Guitar Pedal X

Acoustic SimulatorAlexander PedalsAmp and Cab IR SimBecos FXBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBitcrushing and Lo-FiBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionBufferCatalinbreadChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCompressorCrazy Tube CircuitsCryBabyDelayDemedash EffectsDigital DelayDigital ReverbDigiTechDistortionDOD EffectsDr ScientistDriveDryBell EffectsDual-DriveDunlop EffectsElectro-HarmonixEnvelope Filter and Auto WahEQFeaturedFlangerFlower PedalsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGlitchGuitar Gear ResourcesGuitar Synth and SequencerJackson AudioJAM PedalsJHS PedalsKMA AudioLooperMarshall Style DistortionModulationMulti-DriveMXRNoise GateOverdrivePastFXPedalboard and Pedal-ChainPeterson TunersPhaserPigtronixPitchPlutoneium EngineeringRedbeard EffectsReverbRing ModulationRotary SpeakerSilicon FuzzSinvertekSonic ResearchSource AudioSubdecay EffectsTC ElectronicToneQuestTremoloTunersUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityVolumeWalris Audio+-

NOTE - this article is too large (108 videos) to work properly on Mobile devices - make sure you view on Desktop or Laptop!

This is my largest ever article - and it will unlikely be repeated in this fashion - as this takes so long to compile - and the 108 Pedals / Videos included just take a little too long to load up on the screen. In any case it’s a pretty exhaustive run-down in rough order of preference of my favourite Compact Enclosure Pedals of Each Type.

For a few here there are ...

The Method behind the Madness - an Explainer Feature on the Inner Workings and Science of my Pedal-Chain / Pedal Platform Stereo Rig

Mar 11, 202208:00 by

12 Degrees of SaturationFeaturedGuitar Gear Improvements and PrototypesGuitar Gear ResourcesGuitar Pedal 101Pedal ChainPedalboard and Pedal-ChainToneQuest+-

So I’ve had a lot of people ask me to explain the reasoning and science behind my 41-strong Pedal-Chain - how it came about, and how it has evolved.

The funny thing is that when I got back into guitar in 2016 - following the passing of my two biggest musical heroes and inspirations - Bowie and Prince - I had intended to keep things very streamlined and simple. As a teenager I struggled to recreate the sounds of my guitar heroes and kind of threw in the towel after a few years of trying and...

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Rabea Massaad Pedalboard Dynamics and Essential Tone Components

Sep 1, 202108:00 by

ArtistArrayBeetronics FXBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBuffalo FXCompressorCoopersonic Audio EngineeringDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDriveElectro-HarmonixEQExpressionFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGamechanger AudioGermanium FuzzGuitar Synth and SequencerKeeley EngineeringLehleLoop-SwitcherMarshall Style DistortionMission EngineeringModulationModulation WorkstationMr Black PedalsMulti-FXMXROctaverOrigin EffectsOverdrivePedalboard and Pedal-ChainPower SuppliesReverbReverb WorkstationSplitter and Frequency SplitterStrymonTape DelayTheGigRigUtilityVox Style DistortionWalrus Audio+-

I’ve followed Rabea Massaad for quite a few years now - and while I’ve not attended any of his Toska, Dorje or Frog Leap gigs yet - I’ve been to a number of his impressive Guitar Clinics - including at the last Birmingham Guitar Show most recently.

I’ve obviously grown up with Rabea mostly courtesy of his association with Rob Chapman and Lee Anderton / Andertons - having watched most of his output on those channels - including in particular ’Sounds Like’ alongside Matt Hornby - and a number...

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The State of the Art and General Suitability of Modular Synth Style Multi-FX Units - Empress Effects and Poly Effects Innovations and Deviations

Aug 16, 202023:33 by

Amp and Cab IR SimBlender and MixerDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbEmpress EffectsEQGuitar Pedal 101ModulationModulation WorkstationPedalboard and Pedal-ChainPitchPoly EffectsReverbReverb WorkstationSamplerUtility+-

This post was triggered by a number of readers asking me for my take on the recent Modular Synth Multi-FX phenomenon. Where I composed a fairly long-form answer for one Joe D - and promised to make that part of a more circumspect review (this one!) where I compared the different approaches of Canada’s Empress Effects and the more recently highly newsworthy Poly Effects of Australia.

I myself am very much your typical guitar pedal enthusiast - who deploys a rather insanely complex but highly...

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TC Electronic Finally Reveals Details for its much teased Plethora X5 TonePrint Pedalboard Multi-FX Unit

Feb 20, 202020:55 by

Chorus and VibratoCompressorDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDown-TunerFlangerHarmonizerLooperModulationModulation WorkstationNoise GateOctaverPedalboard and Pedal-ChainPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingReverbReverb WorkstationRotary SpeakerTC ElectronicTremoloUni-Vibe and VibeUtility+-

We’ve been waiting for the full reveal on this one for a while as the first teaser image for this was Insta’d on the 14th of September last year. There were some expectations that this might feature at Winter NAMM, but it seems it’s only now fully formed.

What we have here then is all of TC Electronic’s TonePrint-enabled pedals in a single unit and available across 5 any way configurable slots. This means you get all the different variations of effects from the ...

Pedal Design 101 - The Evolution of the Stompbox Footswitch

Jan 23, 202020:37 by

EarthQuaker DevicesEffects Pedal MakersGuitar Gear Improvements and PrototypesGuitar Pedal 101Hamstead SoundworksJackson AudioNeural DSPPedalboard and Pedal-ChainTC ElectronicTheGigRig+-

With my extended collection of pedals, I’ve always been fascinated by the very wide variety of different footswitches and their varying action/feel/function. Most of my pedals have hard-clicking switches - with my favourites within that category having a significantly softer clicking action while the lesser favourites are super-hard-resistant and stiff - and almost crunchy/brittle/hard-clicking when you stomp on them. I understand that the vast majority of pedal-makers, particularly smaller ...

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Pedal Chain 2019 Future Plans, Acquisitions and Alternative Arrangements

Jan 31, 201912:55 by

Aleks K ProductionAutomatoneBearfoot FXBeetronics FXBenson AmpsBig Muff Style FuzzBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionBufferChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCompressorDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDemon PedalsDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDr ScientistDriveDrolo EffectsDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveEmpress EffectsEnvelope Filter and Auto WahEQEventideFlangerFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzGlitchGranular DelayGuitar Synth and SequencerHarmonizerJackson AudioKlone and Transparent OverdriveLooperMarshall Style DistortionMeris EffectsMetal DistortionMI EffectsModulated FuzzModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMu-TronOCD Style OverdriveOctaverOddball DelayOddball FuzzOscillating FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainPedalboard and Pedal-ChainPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingPladask ElektriskRack Style ReverbRat Style FuzzRed Witch EffectsReverbReverb WorkstationREVV AmplificationShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSource AudioSpaceman EffectsSpacey ReverbStrymonTape DelayTC ElectronicThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzToneQuestTremoloTrue North PedalsTubescreamer Style OverdriveUtilityVox Style DistortionWah and Fixed WahWampler+-

So it’s that usual post NAMM-haze time where I figure out the longer-term impact of NAMM, and how those new products will affect the layout, order and composition of my now sort of 40-slot pedal-chain. As noted several times - this was indeed a bumper year for really innovative and highly appealing new pedals - and I will look to accommodate a number of those as they materialise in the forthcoming months.

As I hinted in my last pedal-chain overview - while 2018 was very evidently ’The Year ...

2019 Pedal-Chain Musings and Experiments

Dec 31, 201811:02 by

Analog.ManAnarchy AudioBig Muff Style FuzzBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCoda EffectsDecibelicsDelayDistortionDouble TrackingDriveEarthQuaker DevicesEmpress EffectsFlangerFuzzGlitchMetal DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationOverdrivePedal ChainPedalboard and Pedal-ChainPhaserPladask ElektriskREVV AmplificationTC ElectronicToneQuestTremoloTrue North PedalsTweed Style OverdriveUni-Vibe and VibeZvex+-

At the end of 2018 / beginning of 2019 - I start thinking ahead for the year and considering what pedals I would like to swap-out or rotate-in on my pedal-chain. The long-awaited Empress Effects Zoia did not materialise in 2018, and is now expected as one of the major Winter NAMM launches - I see that as being one of two larger (monetary) acquisitions in the year - along with the Line 6 HX Stomp. I kind of did not figure out the HX Stomp until fairly recently really, where I have deemed it to ...

Pedal Mania IV - 2018 Mid-Year Update

Jun 22, 201800:00 by

Barn3Bearfoot FXBoost and OverdriveBossChase Bliss AudioCryBabyCustom TonesDelayDiezelDistortionDr ScientistDunlop EffectsEmpress EffectsEventideFuzzHamstead SoundworksJackson AudioMI EffectsModulationMu-TronOrigin EffectsPedal ChainPedal ManiaPedalboard and Pedal-ChainPitchReverbREVV AmplificationSource AudioSpaceman EffectsStrymonTC ElectronicTech 21 NYCToneQuestUtilityWah and Fixed WahWamplerXotic Effects+-

My pedal chain has never sounded better, and it’s the closest it’s been yet to achieving my end game of having the perfect pedal in every slot. Of course some slots are more multi-use than others, and some have a plethora of exceptional pedals available for rotation. While many slots have pretty much permanent residents now too.

There has been a lot of movement in the first 10 slots, with really only the Tuner at #1 and Compressor at #7 holding firm for now. Even though the almost always-on...

Three Key Guitar Pedal Trends for 2018

Mar 11, 201800:00 by

Alexander PedalsAnalog DelayBoostBoost and OverdriveChase Bliss AudioDelayDiamond PedalsDigital DelayDigital ReverbDigiTechEarthQuaker DevicesElectro-HarmonixEnvelope Filter and Auto WahEventideFuzzGated and Velcro FuzzGermanium FuzzJHS PedalsKlone and Transparent OverdriveKnas MusicKTRMission EngineeringModulationMoog EffectsOrigin EffectsOscillating FuzzOverdrivePedalboard and Pedal-ChainPitchPitch-ShiftingProAnalog DevicesReverbSpring ReverbStryfectaStrymonSwindler EffectsUni-Vibe and VibeWalrus AudioWay Huge EffectsZvex+-

1 : Bigger Pedalboards

I know this as well as anyone with my pedal-chain of 39 - and there are some out there that are bigger still. It’s like having a whole spice rack with you - where you can quickly stomp off into any musical direction. Sure you have Axe-FX, Helix and Kemper - but very few things beat your being able to visualise everything concretely and combine in any manner. I’m not saying these things are practical - in fact mine will never leave my ‘music corner&rsquo...