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+-
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 /...
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+-
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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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+-
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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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+-
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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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+-
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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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+-
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
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DistortionKrozz DevicesRat Style Fuzz
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 >...
AC NoisesAmbient EffectsBitcrushing and Lo-FiChase Bliss AudioDigital ReverbGuitar Synth and SequencerModulationMulti-FXReverbSampler / SustainerSpacey Reverb+-
"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...
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+-
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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Ambient EffectsAmp and Cab IR SimDouble TrackingKMA AudioLoop-SwitcherUtility+-
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 ...