give you maximum expansive scope!

 

There are several here that I don’t have yet, in fact some hat I’m somewhat unlikely to ever have - for reasons of rig compatibility, size and overall sensibilities, practicalities, and preferences!

 

These 19 are still to be acquired or eventually overlooked :

...
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2024 Best New Fuzz Pedals of the Year

29 PedalsBeetronics FXBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzCachalote AudioCornerstone Music GearDanelectroDecibelicsDrunk BeaverElectric LoveFarmer Factory EffectsFenderFjord FuzzFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzHello KittyHello Sailor EffectsHorrothia EffectsKeeley EngineeringKuro Custom AudioLichtlaerm AudioLife Is Unfair AudioMaestro Style FuzzModulated FuzzNRG EffectsOctave FuzzOddball FuzzOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzRecovery EffectsSilicon FuzzSkreddy PedalsSpaceman EffectsSubdecay EffectsSuper-Fuzz StyleThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTru-Fi Guitar EffectsWinnipeg Electrical Co+-
2024-GPX-Best-New-Fuzzes-V3-700.jpg

There are 32 Finalists in the Fuzz Category, where I own all but 3 :

  • 29 Pedals Toki Overdrive / Fuzz
  • Cachalote 214 Fuzz
  • Subdecay Noise Theory Parallel Waveshaper Fuzz

The Finalists

  • 29 Pedals Toki Fuzz Driver - $269
  • Beetronics FX Tuna Fuzz - $99
  • Beetronics FX Whoctahell V2 Low Octave Beeast Babee Edition - $149
  • Cachalote Audio 214 Fuzz - R$1418 / $235
  • Cornerstone Nero Dumble-Fuzz - €299 | $299
  • Danelectro Nichols 1966 Liverpool Fuzz Tone - $199
  • Decibelics Reverend V2 Mini
...
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2024 Best New Distortion Pedals of the Year

AudiostormBest in ClassBrown Sound DistortionCaroline Guitar CompanyColombo Audio ElectronicsCrazy Tube CircuitsDistortionDriveDual-DriveFormula B PedalsFunny Little BoxesGod City InstrumentsJAM PedalsKrozz DevicesLichtlaerm AudioMarshall Style DistortionMenatoneMetal DistortionNoise EngineeringNordland ElectronicsOneControlOneder EffectsPastFXRainger FXRat Style FuzzSentimental Bob ElectronicsSinvertekSkreddy PedalsSoldanoTanabeUAFXWamplerWinnipeg Electrical Co+-
2024-GPX-Best-New-Distortion-Pedals-V3-700.jpg

Here it’s the turn of the new distortion pedals this year. Where I own all but 7 here :

  • Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker Enhanced Full Stack Marshall style Preamp
  • God City Instruments Brutalist Distortion
  • Krozz Devices RoyalBreaker Extended Rat style Distortion
  • Noise Engineering Dystorpia Fuzz/Distortion
  • Soldano Super Lead Overdrive Plus
  • UAFX Anti 1992 High Gain Amp
  • UAFX Knuckles ’92 Rev F Dual Rec Amplifier

So of this selection of 34 I own 27 :

 

Finalists

  • Audiostorm Grand
...
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2024-GPX-Krozz-Devices-RoyalBreaker-V3-700.jpg

Krozz Devices’ Murilo favours fuller flavour effects - much like Jannis Anastasakis of JAM Pedals. The effects pedals each of them releases - are always bolder and more flavourful than is the norm for that genre - Murilo’s Airborn Flanger is a great example of that fuller flavour effect.

 

And here he’s turned his engineering magic on the Rat Distortion - combining elements of the White Face Rat and Turbo Rat with a magnificent Marshall-esque core - courtesy of that central ’Rising’ Silicon >...

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Mixed blessings for my Chase Bliss Mystery Box! But still entirely worth it - and it's not over yet - with the ensuing Swapsies period to come!

AC NoisesAmbient EffectsBitcrushing and Lo-FiChase Bliss AudioDigital ReverbGuitar Synth and SequencerModulationMulti-FXReverbSampler / SustainerSpacey Reverb+-
2024-GPX-Chase-Bliss-Mystery-Box-Results-700.jpg

"While knowing my luck I will probably end up with one of the 18 Chase Bliss pedals I already own."

 

And that was mostly the case per predictions - as I staged a second Onward pedal. However - my luck was still in - as I was one of the only around 8%-percenters which received a bonus pedal too - and it’s actually something I was quite keen on already - a limited colourway of the AC Noises Ricorda Stereo Granular Reverb + Freeze / Loop - which is another $399 value pedal!

 

Ricorda Controls...

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2024 Best New Boost and Overdrive Pedals of the Year

All-PedalAudio Blend EffectsBeetronics FXBest in ClassBleak District ElectricBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBuzzing Bugs Audio DevicesChase Bliss AudioColortone PedalsCoriolis EffectsCornerstone Music GearCusack MusicDecibelicsDOD EffectsDrunk BeaverDumble Style OverdriveElectro-HarmonixKeeley EngineeringKlone and Transparent OverdriveLichtlaerm AudioMuir Audio DesignNobelsNRG EffectsOCD Style OverdriveODR Style OverdriveOlinthusOneControlOrigin EffectsOverdrivePoly EffectsTanabeTavysh EffectsThorpyFXTimmyTube OverdriveTubescreamer Style OverdriveTubesteaderTweed Style OverdriveVS AudioWalrus AudioWampler+-
2024-GPX-Best-New-Overdrive-Pedals-V3-700.jpg

It’s that time of year when I pick out my personal favourite pedals in each category - starting with the Boost and Overdrive ones. I weigh up each candidate on the basis of my own experiences, preferences and sensibilities - and include pedals also that I intended to get but did not quite yet around to acquiring during the year of release!

 

For this selection I personally own all but these 8 :

  • Aleks K Production Honey Moon Sweet Overdrive V3
  • Bleak District Slate Discrete Gemanium
...
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Team KMA brings on the festive cheer with a significant ENDGAME V2 Firmware Release - just in time for Christmas!

Ambient EffectsAmp and Cab IR SimDouble TrackingKMA AudioLoop-SwitcherUtility+-
2024-GPX-KMA-Endgame-V2-Firmware-700.jpg

The ENDGAME Duality Calibrator - ultimate end-of-chain Stereo Tone Enhancer with True Stereo Double Tracking, Celestion IR’s and Power Amp Simulation was first announced during Winter NAMM - al the way back in January of this year. And ever since then, the KMA Machines team has been working hard to make this killer tone-enhancer pedal even better - in fact it’s a significant upgrade which has taken the best part of a year to program and evolve.

 

There are several updates - which I’ve ...

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