2024 February Pedal-Chain Update - Episode II - Triple Tremolo Flutter
February can often seem a rather odd month after the hustle and bustle of NAMM Show January - where a lot of new stuff always gets announced - while increasingly outside the NAMM schedule - but certainly in and around it! Projects delayed from the previous year often get released in January, but this year those kind of seem to be more spaced out - with some not feted to happen until March / April. February always seems slow compared to January, and that sometimes extends into March too before things starting picking up on the release schedule again.
February ended up being quite a Reeves Electro month for me! The slightly delayed BHS-D landed, but the main story was around the quartet / quadfecta of Facet - 2 Transistor Fuzz Pedal releases - where I ordered the last to be featured - the modern Mids-Forward greasy / ballsy Facet IZ. I really want the FF and VX varieties too - but as I always say - need to share the love each month - where the budget always supports a number of different builders.
Having the new Stone Deaf FX Rise & Shine Octapulse Octave Fuzz, and Reeves Electro BlackHatSound-Deluxe makes it quite a Fuzzy month. But even more so the Rise & Shine is rather a TremFuzz, and there are two Tremolo pedals in the modulation section this month - which is rare. The new Drunk Beaver Pedal Drop Chernivtsi Trembita, and larger format Subdecay Tremcoder V2 DLX. The Tremcoder DLX only landed relatively recently - and I’ve not gotten fully to grips with that yet - so it stays on the board for a while longer! Both those Tremolos are fantastic - each in its own way.
I also covered my first Krozz Devices pedal - where I had intended to but never got around to covering its Airborn Flanger - that is still to come. I really wanted to do a first-hand review of both of those - and in particularly the new Krakenheart Uni-Vibe - while that one’s not quite reach European dealers yet from what I can tell.
There were still plenty of decent releases in February - which saw me mixing it up with some older classics too. Via my good friend Steve at FX Pedal Planet I also managed to get in on his order for the JAM Pedals Octaurus Octafuzz - which is otherwise wholly sold out and with no more of those unique NOS transistors in stock beyond that coming dealer batch - so that was a good stroke of luck, I think it’s due to land in April - while I don’t tend to get to excited until final shipment is confirmed.
Generally it’s been a fairly slow start to the year - and I’ve not had my usual customary debriefs of up-and-coming releases. I had the Boss one really quite late - and there’s no Boss pedal releases until the 3rd Quarter, so 2024 won’t be quite as vintage a year for Boss as 2023 was - but then again 2023 was exceptional for Boss - with the IR-2 and ME-90 selling particularly well - alongside my favourite Delay pedal of last year - the DM-101.
Chase Bliss hit us with a somewhat surprise release - where I actually really like my OG Condor - and am not thinking of upgrading or buying one of the new HiFi editions - I really like the breakup character on the original - and use that pedal mostly as an overdrive!
I obviously did a couple of run-downs that were several years in the making - for Greer Amps, and Mad Professor compacts - and still have some of those to add to the reference collection.
And finally, February marked my first foray into MIDI Controllers - with the Hotone Ampero Control - ably assisting the wonderful Kernom Moho Magmatic Multi-Fuzz. I had some cable issues initially but overall it could not have gone smoother - the Ampero Control really is the perfect device for that task - I mostly love its format. It could do with being a llttle slimmer still though / smaller footprint - and could also benefit from a larger screen. But on the basis of its bang for bucks ratio - it’s really very decent all-round. And there are relatively few devices at that price-point which have fully built-in Bluetooth - which is a huge bonus.
Even though there were fewer releases in February - I remained incredibly busy - with another near 40 articles for the month. 2023 was the busiest year on record to-date - but it looks like 2024 is going to be busier still!
February Acquisitions
13 pedals were added to the Reference Collection during February. My darling sister was born on the 13th - and it's a lucky number for me! Apologies to all you superstitious types who cannot handle the number 13!
The focus still kind of leaning into Overdrives - still kind of on the Blues Driver mission - but some other interesting flavours in the mix too - really an outstanding month for Overdrives! And unusually for me - relatively few Fuzzes - that will surely change in March!
- 6 Overdrives
- 3 Distortions
- 2 Fuzzes
- 1 Modulation
- 1 Utility
6 Overdrives
A really great and varied selection of Overdrives - with several highlights per that typical genre. In fact all 6 of these are excellent and will remain in heavy rotation on the board! I really am spoilt for choice for overdrives - the next Best of Overdrives rundown is going to be extremely difficult to compile and limit to just 32 - I may need to up the numbers again to fit in all my favourites!
- Drunk Beaver The Forest Song High Voltage Overdrive
- Greer Amps '63 Vintage Preamp (Princeton)
- Keeley Muse Driver
- Mad Professor Royal Blue Drive
- Tubesteader Lightkeeper V2 Tube Preamp [Dumble]
- Victory Amps V1 The Copper Preamp (Vox AC30)
3 Distortions
Very much on the High Gain trail this month - but with relatively unusual takes - all of these are not as high octane as I normally gravitate toward. Each in its own way is a relatively refined on High Gain - with a lot of the sharper and harsher edges smoothed off. All 3 still sound great - and the Homework Series Metal one is particularly versatile!
- Greer Amps Sucker Punch High Gain Distortion
- Mad Professor Stone Grey Distortion Custom Edition
- Winnipeg Electrical Co. Homework Series Metal
2 Fuzzes
Very unusually just 2 Fuzzes for the month - but both totally killer - each kind of modern learning in its own way, but with wonderful full-fat vintage style highly textured tones. I'm delighted to own both!
- Reeves Electro BlackHatSound Deluxe Wedge Fuzz
- Stone Deaf FX Rise & Shine Octave Up Fuzz with Octapulse Tremolo Vibrato
Modulation
A lot of the Drunk Beaver Pedal Drop projects are somewhat experimental and normally have a little rough to go with the smooth. While this #18 Pedal Drop is a proper classic! Really beautify calibrated and textured 6-Waveform Optical Tremolo with just the right complement of controls to deliver optimal output! I can definitely see this in the main range at some stage with just a couple of tweaks - say like a second Footswitch for Tap Tempo!
Utility
My very firs MIDI controller pedal - the Hotone Ampero Control Bluetooth MIDI Controller. Really fantastic value with a great build quality and feature set, including fully baked-in Bluetooth - for an unbeatable price point. There are cheaper Chinese controllers on the market - but they don't match the build quality or feature set of this unit - and despite what they say those others are mostly Bluetooth compatible rather than having Bluetooth already fully onboard! The Ampero Control was definitely the right choice for me in this circumstance. Generally though I feel that there is vast scope for improvement in this sector - better interfaces in particular - better use of Macros - and an all-round sleeker experience is surely viable!
February Infinite Wishlist Additions
There's a fair few here riding high on the acquisition list - probably the 2 uni-vibes are at the top of the tree - the Krozz Krakenheart, and SolidGoldFX Aurras. I also really want to get my hands on a God City Instruments Brutal, and Subdecay Noise Theory - those are probably my top 4 chases for next month - and the remainder will be targeted somewhat opportunistically as always. I'm always happy to oblige when someone makes me an offer I cannot refuse!
- Aim Audio Inspire Multipattern Condenser Studio Microphone
- Blammo! Skronk Machine
- Champion Leccy Skitzy Dual Layered Modulated Reverb
- Chase Bliss Condor HiFi Analog EQ / Preamp / Filter
- Free The Tone Overdriveland Standard
- God City Instruments Brutalist Distortion
- King Tone Blues Power Overdrive
- Kodex Audio GFX-91w 10S Modulated Digital Delay
- Krozz Devices Krakenheart Abyssal Uni/Vibe
- Mad Professor Amber Overdrive Custom
- Mad Professor Bluebird Overdrive
- Mad Professor Sky Blue Overdrive
- Mythos Pedals Herculean Deluxe Overdrive
- Reeves Electro Facets FF, VX, and 1.5
- Silktone Overdrive+
- SolidGoldFX Aurras 2-Stage Optical Phase-Shifter / Vibe
- Subdecay Noise Theory Parallel Wave-Folding Fuzz
February Pedal Chain Status
12 slots updated this month : #4, #5, #9a, #10, #15b, #17, #19, #21, #23, #24, #26, #30.
From 13 pedals arrived. Actually - the #23 slot alternated between the Greer Amps '63 Soma Vintage Preamp and Sucker Punch Distortion. I also had the OG Reeves Electro BHS on slot #4 for a while - to contrast with its bigger and more capable BHS-D sibling. And slots #9a to #12 had a fair decent mix up of my various Blues Driver pedals - with pretty much twice that number in the mix.
I really am blessed in having so many strong candidates for each slot. I often get asked about the best version of the pedal-chain board - and the truth is that there are several different favourite permutations. Some of those Fuzz Slots in particular have over 100 killer varieties that can be subbed in at any time - they're all super subs really!
I always liken my pedal-chain to a Spice Rack or Painter's Palette - of different hues of tone and effects - where the idea is to be as broadly and versatility based with added depths and synergistic magical stacking potential.
I have so many favourite guitar heroes that I need to turn the board towards - and even with all slots fully occupied and utilitied it's still largely a case of best-fit - as say if you want to go fully Andy Timmons - then there are certain pedals that need to be on the board! I've pretty much got all the Andy Timmons pedals I need - while I still want to get my hands on a GNI / NIG Music OctaFuzz and Black Contry Customs Spiral Array Chorus. There's a reason why I call it the 'Infinite Wishlist' there must be several hundred pedals on that list now in various and differently changing tiers of priorities!
Another really great board arrangement - even though a little heavy on the Tremolo!
Slot #04 : Envelope Filter / Auto-Wah / Fixed Wah / WAH / PLL / Fuzz
The Stone Deaf FX Rise & Shine Octapulse Octave Fuzz is truly a modern classic and everyone should have one! It's such a smart mix of detail-oriented design, ingenious engineering, and ultimate versatility, I really cannot fault this Octave / Pulsating Pattern-Trem Fuzz - so much though and consideration has gone into its creation and execution. Sounds Amazing, Looks Amazing, Works Amazingly too!
Slot #05 : Germanium / Sensitive Fuzz
Compared to the OG BHS, the Reeves Electro BlackHatSound-Deluxe Wedge Fuzz is not quite as instantly hard-hitting, but contains wondrous hidden depths. Has a really magical tone stack which delivers so many different Fuzz Sweet Spots - the two varieties don't sound exactly the same - the OG BHS really has that extra low-end punch / oomph to it. While the BHS-D is overall better balanced and capable of richer harmonic textures - while the tone stack at the end of the circuit does result in a very slight reduction in gain and output vs the Original. For me each does a slightly different thing - obviously with very significant overlaps, and very much the same sort of flavour - while the larger one is of course somewhat more expansive in its tonal shaping capabilities.
Slot #09a : Neutral / Light / Organic / Transparent / Klone Overdrive
A reader recommended the Mad Professor Royal Blue 20th Anniversary Overdrive as a BD-2 adjacent type - and they were spot on in their analysis. Not exactly the same texture. But with a fairly similar profile overall - including that great guitar volume gain cleanup. Another killer Bluesy Driverish pedal for that capsule collection!
Slot #10 : Mid Gain / Dynamic / Blues Breaker / Harmonic Overdrive / JTM45 / Screamer
The new Keeley Electronics Andy Timmons Signature Muse Driver is very much bitter-sweet for me. It very much builds on the Super AT Mod circuit format, but then kind of improves on it and makes that one obsolete at the same time. The Muse Driver is a better, more versatile take on the Andy Timmons Signature Overdrive pedal. I can't think of any circumstance I would put the Super AT Mod on the board in preference to the Muse Driver. The only positive thing I can say about the Super AT Mod is that it has a superior colour scheme - which I feel if you're patient enough - you will probably see a limited edition Muse Driver in that colourway eventually. Which I might just be compelled to get too!
Slot #15 : Auxiliary / MIDI Controller
The Hotone Ampero Control Bluetooth MIDI Controller really is a treat to use - not original the first MIDI Controller I thought of, but definitely the one that most closely matched by criteria!
Slot #17 : Multi-Fuzz / Fuzzy-Drive
The Tubesteader Lightkeeper V2 Tube Dumble-style Preamp goes right up to the top of the charts with my favourite Dumble style pedals - sitting alongside the Demon Pedals Kondo Shifuku, BJFE ODS23, Custom Tones Ethos Clean Fusion II and Mad Professor Simble. I still have a few more of those Dumble-style overdrives to get - including the Menatone Dumbstruck, and Tanabe Dumkudo - while I would imagine the Lightkeeper V2 will always be among my favourites!
Slot #19 : Top Boosted Distortion / Vox
The Victory V1 The Copper Vox AC30 style overdrive is one of the very best of its type - a superbly vibrant and chimey overdrive with that perfect voxy breakup texture. It's one of two absolute stars from the Victory V1 Series - alongside The Jack.
Slot #21 : High Gain Fuzz 1 / Fuzzstortion
Vitalii Bobrov's Drunk Beaver The Forest Green High Voltage, Resonant Classic Overdrive totally reinvents the Tube Screamer derived format and delivers something very uniquely different - with the most amazing harmonics in particular on the Germanium Clipping Mode.
Slot #23 : High Gain Fuzz 2 / Modern Metal 1 / Mid-Pushed High Gain
A quite unusual gain pedal for normally milder mannered Nick Greer - his Greer Amps Sucker Punch High Gain Distortion is the highest gain pedal he's made to date and a really decent take on a high gain format - not that blistering high gain variant - actually a rather refined and full-flavoured take on the genre.
Slot #24 : Brown Sound / EVH / JCM800 / Liquid Distortion
Mad Professor's highest gain pedal to date - the Stone Grey Distortion Custom Edition - slightly punchier and slightly more modern leaning that the Greer Sucker Punch and with a little more High end extension - but still a very tasteful take.
Slot #26 : Modern Metal 3 / High Gain Metal 2
Winnipeg Electrical Co's Homework Series Metal is a somewhat refined and expansive take on the Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal circuit - it doesn't quite get to the full-on blistering harshness of fully dimed Swedish Chainsaw Death Metal - where it's rather more honed towards myriad in-between sweet spot tones. Think of it as the ultimate extended range gain shaper!
Slot #30 : Analog Flanger (Typically!)
A lot of Drunk Beaver's Pedal Drop pedals are somewhat experimental - with an equal portion of rough and smooth to their operation. While I feel the #18 Chernivtsi Trembita Optical Tremolo could easily become a mainline regular Drunk Beaver release - say with just the tiniest addition of a second Tap-Tempo footswitch, It already sounds superb across its 6 different waveforms - with the exactly right complement of control to get the most out of that format - and wonderfully warm textured tremolo.
Final Thoughts
I always like to look forward to the next month in the outro - that is to say which pedals are on their way in, and what there is to look forward to overall. Obviously we have two of the biggest and best UK Pedal Shows in March - first the Birmingham UK Guitar Show on March 2nd and 3rd, and then Delicious Audio's London Synth & Pedal Expo on March 16th and 17th. I should be in Birmingham for the first day, while for the London Show where I am a Media Partner - I will be in for both days - the whole of the first day, and probably half of the second - where I will need to use that day to write up the Show Report!
I'm expecting to get updates on a number of imminent projects at the Birmingham show in particular - and was due to do a number of onsite visits following on from the March shows. So will of course feed back when I've had proper status updates on those. As I mentioned in the intro - in previous years I've normally had some significant pedal brand briefings for what's coming up for the year - which for some reason just hasn't really happened this year, bar a Boss update - which mostly said that there were no pedals releases due until the 3rd Quarter, and I believe no new Waza Craft pedals scheduled for this year - while of course schedules do change - and certain dead certain pedals get delayed, and others have to be brought forward in their stead. We has such a blistering 2023, that I'm expecting 2024 so be somewhat a shadow of that Vintage year! As always time will tell!
There are quite a few pedals incoming for March already - the well overdue Audiostorm Grand Classic High Gain Distortion, Fjord Fuzz Sol Fuzz-Vibe, Hello Sailor Effects ShipWreck FuzzStortion, Lastgasp Art Laboratories Super Oscillo Fuzz, Oneder Effects Onederbolt Distortion, and 3 TWA pedals courtesy of Kevin Bolembach, and my good friend Trevor Shaikin - the Hot Saké Overdrive/Distortion, Octoverdrive Octave Distortion, and Triskelion 3.0 Harmonic Energizer. So expect upcoming reviews for all of those.
I'm also due to pick up a few pedals at the Birmingham Show - but I don't count my chickens until I fully have those in-hand. As the saying goes - "there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip". And I've been made numerous promises and commitments over the years which haven't amounted to anything. I'm still chasing up on some of those commitments a whole year later on!
There will definitely be a rundown on Oscillo / Trem-Fuzz Pedals, and at long last a best of overview of Lastgasp Art Laboratories pedals. I had a very long and inspirational conversation with Lastgasp's Hiro - and I will probably do a few individual pedal Lastgasp pedal reviews before I do my favourite 9 overview.
For sure there is plenty happening - and we just need to see what lands and when. Nothing is every fully guaranteed - even with receipts and shipping confirmations - things can still go astray somewhat.
I hope all of you are well, and that you've settled somewhat comfortably into 2024 - despite the economic challenges we are currently facing in Europe, and in the UK in particular!
I apologies for dithering slightly on the merch store - I want things to be correct - and I do my utmost at all times to ensure the best possible quality. I'm still kind of waiting for the dust to settle on a few things - I've had so many conflicting recommendations that it's been a little tough to plot a best-fit-line so far - while I will surely prevail! All in good time as I like to say - it's all about achieving the right results!
