8 Favourite Multi-Gain Machines - from Clean to Scream!
I’ve just recently covered the phenomenal Tavysh HARM Multi-Gain pedal, and thought I should look at which similarly potent multi-gain pedals I had in the reference collection. In fact while doing the preliminary for this I realised I hadn’t yet acquired the All-Pedal Devil’s Triad Essentials - which landed around a fortnight ago. I had to go to Thomann, as there were none available in the UK at the time. I actually really like using Thomann - it takes a little longer to get packages from there...
Fractal Audio's new VP4 Virtual Pedalboard Multi-FX Processor goes head-to-head with Line 6's Helix HX Effects and Eventide's H90
So Fractal Audio Systems has thrown its hat in the ring with its first non-modelling device / unit - the VP4 Virtual Pedalboard Multi-FX Processor - which is quite a departure for the brand.
It’s obviously gunning for Line 6 and Eventide in particular, but also looking to knock out Boss and Strymon Workstation pedals. It has several of its own advantages, but with a number of caveats too. Overall it’s well priced for what it delivers - but for my own preferences it’s still somewhat over-...
Tavysh Effects' HARM Multi-Gain Machine combines EQ, Harmonics and Saturation for the ultimate 12 Degrees of Saturation Pedal
When I first glimpsed the HARM pedal - it very much appeared to me to be the full-fat embodiment of my ’12 Degrees of Saturation’ Methodology. Now that I’ve been road-testing it for 3 weeks, I can absolutely vouch for its potency, versatility, and prowess - its range of coverage is extraordinary!
This is the one compact pedal that can pretty much cover all your gain needs. That’s not to say it wholly accurately 100% replicates every gain pedal, while it most definitely gets well beyond the...
Final head-to-head rundown and personal ranking of favourite settings and pedals in the Keeley 4-in-1 Series
So I’ve obviously covered each of these pedals individually and in real depth - so please refer to the earlier articles if you need more details. The purpose of this exercise is to pick out my favourite/s from the series - which is really about comparing those 4 pedals head-to head across my 2 favourite settings for each - pitting one against the other - back and forth - until we have a preferences.
Note - that if you want to skip all the preamble - you can just scroll down to the bottom ...
Sentimental Bob's Albert Overdrive + Boost is a fantastic evolution of both Standard and GE versions of the OCD - with extras
So this is a sort of Hybrid take on the OCD, where Volodymyr tells me the tone stack is circa OCD 1.3, while the various constituents and components are a mix covering 1.4 / 1.7 / 2.0 and GE variants in the main. The Albert is kind of an Omni-OCD in a sense - with that extra Boost, a little similar to the Tephra without being independent, alongside a handy phat Bass Boost.
Some still get confused by the HP / LP controls - which simply stand for High Peak and Low Peak - where in the down ...
Keeley Electronics 4-in-1 Series #2 : Blues Disorder - Marshall BluesBreaker x Fulltone OCD
And so the second (for me) in the Keeley 4-in-1 Series, combines the Tone Stacks and Drive Clipping from the Marshall BluesBreaker Overdrive, and Fulltone OCD Drive / Distortion. The colour accent and knobs here are a fetching hue of blue - otherwise identical looking to the previously reviewed Noble Screamer.
The BluesBreaker side as such has a High Frequency Filter Tone Stack, and Soft Drive Clipping, while the OCD has an Active Midrange Boost with High Frequency Roll-Off, and a Hard ...
2024 August Pedal-Chain Update - Episode VIII - RaRaRaRaRaT!
As promised - this turned out to be quite a big month - we had 5 substantial pedal rundowns - where I hope you appreciate the time and effort put into those - they take a very long time to compile and write up! :
- Reference Collection World Odyssey [25]
- 32 Favourite Compact MIAB Distortions
- Fuzz Pedal Olympics [25]
- 32 Favourite Compact Rat Style Distortions
- Drunk Beaver 15 Favourites
I attended just one show this month - but it was a great one - the #2 Alternative Guitar Show @ Hackney...
Colortone shrinks its fantastic Parasite JFET Overdrive down to compact enclosure, and retains all the magic that made the original so special
Supposedly I’m one of the inspirations for this particular edition, which was simply based on my suggesting a more compact version of this excellent all-rounder original Parasite JFET Overdrive. I don’t take too much credit though - as my good friend AD Hauser did all the heavy lifting here!
I enormously enjoyed the partial collaboration on the new generation of Colortone knobs, and the creation of their ’Headliner’ silicon caps - for extra hi-vis legibility. I certainly had some say in ...
Fuzzrocious mashes up its Li'l Fella Fuzz and Demon Drive variants in the one Big Fella Pedal - available in various colourways
Fuzzrocious has combined two of its best loved pedal iterations into the one BB-sized enclosure. Intriguingly you get 3 footswitches - with the Feedback one towards the top of the front facia.
Controls - Feedback Footswitch, Volume, Tone, Drive, Gain, Feedback, Mode : Demon / Li’l Fella, Gate Footswitch, ON! Footswitch.
As usual each of the uber Fuzzrocious dealers gets their own colourway variant, and also as usual - my good friends Scott Hager @ Axe and You Shall Receive (Canada), and...
Vick Audio In Memoriam
Around the same time last year as Luca Romanelli announced the retirement of Mastro Valvola, my good friend Mike Vickery announced that his Vick Audio would cease pedal production too. Not many know that Mike was my Big Muff Mentor really, and I really got the full grasp on what distinguished one Big Muff variety from another - via a series of highly involved chats with Mike back in 2020.
Mike is / was one of the very best producers of Big Muff style fuzzes - with the general acceptance ...
