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Celebrate 10 Years of ThorpyFX with a Slice of Cake!

Big Muff Style FuzzBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveChorus and VibratoCompressorDistortionDriveFlangerFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionKlone and Transparent OverdriveMarshall Style DistortionModulationOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePhaserPreAmpRat Style FuzzSilicon FuzzThorpyFXUtility+-
2024-GPX-Thorpy-10-Year-Cake-700.jpg

As part of ThorpyFX’s 10 Year Anniversary Celebrations (born on 2nd November 2014) - they’re encouraging everyone to get a ’caked’ version of any of the current pedal models. Thorpy is obviously making the most use of his new super-duper Roland 4-Colour UV Printer!

 

And I had a lot of fun creating this visual on a background of 100’s & 1000’s / Sprinkles!

 

Single pedal editions will be base-coat painted yellow - with the cake design on both outward facing sides. I personally think there ...

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2024 October Pedal-Chain Update - Episode X - Tremolayed

Analog DelayBeetronics FXBoostBoost and OverdriveCaroline Guitar CompanyChorus and VibratoDecibelicsDelayDigital ReverbDistortionDrunk BeaverEarthQuaker DevicesElectric LoveFjord FuzzFlower PedalsFunny Little BoxesFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzGermanium FuzzHorrothia EffectsLife Is Unfair AudioMenatoneMetal DistortionModulated FuzzModulationMooerMuir Audio DesignMulti-DrivePastFXPedal ChainPreAmpRat Style FuzzReverbReverb WorkstationSilicon FuzzSpaceman EffectsSuper-Fuzz StyleSwindler EffectsTavysh EffectsTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTru-Fi Guitar EffectsTube Amp+-
2024-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-October-700.jpg

So this incredibly busy month was supposed to be all about Tremolos, culminating with the Rounder Sounds Zebra-Trem Review and 30 Tremolo Pedal Overview. But we hit some snags along the way - the Zebra-Trem was mysteriously held up in customs for a week, and then got slightly lost in the local postal network. And when it did finally arrive - evidently it had been dropped a few times, as the screen was no longer working. After trying various obvious remedies with Bill over a few days - with no ...

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8 Favourite Multi-Gain Machines - from Clean to Scream!

All-PedalBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioDistortionDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzHamstead SoundworksKlone and Transparent OverdriveMarshall Style DistortionMessiah GuitarsMetal DistortionMulti-DriveNeunaberOCD Style OverdriveOctave FuzzOpAmp FuzzOverdriveRat Style FuzzSilicon FuzzSinvertekSuper-Fuzz StyleTavysh EffectsTimmyTone Bender Style FuzzTone For PunkTubescreamer Style OverdriveTweed Style Overdrive+-
2024-GPX-4-Multi-Stage-Gain-Machines-700.jpg

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...

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Caroline Guitar Company releases best ever 3rd Generation Zero Edition of its Wave Cannon Superdistorter

Caroline Guitar CompanyDistortionOscillating FuzzRat Style Fuzz+-
2024-GPX-Caroline-GC-Wave-Cannon-Zero-700.jpg

The Wave Cannon has long been on my wishlist, alongside Caroline’s Shigeharu Octave Fuzz. It seems the time is right for the Wave Cannon - now in its best ever iteration, and kind of returning more to its original 2010 roots versus the more divergent MKII edition.

 

Philippe Herndon launched the Caroline Guitar Company back in 2010, and the Wave Cannon was its very first product - a heavily modified and evolved ProCo Rat with more shaping and gain-range.

 

The nearest I had come to owning ...

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Tavysh Effects' HARM Multi-Gain Machine combines EQ, Harmonics and Saturation for the ultimate 12 Degrees of Saturation Pedal

Big Muff Style FuzzBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBrown Sound DistortionDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzHot Cake Style OverdriveKlone and Transparent OverdriveMaestro Style FuzzMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMulti-DriveOCD Style OverdriveOctave FuzzODR Style OverdriveOpAmp FuzzOverdriveRat Style FuzzSuper-Fuzz StyleTavysh EffectsTimmyTone Bender Style FuzzTubescreamer Style OverdriveTweed Style OverdriveVox Style Distortion+-
2024-GPX-Tavysh-Effects-Harm-700-X2.jpg

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...

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The 10 Pedal Challenge!

10 Pedal ChallengeAnalog DelayBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBYOCChase Bliss AudioDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDistortionDouble TrackingDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveFeaturedFlower PedalsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionJackson AudioModulationModulation WorkstationMooerMulti-DriveMulti-FXNoise GateOctave FuzzOpAmp FuzzOverdriveRat Style FuzzReverbReverb WorkstationSilicon FuzzSinvertekTavysh EffectsTC ElectronicThorpyFXTX PedalsUtilityWalrus AudioWampler+-
2024-GPX-Pedaltrain-Nano-Max-Challenge-700.jpg

So a follower on instagram challenged me to shrink my elaborate pedal-chain down to just 10 pedals. My original plan was just to fill a Pedaltrain Nano Max board with 10 compact pedals. But I then decided I should do a Mid-Size variation too, using the Pedaltrain Classic 2 board or thereabouts. I may do further Mini and Large Format editions as a follow-up - depending on how well this article is received!

 

This was a trickier exercise than you would imagine - as I needed to shuffle through ...

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Final head-to-head rundown and personal ranking of favourite settings and pedals in the Keeley 4-in-1 Series

4-in-1 SeriesBest of BrandsBig Muff Style FuzzBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveDistortionDriveFuzzKeeley EngineeringOCD Style OverdriveODR Style OverdriveOpAmp FuzzOverdriveRat Style FuzzSilicon FuzzTubescreamer Style Overdrive+-
2024-GPX-Keeley-4-in-1-Series-Head-to-Head-700.jpg

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 ...

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Meeting EarthQuaker Devices' Pedal Power Couple - Jamie and Julie at GuitarGuitar 20th Anniversary Camden in-store Event

Audio Distribution GroupBig Muff Style FuzzBoostBoost and OverdriveDistortionDriveEarthQuaker DevicesFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGermanium FuzzGuitarGuitarModulationOctave FuzzOpAmp FuzzOverdriveRat Style FuzzTone Bender Style FuzzTubescreamer Style OverdriveUni-Vibe and Vibe+-
2024-GPX-EarthQuaker-Jamie-and-Julie-SK-EQD-Pedals-700.jpg

So I attended a GuitarGuitar Camden 20th Anniversary EarthQuaker Devices Showcase Event last Tuesday the 24th! The guests of honour obviously being Pedal Power Couple - Husband and Wife team Jamie Stillman and Julie Robbins. This was actually only their second visit to the UK - the first being another whistle-stop tour in 2018 or thereabouts. This time around they were being chaperoned around by good friend of ours Tom Bodfish from Northern Europe EQD Distributor - Audio Distribution Group.

 ...

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Keeley Electronics 4-in-1 Series #3 : Super Rodent - Boss SD-1 x ProCo Rat

4-in-1 SeriesBoostBoost and OverdriveDistortionKeeley EngineeringOverdriveRat Style Fuzz+-
2023-GPX-Keeley-Super-Rodent-RKFX-700.jpg

I already teased this review in my recent Compact Rat Distortions rundown - where I stated that I much preferred the Alternative Rat setting - with the SD-1 Tone Stack. Often the distinction can be fairly subtle, but overall the SD + RT output profile is more punchy and articulate.

 

That said - that Rat setting is only my 3rd favourite voicing here overall - where the big surprise for me is the RT Tone Stack with the SD Clipping. That turns out to be a little like the TS808 with the ODR-1 ...

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2024 August Pedal-Chain Update - Episode VIII - RaRaRaRaRaT!

Andertons.co.ukBeetronics FXBig Muff Style FuzzBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBrown Sound DistortionChorus and VibratoColortone PedalsCornerstone Music GearDelayDigital DelayDistortionDriveDrunk BeaverDual-DriveElectro-HarmonixFlattley Guitar PedalsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionHarmonizerHello Sailor EffectsJackson AudioJoyo EffectsKeeley EngineeringKinotoneKlone and Transparent OverdriveLichtlaerm AudioMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulated FuzzModulationMulti-DriveMulti-FXOCD Style OverdriveOctave FuzzODR Style OverdriveOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainRat Style FuzzSentimental Bob ElectronicsSlicer and StutterStomp Under FootSuper-Fuzz StyleThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTubescreamer Style OverdriveWampler+-
2024-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-August-700.jpg

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...

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